Spa Retreats
Diamonds may be a girl's best friend, but corporeal indulgence is a close second. The Mandara Spa at Marriott's Aruba Ocean Club, L. G. Smith Blvd. 99, Palm Beach (tel. 297/586-9000), re-creates the tranquillity of a Japanese rainforest with Thai silk wall hangings, soft Balinese gamelan music, and the scents of clove and cinnamon. Personal attention is the hallmark of this meditative retreat, which offers state-of-the-art massages, body wraps, and facials. Programs cater to couples and men, who make up a hefty portion of the clientele. Other upscale spas can be found at Tierra del Sol (tel. 297/586-4861), the Hyatt (tel. 297/586-1234), and the Larimar Spa at the Renaissance (tel. 297/583-6000). For a more rustic pampering experience, try Spa del Sol at the Manchebo Beach Resort and Spa, J.E. Irasquin Blvd. 55 (tel. 297/582-6145), a garden sanctuary by the sea featuring massages, yoga, reflexology, and other treatments in beachside cabanas. The training of masseurs and masseuses on the island varies greatly. Be sure to ask for the most experienced person available.
