Best spa treatments after touchdown

Whenever I return to Hong Kong on a grueling long-haul flight, I reward myself for not losing it at the poor flight attendents with an energizing spa treatment that results in me feeling brand spanking new. Here are some of my favorites at Hong Kong's best day spas.

Indoor fountains and waterfalls at Plateau

If nothing short of superstar treatmentwill revive you from that grueling flight, then surrender yourself to Plateau at the Grand Hyatt, a luxurious 80,000 sq ft spa with fountains, pools and even a waterfall. Some of their best therapies are the 60 minute lymphatic drainage massage (HK$950) to reduce fluid retention and the 90 minute hot stone therapy ($1280) to ease muscular stiffness.

If you decide to stay overnight in Hong Kong's one and only spa accommodations at Plateau, you can enjoy a Jet Lag Bath for free (otherwise costing $500 for 60 minutes), a combination of refined salt crystals, rosemary, camomile and bergamot, then finish off with a 25 minute scalp massage (HK$400).

Plateau at the Grand Hyatt, 1 Harbour Road, Wanchai, tel +852 2584 7688

Best of the old and new at Elemis  

One of Hong Kong’s busiest day spas, thanks partly to its location smack dab in the middle of busy Lan Kwai Fong, Elemis offers a comprehensive range of treatments, from the old (ear candling) to the new (photo rejuvenation facials).

Try the 75 minute Cellutox Aroma Spa Ocean Wrap ($1010), where your body is wrapped in foil while a pressure point facial massage and de-stress scalp treatment are administered, or the 50 minute Deep Tissue Muscle Massage ($900), to loosen knots that have developed after hours of sitting in the same position. For a quickie, try the 30-minute back massage ($440).

Elemis Day Spa, 9/F, Century Square, 1 D’Aguilar Street, Central, tel +852 2521 6660

Infra-red sauna at Nature Spa

If you’re looking to bring long term benefits rather than short term relief to your aching body, then check out the detoxifying treatments available at Nature Spa, which include a magnetic clay detox bath ($600, 20 minutes) to draw out impurities from the skin.

Alternatively, sweat it out in the near infra-red sauna to boost circulation and ease stiff joints, reaching a lower temperature than a regular sauna at about 50 degrees Celsius. You can also experience a tui na massage here, an ancient Chinese therapy that claims to realign your internal organs via probing massage techniques ($500, 60 minutes).

Nature Spa, 7/F, EIB Tower, 4-6 Morrison Hill Road, Wanchai, tel +852 2882 3879

Beer and detox go together at Sense of Touch

This popular day spa is a hit with both men and women; the former love the beer-based treatments, while the latter appreciate the extensive range of beauty and massage treatments available.

For jetlag relief, try the Detox Revive Massage ($650, 60 minutes), which fuses lymphatic drainage with aromatherapy to boost the immune system, release toxic build-up, reduce water retention and boost energy levels, or the Cheers to Beers treatments ($990, 90 minutes) with includes a soak in a dark ale beer bath followed by a thorough scrubbing with barley and a deep tissue massage.

Four locations across Hong Kong, check website for details.