Eight Vacations for Ultimate Relaxation

Natura Cabana, Cabarete, Dominican Republic

Natura Cabana imitates nature at its best in the Dominican Republic. This beachside eco-retreat takes you on a relaxation journey that connects you and your senses to the environment. Ten bungalows, built with locally sourced materials such as mahogany and bamboo, sit nestled among lush vegetation. Rocking chairs, hammocks, and rustic loungers invite you to linger. If you must leave your porch, practice your asanas in a yoga temple near a virgin beach, then fully decompress at the on-site spa. The roll of the waves, breezy palm trees, and a touch of feng shui will keep you in tune with nature while making you forget you even had a hectic lifestyle back home.

Rates start at $130 per person based on single occupancy, but decrease with more guests ($90 per person for two, $80 per person for three, etc.). Rates include a healthy breakfast.

MaryJanesFarm, Moscow, Idaho

With no electricity or phones, MaryJanesFarm, a bed-and-breakfast set at the end of a country dirt road near Moscow, Idaho, will let you completely unplug. Without the normal life distractions, you can focus on what truly matters: going to bed. But before you drift off to sleep under a quilted down comforter, be sure to soak for a while in a steamy claw-foot bathtub or warm yourself to the core by the woodstove or fire pit. Just know that everything you'll need is located outdoors or within the 12- by 14-foot confines of your private canvas tent. Talk about getting away from it all.

The B&B is open May through September, and you can begin making 2012 reservations in February. Rates are $239 per night with a minimum two-night stay. An organic breakfast is included every morning.

Villa La Bella, Isla Mujeres, Mexico

You walk off the ferry from Cancun and get your first wave of Isla Mujeres' small fishing village vibe. And just when you think things couldn't get any sleepier, you stumble upon Villa La Bella, a six-room adults-only B&B on the Caribbean side of the dolphin-shaped island. At this oasis by the sea, outdoor hammocks and an open-air living room provide plenty of restful spaces, while cold beers from the swing bar are always an arm's length away. For more privacy, hide away in one of the two palm-frond palapa suites fitted with king-sized hanging beds and let the sound of the ocean lull you into a tropical slumber. You'll feel like Ixchel, the Mayan goddess of the moon, who has a strong presence here on Isla Mujeres.

Palapa suites range from $110 to $175 per night, depending on the season. Breakfast is included each morning.

Ten Thousand Waves, Santa Fe, New Mexico

Modeled after a Japanese onsen, or hot springs, Ten Thousand Waves brings an intimate spa experience to the Sangre de Cristo mountains near Santa Fe. Immerse your body in
104- to 106-degree water to detoxify in either indoor or outdoor baths (some are private). Or get kneaded into a deep state of relaxation with a Yasuragi head and neck treatment or an Ashi Anma foot massage. It may be called Ten Thousand Waves, but there are only 12 ryokan-style hotel suites just a stone's throw from the spa. Overnight guests are treated to organic breakfast with Japanese teas and amenities such as private decks, fireplaces, and daybeds.

Rooms start at $199 during low season and $239 in high season. Spa packages are available.

Casa La Siesta, Cadiz, Spain

As if the views of the Andalusia countryside weren't enough of a draw, the idea of a Spanish siesta at this appropriately named boutique hotel in Cadiz will have you sold for life. In country retreat terms, Casita La Siesta has it all: seclusion, Old World charm, rustic architectural details, and a touch of luxury. Seven guest rooms enchant with private terraces, emperor- or king-sized beds fitted with Egyptian-cotton linens, and bathrooms with high-pressure rain showers and gorgeous roll-top bathtubs. Curl up on a fireside sofa during cool evenings, or laze by the infinity pool on hot summer afternoons. Guests also have access to the hotel's exclusive restaurant and can sample wines stocked in the on-site bodega, giving you more than enough reasons to linger on many a starry night.

Rates start at €180 (about $250), though rooms are discounted 25 percent as of press time.

Samyoga Bali, North Bali, Indonesia

Serenity is found at a Balinese hillside retreat. At Samyoga Bali, a spiritual center near the traditional village of Kayu Putih tucked off the tourist path, your well-being is the main priority. Therapeutic massage is available to help you de-stress, and you are encouraged to stretch your mind along with your body through daily meditation and yoga practices. Combine all that with restful nights in your private eco-inspired villa or bungalow, and you'll find inner peace as well as tri hita karana, the harmonious balance embodied in Balinese culture.

Rates vary depending on length of stay, but include daily yoga and meditation classes and healthy breakfasts of yogurt lassis and homemade herbal teas. Stays of two weeks to one month long are discounted by 20 percent.

Robert's Grove Beach Resort, Placencia, Belize

Leave your worries on Belize's mainland by staying on one of Robert's Grove Beach Resort's two private islands. A half-hour boat ride from shore, Robert's Caye offers four cabanas that jut over the Caribbean Sea, while three wooden suites balance on stilts even farther out, on Ranguana Caye. All accommodations include a private terrace with hammocks and three meals prepared by an island cook per day. Your only concern will be whether to go kayaking or snorkeling or simply to bask all day long in deep seclusion doing nothing at all.

Island stays start at $490 for one night/two days, but the per-night price goes down the longer you stay. The main hacienda-style beach resort on shore has more economical rooms starting at $155 in the off-season (three-night minimum).

Takahashi Gardens, Sechelt, British Columbia

Sink into your own hot tub time machine and go back to nature at Takahashi Gardens in Sechelt, British Columbia (a little more than two hours from Vancouver). The Zen-inspired accommodations might be self-catering, but you'll also be able to give yourself some much needed TLC during your stay. Set among terraced gardens in a secluded cove overlooking Sechelt Inlet, a studio cottage and two suites come with private decks, and, yes, outdoor hot tubs—feel free to lounge in a cotton kimono or plush bath robe in between plunges. Scout for wildlife, follow pathways down to the beach below, or simply unwind and enjoy the natural scenery.

Rates range from $149 CAD to $199 CAD, depending on the season. Suites have fireplaces, and spa services are available to all guests.

There is no shortage of wonderful relaxing places to stay around the world, and we certainly couldn't list them all. Please keep the conversation going and tell us about your favorites in the comments section below.

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