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Welcome to the second iteration of Vogue’s global spa guide, an index of the 100 best spas in the world, built from the expertise of our global editors and trusted contributors. There is a lot to choose from in the world of wellness, and no matter how far you’re planning to travel—from a subway ride to a trans-Atlantic flight—we want to make sure it’s worth the journey. Whatever your path, let us be your guide.
Why go here?
Oprah put Miraval on the map when she endorsed its flagship Arizona desert destination—a pioneer among wellness resorts before wellness became cliché—on her dearly departed talk show. Now East Coast Winfrey acolytes who have long dreamed of making a pilgrimage (read: me) can experience a sliver of the magic at an outpost in woodsy Lenox, Massachusetts. The Life in Balance Spa delivers on Miraval’s name-brand standard, with a buffet of treatments so inventive and elaborately over-the-top, some are aptly called rituals. Director of spa and wellbeing, Jacqueline Berry, touts “the diversity of our spa menu,” including Vasudhara ($335), a warm-water pool float accented by calming underwater sound vibrations, and the Oprah-favorite Naga ($280), a guided stretch-massage in which a standing masseuse gripped purple silks dangling from the ceiling and ironed my stiff shoulders with deep compressions of her feet.
What’s the vibe?
Nestled in the New England mountain range famed for its Instagram-baiting fall foliage, Miraval Berkshires creates the crackling-fire aura of a cozy cottage, with plaid accents, teddy bear blankets, and exposed wooden beams. The space is almost as toasty as its buttery robes and towels, which practitioners warm up mid-treatment—a divine detail. The spa aims for what Berry calls an “elemental” tone: I bobbed in the warm indoor-outdoor pool while inhaling crisp mountain air. But most transporting of all may be unplugging and opting into the serenity of Miraval mode: Guests sign a pledge promising to “be mindful, live in the moment,” and eschew phone use (except in designated areas)—an honor code that actually works.
The history?
Opened in 2020, Miraval Berkshires represents an expansion beyond the brand’s Arizona origins. It follows an Austin, Texas, offshoot that opened in 2019. While its desert predecessors offer posh four-star refuges, Miraval Berkshires is more cozily understated: “luxury without being too lavish,” per Berry. The leafy new(ish) outpost offers Miraval classics, like equine therapy (including painting non-toxic watercolors on the horses’ coats), while adding experiences exclusive to bucolic New England, like lessons on “the magic of mushrooms” and “mastering microgreens.”
What should you try?
Miraval Berkshires prides itself on its exclusive Obsidian Sage Detoxifying Ritual ($465), a 100-minute affair that begins with a full-body sage and arnica scrub, progresses to a tingly mud mask, and culminates in a pleasing dry-float on a massage table that seems to morph into one of the water beds I coveted as a child of the ’90s. Mid-swaying, a practitioner grazed a hunk of obsidian—the black gemstone some believe blocks negative energy—over my forehead. After a mid-treatment shower (a clunky interlude) came a massage. I emerged satin-skinned—but also somewhat overwhelmed. The true star of my stay was a decadent 80-minute scalp treatment with the salon’s master stylist, Bridget Desrosiers, who began by showing me a garish buildup of hair dye and breakage at 200x magnification on a scalp scope camera, then lovingly massaged it all away with a kitchen-sink beauty blend of lavender, rosemary, ginseng, and rosebud. After presenting the after pictures (infinitely cleaner, healthier follicles), Desrosiers sent me home with the silkiest blowout of my life.
How environmentally friendly is it?
Locally sourcing treatment products is a Miraval-wide initiative. In the Berkshires, that includes a rich facial moisturizer harvested from leafy green nettle, flowering plant tulsi and wild roses. Miraval Berkshires composts on-site through the Bokashi method, training employees on composting food waste in 55-gallon drums and fermenting scraps into Bokashi tea, which can then be sprayed as a natural fertilizer on soil.
What else do we need to know?
Pack lightly (the ultimate luxury) because the spa dress code travels throughout the property. I never wore the wide-leg jeans, boots, and sweaters I brought for dinner at the single (and deliciously healthful) restaurant, Harvest Moon, because guests either wore athleisure or their spa robes and slippers.
Who can go?
Miraval offers rooms and suites for overnight guests, but the Life in Balance Spa is also accessible with a day pass. Either way, Miraval operates on an all-inclusive model: There is no need to bring credit cards for meals or cash to tip practitioners, which only adds to the serenity.
Booking details for Miraval Berkshires
Address: 55 Lee Rd, Lenox, MA 01240, United States
Read more from Vogue’s Global Spa Guide.
