World’s most bizarre spa treatments

The beauty industry has been taken by storm in the last couple of years and not with the everyday cleansing facial and deep tissue massages that have been so popular for decades. Many 'bizarre' spa treatments have been popping up, showcasing everything from snake venom moisturizers to 'vampire' facials that promise rejuvenation and a drink from the fountain of youth. Many of them will cost you anywhere from the price of a nice meal to a year’s worth of private school tuition. Here, we highlight some of the best, reasonably priced spa treatments that you’ll actually want to try, and the cities that host them will be a perfect backdrop for planning your next holiday.

Live like Cleopatra

Head to Tokyo for your next holiday and indulge at the Tokyo at Marunouchi, a Four Seasons Hotel. For around NZNZ$190, you can be pampered and rejuvenated with the 24 karat gold facial. Long chosen by the likes of Cleopatra and Ch’ing dynasty, you can live like the royals without the responsibilities. Using canonized gold, this peeling gel will penetrate to the deepest layers of the skin and exfoliate dead skin cells leaving behind a brightened, youthful appearance. The mask is followed by a facial that utilizes amber, a natural gemstone known for its moisturizing and antioxidant effect. You will feel utterly refreshed and empowered.

Indulge your sweet tooth

The famous actress Katherine Hepburn once said of herself, 'What you see before you, my friend, is the result of a lifetime of chocolate.' If chocolate was the life force behind Katherine Hepburn, I’d like to have it for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, please. It seems that the team over at Hershey wanted to take it further than just three meals a day. As one of the largest purveyors of chocolate in the world, naturally the Hershey team didn’t just stop at bite-sized treats. Hershey Park, PA, USA is a chocolate-lover's dream destination. When you take your family to the Hershey theme park, carve out some time for yourself at The Spa at the Hershey Hotel.

Settle into the whipped cocoa milk bath that softens and renews the skin for only NZ$60. Follow it with a chocolate sugar scrub to polish away dull skin or indulge in the chocolate fondue wrap that uses moor mud and essence of cocoa to rejuvenate the complexion. At NZ$100, this will be well worth the treat. The Spa at the Hershey Hotel is a perfect parent’s getaway while the kids are riding one of the 12 roller coasters at Hershey Park.

It’s not as fishy as it seems

A popular, albeit peculiar pedicure started popping up in the last 8 years or so and gained the attention of media worldwide for its 'hands-on (fins on?)' approach. We’re familiar with the various, strange animal properties, like snake venom and sheep’s placenta being used in skin creams and serums, but the 'Doctor Fish' became their own new, niche market when spas started rolling out foot soaks with live fish, nicknamed Doctor Fish and Nibble Fish, that 'nibble off' the dry skin and leave the feet baby soft. This 400-plus-year-old- tradition comes from Turkey where it was found that the method was great for skin ailments such as psoriasis and eczema.

The Sampuoton Spa in Selangor, Malaysia is well known for the unique pedicure. Owner Joe Ng brought the well-kept Turkish secret over and started a world-wide phenomenon and clients are raving. The quirky treatment is quite relaxing with its tickling sensation and at just around NZ$65, it is one of the more budget-friendly options. After spending the day at the National Zoo and exploring the Kota Darul Ehsan Arch, as well as all of the other exciting attractions in the area, give your tired feet a once-in-a-lifetime experience that both men and women alike will enjoy.

Beverage baths

Don’t let happy hour stop at the wine glass or with the sake bombs, head to Hakone, Japan for the most unique, one-of-a-kind experiences you will ever have with your favorite beverages. The state-of-the-art hot springs amusement park and spa resort, Yunessan Spa, is the ultimate getaway that is perfect for the entire family. The resort boast 25 different spa related activities such as the hot water spas of the Ancient Roman Bath spa section and the kids will love the winter-friendly heated water slides at Rodeo Mountain. What this resort is truly known for though, is the unique hot springs filled with all of your favorite beverages.

A new kind of Sake bomb

The traditional alcoholic drink of the Japanese is used in the Japanese Sake Spa that is filled by a constant dripping from a huge cask filled with actual Japanese sake. Known for incredible properties to the skin, this is an authentic, rare Japanese experience.

Steep in your tea

Green tea is famous for its numerous internal healing properties and brings the wonderful antioxidant properties to the outer layers of the skin in the Green tea Spa. A 2 meter tall tea pot fills the spa with green tea that comes from the foot of the Tanzawa and Hakone Mountains, well known for their tea plants and the splendid growing conditions which make them so popular. You will greatly enjoy resting in the aromatic waters.

Coffee-lovers, rejoice.

If you didn’t think you could go any further with your love of coffee with coffee flavored ice cream, coffee flavored jelly beans, and even moisturizers made from the aromatic bean, think again. The Yunessan spa has taken it up a notch, allowing you to dip into the Coffee Spa made with real coffee steeped by the natural hot springs. This treatment is the ultimate treatment for the over-stressed and over-worked (Yes Mums and Dads, we mean you).

Coffee-lovers: also take a look at our list of top travel spots for caffeine addicts.

Wine is always a good idea

Lastly, no longer do you need to feel guilty for indulging in one more glass of wine, because you’re on holiday, right? Another favorite of Egyptian Queen Cleopatra has been brought to this spa. Bathing in wine was among her favorites along with milk baths, and you too get to indulge in the experience. The antioxidant properties in red wine are unbelievably rejuvenating to the skin and what better way to boast about your holiday to your friends?

Along with the luxurious healing waters of the hot spring spas, the resort also has its own shopping mall, massage and facial salons, restaurants, as well as, gaming and recreation center. The resort areas can be accessed by adults for NZ$30 and NZ$16 for children, the shopping mall is free to enter. There are also packaged tickets that you can buy, however the separate website for buying them is in Japanese, so it is recommended to contact the resort directly.

Hop into the Hops

Perhaps wine is not your forte and you prefer something a bit more 'hoppy.' Beer lovers are not left out on our list of bizarre treatments. The Chodovar Family Brewery in Chodova Plana, Czech Republic has found a relaxing way to recycle their materials and turn it into an invigorating experience.

Beer is a soothing cleanser and the B Vitamins, saccharides, and yeast all help dissolve dead cells and increase luminosity for the skin, with an added bonus of adding loads of shine to the hair. When visiting the spa, you can soak for 20 minutes in the dark bathing beer made up of a family recipe that consists of active beer yeast, hops draft, and crushed herbs, all heated to a pleasant 34 degrees. The heat will help you sweat out toxins while the hops exfoliate the skin and the yeast adds vitamins. You can enjoy your favorite lager while taking a rest and finish the experience curled up under a warm fleece throw or receiving a relaxing full body massage to relieve tension. At just NZ$47, this is a spa steal.

While you are comparing your bizarre spa treatments, don’t forget to compare your travel insurance options as well. When you know what you’re in store for (fish pedicures to chocolate facials), you can more accurately pick the cover that matches your holiday and your needs.

Image courtesy of Flickr user eric molina