You’ve been travelling for hours, your skin is parched and your muscles are aching…and now you’re faced with a lengthy layover before finally arriving at your destination. You’ve probably never been more in need of a spa treatment.
For thousands of long-distance travellers, this is not an unusual experience. Air travel is exhausting and stressful, and in lieu of in-flight spa rituals (someday…), the next best thing is disembarking to find a spa waiting for you right there in the airport.
More and more international airports are catching on to this need, and opening up express salons and day spas in their busiest terminals. Turn your next journey into a holiday unto itself by booking yourself into one of these excellent airport spas for a relaxing massage, rehydrating facial or jet-lag busting treatment.
– Location: Changi Airport, Singapore
www.changiairport.com/en/shop-and-dine/shopping/wellness-spa.html
Singapore’s international airport boasts not one, but two in-house spas: Transpa and Wellness Spa. While Transpa is a great one-stop shop for beauty treatments, Wellness Spa goes the extra mile.
The treatments are specifically designed to meet the needs of long-distance travellers, with foot therapies and massages proving the most popular (and effective). Wellness Spa uses organic products by Jasmin Aromatique, which smell so good that you will forget you’re in an airport.
Located in Terminal 2, Wellness Spa is open from 6am until 1am, making it one of the most traveller-friendly airport spas in the world. And if you happen to be hankering for some relaxation between 1am and 6am, you can always visit one of the airport’s three 24-hour lounges which feature hot showers and nap rooms.
+ Best for: combatting jet lag.
+ Don’t miss: the spa’s signature Oxygen Therapy, which is specially designed for people who suffer from headaches, cramps and jet lag while travelling.
– Location: London Gatwick Airport (South Terminal)
www.virgin-atlantic.com/gb/en/travel-information/airport-guides/london-gatwick/spa.html
Virgin’s Clubhouse Spa is as exclusive as they come. Situated in the South Terminal of Gatwick Airport, it is only accessible to Upper Class passengers, but once you’re in, you’re in. This is a spa which offers complimentary hair products by Bumble and Bumble, and a dedicated salon for men only (Truefit and Hill).
+ Best for: the ultimate luxury travel experience.
+ Don’t miss: the Dr Hauschka hand treatments – the perfect tonic for anyone who suffers from swollen fingers during long haul flights.
– Location: Edinburgh Airport (also available at Newcastle Airport)
www.aerospa.co/relaxation-spa/
Scotland’s busiest airport caters mainly for short-haul flights, so the AeroSpa menu is focused less on jet lag treatments and more on last minute travel prep. This is the place to go for a pre-holiday pedicure, or an express massage to help you prepare for that big meeting later.
The spa offers high-end treatments such as eyelash extensions, alongside hand and arm massages which promote lymphatic drainage and improve your circulation while you fly. Better yet, it opens at 5am so you can start your day right, no matter where you’re heading.
+ Best for: a last minute mani-pedi.
+ Don’t miss: the Indian Head Massage, which is great for soothing nervous fliers.
– Location: John F. Kennedy Airport, New York City
www.berelax.com/en/locations/united-states/jkf-terminal-5
On first sight, you’d be forgiven for thinking that Be Relax is just another airport-standard beauty bar. In fact, it offers an enormous range of proper spa treatments, including chair massages, table massages, waxing, haircare, mani-pedis and facials.
As well as lengthy jet-lag busting treatments, the spa also offers handy add-ons such as under-eye patches (which help hide dark circles) and moisturising masks (for a quick shot of hydration on the go) for seasoned travellers who know what their skin needs in transit.
+ Best for: regular travellers
+ Don’t miss: the unique Oxygen AromaTherapy, which combines energising essential oils and pure oxygen, to help fight the symptoms of jetlag and leave you feeling refreshed.
– Location: Dubai Airport
www.timelessspa.ae/Default.aspx
Dubai has become a hub for international travellers, with hundreds of flights arriving and departing every day. The airport is enormous, with a multitude of shops, restaurants, salons…and its very own spa.
Timeless Spa is small but perfectly formed, offering a capsule collection of traveller-friendly treatments. These include hand and foot therapies, four different types of hydrating facials, an impressive range of massages, and an invigorating sea salt scrub which is great for beating the bloat.
The airport also boasts its own heated swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and gym, as well as a Zen Garden (by gates B7 and B27) and ten ‘Snoozecubes’ where you can grab a couple of hours’ rest while you wait for your connecting flight.
+ Best for: hydrating your skin after a long flight.
+ Don’t miss: the Desert Aroma Massage – even if you aren’t hanging around Dubai, the scents and sensations of this treatment will make you feel as though you’ve had the ‘desert luxe’ experience.
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