It does seem as though every single mundane item in the world now has a “designer” version. But with the introduction of the Plumen lightbulb, we were reminded that the energy-saving version of this category had remained design-free and that perhaps that was not a good thing. Nothing against a spiral, but this new twist on that design is so much more pleasing to look at, works just like its now-generic-seeming counterparts, and fits into a standard bulb fitting. It’s almost a shame to cover it up. $29, gretelhome.com

At first, they made environmentally friendly wood products (furniture, architectural moldings, and veneers) from diseased Koa trees they sourced from Maui. “Then, Chris said, ‘We gotta make snowboards.’ He found this teeny company in the Valley that was pressing snowboards. They made one at a time, with a beautiful, sustainably sourced Koa top sheet.” Within two years, the duo had left the furniture world behind and was in the snowboard business. Skateboards followed several years later, and apparel was introduced four years ago.

Carlson is a California boy who discovered snowboarding while living in Boulder (someone stole his skis and he bought a used board for $40). He grew up in Santa Monica Canyon, the son of a real-estate agent mother and a father who was a stunt man. “There was a really cool early surf community in the ‘60s and people had been skating in my neighborhood since the 1950s. It was also an art community— a really cool getaway from the city.” Now 42, he credits television shows of his youth, along with surf and skate culture, for his early appreciation of the environment. “I watched Wild Kingdom and Jacques Cousteau, and you gotta realize that kids who grew up watching those
shows, who got in the ocean to surf or skated around town or snowboarded in the mountains, were turned onto the environment and the need to protect it, because they were in it every day.” Arbor’s tag line summarizes the philosophy that belies that experience: “We all need clean air to skate, clean water to surf, and snow to ride.”

The company tries to keep it as clean as possible on the business and manufacturing sides, as well. They print only on recycled paper, use soy-based inks, recycle all office waste, and use recycled and/or sustainable materials to build retail and office spaces. All woods come from sustainable sources, many components are made from recycled glass or plastic, finishes are water-based, and their clothing line is made from bamboo. The best part? They do it without sacrificing performance or style. “We’re not as tied to a hippie past as some other green brands. We’re much more contemporary and driven in today’s world and lifestyle,” he explained. “The environmentally friendly alternative has to be as relevant to today’s consumer as possible. If you’re only selling to that small niche of identity environmentalists you won’t have any impact.” Arborcollective.com

BAGGU’s latest collection is a collaboration with Brooklyn-based designer Shabd Simon-Alexander. Alexander hand tie-dyed the company’s recycled cotton canvas totes and backpacks, which are available in limited edition while supplies last. The backpack is $58, tote bag (shown) $48. Choose from five colors at www.baggubag.com. – Rima Suqi

Commune Design is a Los Angeles-based design firm known for stylish interiors like the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs and the Opening Ceremony store in Tokyo. But they also develop products with local designers, sold at their Community Shop. One of our favorites is this laptop case by Clare Vivier, made of reclaimed leather satchels. It comes in eight colors for $159, www.communedesign.com – Rima Suqi

Meet the most fuel efficient Porsche of all time. The Panamera S Hybrid goes on sale later this year, and while EPA estimates weren’t available at the time of this writing, we are able to say it has a fuel consumption of 6.8L/100km on the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC). A 3.0-liter super-changed V6 333 horsepower engine is supported by a 47-horsepower electric motor. Depending on conditions, the engines can operate together or separately to drive the rear wheels. The electric motor, which also serves as the car’s generator and starter, is connected to a nickel metal hydride (NiMh) battery that stores electric energy recovered primarily from braking. The Panaamera S Hybrid goes from 0 to 60 in 5.7 seconds and has a stop track speed of 167 mph. Its electric-only acceleration maxes out at about 50 mph, with a one-mile range. Chances are it won’t have the same fuel economy as a Prius or Insight, but that’s probably not the reason you eyed this baby in the first place. From $95,000,
porsche.com

Hawaii

Four Seasons, Hualalai

Hands down the best overall property (spa and resort) I visited on the islands. The new, 28,000-square-foot spa features indoor and outdoor treatment rooms and waiting areas that take full advantage of Hawaiian materials and climate. The “Waiea” or “Water of Life” garden functions as an outdoor relaxation or waiting room, complete with waterfalls and chaises strategically placed to maximize privacy and views. There are four outdoor treatment rooms or “hales” and locker rooms have outdoor plunge pools and showers. One of my favorite treatments here was the “Apothecary” which allows for custom mixing of ingredients for a wrap or scrub. I was able to choose from over 15 ingredients, all indigenous to the islands and all with specific therapeutic uses, including Spirulina (dried seaweed), crushed macadamia nuts, powdered kalo (taro root), ginger, volcanic clay, and salts galore. The treatment itself began with a dry brushing, an application of my custom mixture, a cocooning wrap during which I was given a facial massage, scalp massage, and foot massage. After being rinsed by a gorgeous Vichy shower there was a massage with coconut oil and I was sent off in a blissful state to enjoy my room (one of the resort’s new one-bedroom suites with an ocean view). 888-340-5662, www.fourseasons.com/hualalai

Bottom line: If you can only go to one resort on the islands, and can afford it, this should be it.

Hawaii Island Retreat

When I visited the eight-room hotel (in the style of a Hawaiian royal house, inspired by Spanish Colonial architecture) it was finished but the spa was still under construction, so my treatment was a massage from owner Jeanne Sunderland, incorporating a technique called “Neurolink” which helps the brain fix the body (in my case, bursitis. It didn’t really work but I found it interesting). Sunderland is legendary in the Hawaiian spa world for debuting the “spa without walls” concept at the then Ritz-Carlton Hotel. At the time of this writing the spa was still not finished (it’s Island Time there, and Jeanne’s husband is doing much of the building himself), but when it is completed in first quarter 2010, it will include four outdoor treatment rooms, two facial/wet treatment rooms, a salt purified infinity lap pool and Jacuzzi, a Far Infrared sauna, watsu pool, and steam room. Many of the oils and scrubs used in treatments will be made on-site from ingredients that grow on the property. This is a truly eco-hotel, off the grid thanks to solar power, gardens galore thanks to the help of WWOOFers (Willing Workers on Organic Farms), low-water toilets and special showers, organic amenities, composting, and a lot more. It should be noted that the actual land around Hawaii Island Retreat is considered very important because King Kamehameha the Great would come here with his advisors. A walk around the property reveals petroglyphs on old stones, a specific stone where Kahunas would mix medicines, a sacred altar and, further along an old sugarcane road, a herd of Nubian goats (milk bath anyone?). 808-889-6338, www.hawaiiislandretreat.com

Bottom line: The jury is out. The hotel itself is in a nice, quiet, and secluded spot and the food was very good. The spa wasn’t finished when I visited but with Jeanne’s impressive background I’m guessing it will be first rate.

MAUI

Grand Wailea

It’s all about water here: nine pools, seven water slides, one Tarzan swing, and a grotto that would make Hugh Hefner proud. It’s also all about honeymooners (couples galore) and families (note: seven water slides). If you fit into the aforementioned categories, chances are you will like the Grand Wailea. If you’re into a more solitary or Zen experience, there are better choices. Art lovers note: the resort has a great collection of Botero sculptures. The recently renovated Spa Grande was the most crowded of all I visited but, in their defense, it was a holiday weekend. Again, the theme is water and specifically, a series of Terme baths—mud, seaweed, aromatherapy, papaya, enzyme, and Hawaiian healing—that each guest is encouraged to partake in before a treatment. I’m not into baths and “forgot” my swimsuit in my room, only to be given a disposable bikini so I could experience them after all (so much for avoidance). After each bath I’d step under the cascading waterfall shower or tropical rainstorm shower (with 50 hydrotherapy jets) before trying a different bath. It’s hard to get comfortable in the baths when they’re small and often you are sharing them with one or more strangers. And, unlike many other spas on the islands that take full advantage of the scenery, this one has almost no outdoor space. I was one of the first to experience a new treatment called the “Hawaiian Diamonds,” built around a locally found mineral called Olivine. I was originally told it was a massage with Olivine, but the actual treatment involved the application of a hot oil (made locally using olive, avocado, and castor bean oil by a company called Pala-au) followed by an exfoliation using sandalwood powder (also indigenous) and a spritz of an elixir that has Olivine in it. I was a bit confused after the treatment, as I feel that a spritz of something doesn’t make a treatment and furthermore I had found out that Olivene is protected in Hawaii. Long story much shorter: there’s no actual physical olivine in the crystal, it’s made using vibrational energy and involving lunar cycles. The treatment was perfectly nice but, from my perspective, not accurately marketed. I’d say that if you’re into a hot oil massage and a sandalwood exfoliation, which I didn’t see anywhere else, it’s great. If you’re into Olivine, go to the Green Beach on the Big Island to truly experience it first-hand.(800-888-6100), www.grandwailea.com

Bottom line: If you don’t mind big hotels that feel big or want a more social resort experience, this is it. If you want Zen, go elsewhere.

Kapalua Spa

The brand new (when I visited) 30,000 square-foot spa is part of the Kapalua Villas complex here, adjacent to the Ritz-Carlton, and was one of my favorites. Surrounded by Kapalua Bay with views of the island of Molokai, the spa has 19 treatment rooms (10 are outdoors), with both single-sex and coed outdoor relaxation areas. I sat in the hot tub, tried the cold rain walk (a nice alternative to the expected cold plunge), and took a swim in the saline lap pool before heading in for treatments. The first was one of the most memorable of the trip. The Awa & Cacao Lomi Wrap begins with a beverage that’s a mixture of Awa (similar to Kava Kava) and water. My therapist, who also drank it, said it was for “deep relaxation.” I’m not sure how she did any work after that drink – it put me out à la Ambien. The treatment consisted of a scrub with awa and cacao mixed with heated Kukui nut oil followed by a Pikake oil massage (Pikake is a Hawaiian flower that smells like Jasmine). I was so deeply relaxed afterwards that I was groggy for several hours, which I attribute more to the liquid Awa than the treatment, although I thoroughly enjoyed the treatment and especially the ingredients used. Note: if you have trouble sleeping, get some powdered Awa or Kava Kava and dissolve in water per instructions (which involve cheesecloth). If this doesn’t work, nothing in the natural world will. Some Hawaiian parents won’t let their kids near the stuff. My second treatment here was the “Intensive Hawaiian Facial” with paraben and petroleum-free products from a local company called Pure & True (www.pureandtrue.com). Extraction was minimal, facial massage and compliments on my skin were maximal, loved all around.

Bottom line: the spa makes the Ritz a much more attractive choice on this island. It’s also set away from the more crowded spots, making it good for those seeking a more chill environment.

LANAI

A 45-minute, incredibly scenic, ferry ride from Maui drops you on the tiny island of Lanai which, with two Four Seasons Resorts, probably boasts more luxury rooms per capita than anywhere else in the world. The resorts have two distinct personalities: The Four Seasons Manele Bay is on the beach, while the Lodge is up in the mountains. From my room at Manele Bay I could see dolphins jumping, while my room at the Lodge boasted views of landscaped gardens and families of wild turkeys running around. Manele Bay has a spa with non-inspiring décor but nice outdoor tented treatment “rooms,” where, if not careful, you can give beach-goers an eyeful. I chose to wait outside by the pool for my treatment, rather than inside in the official relaxation area (another spa in Hawaii without outdoor elements, go figure). At the Lodge, my treatment took place in a room set aside for that purpose, that unfortunately overlooked the hotel entrance so sounds of cars idling and people chatting wafted up regularly. Neither treatment was stellar. The first was a Lava Shell massage with allegedly local shells, but it turns out they are sourced from the Philippines. The second was an aloe massage said to treat sunburn (something that I, as an olive-skinned person do not normally experience) and involved the application of aloe and aloe leaves. Unfortunately the aloe itself isn’t rinsed off, leaving one very sticky. Rinse-off required.

The star of the spa show here is not a treatment but an activity: custom perfume blending. I spent a couple hours going through various oils, choosing scents I liked, and ultimately arriving at a blend I took home with me.

Bottom line: I wouldn’t recommend either resort for spa services alone, but the Lodge offered an incredible setting I didn’t find elsewhere in Hawaii (at this level of hotel) and is absolutely worth a visit.

Four Seasons Manele Bay, 808-565-2000

Four Seasons The Lodge at Koele 808-465-4000,

www.fourseasons.com/lanai

KAUAI

Koa Kea

At just 121 rooms, Koa Kea feels more like an apartment complex than a hotel, albeit a super-stylish one. The lobby feels more Miami than Hawaii, the rooms feature dark woods accented with shades of blue, and most have an ocean view via a balcony. And their Poipu beach location, where you can watch surfers while the sun sets, cannot be beat. If you’re on a budget, it’s worth knowing that a house vodka martini here is just $10, as is the Ahi sampler plate at the bar, where you can chat with Jim the bartender (and historian, entertainer, etc) and munch on complimentary edamame. The spa is hidden behind what looks like normal guest room doors, with five treatment rooms and two local, all-natural product lines (Pure & True and Malie). It also has something that none other does, a man named Gary Remes who invented a technique called Neuro Fascial Re-Education. It is hard to put into words so I’ll quote directly from the spa brochure: “NFR treats common pain conditions resulting from injury, postural problems, and neuro-muscular diseases. By re-educating the nervous and fascial systems through application of direct pressure to select trigger points, body alignment is immediately improved resulting in a decrease or elimination of pain.” That description doesn’t really explain what happens, but I’m not 100 percent that I can either. All I can say is I had clothes on, at times Gary used some kinesiology moves, at times trigger point therapy, but I came out feeling lighter and pain-free and felt that way for a few days.  

Bottom Line: I’d stay here again for the location alone, but if you’re super into spa-ing and want to be on Kauai, the Grand Hyatt is probably a better choice. 808-806-2299, www.koakea.com

Grand Hyatt

I would normally avoid any island property with the word “Grand” in its name, but I was surprised at how much I liked the Grand Hyatt. It sits on over 50 acres, and while it does seem vast, there are places all over the property—a solitary bench with a view, for example—where you can have a quiet moment. My room was far from the lobby (with its live parrots), near the newly renovated Anara spa, my absolute favorite spa on the trip (the Four Seasons on the Big Island wins for overall resort and spa). At 45,000 square feet it is also vast but takes full advantage of the outdoors with meandering stone paths through lush gardens. The main open-air courtyard includes 11 treatment rooms each with private garden and fountain, there are five free-standing outdoor thatched roof hales with private outdoor showers and sitting areas, a 25-yard lap pool and open-air lava rock showers. The outdoor relaxation room was the nicest I’d seen, and my treatment began with a foot soak and scrub there. The therapist had arranged the scrub mixture to form a yin-yang symbol in the bowl, a nice detail. This was followed by a “Majestic Noni” treatment in an outdoor hale—a kukui nut and sea salt scrub, followed by an herbal wrap, application of Noni elixir (by Epicuren), and a massage with Kukui nut oil. Divine. There were more surprises here beyond the spa. It turns out the property is greener than expected. Solar panels generate over 438,000 kWh of electricity annually for the resort, use of compact-fluorescent bulbs save 800,00 kWh per year, there are low-flow showerheads and toilets in all rooms, they compost all green waste, waste cooking oil is collected and processed into bio-diesel fuel, recycle bins are all over the property for guest use, and a heat-to-energy conversion system uses heat produced by the air conditioning system to heat water for guest rooms, laundry and swimming pools, decreasing environmental pollution and conserving 205,000 kWh of electricity each year. 808-742-1234, www.kauai.hyatt.com

Bottom line: get a room near the spa, and spend as much time at the spa as possible.

St. Regis, Princeville

The newest of the lot, the St. Regis sits on the former spot of the Princeville Resort and maintains the same footprint as the previous hotel. It’s the only luxury property on Kauai, and sits right on Hanalei Bay with gorgeous views of Bali Hai. The 11,000 square-foot spa, called Haele`a or “House of Joy” was, design-wise, a disappointment. While the interiors are perfectly stylish and incorporate local woods and other design elements, with the exception of a not-yet-ready poolside Spa Cabana, there’s not one outdoor element here—no outdoor waiting room or garden or pool or anything that takes advantage of the incredible scenery surrounding the resort—a major missed opportunity that continues to confound me.

I did, however, have two very good treatments here. One was an Organic Seaweed Repair Facial using 100 percent certified organic Voya products from Ireland, a product line I haven’t seen in any spa before. There was no extraction but a nice massage and the products felt great on my skin (Seaweed is used to hydrate the skin, which is especially useful after an afternoon in the sun). I also experienced the Rainforest Shower and Taro Butter polish, a scrub of organic coconut oil, cocoa butter, and grapefruit seed extract, followed by a Vichy rinse and application of a specially formulated Taro Butter by Malie, a lovely light moisturizer with an equally nice light scent.

Bottom line: if you are someone who prefers 5-star accommodations and don’t mind a more formal island environment, this is it. I wouldn’t recommend it as a destination spa on this island—Grand Hyatt wins in that category. But when it comes to luxury resorts on Kauai, this is the only game in town. 808- 826-9644, www.stregisprinceville.com

OAHU

Moana Surfrider

Arriving in Waikiki is culture shock after spending weeks on other, super-laid-back, islands. I checked in at the Moana Surfrider, a gorgeous landmark hotel that originally opened in 1901 and has a very interesting history (I don’t have room to go into it here, so check the website). The lobby scene is chaotic—Japanese brides getting their picture taken on the grand staircase and tourists galore. While my tiny corner room had wonderful ocean views, it also looked into apartments in the building right next door, signaling the end of the Zen portion of my trip. The Moana Lani spa here feels corporate and is generally uninspiring. While they bill it as the only beachfront spa on Waikiki, that’s not exactly the case; some treatment rooms have views of the beach but there are no outdoor cabanas or any part of the spa that’s actually right on the beach. Adding to the confusion here, therapists are required to perform a ritual chant before each treatment that in this setting seems ridiculously contrived. I did have a great therapist but even he couldn’t save the treatment—a Hawaii Clay wrap that was seriously lacking in the clay department.

Bottom line: a good hotel choice if you want to be in the middle of Waikiki and like a historic hotel (and all the quirks that go with it). Skip the spa. 808-237-2535, www.moana-surfrider.com

Halekulani

Sullivan Estate

Of all the spas on the list, the Sullivan Estate has the most “green street cred” because it is owned by Jurgen Klein, a legendary chemist and horticulturalist who founded Jurlique. The Estate is a truly holistic, all-natural spa about 90 minutes drive from Honolulu on Oahu’s north shore and welcomes guests for either overnight stays or day services. The former requires booking the whole estate and Spa amenities with meals (starting at $15,000 a night). Day Spa guests are welcome with a minimum of two multi-hour packages, and only when there are no overnight guests, guaranteeing that only one group is on property at any given time.

My visit began with a steam and sauna, followed by a JK7-SPA Sensator treatment, which is like a floating meditation, taking place in an indoor pool and involving different sounds, colors, and mists over the course of 45 minutes. I got antsy towards the end but found it an overall relaxing and meditative experience that could be addictive. This was followed by a massage and organic pupus (hummus, banana dip, edamame spread) with an ocean view. What makes it eco: all the heat and electricity are solar powered, food is organic and (mostly) locally sourced, and treatments offered use Klein’s new body and skincare line, JK7, made on-property with natural and organic ingredients.

Bottom line: expensive but absolutely worth it for a truly personalized spa experience. It’s also one of the only places (for now) where you can experience and buy the JK7 products. 808- 638-7020, www.sullivanestate.com

Halekulani

Still in the middle of things but off the main drag, the Halekulani was my favorite “city” hotel in Hawaii. The room was impeccably designed with thoughtful touches, including a closet accessible from both bathroom and bedroom, a bedside control panel for lights, privacy and temperature, and amenities that included laundry soap and a toothbrush. (And a Toto toilet with bidet feature in the half bath.) At the spa I had my first experience with individual suites, meaning my locker was in the treatment room (but sadly the bathroom was oddly located in the main reception area). Every treatment room has a Japanese Furo Bath, which I soaked in after the Nonu treatment—massage with a bag filled with Hawaiian rocks, then massage with the actual rocks that had been dipped in Noni oil. It was simple but perfectly done.

Bottom line: good location, gorgeous room, and a legendary Mai Tai all in one place. If you have to do Waikiki, do it here. 808-923-2311, www.halekulani.com

The Kahala

Located off the beaten path in a quiet residential area of Honolulu, The Kahala has become a refuge for those who want to be in the city without the craziness of Waikiki (celebs especially love it). This was, appropriately perhaps, my last stop on the whirlwind three-week spa tour and my room was located on the lagoon, home to four dolphins. Like the Halekulani, the Kahala has individual spa suites with lockers, and also bathrooms and outdoor sitting areas. I had booked a variation on the O Pa Pualu Lomi Lomi Ritual, which was described as a combination of “hula with Lomilomi massage”—a foot ritual, followed by a Wild Lehua honey scrub followed by a synchronized four hands massage that they said “reflected the grace of the hula.” That part is a bit gimmicky, but the four handed massage was fabulous, if not totally synchronized (one person works on the upper half of the body while the other attends to the bottom). They also used a Lomi Lomi stick for part of the massage, something not offered elsewhere. The stick is carved from a guava tree branch and can be used to give yourself a pretty deep trigger point massage (Lomi Sticks by Ronald, 808-286-3902). This treatment also has a facial component that I eliminated since the products weren’t up to Organic Spa Magazine’s natural standards.

Bottom line: The most Zen you’ll find in a hotel on the south shore of Oahu, with the added bonus of a great spa. 808-739-8888, www.kahalaresort.com

SUMMARY

Best spas overall:

• Four Seasons Hualalai

• Anara at the Grand Hyatt Kaua

• Sullivan Estate

Best resort overall:

• Four Seasons Hualalai Most green:

• Sullivan Estate

• Hawaii Island Retreat

• Grand Hyatt Kauai

Most interesting treatments:

• Neuro Fascial Re-Education with Gary Remes at Koa Kea

• JK7 Sensator at The Sullivan Estate

Most surprising non-beach scenery:

• Four Seasons, the Lodge at Koele

Best hotel room design:

• Halekulani and Koa Kea

Best indoor treatment rooms:

• Halekulani

Best outdoor treatment rooms:

• Four Seasons Hualalai

• Grand Hyatt Kauai

Forty-five minutes after the aforementioned incident, and thankfully without further incident, I arrived at my destination: Southern Ocean Lodge. It had opened its doors just a week before, and was billed as the first luxury wilderness resort on the island. Its location couldn’t be more dramatic—a cliff on the southwest coast of the island, hovering above the Southern Ocean—and each of the 21 rooms (all named for shipwrecks that occurred around the island) had ocean views. Even from the bathrooms.

None of this was evident when I arrived in the dark of night. What I did see was a huge circular lobby area—a truly “great room”—furnished with stylishly simple pieces upholstered in zen tones of white and off-white, that appealed to my design editor sensibility. There was plenty of room to spread out and read a book or a magazine, perhaps around the groovy modern fireplace, or at the long bar.

I walked down a long wood-planked breezeway to my room, named “Mars.” The manager pointed out the details—from the lack of room keys (they’re available if you want to use them, but nobody does), the king-sized bed covered in Italian cotton sheets, the very “Rhoda” step-down lounging area with curved sofa and glass coffee table, the heated floor and the closet thoughtfully appointed with not just the usual robe, but slippers, aluminum water flasks, and backpacks. Every single detail reinforced the ecologically conscious modernist theme—from the recycled timber floors to the local limestone used in floors and walls, to the super-cool Eva Solo containers for the local lavender hand wash.

There’s a big eco story here, although that, like so much on this island, isn’t immediately obvious. The Lodge, which took 14 months to build, sits on a 254-acre site. Yet only one hectare was cleared to build it; the remaining 102 were put in a Heritage Agreement to protect against future development. The lodge site was chosen because it had the least amount of vegetation to clear, since coastal erosion had already created some bald spots, and the vegetation that was cleared was minimized by using existing fire trails or tracks.

The building itself is the work of Australian architect Max Pritchard and was designed to take advantage of the weather patterns here, including flow-through ventilation (a.k.a.: fresh air galore) and glazing to capture sunlight and store natural heat. A “Bioltix Filter System” converts organic waste, wastewater, and sewage to clean irrigation water, which is then used on the native plantings that surround the lodge. Water is collected from all roof surfaces and stored in tanks that have a total capacity of over 396,000 gallons.

Morning brought the stunning views I had heard about. The sky was a gorgeous shade of orange-pink. The Southern Ocean rippled, a bit choppy. Thus began day one of my “three-day-experience” program, tailored to suit the interests of each guest. It should be noted that while the lodge offers a variety of outings from honey tastings to seal watching, guests are just as welcome to do absolutely nothing. The cost of accommodation is all inclusive of meals.

I, however, didn’t come this far to do nothing. And this island, which boasts 21 national and conservation parks, 267 species of birds, and 891 types of native plants has much more to offer than you’d expect. My three days were packed with various expeditions arranged by a tour operator called Exceptional Kangaroo Island. On my list: check out the 500-million-year-old Remarkable Rocks (they are indeed remarkable); taste local honey made by Ligurian bees (found nowhere else on the planet); discover some local olive oils; fish on a secluded beach (and catch nothing but enjoy the views); enjoy a delicious lunch in the bush; sip local wines at sunset while watching kangaroos frolic; spot the ever-evasive Echidna; and get up close (well, as close as we were allowed to get) and personal with wild seals. I even saw a koala or two and can confirm that they’re even cuter live than in pictures.

It was gorgeous, informative, and so exhausting (in a good way) that I fell asleep during my fabulously aromatic spa treatment: the Ligurian Honey and Almond Polish. The Southern Spa is housed in a separate, round structure, just a short fragrant walk from the Lodge, and its menu features several treatments using local ingredients (other treatments are done with Lit’ya products). My treatment started with the Bay of Shoals Mineral Salt exfoliation, followed by a scrub made of that famous Ligurian honey, ground almonds, and warm water. I had to wake up to shower off while watching waves crash along the craggy shoreline, then return to the table for a massage using local lavender essential oil. The room smelled delicious afterwards, and my skin felt divine.

At this point in my story, you just might be wondering if there were any downsides to the experience. Just a couple. The wireless internet at the lodge was spotty at best. The food was fabulous, using all locally grown ingredients, and the dinner menu changed daily. There were drawbacks to that, since the menu was small and very specific, and there were times when I would have liked more options or even an always-available basic, like a burger. But that’s it.

This Land of Oz, unlike its fictional sister, was no fantasy land. While it might have seemed like a dream at times, it was gorgeously real (and sometimes a bit surreal). I can’t wait to go back. www.southernoceanlodge.com.au

Rates start at $900 Australian per night (about $836 USD at the time of this writing) with a minimum two-night stay. Rates include breakfast, lunch, and four-course dinner, select alcoholic and all non-alcoholic beverages, airport transfers, and guided adventures and experiences.

There is the Jamaica of all-inclusive resorts and girls-gone-wild type scenarios, and then there’s the “Other Side of Jamaica,” the spot-on tag-line used by Port Antonio, a town in the fast northeast corner of this island nation. This is Errol Flynn’s Jamaica. The Australian film actor (known for his swashbuckling roles in films including “Captain Blood,” “The Adventures of Robin Hood,” and the “Adventures of Don Juan”), arrived here in the 1950s, and is largely credited with bringing tourism to the area. (We have him to thank for the Jamaican version of “rafting”—sitting on a bamboo gondola-type contraption, drinking a Red Stripe, while someone else does the work of steering down the Rio Grande river for a couple hours). The vibe here is relaxed, the pace is slow, and the scenery is lush and green (comparable to parts of the Big Island of Hawaii). It’s Jamaica for nature lovers and delivers on all counts—flora, fauna, land, sea, and even accommodations.

Nestled among 6 1/2 acres of gardens on a hillside overlooking the ocean, Mocking Bird Hill is a true eco-hotel. The 10-room property, run by Barbara Walker and Shireen Aga, was converted from an existing structure. They use solar power to heat water and supply electricity to half the rooms here, plus the office, gallery, and pool pump (eventually they will be off the grid). There is no air-conditioning (ceiling fans do the job perfectly well), gardens survive on rainfall, and they offset their own carbon emissions. Bathroom amenities are made locally by Jamaican Blue Mountains aromatics, complimentary stationery in guest rooms is made from recycled paper by Nature’s Handmade Paper Cooperative, a women’s cooperative in a nearby town. All the hotel’s used paper is given to this group for recycling.

The rooms are decorated in a cheery décor in white, blue, and green colors. Modernists won’t love the interiors, but rooms with ocean views are truly magical, especially at sunset. Make sure to use the mosquito netting around the bed, and to make use of the coffee maker in your room—Jamaican coffee is some of the best in the world and not imported into the United States. The restaurant here is excellent and a destination in itself for visitors staying off-property. Chef Anthony Reid’s Caribbean menu changes daily depending on what is available from local suppliers and the hotel’s own garden. A hearty, delicious breakfast is included in the room rate, as is afternoon tea and a Sundowner (their version of happy hour) cocktail.

The owners describe their property as “very informal, very laid-back Caribbean,” which is accurate. Sometimes the “laid-back” part translated in having to ask for something repeatedly before it materialized, and to have missed a massage appointment because they “didn’t run into me” to confirm it (versus leaving a note on my door or something to that effect). But overall, Mockingbird Hill is a lovely place that I would highly recommend for those seeking a more Zen Jamaican experience away from the crowds. www.hotelmockingbirdhill.com

A private island resort, Mnemba sits in the Indian Ocean off the northeast coast of Zanzibar that can be circumnavigated on foot in about 20 minutes. The area has long been a favorite of divers and snorkelers, as the island itself is surrounded by a ring of coral reef, and hundreds of fish can be seen simply by floating on the ocean’s surface just a dozen feet off-shore. What makes this place incredibly special as a resort property is that they’ve stripped away all the over-the-top things commonly identified with “luxury” leaving one with a more authentic experience of the true luxury of nature and environment without electronic distractions. Each of Mnemba’s 10 “rooms” is really a free-standing, indoor-outdoor, small home made by locals of mostly local materials, down to the woven reed mat walls and floors.

Each has an outdoor seating area, mosquito-net-draped four-poster beds, and a short footbridge that leads to the bathroom. There are no panes or screens in the windows, no proper door or locks (your passport and wallet are locked up in the office for the duration of your stay), no air conditioning, no telephones, and no televisions. There are no tubs (in theory you’ve got a gigantic oceanic soak a few yards out your door), but there are gorgeous showers with “curtains” made of turquoise-colored recycled glass beads and hair care and gels made in-house of all-natural ingredients.

A true barefoot resort, there are also no proper sidewalks and only a couple of wooden walkways. I removed my shoes upon arrival and didn’t put them back on until I was forced to leave a couple days later. What do you need shoes for? Certainly not for beach walks, snorkeling, scuba diving, swimming with dolphins, dining on the beach, or sipping a sundowner on a wooden sailboat. And definitely not for an in-room Thai massage (or lymphatic drainage, reflexology, African face and scalp massage…you get the idea).

The day’s menus, prepared with produce grown by one of the resort’s butlers and poultry raised by a local women’s group, is written on a chalkboard every morning, and at breakfast the chef visits each table to personally go over any special requests or concerns.

Mnemba & Beyond, as a corporation, emphasizes “Care of the Land, Care of the Wildlife, Care of the People” as one of its core values, and this holds true at Mnemba as well as at the company’s Safari lodges. Most of the staff at its lodges, this one included, are from the local villages. Mnemba & Beyond partnered with the Zanzibar government and the local fishing communities to have the atoll and its surroundings proclaimed the Mnemba Island Marine Conservation Area—while they do purchase local fish, they’re not reef fish. The island is the last protected nesting site of green turtles in Zanzibar, with as many as 30 nests discovered every year. It is also home to the Aders Duiker antelope, an endangered species that is successfully breeding here.

On the community level, the lodge provides fresh fruits and vegetables to a local orphanage, and has built a windmill in a nearby village that now pumps water to 1,000 residents, these are just a few of its good deeds. Prior to learning all of this, I had already come to the conclusion that Mnemba was the most perfect beach resort I had ever visited. Add this extra heaping of heart and you have the definition of paradise. www.mnemba.com

Turns out everyone in the restaurant wears them. This organic-jeans-as-uniform was not only appropriate for the rustic environment, but it was also indicative of a larger “responsible luxury” initiative started by Encantado’s parent company, Auberge Resorts. Those initiatives play out at this 65-room property in various ways, some obvious, most not—from the use of Voss bottled water (because it has the lowest carbon footprint of any bottled water) to a large selection of organic and sustainable wines, and meats and produce sourced from local and organic farms (or the chef’s garden) wherever possible.

Recycling is tricky in New Mexico—the state handles pick up of cardboard, plastic, and paper but not glass. The staff at Encantado not only takes responsibility for separation of glass from other recycling, they personally drive it to the recycling station. They also compost everything except animal fats and proteins (but when I visited they were actively seeking out local farmers to handle that for them).

You’d never know it, but there are nine underground cisterns on the property that can capture up to 130,000 gallons of rainwater during the rainy months. That water is used for the gardens throughout the drier summer months. There’s also a wastewater treatment plant that’s part of the property’s subterranean irrigation system.

None of these details are very sexy, but they make the biggest difference. That’s not to say we don’t appreciate the bamboo floors in the gym and suites, or the corn-based robes used in the 10,000 square-foot, indoor-outdoor spa, or the fact that the spa store is stocked with almost exclusively natural or organic products from makeup to clothing.

And while we’re on the topic of sexiness, a discussion of the overall design of the resort is in order. Those familiar with other Auberge properties, like the impossibly romantic Auberge du Soleil or the luxurious Calistoga Ranch in Napa Valley, need to adjust expectations before coming to Encantado. While there’s no doubt that this area, surrounded by the Los Alamos and Jemez mountains, is incredibly beautiful and infused with a soulful quality—that feeling is lacking at the resort itself due to an unfortunate placement of the parking lot in front of guest rooms, so that as you meander back to your room after a gorgeous dinner, strolling under a star-filled sky, you are walking along a parking lot.

The spa, however, is fantastic. I had two treatments, the Mountain Spirit Purification and the Enchanted Facial. Lead esthetician April Fair, a very knowledgeable woman, used Naturopathica products and gave me informed sug-gestions on products I might consider using to continue aging gracefully. The second treatment was a two-hour journey starting with a dry brush, followed by a wrap using a mud mixture made in-house and a massage with Tara Spa Therapy Desert Sage oil. It took place in a spa casita that had an outdoor tub and shower, which created a pretty magical moment. Another nice touch—the therapist heated my robe during the treatment so I had something warm and cozy to slip into afterwards. www.encantadoresort.com