Top 5 International Destination Spas Our Readers Loved in 2025

Note: If you’re looking for our most recent recommendations, check out the 2024 list of our favorite international destination spas.

This year’s World’s Best Awards survey was open for voting January 11 through May 10, 2024, as destinations around the world. Survey rules have always allowed readers to reflect on their travel experiences over a three-year period. We hope that this year’s honorees will inspire your own travels as you get back out into the world.

The best spas in the world have always been a way to reset the mind, body, and spirit. However, with the recent boom in wellness travel, travelers are now seeking active pursuits such as fitness classes, hiking, or outdoor sports alongside traditional amenities designed for relaxation (like thermal pools and massages). Consequently, many highly regarded international retreats now combine these elements, offering visitors the opportunity to rejuvenate in breathtaking environments.

Every year, for the World’s Best Awards survey, readers share their travel experiences, providing opinions on hotels, resorts, cities, islands, cruise ships, spas, airlines, and more. In the spa category, readers evaluate properties based on accommodations, facilities, treatments, service, food, and overall value.

When it comes to international spas, readers have distinct preferences, evidenced by four out of five winners returning from last year’s survey. No. 3, Sha Wellness Clinic in Spain, is renowned for its rigorous, science-backed approach. Guests can engage in four-, seven-, 14-, or 21-day programs tailored to address issues like poor sleep, burnout, and stress. Additionally, cooking classes teach how to incorporate a macrobiotic diet into daily life, while innovative treatments such as photobiomodulation help manage anxiety and enhance mental health. Feedback from guests reflects this effectiveness, with one visitor calling Sha “an island of tranquility, relaxation, and health.”

Another consistent favorite is BodyHoliday in St. Lucia. One loyal visitor remarked, “It is my go-to vacation. I have visited at least four times, traveling alone, with my daughter, a friend, and my husband; all had perfect experiences.” First-time guests echo this sentiment, with one asserting, “During my stay at BodyHoliday, I relaxed within the first few minutes and tried activities like yoga and water volleyball. Every staff member appeared genuinely committed to helping us unwind.”

Yet, it is the WBA Hall of Famer Rancho La Puerta that has captured the top position in this year’s rankings. Explore further to discover what contributes to its enduring appeal, along with other resorts that readers have selected as the best international destination spas.

1. Rancho La Puerta, Tecate, Mexico

Established in 1940 by Deborah Szekely, Rancho La Puerta remains a beloved escape for iBestTravel readers. Many visitors return to this expansive, 4,000-acre property in Baja California each year, attracted by its 40 miles of hiking trails, organic farm, cooking school, and three spas. An array of fitness classes and sports are available in 11 gyms, tennis, basketball, and volleyball courts. As one visitor shared, “I have attended the Ranch every year for the past five years. It is incredibly soothing.” Others describe the venue as “a cross between adult summer camp and group therapy.” Looking ahead, Szekely and her daughter are set to introduce 108 two- to four-bedroom residential villas, complete with access to all resort facilities and exclusive owner-only amenities such as a private pool and restaurant.

WBA Hall of Fame honoree. Score: 95.17
More information: rancholapuerta.com

2. Sha Wellness Clinic, El Abir, Spain

Score: 94.93
More information: shawellnessclinic.com

3. BodyHoliday, Cap Estate, St. Lucia

Score: 94.35
More information: thebodyholiday.com

4. Tabacón Thermal Resort & Spa, La Fortuna de San Carlos, Costa Rica

Score: 92.46
More information: tabacon.com

5. Chablé Maroma, Punta Maroma, Mexico

Score: 91.06
More information: chablehotels.com

Discover all of our readers’ favorite hotels, cities, airlines, cruise lines, and more through the World’s Best Awards.