Drift Away

mix SENSATIONS

DRIFT AWAY

Escape the hectic dazzle of Taipei city on your next visit with a day of indulgence at W Taipei’s Away Spa. By Daniel Goh

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aipei may well be the shopping, dining and partying paradise that promises endless diversions but you probably won’t want to fritter away precious leave days just trudging through malls and night markets, or drinking till you drop. There is, after all, a limit to just how many greasy, sweet things you can eat before you feel utterly miserable. Any sensible soul would schedule some downtime for more uplifting activities (no, I don’t mean getting on the treadmill, what were you thinking?) and that’s where a good day spa comes in. Surprises, sensations and signature treatments await you at W Taipei’s newly opened, cloud-white Away Spa. Still wonderfully pristine, the 12th floor spa in W Taipei is located in the buzzing central business and shopping district of the uptown Xinyi, conveniently, and centrally situated, offering the perfect brief escape to fit into your schedule of eat-shop-eat.

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Any sensible soul would schedule some downtime for more uplifting activities, and that’s where a good day spa comes in.

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Invigorating hot and cold plunge pools, and the misty ice fountain in the mosaic tiled bath The therapy rooms sport high-tech colour light mood-enhancers

The professionally trained staff are here to tempt you with a wide menu of treatments (everything from slimming wraps to traditional Chinese massage) that target to reawaken senses dulled by too much retail and enliven your spirit, if not for a more seriously detoxifying and refueling experience. There are packages to suit every whim or need (for instance, The Ultimate Extreme Makeover, or the W List Facial, both comprehensive programmes) and therapists are on hand to advise on what suits you best, be it pampering, or a livelier session of curative massages, or just an hour lying horizontal in a darkened room. In the time you take to recharge on the modern, fully-mechanised massage beds, you may even choose unique massage techniques that lift, firm and energise your skin – so you emerge not only rested, but looking more youthful.

State-of-the-art plunge pools

The pool is heated in cold weather and has the view of Taipei cityscape

Hummus with Minced Beef

The bubble effect walls lead to the spa entrance

This being a W property, the journey begins, as you enter down the blue mirrored corridor, with automatic doors flying open and shut to offer you the utmost in privacy. Bubble sculptures form features on walls, which are otherwise stripped down to clinical minimalism. This is obviously a modern spa, with clean lines and American comforts – none of that ethnic mambo jumbo that you might be accustomed to.

Frankly, it is quite a relief. Herbally infused steam rooms and saunas surrounded by a circuit of thermal pools set to varying degrees, allow guests to change and prepare for their treatments. Featured dramatically in the center of the overscaled gold and black glass mosaic tiled detox bath area is a sensational ice fountain to cool down and tone the skin post sauna.

You can decompress further with endless refills of the spa’s signature detox mocktail as you decompress in this inner city sanctuary. Guests can indulge at leisure in natural lit environment with spectacular views overlooking downtown Taipei and the towering

Taipei 101 building as the spa offers guests a cool and contemporary post relaxation area with unchecked views of the city, ambient nature and meditative greenery to relax and explore. Still can’t get enough?

There’s also a heated outdoor swimming pool with underwater music to soothe the senses, and set the mood for a chilled beverage, snack or refreshing retreat lounging around on one of the many comfortable and stylish deck beds.

The spa uses the best quality products for their treatments with Vitaman products offered exclusively to guests. Vitaman is a pioneer of natural men’s grooming products, and Away Spa offers packages for men that include the Vitaman’s Body Refuel Sports Massage.

The spa is adjacent to W Taipei’s Sweat Fitness Center should you feel the urge to hit the gym for whatever reason. It combines the latest state of the art equipment, and both indoor and outdoor facilities, and highly trained professionals to guide guests to their “peak personal best” in both body and mind.