Enniscorthy, Ireland

The spa: Monart

Green peace: Green may be among the first things that come to mind when you say "Ireland," but it's rarely the eco kind. Hotelier Liam Griffin set out to change that in 2005 when he opened the country's first destination spa. Spread over 100 acres of, yes, green woodlands, Monart reintegrated every tree felled for construction back into the design. An energy-management system monitors light and heat in every room via photocell sensors that detect the time of day outside. Local timber chips are burned for warmth and electricity, cutting oil out of the equation. And the oil used in cooking is recycled into biodiesel fuel. But none of that gets in the way of the spa's mission of relieving stress (you can also book a bespoke program focused on weight loss, detox, or anti-aging). A salt-steam grotto softens the skin and improves respiratory function; a caldarium overlooking a waterfall has dry-heat that promotes relaxation. Two saunas, an aromatic eucalyptus steam room, a hydrotherapy pool, and a mud chamber round out the spread.

Signature treatment: The Dry Flotation beds inflate and cocoon around you like a water bed and give you the feeling of weightlessness ($75). The spa claims a one-hour treatment provides the therapeutic equivalent of 15 hours of regular rest.

Monart
Tel: 353 53 92 38999
Packages from $387 per person for a weekend stay

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