Relax and Indulge in Montreal

This tiny spa on Boulevard Saint-Laurent near Rue Villeneuve is en enclave of health, and a warm hearth of wellness and good feelings. Services offered include mani-pedis, massages, acupuncture and long-term assistance for detox and holistic weight loss, but if you’re looking to prettify temporarily, treat yourself to one of their specialty facials. The Juara will rejuvenate your pores Indonesian-style, with exfoliation, a heated treatment with red sandalwood and milk, a cold treatment with turmeric, avocado or lime, and ultimately hydration with tamarind, black tea and candlenut. Putting you in the mood for lunch? Luckily, vegetarian restaurant Aux Vivres is just across the street. Photo: Renaud Kasma

Just above Montreal’s best sushi joint, Park, this luxury Westmount health club also has its own spa with a wide range of treatments. It’s a super relaxing spot for an expert pedicure, and the nail artists can get really creative if you let them. The services range from the casual to the serious, extending from haircuts to medical treatments like Botox and body shaping. There are also extensive wellness programs that aim at specific issues, like, say, eradicating acne over many sessions. If you’re looking for a massage, treat yourself to the transporting experience of the Ayurvedic massage, a hot-oil experience that relieves fatigue and improves sleep – just the ticket if you’re still battling jet lag.

Bota Bota began its life on the water as a ferryboat. Then called the Arthur Cardin, it sailed between the cities of Sorel and Berthier, just east of Montreal, back in the 1950s. Many years later, someone had the idea to transform this mothballed boat, docked in the old port of Montreal, into a floating spa. Mission accomplished. With its 25,000 square feet, 21 treatment rooms, 6 terraces, and 40 different types of services, the Bota Bota makes a pretty grand spa, if you ask me. What’s even greater about the spa is the location. Docked in the old port with stunning views of downtown and Old Montreal, the Bota Bota offers its passengers (not customers!) the healing benefits of a spa while they are lulled by the natural movements of the St Lawrence River.