VIBE

One step through the door of this soothingly minimalist day spa and you’ll find it hard to believe that the hurly burly of the tourist-laden Avenue des Champs-Élysées is just around the corner. Though it’s spread over two floors of a charming Haussmann-style building, don’t let that fool you into thinking this will be a quaint Parisian experience. All facilities in the 1,200-square-meter space are the highest of high tech (expect custom lighting, music, and heating in your private suite), and the expert treatments are developed by skin and body specialist Dr. Nadia Payot.

GO HERE WITH

Significant other - for an immersion package in the Rubis suite; travel companions - for the jetlag treatments; friends; yourself

WHY WE LIKE IT

It’s the perfect place to detox and de-stress with the girls after a shopping binge on the nearby Champs-Élysées. (And after our treatments, we like to pop around the corner to La Maison du Chocolat for tea and a cute tartelette.)

WHAT WE WOULD CHANGE

The décor is super cool but not necessarily relaxing in its style.

GOOD TO KNOW

The luxurious Rubis suite offers a private hamman and whirlpool. To protect your skin, water in the pool and Jacuzzi is treated with ultraviolet light rather than chlorine. There are yoga and pilates studios and an aquagym on site. The high-tech fitness facilities (not included in treatment prices) include flat screens over each machine and nifty take-home memory sticks that keep track of your workout stats. Personal trainers are available.

CLOSEST COMPS

Dior Institut au Plaza Athénée (Paris); Agua at the Sanderson (London)

Click here for our full-form mobile travel guide, The Purple Passport to Paris