Beer baths, cactus massages, and other unusual spa treatments

Fancy a beer – a bath of beer, that is? How about a cactus massage? As travellers seek one-of-a-kind experiences they can’t find at home, spas and wellness centres are responding to demand with increasingly bizarre spa treatments that may sound unconventional, yet no less restorative. They’re sharing new takes on time-honoured spa wisdom, creating treatments that go beyond a standard massage, and coming up with fun and quirky concepts that look great on Instagram. Whatever flavour of wellness seeker you are, we’ve got a unique spa treatment somewhere that’s just right for you.

Cactus massage, Vietnam

A cactus massage sounds rather uncomfortable, but fans tout it as a relaxing cure-all for a multitude of skin complaints. This treatment originated in Mexico, but in Asia, you can try it at Nha Trang’s Clover Spa . The sharp spines are – of course – removed, and the fleshy stems are gently boiled. They are then sliced widthways, revealing the plant’s vascular tissue – a reservoir of skin-friendly nutrients.

With similar healing properties to aloe vera, this natural remedy is highly hydrating without being oily. It’s also packed with vitamins and antioxidants, making it particularly suitable for anyone with sunburned, dry or damaged skin. The cactus is rubbed gooey side-down using firm pressure to help boost skin circulation.  

Hay bath, Italy

Hay baths have been a popular wellness treatment in the Dolomites for centuries. The warm, moistened hay, harvested from the region’s Alpine meadows, helps to boost circulation and stimulate sweating. The various native wildflowers and herbs are also said to have skin-soothing properties, leaving you with a healthy glow.

Hotel Heubad has been offering hay baths since 1901, and promises to fully convert you onto this hard-to-find traditional practice. At the Heubad spa , you’ll spend 20 minutes covered to your neck in warm hay. Then, you’re transferred to a comfy daybed and wrapped in a woollen blanket for a further 30 minutes as you slowly cool down. 

Beer spa, Europe 

Many parts of Europe are known for being plentiful in beer. So plentiful in fact, that you can even bathe in it. People have been extolling the health benefits of beer baths since the Middle Ages, and today beer spas are a popular tourist attraction in European cities such as Prague, Brussels, and Budapest.

The exact method varies slightly depending on where you go, but expect to spend an hour or so splashing in a beer-filled onsen-style tub, with your very own tap from which you can pour as much beer (to drink) as you like. Beer is rich in Vitamin B, zinc and enzymes, which in turn leaves you with glowing skin and shiny hair. Try Beer Spa Natural in Prague, or Good Beer Spa in Brussels for a frolic in the fizz.  

Hot sand onsen, Japan 

How do you feel about being buried up to your neck in sand? Suna-mushi, or sand bathing, is a popular wellness practice in certain coastal areas of Japan, particularly in Kagoshima prefecture, where black volcanic sand beaches and hot springs abound.  

The process takes around anywhere between 10 and 30 minutes: wearing a cotton robe and shaded by a parasol, you lie in a shallow depression in the sand and an attendant shovels sand on you until your body is fully covered. The process is said to help you detoxify through sweating. Try sand bathing at Ibusuki onsen . If it’s not your thing, you’ll also find more conventional hot springs nearby.  

Synaesthesia, UK 

Quirky eco skincare brand Lush is famous for its colourful cosmetics, but did you know it also has day spas across the world? Its signature Synaesthesia treatment is an 80-minute, multi-sensory journey that is best described as part-spiritual reading, part-theatrical performance. To set the course for their treatment, customers are asked to choose from a list of words – each representing a different scent and procedure. 

The massage begins with a flourish (think dry ice or other fun theatrics), and is set to soothing, atmospheric sounds and lighting. It’s an out-of-this-world treatment that will leave you feeling truly transported. Lush spas can be found throughout the UK, as well as in Tokyo, Paris, Munich and Seoul.