There was a time when a good spa was hard to find. Nowadays, they seem to be a dime a dozen. How do we pick one out of the pack? A good spa should go beyond the perfect treatment. Like a dessert, it should be a treat, an indulgence that we never take for granted. To be that, it has to be gift-wrapped and bowed like the perfect package. That means it not only manages to relax and rejuvenate us, but it inspires, enchants and spoils us. The spas below do the trick.

Plaza Athenee, New York

No matter how much you love the hubbub of New York, it's nice to escape into quietude. Do it on the Upper East Side at Plaza Athenee, a posh hotel just steps from Central Park. The hotel has a newly opened spa with Asian-themed treatment rooms and products from Valmont, a Swiss line, and Babor, of German fame.

Opt for a signature treatment like Babor's SeaCreation, a facial performed to the crooning of dolphins — a sound that purportedly slows the aging process. (plaza-athenee.com )

Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel and Spa, Interlaken, Switzerland

At this quintessentially Swiss mountain retreat, relax in the Japanese-focused Sensai Select Spa or the holistic Espa brand. At Sensai, consider soaking in a Japanese tub or surrendering to a Japanese massage-focused facial.

In the Espa spa, book some time and tell the therapist what you need the most. (victoria-jungfrau.ch)

The PuLi Hotel and Spa, Shanghai

After arriving in Shanghai, take a moment to recalibrate at the PuLi Hotel's PuLi Spa. Located in the heart of the JingAn District, this luxury hotel devotes its entire third floor to spa and fitness.

Operated by the Anatara group, the spa borrows from China's healing past and ancient therapies from other regions of the East. Best bet: The Traditional Chinese Massage uses techniques such as tapping, pulling, pushing and acupressure to restore the energy flow. (thepuli.com)

Mokara Hotel and Spa, San Antonio

You once knew this Riverwalk hotel and spa as the Watermark. Now rebranded and hoisted to an even grander mode of luxury by the Omni Group, Mokara continues to offer stylish treatments with a Texas tinge. Spa opulence begins in the bedrooms when nightly turndown delivers lavender spray and sleep masks. A bath butler draws your bath with signature bath salts — upon request. At the four-star-rated spa, swim in the heated rooftop pool and then unwind in one of the 18 treatment rooms with a Texas Tingle Body Wrap. (mokarahotels.com)

The Spa at the Waikiki Edition, Honolulu

To relax in the islands, head to Hawaii's most talked-about lifestyle hotel: the Waikiki Edition. Recently opened, the Edition brand is the love child of Ian Schrager and the Marriott hotel brand.

Efficient but edgy, it's for hip travelers who want substance. Work out in the Surf & Bikini Bootcamp, which takes guests beneath the Maunawili Falls. Then check into the spa next to the Private Sunrise Beach.

Choose from a variety of ecologically sensitive treatments. How about a nontoxic manicure or an Oxygen Infusion facial? (editionhotels.com)

Jumby Bay, a Rosewood Resort, Antigua

What could be more romantic? Find utter seclusion on this private island just two miles off the coast of Antigua. A sybarite's joy, this elegant classic boasts the requisite sugary beaches and see-through cobalt sea.

Pool attendants spoil with frozen grapes and frozen cheesecake. But the real treat is the Sense Spa, a Rosewood Spa, which sits oceanfront and incorporates island spirit into every treatment. Go for the Sea of Life facial, which includes a cranial-facial massage, or the Island Embrace, which uses algae to scrub and revive the body. (jumbybayresort.com)

The Homestead, Hot Springs, Va.

One of the nation's most historic spas, this one urges guests to join in the centuries-old tradition of "taking the waters" at the historic hot springs of the Jefferson Pools, which celebrates its 150 anniversary this year.

Famous for its mineral springs, the spa also offers therapeutic hydrotherapies, such as its Signature Soak bath, which combines a selection of salts created with the indigenous fragrances of honeysuckle, Virginia orchard or Allegheny raspberry with mineral waters. (thehomestead.com)

Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin

A shoreline sanctum we can call our own, this award-winning destination spa doesn't rest on its laurels. Always evolving, it pampers with bells on. Go for the day, an hour — or a week. Take advantage of an immense spa menu, so varied it feels like a whirlwind trip around the world.

From Asian tapping techniques to exfoliation solutions born from the spa's renowned herb garden, treatments here never fail to inspire and to channel serenity. (lakeaustinspa.com)