1. Relaxing with reptiles

Ophidiophobia, or the fear of snakes, is considered by mental health professionals to be one of the most common phobias out there. Since the dawn of time people’s first instinct has been to recoil at the sight of a slithering snake.

But at Ada Barak’s Carnivorous Plant Farm in northern Israel snakes are meant to soothe.

For about $80 you can treat yourself to snake massage. Barak will watch over you letting her slinky serpents glide along your back and your legs.

The size of the snakes depends on the type of massage you’re after. Looking for a deep tissue dig? Then a Florida king snake could be your dream masseuse. The deep kneading technique is supposed to be especially soothing. The smaller milk and corn snakes are used for light, relaxing rubdowns. You’ll be relieved to know that none of the snakes at Barak’s spa are venomous.

2. A tub full of take-out

While chowing down on the world’s most popular microwavable meal might bring back fond memories of your lazy university days, the Japanese have their love of the ramen noodle to new heights.

The Yunessun spa in Japan gives visitors a chance to soak their tired muscles in a tub filled the skinny, slippery noodles. Spa official say taking a dip in a noodle bath is good for health claiming ingredients in the broth like pepper collagen help increase the bather’s metabolism and cleanse the skin.

Located in the Japanese hot spring town, Hakone, the ramen noodle dip is not the first bizaare bath Yunessun spa has offered. At one point a “curry dip” was on the list of services and today guests can enjoy green tea, coffee and red wine baths.

4. Chocolate dip

It’s no secret chocolate is one of the most beloved sweet treats on the planet. People have been eating, sipping and dipping fruit in the heavenly cocoa-based dessert for centuries.

Now, you can smother the tempting treat all over yourself. The Spa at the Hershey Hotel located at the Hersheypark in Pennsylvania, the ultimate chocolate lovers getaway, offers a variety of creamy chocolate treatments.

Affectionately known as The Chocolate Spa guests can spend an afternoon pampering themselves with chocolate body scrubs, facials, cocoa facials and even kick their feet up for a soak in a whipped chocolate.

4. Cactus calm

Ancient and modern peoples alike have admired the strange beauty of the cactus for thousands of years, but most have kept their distance. That’s because many species of cacti are covered with rough thorns making them painful to touch.

But at the spa at the Four Seasons resort at Punta Mita Mexico the cactus plant is used to help visitors relax.

Hakali, a rejuvenating type of Mexican massage, uses a warm meringue made of cactus, tuna (the blossom of the cactus), and pulque (an alcoholic beverage made from the fermented sap of the maguey plant) that is applied to the skin using cactus paddies.

Known for its healing properties, cactus helps remove toxins and rehydrate the skin leaving you refreshed and rejuvenated.

5. Lunar lady

No natural occurring phenomenon has drummed up more superstition than the full moon.

From teenage werewolves to increased crime rates, most people believe the full moons lunar energy makes us at least a little loony.

The Miiamo destination spa in Sedona, Arizona is tapping into the magic of the moon offering patrons a once a month, the treatment is available only during the full moon, relaxing experience designed to shed negative energy.

The $250 treatment named Spirit of the Full Moon has guests begin with identifying and writing down thoughts or feelings they’re looking to release. Afterwards they’re treated to a scalp massage, designed to free the mind from tension, a body massage using wild Arizona sage infused with light from the full moon. The ritual ends with a foot massage using frankincense.

–By Alex Weber

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