Vacations are all about replenishing and rejuvenating yourself - but in Bermuda a host of day spas have now moved the bar up a notch or two, offering a variety of `total mind and body experiences'.

Utilising indigenous plants and oils found on the Island, coupled with an understanding of what makes the spirit tick, the oases of calm and tranquillity are turning world-weary souls into re-energised bodies.

A host of tourist accommodations now have their own spas and many welcome visitors as well as their own patrons.

The Fairmont Southampton Princess is leading the way in the new holistic treatments after a massive refurbishment of its spa.

Featuring treatment rooms, a fitness suite, saunas, steam rooms and hot tubs, it also offers couples-only, and his and hers facilities.

Called Willowstream, it joins a select number of Fairmont properties offering a unique range of services.

"It is inspired by the elements to discover the energy within yourself," said Fairmont director of public relations Nancy Hall. "All our experiences are drawn from the elements essential to life."

And to ensure that both men and women are catered for, the company hired a cultural anthropologist to find the difference between men's and women's spa experiences. "Woman go to the spa to relax and re-energise, whereas men go to try something different," she said.

With that in mind, men can have a barbershop facial or try an innovative golf therapy, which, Fairmont claim can actually lower your handicap.

"It includes massage, stretching and acupuncture. We are trying to get it accredited by the PGA, we have done some tests and it can lower your handicap. The massage is based on the muscles used when playing golf, it can increase your energy for the entire round - and hopefully lower your score," said Ms Hall.

An oil called Melissa is used in a bath to calm nerves, relieve tension, increase sleep and lessen the affects of jet lag. An Island inspiration body sorbet uses Bermuda hibiscus and lavender, refreshing the whole body...the list goes on.

Focusing on the whole body, guests are encouraged to relax in sitting areas, drink herbal tea or eat a piece of fruit. And couples can enjoy a side-by-side massage, together with their own washing areas, or they can enjoy some time-out in the single sex areas. The spa is open seven days a week, but the facilities are only open to those people who book treatments.

"It would help everybody if people phoned in advance. We want people to have a relaxing and re-energising experience," said Ms Hall.

Elsewhere in Bermuda, a host of other alternative treatments await you. From couples' mud baths to hot stone experiences.

More and more Island hotels are offering spas, as their guests seek a vacation that offers more than sun, sea and sand.

Lorna Weir, spa supervisor at Ariel Sands, said: "In the 1980s people had to have a gym to go to, now people expect a spa because their lives are much more stressful they want to invest more time and money back in themselves.

"People want to look after themselves. We have a lot of clients who come from New York, who are in high pressure jobs - around 80 percent come because there is a spa here,'' added Lorna.

At Ariel Sands, part owned by actor Michael Douglas, specially-trained therapists give hot stone massages, which originated in Arizona in 1993, and entails imported volcanic rocks heated up and placed over the body, together with a hot oil treatment. It gives a full body experience that is good for the mind and body.

The spa overlooks South Shore, giving guests a fantastic view as their bodies are pampered. With an Island as compact as Bermuda, views are the one thing that come as standard for all guests - and they are free.

At the Newstead Hotel, the vistas are of the Great Sound, providing a relaxing backdrop for some rather energetic treatments.

The Bellissima Day Spa offers a couples treatment that takes you right back to your childhood - mud. Spa director Misty Looby explains: "Couples come in and learn how to apply mud to each other.

"We teach them and then leave them alone to play in the mud - it is great fun."

Doing things together is what vacations are about, and Misty said their most popular treatment is the `couples' massage'.

At Newstead, plants found in the grounds of the hotel become part your treatment. Staff use flora and fauna, such as hibiscus and lavender, to make scrubs and to perfume the spa.

"Many people are looking for a place to relax, they don't want to go too far so they come to Bermuda for special spa packages or just visit for the day," said Misty.

The spas mentioned above, which are a selection of those in Bermuda, are open to the public but ask that guests telephone to make appointments.