The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel St. Louis, Saint Louis

Few phrases suggest opulence so readily as "the Four Seasons," with the possible exception of "the gold-plated Four Seasons." A forerunner of the hotel spa concept, the Four Seasons has earned a global reputation for unmatched luxury. The Four Seasons St. Louis is no exception. In the words of Director of Sales and Marketing Tim Powers, the St. Louis spa is "one of the best spas that we have in the company," and the evidence is plain in the lavishly appointed treatment rooms, steam rooms, whirlpools, and couple's suite.

Not surprisingly, the practitioners have developed experiences unique to their spas. The Four Seasons signature facial uses high-tech discoveries to lengthen the life of the cells in the skin. Taking all that into consideration, it becomes clear why the Four Seasons St. Louis earned a place on Travel + Leisure's 2015 list of the top 500 best hotels in the world.