Best place for a massage
When we think of an ideal escape, it often involves a swift vehicle transporting us somewhere far away. At Bella Santé, however, you escape by lying still, very still. The calmness washes over you the instant you step off the elevator. Having transcended the rush and bustle of Newbury Street, you'll find the scents of lavender, lilac, and eucalyptus as soothing to the senses as the feel of your plush robe. But that hardly prepares you for the massage room, where one of 15 massage technicians escorts you to foreign realms of serenity with the touch of her hands. You're paired with a specialist whose skills match your pressure preference, or you can indulge in a specialty session with hot rocks or aromatic accouterments. So while this escape doesn't necessarily involve luggage or time changes, emerging back onto the street from such sublime ecstasy can be more shocking than jet lag.

Bella Santé, 38 Newbury Street, Boston, (617) 424-9950, www.bellasante.com.