It used to be that a stay in a spa hotel meant a few massages and perhaps a facial. Not any longer - the new up-market spa resorts not only have all the latest treatments, from hot stone therapy to Ayurvedic treatments, they also have a few you might not have heard of, including mustard baths.

And though a massage is still the most popular treatment, there is now a huge variety of options, from the Shambala massage at Parrot Cay in the Turks & Caicos given by a former Buddhist monk, to the Adam and Eve his and hers massage at the Soneva Gili in the Maldives.

Both feature in the new Joie de Vivre spa holiday brochure by Carolyn Lodge Travel (01483 272379), which is almost double the size of the previous brochure, as a result of increased demand for relaxing breaks.

'More and more people seem intent on using their holidays not only for relaxation but as an opportunity to restore the balance to their very stressful lives,' said Carolyn Lodge. 'We get more and more enquiries and it's not just for women either - there are a lot of men wanting treatments.'

Included in the collection are recently opened properties such as the Banyan Tree Seychelles, as well as new spas at established properties, such as at the Jamaica Inn, Jamaica, and Little Dix Bay in the British Virgin Islands.

The growing upmarket spa scene also prompted the launch of a new company last month called Essential Escapes (020 7284 3344), which features 34 luxury spas around the world in its brochure. Spoil yourself at the Coco Palm Resort and Spa, opened this month in the Maldives, where a Mandara massage by two therapists encompasses five different massage styles (seven nights' half board £1,565 with flights, massage £65). Or combine spa with ski at the Fairmont Chateau Whistler in Canada, with everything from mustard baths to mud wraps (£995 for seven nights' room only with flights, and mustard bath £95).

Travel agency Co-op Travelcare said it had also noticed a higher presence of spas in long-haul operators' brochures, including Virgin, Kuoni and Tradewinds, as a result of greater demand from travellers.