Turns out, Cleopatra had it right when she slathered her face with masks of real gold to look young. It's said that the precious metal actually penetrates the skin and helps eliminate fine lines and wrinkles. Taking a hint from the Queen of the Nile, today's spa-goers can get the ultimate in beauty bling with the UMO 24K Gold Facial at Veronica Spa and Skin Care Center in Malibu, Calif. This pricey $400 pampering session, a favorite among the spa's celebrity clientele, truly allows spa-goers to strike beauty gold.

For more information: Veronica Spa and Skin Care Center

It should come as no surprise that the most romantic city in the world would be the home of an über-enticing spa treat. At Casanova Spa at Hotel Cipriani in Venice, Italy, relaxation-seekers who can't get enough of the city's sights can set sail with a Gondola Massage, performed in a private nook in one of Venice's alluring lagoons.

For more information: Hotel Cipriani

At Sampuoton Spa in Selangor, Malaysia, swimming with the fishes takes on a different meaning. There, trained therapists take a back seat to a school of tiny fish that feed on dead skin. The merry band of Garra Rufa Obtusa, a breed imported from Turkey, nibble on the brave spa-goers who submerge themselves in their thermal tanks. A pain-free experience, this ticklish treat results in smooth, healthy skin and a new appreciation for this hungry class of carp that has been informally dubbed the Doctor Fish.

For more information: Sampuoton Spa

Being landlocked by the desert doesn't stop spa-goers at La Quinta Healing Arts Spa in California from enjoying the motion of the ocean. The Palm Springs-area holistic healing center offers Virtual Dolphin Therapy, complete with a vibrating table, an above-head plasma screen featuring swimming dolphins and the sounds of echolocation piped through headphones. Clients further feel the ocean-friendly vibe by clutching a stuffed vibrating dolphin to their chest during the service.

For more information: La Quinta Healing Arts Spa

Though Steven Spielberg's big-screen geisha failed to mention this in her memoirs, Kabuki actors and geisha in Japan have been smearing their faces with enzyme-filled nightingale excrement for years to keep their complexions clear, white and smooth. Taking a hint from these lovely faced lads and lasses, Diamond Spa at Diamond Hawaii Resort & Spa in Maui begins all featured facials with a coating of dehydrated (and fragrance-free) nightingale dung, which apparently provides spa-goers with flawless skin.

For more information: Diamond Hawaii Resort & Spa

While it's not the ideal stress reliever for squeamish spa-goers, knotted muscles slither away following a snake massage performed in Northern Israel by therapist Ada Barak at her eponymous spa. For about $70, she'll sic her six non-venomous serpents on clients' aching muscles. As the snakes slip and slide down the spine, tension supposedly slithers away.

Relaxation is the point of the Hakali Massage at Apuane Spa at the Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita in Mexico. The treatment provides a distinctly Mexican flair using spine-free cactus paddles to massage in a blend of nopal, a prickly pear cactus, and pulque, an alcohol made from the agave plant and a relative of modern-day tequila.

For more information: Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita

Detox is on tap for spa-goers who take a heavenly hops soak at the spa found at the Chodovar Family brewery in Chodova Plana, Czech Republic. Guests can take a dip in a dark beer bath while downing a pint. Along with the obvious shot of liquid happiness, the bath is said to increase circulation and aid in detoxification. The glass of non-pasteurized Rock Lager that spa-goers tip back also includes an active yeast culture that supposedly does wonders for the digestive system. Bottoms up!

For more information: Chodova Plana

At Qua Spa at Caesar's Atlantic City, relaxation-seekers with deep pockets soon learn that 10 hands are better than two when it comes to spa-ing. The $5,000 session, which requires 24-hours notice, is an indulgent experience that includes a head-to-toe massage courtesy of four therapists, during which time a fifth therapist performs a facial. Post treatment, five-person pampering further pays off with a $1,000 gift set that includes a designer bag, which is a handoff any fashion fanatic will be happy to grab.

For more information: Qua Spa