Welcome to Checking In, a new review series in which our editors and contributors rate the best new (and revamped) luxury hotels based on a rigorous—and occasionally tongue-in-cheek—10-point system: Each question answered “yes” gets one point. Will room service bring you caviar? Does your suite have its own butler? Does the bathroom have a bidet? Find out below.

In three words: Transformative wellness bastion

What’s the deal?

Palace Merano, one of the world’s top medical spas, is more than just massages and treatments. The wellness center wants to extend your life—one focused on renewal and regeneration from within to live that life to the fullest. (after all, we’re nothing without the good health of our body, mind, and spirit). And it’s all housed inside a glamorous 120-year-old building sat beneath the towering Alps in northern Italy, long a retreat for aristocrats and dignitaries alike—and now, of course, folks devoted to that seemingly elusive goal of reaching the pinnacle of health.

The property brings that slippery ideal much closer to reality, and leading the charge is its Revital Method. The program is personalized for each and every guest that steps through its massive doors, using a combination of functional medicine and traditional Chinese medicine to boost cellular regeneration, slow aging, and give your body a reset that it likely desperately needs, partly thanks to outside stressors, poor diet, and other harmful impacts. This rejuvenation is more than just physical: It’s meant to change your entire outlook on health and wellness, leading you into a new era where your health is at the forefront of, well, everything. That does mean dabbling in a detox (re: a complete factory reset on your body via whole, nutritionally dense foods) in the name of longevity, but the process is well worth it.

Palace Merano has also stepped into another physical arena as of late: The team there has partnered with the Winter Olympics in Merano, giving you a true one-of-a-kind access to the Games. That includes exclusive tickets to events as well as transportation to and fro, all while you can still experience the spa’s myriad programs.

The best room:

The best room is actually located next door to the Palace Merano’s and its grand yellow exterior. Maur Castle, a lovely chateau that dates to 1285, is home to the Castle Rooftop Deluxe Suite. The two-bedroom accommodation (spanning nearly 1,500 square) was recently renovated to blend its history with more modern sensibilities: Think stunning wooded floors, ornate carpets, and striking artwork abound. It also overlooks the mountains looming in the not-so-far-off horizon, as well the property’s gardens, via its private terrace. The bathrooms are dripping in pink Portuguese marble, and there’s plenty of space to unwind in between treatments. (Plus, you get access to the spa via a private elevator.)

The Rundown 

Did they greet you by name at check-in? 
Yes; in fact, everywhere I roamed, the lovely staff knew exactly who I was and what my schedule was for the day.

Welcome drink ready and waiting when you arrived? (Bonus point if it wasn’t just fruit juice)

 Yes, though for coffee aficionados out there, be warned: You won’t find a drop of caffeine here. So many of the lovely drinks on offer are, in fact, fruit juice, or tea that is actually made by the hotel itself.

Private butler for every room? 
No private butler, but one really isn’t necessary when you have your own doctor, dietitian, and bioenergetic specialist on standby (not to mention the daily treatments from your masseuse). Consider this trio the keepers of your wellness experience, the ones who dictate your diet, decipher data from your tests, alI in the name of longevity, a rather worthy endeavor. After all, your time at Palace Merano is in their hands, and I found my team to be informative and supportive, giving me tips and tricks that have stuck with me even after I departed the grounds.

Is the sheet thread count higher than 300?
The linens are made by a local company using the highest-quality cotton, so you can rest assured you’ll be sleeping well.

Is there a heated floor in the bathroom? What about a bidet? 
Of course there is a bidet (this is Europe, after all), but no heated floors. Though if you need to warm up a tad, the array of saunas on-site can fix that in a jiff.

Are the toiletries full-sized?
Your in-room beauty ritual at Palace Merano has been whipped by the team at Piroche, a cosmetics company based right in Merano itself. The toiletries carry a serene, fresh scent, one that carries over from shampoo and conditioner to body lotion and more.

Is there a private pool for the room’s exclusive use?
No private pool here, but we doubt you’ll be lacking for swimming space with the property’s massive indoor and outdoor pools. Plus, you have a bevy of saunas, cold plunges, and a hammam at your disposal, not to mention the spa treatments on the docket. Each day under the Detox program, you also undergo a hydro-aromatherapy session (where you lounge in a tub while jets massage your body), a phyto-mud wrap, and a massage that’s focused on detox (using an iteration of cupping, a practice often used by athletes). The massive wellness space is state of the art, and basically incudes every possible treatment you can think of.

Is there caviar on the room-service menu? 
The menu here is essentially all plant-based per the Revital Method, so caviar is more elusive than you’re used to. But then, this isn’t your average trip, is it?

Are the restaurants worth their salt? 
There are two dining spots at Palace Merano: a bright atrium where you’ll enjoy breakfast and lunch, and a gilded dining room for the evening, complete with a harpist or a lovely pianist. Frankly, it’s simply impressive how much the culinary team is able to do with so little ingredients—after all, there are only so many items that fit within the parameters of the program. But the team whips together three courses for lunch and dinner each day filled to brim with veggies, including dishes such as soy spaghetti with coconut sauce and red curry; vegetarian paella with quinoa, and a pumpkin, sweet potato, and leek soup. The menu rotates based on the daily, too, so you don’t feel any sort of culinary monotony.

Now, you may be wondering about the detox itself and any side effects. Going into the program, this was my biggest concern; I’m a big carb gal and a big snacker. But I was plenty surprised: The food was delicious, and, perhaps more shockingly, actually kept me full, even though I was eating less than normal. The goal isn’t weight loss, though I did lose about four pounds during my four-day stay, and I ditched any bloating I had from travel almost immediately after I began the program. It certainly reset my culinary inclinations.

Do you want to spend Friday night in the lobby bar?
The “bar” here is a rather peaceful respite that is in keeping with the rest of the property, though you won’t find any booze in that hallowed hall. Instead, it’s a place to continue lowering your cortisol, accompanied by a bevy of mocktails whipped up by the bartender John (who speaks six languages and is always ready for a chat.) Try the Revital out for size, a spicy, antioxidant-packed punch loaded with turmeric, ginger, lemon, and cardamom.

Would you buy the hotel if you could? 
Having Palace Merano’s powerhouse arsenal of treatments, doctors, and culinary team on hand would certainly be worth splashing down some cash, not to mention the building’s stunning interiors. The spot’s stunning mountain scenery is simply the cherry on top.

The Verdict

It’s easy to see why people trek back to Palace Merano year after year; the property has a whopping 80 percent return rate among its clientele. It truly is an epicenter of longevity, a wellness initiative that has taken hold on the luxury industry (and the world, for that matter). But the team here is doing much more that adding fodder to the fad: They truly want to help you succeed on your quest for health enlightenment, pulling out all the best practices to help you better yourself inside and out. And the results are obvious: After a mere four days practicing the Revital Method, I felt lighter, cleansed, more in tune with my body, and was equipped with practices that I could take with me into my normal, non-detox life back in the Big Apple. As Palace Merano CEO Stefano Plotegher told me, “Life is joy.” And this endeavor wants to help you live it to the fullest (and healthiest) you possibly can—for as long as you can.

Rates: From around $3,600 (€3,050)for a four-day Detox & Longevity stay under the Revital Method, accommodation not included.

Score: 8

What Our Score Means: 
1-3: Fire your travel agent if they suggest you stay here. 
4-6: Solid if you’re in a pinch—but only if you’re in a pinch. 

7-8: Very good. We’d stay here again and recommend it without qualms. 
9-10: Forget booking a week. When can we move in permanently?