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A spa vacation is a significant investment. What can you do to make the most of your spa vacation? Here are some spa travel tips that will help you have a spa vacation that meets all your expectations.

* There are several different types of spas . Make sure you understand the differences between a destination spa , which offers an all-inclusive "immersion" experience, and a resort spa, which allows you to sample as much or as little of the spa experience as you want.

* Find out exactly what the property means by “spa.” You may be thinking a multi-million dollar facility, and they’re thinking a Jacuzzi and one treatment room. Look for photos on their website. Find a description of the facilities, including the number of treatment rooms.
* Book your spa treatments when you make your reservations. Don’t wait until you get there! If you wait, you may not get the times or treatments you want…and on weekends you might have a hard time getting in at all.

* If the spa has lots of classes and programs, check their schedule when you’re making your spa treatment appointments. If there is a lecture or class you really want to attend, make sure there are no scheduling conflicts.

* If you want to get the rest and renewal benefits of a spa vacation, try to stay at least three nights.

* If you’re going to a destination spa like Canyon Ranch, stay at a less expensive b & b or motel the night before, then head over in the morning to get a full day of activities in . They’ll let you stash your bags and use a locker til check-in time. You can use the same strategy on the way out.

* If it’s a destination spa with lots of programming, remember, you can’t do everything. Don’t try. Pick a focus based on what you need – pampering and pleasure; health and wellness; spiritual journey, or fitness – and let that guide your choice of activities.

* Arrive at least 30 minutes before your scheduled treatment so you don't have to rush. Take advantage of the lavish facilities that most destination spa and resort spas have, including saunas, steam baths, and hot and cold plunge pools.

* If you are pregnant or have any other medical condition, let the spa know so they can suggest proper treatments. Pregnant guests should avoid any treatments that involve heat or otherwise raise body temperature.

* Consider taking a fitness class or getting a good workout prior to having a treatment.

* Leave your cell phone and pager behind when you go to the actual spa. A ringing cell phone in the spa is rude to others and defeats the purpose for you. Try to give yourself a break from the outside world.

1) Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona.
Canyon Ranch is the ultimate “wellness spa” where people jumpstart a healthy new lifestyle. The staff and programming is unparalled, with medical doctors, exercise physiologists, movement therapists, etc. It also has fabulous facilities and outdoor programs. The Tucson property accommodates 240 guests in adobe cottages on 150 acres in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.
2) Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Lenox, Massachusetts.
The Lenox Canyon Ranch serves the East Coast with the same commitment to wellness and healthy living as the Tucson property. Set on 120 woodland acres in Western Massachusetts, Canyon Ranch Lenox accommodates 200 guests in 126 newly remodeled guest rooms and suites.
3) The Golden Door, Escondido, California.
The Golden Door in Escondido is a woman-only spa that serves no more than 40 guests. Wooden walkways link a series of serene garden courtyards inspired by the ancient inns of Japan. It has 377 acres of Japanese gardens, orchards and waterfalls and a Japanese bathhouse. This spa emphasizes individualized service and guiding guests toward a life balance of mind, body and spirit. Men are welcome during men-only weeks.
4) Miraval Life in Balance, Catalina, Arizona.
Set on 135 acres at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Miraval has 106 adobe-style casitas, most with private patios. buildings and great views. While it offers spa cuisine, it also serves alcohol and wine. Its signature programs is the “Equine Experience,” where working with a horse gives you insight into how you deal with people -- and life.
5) Mii Amo, Sedona, Arizona.
Bordering a national forest two hours from Phoenix, Mii Amo is a village of six adobe casitas near the Spa, within walking distance of the larger Enchantment Resort. The hottest service here is an “Aura-Soma” reading of your life based on the colored bottles you choose from more than 100. Read a review of Mii Amo .
6) Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas.
The food is so good here you'll have a hard time believing the calorie counts. With just 40 rooms it's easy to meet people, but the spa is lavish. Outdoor treatment spaces with screened porches, garden tents, poolside cabanas and a private couple's suite. Separate men's and women's wet areas, two swimming pools, native gardens, cascading streams and fountains, and more than 100 spa treatments. Read a review of Lake Austin Spa Resort
7) Red Mountain Spa, Ivins, Utah.
If you love adventure and are inspired by Southwestern scenery, this is the spa for you. Try rock climbing, go kayaking or mountain bike through rugged terrain. The heart of the spa is its hiking program and outstanding outdoors guides. It’s also a beautifully designed resort, with unusually good spa cuisine and a wine list. And it's one of the most affordable spas in the Top Ten. Read a review of Red Mountain Spa
8) Green Valley Spa, St. George, Utah.
This spa is just a few miles from Red Mountain Spa and has a reputation of being a little more luxurious and pampering. Right on the edge of both town and public lands, it has an extensive hiking program. It also offers Tennis College on its 15 outdoor and four indoor courts, and has a Golf Learning Center. You can play on any of six nearby courses.
9) Cal-a-Vie, Vista, California.
This elegant weight-loss spa is set on 200 rolling acres north of San Diego. Its 24 guest cottages are decorated in elegant European style. Most people come to stay for an entire week and eat spa cuisine and follow a highly programmed exercise agenda, but shorter stays are possible It has both co-ed and women-only weeks throughout the year.
10) The Greenhouse, Arlington, Texas.
This women-only spa has been around since the sixties and has a loyal following. It serves only 39 guests at a time. It is a weight-loss spa with programmed activities and 1,200 calories per day . It also periodically offers a special “Fat Flush” program.
Birdwing Spa in Litchfield, Minnesota. Just 70 miles from Minneapolis, this cheap destination spa is set on 300 acres with a private lake. Lots of hiking, biking and canoeing. Guests stay in a chalet or a converted red barn with guest suites. A week’s stay starts at $1,725, with one spa service a day. 320-693-6064

Coolfont Resort, Berkeley Springs, West Virginia.Located less than two hours from Washingston D.C., this woodland resort has camping, log cabins and alpine lodges It offers a five-day, midweek package (Sunday through Thursday) that includes one massage per day for $899 (double occupancy). Dinner and breakfast included. 800-888-8768.

Echo Valley Ranch and Spa, Jesmond, Clinton, British Columbia, Canada. If you like horseback riding, this is the spa for you. This is a working ranch where you can help collect eggs, or go get a Thai treatment. Three-night packages start at $864, including some treatments. (250) 459-2386

The Heartland Spa, Gilman, Illinois.. Just ninety miles south of Chicago, this health and fitness retreat is set on a 32-acre in farm country. Features include a spring-fed lake and a High Ropes course. Once a dairy farm, this spa offers quaint accommodations. At midweek, rates start at $430 per person (double occupancy) for two nights and one massage each. 815-683-2182

Hills Health Ranch, 108 Mile Ranch, British Columbia.. Situated in the middle of 20,000 acres of ranchland, this spa specializes in weight loss, hiking and horsebeack riding. A two-night "Ride n' Spa" with horseback riding, meals and one massage is $473 per person. (double occupancy. 800-668-2233,

New Age Health Spa, Neversink, New York. This is a friendly, rustic destination spa in the Catskills, just two hours from New York City. Doubles start at $194 per person, but there are frequent two-for-one deals and packages. (800) 682-4348. Read my review of New Age Health Spa.

The Oaks at Ojai, Ojai, California. This is a converted inn right on Ojai's main drag, with a real weight-loss focus. Rates start at $169 per night, per person (double occupancy). It's about a 90 minute drive from Los Angeles. (800-753-6257

Tennessee Fitness Spa, Waynesboro, Tennessee. . Located 95 miles from Nashville, in the lush woods of Tennessee, this is a small, cheap spa, especially if you bunk four to a room ($650 a week). Everyone gets a fitness evaluation and goes on a 1200-1400 calorie diet. Chalet-style accommodations are simple. Closed December to early March. (800) 753-6257

Copperhood Spa, Shandaken, New York. Set right on The Esopus river in the Northern Catskills, near Woodstock, this well-kept inn offers lots of outdoor activities and classes. A five-night, mid-week spa package starts at $1049 (double-occupancy) and includes a $45 per day spa allowance.

Deerfield Spa in the Pocono Mountains in Stroudsburg. Pennsylvania., This small, homey spa on 12 acres in the Pocono Mountains has a weight loss focus. It accommodates just 33 guests at a time. Daily rates start at $150 per person. Closed November through early April.

Spa Eastman in Montreal, Canada.Forty-four rooms are spread over seven pavilions It has many packages, including a three-night "naturopathic package" that includes a naturopathic consultation, hot stone massage and body treatments that starts at $725 CND per person (double occupancy).
Massage, Facial And Body Treatment Basics
Spa treatments are basically the services that a spa provides.
The most popular service and the best place to start is therapeutic massage, the manual manipulation of the body's muscles. Massage has been around for thousands of years and has a number of health benefits.

The second most popular service is the facial, which involves skin analysis, deep cleansing, massage, "extractions" (removal of blackheads and other impurities), toning, and moisturizing.

Body treatments are basically facials for the whole body. The most popular body treatment is a salt glow or body scrub, an exfoliating treatment where the therapist rubs off the outermost layer of dead skin cells. This will leave your skin feeling velvety soft.
The body scrub is often combined with a detoxifying or hydrating body wrap. Products like mud, algae, or seaweed detoxify because they stimulate your blood circulation and lymphatic system. This helps your body's own ability to carry away waste products. Rich cream or oil softens and condition the skin, so it's a hydrating treatment.

Most (but not all) spas offer spa manicures and spa pedicures . Day spas with salons offer hair cutting and styling services.

Once you familiarize yourself with the basic services at a spa, you might want to try different types of massage like Thai massage , hot stone massage or reflexology. Talk to your esthetician about what facial services or body treatments would be appropriate for your skin type.

Remember, the most important thing you can do to enjoy your trip to the day spa is arrive at least 15 minutes before your treatment is scheduled to begin. That way you can check in, change into your robe, and start to relax. If the spa has facilities like a sauna, steam bath, or hot tub, arrive even earlier.

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