Destination spas and wellness hotels are ideal locations for anyone who wants to combine a vacation with a health retreat. And who doesn’t want to come home for their trip looking and feeling better? Spas and wellness resorts offer a wide variety of therapies that soothe and heal the body and soul while jump-starting revitalization and fitness programs. With numerous spas offering special holiday discounts, the winter holiday season is the perfect time to seek out a destination spa.
Choosing Your Destination Spa
The optimal destination for your getaway depends on your schedule and your budget. Locating a spa within a few hours of your hometown gives you the opportunity to drive there and have a car available for any side trips. Look for both destination spas and hotels offering spa amenities when planning local trips. Shop around and compare the cost of spa services for hotel guests to the prices of spa destinations offering spa therapies. Cooking classes, yoga sessions, included meals, fitness centers, and consultations also need to be weighed in. A more expensive destination that offers more desirable services may be more worthwhile. Consider what services you would actually use and what exactly you want to get out of your stay.
If flying to your destination is required, be flexible. Flying on a Wednesday is often the least expensive option. Check with your travel agent or research deals online to find special offers that combine airfare with lodging.
Climate and available activities present another consideration. Consider if you want to spend your time outside of the spa hitting the ski slopes, trying your luck in casinos, or exploring sunny beaches. If you prefer strolling down nearby streets and visiting galleries, Santa Fe is an ideal destination whereas a number of resorts in both Aspen and Beaver Creek, Colorado are perfect for snowboard enthusiasts.
Solo or Family-Style
If you’d rather travel alone, there are numerous wellness centers and destination resorts worldwide that specialize in anti-aging techniques, weight loss and revitalization. Canyon Ranch in Tucson, Arizona and The California Health and Longevity Institute in Los Angeles are ideal destinations for solo adventurers. Find out what accommodations and spa programs and classes are available for singles, couples, groups, and families. A girlfriend group or a solo traveler might feel out of place at a dedicated family spa resort. If your pet is your favorite traveling companion, found out if your destination spa welcomes pets and offers massages or other services for them.
The Best 2010 Destinations
The Complete Retreat near Malaga Spain is a luxury spa retreat and detoxification center that emphasizes a living foods diet that promotes the body’s alkalinity. The Complete Retreat follows the principles of Florida’s Hippocrates Health Institute.
The Hippocrates Health Institutes in West Palm Beach, Florida and Mayacamas Ranch, California offer a hard-core approach to health restoration for individuals recovering from cancer and other serious illnesses or who want to work their way back to good health. The center offers spa therapies, saunas, exercise classes, blood work analysis, consultations with health professionals, and lectures with an emphasis on the importance of diet in health.
Destination Spa has gathered information on discounted holiday spa trips in the United States and abroad with a wide range of special offerings, including facilities with golf and horseback riding. Take advantage of the winter holidays to restore your health and beauty while you relax.
Elaine Moore - I'm a retired medical technologist and medical writer with more than 30 years experience working in hospital laboratories. Currently, I ...
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