Find the Right Spa Vacation
Written by VacationIdea.com Travel Editors.
In order to be able to select the right spa vacation from the options available today, it is important to understand the different types of spas and the services they provide. You can visit a destination spa where your entire stay is centered around spa and fitness activities, or stay at a resort with spa facilities where you can combine spa going with other vacation activities. This articles explains the benefits and properties of each type of spa to help you plan your spa vacation.
Destination spas are full-service wellness centers whose main purpose is to enhance their guests' physical and mental wellbeing. Guests check in for a number of days and participate in a series of fitness classes and lifestyle improvement educational programs. Destination spas come in many flavors. Some spas, like the world-famous Golden Door Spa in California, offer programs exclusively for women or exclusively for men.
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Canyon Ranch Health Resort in Tucson offers more than 50 fitness classes and activities daily, including tennis, hiking, biking, yoga, tai chi, chi gong and meditation. For those interested in weight loss and healthy eating, the resort offers private consultation, workshops and healthy cooking classes. |
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Among the benefits offered by destination spas is healthy spa cuisine. Expert chefs prepare flavorful low-fat meals using fresh ingredients, often grown at the spa's own organic garden. Guests are invited to participate in healthy cooking workshops. You can learn about healthy eating and take that knowledge home once you leave the resort.
Destination spas feature a wide selection of classes, including Yoga, tennis, hiking, Tai Chi, meditation and dancing. If you would like to play golf, the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California offers a par-70 championship golf course. If you are interested in gardening, Rancho La Puerta just introduced a hands-on gardening program. Throughout the year, destination spas offer specialized programs covering a variety of health issues, such as stress management or smoking cessation. In the evenings, guests can join a workshop, listen to a guest speaker or socialize with other spa guests.
When choosing from different destination spas, you have to consider the length of stay. Most spas offer week-long programs and welcome new guests on a specific day of the week. Other spas, like the Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires let you stay for as few as three nights. Finally, browse some pictures and decide what type of setting you prefer: ocean, desert, country, city or mountain.
Another type of vacation spas are hotel and resort spas. They are located within a resort and are intended to supplement other resort offerings. Many full-service resorts have recently added a spa complex to attract more guests. Services typically offered at resort spas include spa treatments, fitness programs and spa cuisine.
Resort and hotel spas are a good choice for vacationers interested in exploring many different resort offerings, such as golf, tennis and beaches. Resort spas are also more practical if you are traveling with a family where not all members are interested in spa activities. You can use our search tool to find resorts with spas.
Other types of spas include mineral springs spas, cruise ship spas and day spas. Mineral spring spas are centered around a natural source of mineral water used in hydrotherapy treatments. The oldest spa structure in America, developed around mineral spring waters, is located in Virginia at The Homestead. If you are interested in mineral springs spas, consider visiting a European spa.
Destination spas provide the most complete mind and body health experience. The week-long program will keep your mind focused on healthy living. You will learn how to prepare and eat more nutritious and healthy food and take that knowledge home with you to improve your lifestyle. Resort and hotel spas, on the other hand, are a good choice if you want to combine a spa experience with other vacation activities. Any spa vacation you choose will help you relax, rejuvenate and experience something new.
Finding Out More:
Things to consider when choosing your spa vacation:- Why are you taking a spa vacation: to relax, exercise, learn to eat healthy or get pampered?
- What vacation activities are you interested in: golf, tennis, hiking, fishing or museums and cultural sites?
- Will you be going alone or traveling with somebody?
- Do you like fully scheduled vacations or do you prefer to be on your own?
- What type of setting do you prefer: ocean, desert, country, city, mountains?
- How long is your vacation? Many destination spas offer only week-long programs.
Search for more destination spas or resorts with spas.
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Written By the Travel Editors at VacationIdea.com