Value Spas
Ixtapan Spa, Hotel, and Golf Resort Ixtapan de la Sal, Mexico
Just sixty-five miles southwest of Mexico City you’ll find a Mexican getaway that offers golf, unique spa therapies, and interesting sight-seeing for a fraction of the cost you’ll find at other properties in Mexico. Ixtapan offers five different four- and seven-day packages for the spa or golf aficionado. The four-day Spa Relax package includes three nights of accommodations, three reflexology or shiatsu treatments, three yoga classes, two acupuncture sessions, three golf/tennis lessons, and meals for $546! Try the Triple Aromatherapy treatment – a unique shiatsu, Chinese reflexology, and deep tissue massage experience that promises at least one mini cat-nap. For more information call (800) 638-7950 or visit www.spamexico.com
Tabacon Hot Springs Resort & Spa La Fortuna, Costa Rica
Tabacon Hot Springs offers a Costa Rican escape nestled near the base of Arenal Volcano. Relax in one of Tabacon Hot Springs twelve mineral water pools, enjoy a cocktail at the swim-up bar, or indulge in a day of volcanic-inspired treatments at the Iskandria Spa. Book their Relaxing in Paradise Package (2 nights, 3 days) and you’ll receive a standard room for two nights, buffet breakfasts, buffet and á la carte dinners, a 50-minute body treatment, 30-minute facial, 30-minute hydrotherapy/reflexology treatment, an in-bungalow massage, and a 1/2 day eco tour for $930-$1005, depending on the season. The Canopy Tour, horseback riding, white water rafting, fishing, and other outdoor adventures are also available. For more information call (877) 277-8291 or visit www.tabacon.com
JW Marriott, Las Vegas Las Vegas, NV
Just fifteen minutes from the Strip but world’s away from the craziness that comes with it, the JW Marriott Las Vegas offers glamorous accommodations and a stunning 40,000-square-foot spa set amid fifty-four groomed acres. Surrounded by eight championship golf courses, nine restaurants, and beautiful architecture, it’s hard to image that you’d be able to find a good deal at such a prestigious resort. Book the Romance Package, which includes one night in a deluxe room, complimentary champagne and strawberries, and two fifty-minute spa treatments. Or schedule the Southwest Stone Therapy at the Aquae Sulis Spa and afterward relax by one of their pools in your private cabana. For more information call (877) 869-8777 or visit www.gowestmarriott.com
Golf Spas
Destination Kohler Kohler, WI
While it comes as no surprise that Kohler, the water people, have successfully integrated water therapies into their spa menu, Kohler’s American Club has also made a splash in the golf world. Located 55 miles north of Milwaukee, Destination Kohler is home to the American Club, the Midwest’s only AAA Five Diamond resort; the Kohler Waters Spa; and two golf courses, Whistling Straits and Blackwolf Run, which collectively offer 72 holes of golf. Whistling Straits was home to this year’s PGA Championship. Not ready for the tour? Kohler also offers a Blackwolf Run Golf and Spa package and a Golfer’s Foot Renewal, the perfect way to reward your feet after a long day on the links. For more information call (800) 344-2838 ext. 700 or visit www.destinationkohler.com
La Quinta Resort and Club La Quinta, CA
Set against California’s gorgeous Santa Rosa Mountains and featuring two resort courses and three PGA WEST® courses, La Quinta has long been touted as one of the nation’s best golf resorts. Sharpen your game before hitting the links at either the Jim McLean Golf School or the Dave Pelz Short Game School, and indulge in the 30-minute PGA WEST® Golf Massage after your round. Spa La Quinta’s 23,000-square-foot facility, which features the Yamaguchi Salon, caters to non-golfers as well, with services ranging from alfresco showers to feng shui haircuts. For more information call (800) 598-3828 or visit www.laquintaresort.com
Doral Golf Resort and Spa Miami, FL
With five champion courses and 100 treatments to choose from, Doral can satisfy even the most hard to please golfers and spa-goers. Prep for Doral’s famed Blue Monster by taking part in the Golfer’s One-on-One Workout, designed to enhance your game through strength, flexibility, and endurance training. Improve your game and your health by balancing your time on the green with your time in Doral’s fitness center and spa. Have the spa’s registered nutritionist perform a fitness assessment or body composition analysis, then reward yourself with the Blue Monster Massage or Sports HydroAromatherapy treatment. For more information call (800) 713-6725 or visit www.doralgolf.com
Ranch Spas
Echo Valley Ranch and Spa British Columbia
With mountains to the east, grasslands to the west, Fraser Canyon to the south, and numerous lakes and marshlands to the north, Echo Valley’s location alone sets it apart. Echo Valley’s guests, however, are privy to much more than the ranch’s location. They are welcome to engage in such daily ranching activities as feeding the animals and herding cattle or to simply relax and enjoy Echo Valley’s unique “Thai Spa” experience. Incorporating both traditional and alternative medicine, the environment, and traditional Thai yoga, food, and culture, “Thai Spa” is more than a collection of spa treatments; it is a way of life. For more information call (800) 253-8831 or visit www.evranch.com
Wind Walker Guest Ranch Spring City, UT
Ditch your cell phone, put on your boots, and saddle up at the Wind Walker Guest Ranch. Located just outside of Spring City, Wind Walker is nestled on more than 900,000 acres of Utah’s most pristine land. Although Wind Walker specializes in horseback riding, guests customize their activities from a menu that includes hiking, mountain biking, blue ribbon fishing, as well as snowshoeing and cross-country skiing in the winter. Along with recreation, Wind Walker is also committed to renewal. Take advantage of the ranch’s guided meditation classes, breathing and stress release training, massage therapies, and Native American sweat lodge. For more information call (888) 606-9463 or visit www.windwalker.org
Hidden Creek Ranch Harrison, ID
Nestled among Idaho’s scenic Rocky Mountains, Hidden Creek offers guests a unique blend of rugged adventure and holistic education. Although dude ranchers and yogis may be among the most diverse clientele, Hidden Creek blends their interests seamlessly while offering activities that appeal to everyone. If you want the best of both worlds, sign up for Sally Swift’s Centered Riding® Instruction, “the tai chi of horseback riding.” Otherwise choose from Hidden Creek’s array of seasonal activities and spa services, including winter sleigh rides, cow herding games, reflexology, and deep tissue massage. For more information call (800) 446-3833 or visit www.hiddencreek.com
Nature Spas
Samasati Nature Retreat Puerto Viejo, Costa Rica
Whether you’re seeking the peace of a secluded beach or the adventure of a tropical rainforest, you’ll find it at the Samasati Nature Retreat. Tucked within 250 acres of lush rainforest, the quaint retreat features nine Caribbean-style bungalows, a guest house with five double rooms, and three private houses. Samasati’s five and seven day eco-tourism packages feature everything from yoga classes and snorkeling to canopy tours and whitewater rafting. Go waterfall trekking or horseback riding on the beach in the morning, but allow yourself time to indulge in Samasati’s signature Rainflower Body Treatment or Pranassage, a unique spa therapy that blends bodywork with yoga, in the afternoon. For more information call (800) 563-9643 or visit www.samasati.com
The Lodge at Chaa Creek San Ignacio, Belize
Situated between the base of the Maya Mountains and the Macal River, the Lodge at Chaa Creek immerses its guests in Belize’s environment and culture. Nature lovers can be at one with the environs at the Camp at Chaa Creek, while relaxation seekers can enjoy a panoramic view of the rainforest from Chaa Creek’s spa. Take a guided walk through archaeological ruins, snorkel or scuba dive the largest reef in the western hemisphere, go bird watching, or visit the resort’s Blue Morpho butterfly farm; then head to Chaa Creek’s spa, where treatments include tropical body wraps, Vichy showers, and pedicures. For more information call 011 (501) 824-2037 or visit www.chaacreek.com
Gold Lake Mountain Resort & Spa Ward, CO
Gold Lake Mountain has actually made cabins in the Rockies even more alluring. With it’s main lodge dating back to the late nineteenth century and cabins dating to the 1920s, Gold Lake has captured the essence of rustic Colorado. With access to Brainard Lake and Roosevelt National Forest, Gold Lake is a mecca for outdoor enthusiasts. Go fly fishing, canoeing, or kayaking during the summer and snowshoeing or ice skating on the resort’s pond during the winter. The ecologically-minded resort uses orange and tea tree oils to clean and offers both natural and homemade products in its spa. Treatments include energy-based bodywork, Thalossotherapy, and craniosacral massage. For more information call (800) 450-3544 or visit www.goldlake.com
Exotic Spas
Halekulani Waikiki, HI
Set on the pristine shores of Oahu’s Gray’s Beach, Halekulani is billed as an “oasis of tranquility.” Upon arrival, guests are greeted with a box of decadent chocolates infused with passion fruit, strawberry, raspberry, and banana flavors. Halekulani’s three primary restaurants – Le Mer, Orchids, and House without a Key – all offer ocean views, while SpaHalekulani provides spa-goers with the opportunity to experience Hawaii’s many diverse cultures. SpaHalekulani’s unique treatments include the Ton Ton Amma, a Japanese massage with ton ton pounders; Polynesian Nonu, a Samoan stone treatment; and a Tahitian Coconut Hair Therapy with scalp massage. For more information call (800) 367-2343 or visit www.halekulani.com
Uma Ubud Ubud, Bali
COMO Hotels and Resorts’ second Uma property opened in the summer of 2004 in Bali’s cultural heartland, Ubud. Fittingly, the resort, which is committed to providing its guest with a holistic and cultural adventure, bares the region’s name. Ubud was derived from a Balinese word for medicine because of the region’s indigenous healing herbs. Everything from Uma Ubud’s architecture to its cuisine embraces its environment. Uma’s COMO Shambhala retreat is no different, providing guests with an open air yoga pavilion, a meditation bale, and four treatment rooms for holistic, Asian-inspired therapies. For more information call +62 361 972 448 or visit www.uma.como.bz
One&Only Pamilla Los Cabos, Mexico
Where the Sea of Cortez meets the Pacific Ocean and the desert blends with the sea, the One&Only Pamilla provides the ultimate in both recreation and relaxation. All of Pamilla’s rooms offer ocean views as well as a telescope for stargazing and whale watching. Other activities include golfing, deep-sea fishing, and snorkeling. More interested in R & R? Then head to Pamilla’s comprehensive spa and indulge in an Aztec Aromatic Ritual, a clove, ginger, and cinnamon wrap followed by your choice of massage, or try the Elemis Exotic Scrub and Milk Ritual, a scrub, milk bath, and choice of massage. For more information call +52 (624) 146-7000 or visit www.oneandonlyresorts.com
Yoga and the Healing Arts
Maya Tulum Tulum, Mexico
A member of the prestigious R&R Resorts (which includes Pura Vida in Costa Rica and Pura Vida USA in Georgia), Maya Tulum is a hidden sanctuary on the Yucatan Peninsula that truly embraces the Mayan culture. Book the Mind-Body-Spirit program – seven nights in a thatch-roofed cabana, three healthy meals per day, two spa treatments, two tours, and seven yoga sessions. The spa focuses on healing therapies like Shiatsu, Polarity therapy, and reflexology, and also offers unique experiences like the Traditional Mayan Massage, which focuses on the body’s “power center,” the abdomen. Spend the day exploring the Aktun Chen caverns, snorkeling, or just relaxing on their beautiful beach. For more information call (888) 515-4580 or visit www.mayatulum.com.
Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health Lenox, MA
Seeking relaxation, a daily dose of yoga, exercise, and natural foods? Since opening its doors more than thirty years ago, Kripalu has boomed in popularity, now catering to nearly 25,000 guests per year. Programs are offered on such topics as Health and Healing and Yoga and Meditation. Yoga classes include such specific styles as Kripalu, Anusara, and Kundalini as well as classes on opening your heart, and yoga for specific populations.
January/February 2005
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