Personally, I don't consider spas the most romantic places in the world. Getting a massage in a room with someone else would just be distracting to me (though I know lots of people love it.) And afterwards, I just want to relax on my own time, not worry about whether someone else is ready to go.

I do, however, think that buying a spa gift certificate makes an ideal Valentine's Day present, especially if you package it with some sexy underwear! (And RIGHT NOW you can get free two-day Fedex Delivery on SpaFinder gift certificate orders over $100, or even print it at home or email it!)

And fortunately for people like me, About.com Travel Guides have lots of OTHER suggestions for romantic getaways all over the world. Check out our suggestions for the most romantic places and things to do -- and the best deals -- at About.com's Honeymoons/Romantic Travel site.

James Ray has been arrested and charged with three counts of manslaughter connected to the sweat lodge deaths at a "Spiritual Warrior" near Sedona, AZ. If you want all the details, ABC has in-depth coverage on James Ray's arrest.

Personally, I'm feeling done with the story and don't plan to follow the trial, etc. I started following it because it was initially reported that it happened at a spa. Fairly quickly it became clear that the story was not about spas, but about how James Ray conducted the $10,000 retreats at a private facility he rented.

People were broken down mentally and physically with fasts, physical exertion, mind games where Ray played God, and the final super-heated sweat lodge, which was not conducted according to the traditional ways.

I have compassion for James Ray. I think he was a victim of his own success after being featured in "The Secret" and on "Oprah" as someone who knew "the secret" of drawing money and prosperity to your life. He obviously had enormous charisma, a talent that is easy to abuse.

His greed and the weird logic of his "prosperity" philosophy got the best of him. In essence, why not charge $10,000 if people are willing to pay it? He was just drawing "prosperity" to himself while he taught other people how to believe they could do the same thing. It was probably a "high" to be in his presence -- and then a let-down when you went back to the realities of life.

In some ways I said everything I had to say about this at the beginning. Sweat lodges are safe when conducted by someone with the right training and intention. And when you want to make a change in your life, be careful who you trust. And I still believe spas, especially destination health spas, are one of best places to do it.

I hear a lot of interesting stories when I'm laying on a massage table, and I've always thought it would be nice if massage therapists had a place to talk about the work and way of life. Now there is. I just created a form called "Share Your Story: My Life As A Massage Therapist" , where you can talk about how and why you got into it, how it's changed over the years, and what you would do differently if anything.

You don't have to use your real name or place where you work, unless you want to. It's just a place to talk openly and share experiences. And if you're NOT a massage therapist, it's still interesting to read about their lives.

Photo by JupiterImages.

People often ask me "what's your favorite spa?" I try to answer, but what I like in a spa might have nothing to do with what you like. A good example is my recent trip to CityCenter, the new $8.5 billion complex in Las Vegas. I visited three spas -- The Spa at ARIA, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, and Vdara Health & Beauty.

Each one of them had something that I really loved. But my favorite was the smallest and quietest, Vdara Health & Beauty, which has just 11 treatment rooms and grounding elements like water, stone, wood, even moss, that I needed in a place like Vegas.

Now, I realize some people don't go to Las Vegas spas for small and quiet. They go for bling. But I think Vdara is a real gem, in part because I had an incredible therapist. A great spa is not just a gorgeous facility (though that sets the scene).

Ultimately it comes down to what happens in every interaction, especially between the massage therapist and the client. And when it all comes together - a beautiful place and a therapist who loves the work and is free to create the massage in the moment -- it's magic. Read my review.