About Spas

Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Spa Opens In Tucson

2009-12-23T14:12:09Z

Tucson, Arizona is a great spa town, home to Canyon Ranch and Miraval, two of the country's most highly regarded destination spas. But now there's a new option for people who want a luxury resort spa experience -- sumptuous accommodations, fine dining, great golf, tennis, kids' adventure pool and a beautiful spa. The Ritz-Carlton, Dove Mountain, a 250-room resort spread out over 850 acres of Sonoran Desert, has just opened in Marana (northwest of Tucson).

With 27 holes, The Jack Nicklaus Signature Golf Course will be a big draw for golfers, and the resort has a 235-foot water slide to please the kids. But Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain is also offering lots of adult activities to compete with the local destination spas - hiking, biking, birdwatching, stargazing, aerobics classes, core, strength and circuit training, yoga, Pilates, sunrise power walks, even horseback riding through a local ranch.

The spa has 14 indoor and outdoor treatments rooms (including suites for couples and small groups) , a mountain view fitness center, a private fireplace and courtyard, and an outdoor Serenity pool terrace where guests can see ancient Native American carvings in nearby rocks. To celebrate the the opening, the resort is offering introductory rates starting from $259 -- and now is the perfect time to go!

Ritz-Carlton Dove Mountain Spa Opens In Tucson originally appeared on About.com Spas on Wednesday, December 23rd, 2009 at 14:12:09.

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More Spa Trends For 2010

2009-12-20T17:47:34Z

There's a new wellness blog out there for New Yorkers that I like -- Well+Good NYC. Bloggers Melisse Gelula and Alexia Brue, formerly of Luxury SpaFinder Magazine, just released their "10 NYC Wellness Trends for 2010". The one I find most interesting is their prediction that more people will be going to independent therapists.

"Highly skilled healers and top-notch therapists will trump outsize spa meccas, Bisazza tile-lined wet lounges, and heavily scripted treatment rituals as the reason for spa visits in 2010," they write. "More in demand: Building a personal ongoing relationship with a trusted bodyworker or facialist, and low-key surrounds. (Luxe spas with well-being and prevention services in their menus will fare better than purely pampering ones.)"

They also note more practitioners making their own products, the rise of specialist acupuncturists, and more "quickie" spa services at retail stores. Melisse says Well+GoodNYC.com is a "holistic Daily Candy--meets--WebMD-type resource for and about savvy New Yorkers, who are interested in well-being, may already have holistic habits (shop at city green markets and purchase PVC-free yoga mats), and practice self-care."

More Spa Trends For 2010 originally appeared on About.com Spas on Sunday, December 20th, 2009 at 17:47:34.

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Spa Deals Will Keep Coming In 2010

2009-12-16T12:54:47Z

The spa deals will keep coming, according to SpaFinder's Top 10 Global Spa Trends to Watch in 2010. One of the big reasons is an oversupply of spas. For all the day spas that have closed, a lot of big resort spas are still opening. "There were spas in various stages of construction at the start of the recession, and while some scrapped or delayed plans, many saw it through," says SpaFinder.

SpaFinder says to expect discounts, "extras", loyalty programs that let you get points towards future programs, and open houses where you can try new treatments for a nominal fee -- or even free. Find out more about how to get the best spa deals. And people are going to get another shot at the $50 spa treatments they enjoy twice a year during Spa Week. SpaFinder is going to have its own SpaFinder Deal Days March 8 -14. Mark your calendar!

Spa Deals Will Keep Coming In 2010 originally appeared on About.com Spas on Wednesday, December 16th, 2009 at 12:54:47.

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The Spa Trend Towards REAL Hammams

2009-12-12T17:51:45Z

One of SpaFinder's Top 10 Global Spa Trends in 2010 named by SpaFinder is the worldwide trend to hammams. I've noticed that lots of spas are now calling their steam rooms "hammams," and was glad to find out that's not what SpaFinder is talking about. (In fact, they predict spas with inappropriately labeled "hammams" will be taken to task as the industry commits to higher standards of authenticity.)

No, they mean the real deal -- elaborate facilities where you get a full-body scrub, soaping, and often a massage inside a heated steam room. Read about what happens in a traditional Turkish bath. Of course, that experience was $20, whereas I'm sure the many of the new luxury hammams, especially in hotels, will have stunning price tags! Miraj Hammam, an early innovator and the first hammam in Canada, has experiences that start at $109.

Photo by Miraj Hammam

The Spa Trend Towards REAL Hammams originally appeared on About.com Spas on Saturday, December 12th, 2009 at 17:51:45.

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SpaFinder's Top Spa Trends For 2010

2009-12-08T13:33:32Z

I always look forward to SpaFinder's take on the top spa trends to watch for the coming year. President Susie Ellis is one of the smartest people in the the business, and the list of spa trends is always interesting, thought-provoking, and usually spot-on. This time the list of global spa trends was released in an interesting way -- via a webinar held in association with The University of California, Irvine, Spa and Hospitality Management Program. Attendees got to literally have Susie answer questions right then and there! Here's SpaFinder's "Top 10 Global Spa Trends for 2010."

SpaFinder's Top Spa Trends For 2010 originally appeared on About.com Spas on Tuesday, December 8th, 2009 at 13:33:32.

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Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas Opens

2009-12-07T15:05:08Z

Las Vegas has some of the countries flashiest spas, but I'm just not the Vegas type. I don't care for gambling, or the frenetic energy that emanates from the gaming floor. But I'll bet I'd be comfortable at Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas, which just opened. For one, there's no gaming -- and Mandarin Oriental always does everything exquisitely. The spa promises to be one of the city's best (and most expensive).

The new 47-story luxury hotel is located at the gateway to CityCenter, the urban resort destination. It dazzles with interiors designed by Adam D. Tihany and a 23rd floor Sky Lobby that providing a stunning views of the city skyline.

The two-level, 27,000 square-foot spa is designed to evoke the exotic luxury of 1930s Shanghai, and its signature treatments were developed in consultation with Traditional Chinese doctors. Its 45-minute Chinese foot spa treatments, which you enjoy reclining while enjoying stunning views of The Strip, include Read more...

Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas Opens originally appeared on About.com Spas on Monday, December 7th, 2009 at 15:05:08.

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Spa Trends Webinar On Monday

2009-12-04T14:03:13Z

SpaFinder is unveiling its '2010 Spa Trends Forecast' by webinar on Monday December 7, 2009 -- and you're invited! This is the first time SpaFinder is releasing its annual trends report in an interactive, multi-media online presentation. The webinar takes place at 1 PM EST/10 AM PST.

SpaFinder President Susie Ellis will give her take on the top 10 emerging ideas and concepts poised to impact the spa/wellness/health/fitness industries, from 'The Year of The Hamam' to 'Reaction to Sweat Lodge Deaths and Medical Horror Stories' to 'The Online Spa'. You can register for the online presentation or get the full report on the SpaFinder website on December 7th.

Spa Trends Webinar On Monday originally appeared on About.com Spas on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 14:03:13.

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Spa Vacation On Holiday Dream List

2009-12-04T12:16:11Z

The rich know how to live. A vacation in a resort or spa destination took the no. 5 spot on the "Top Holiday Dream List" in the American Express Publishing and Harrison Group 2009 Survey of Affluence and Wealth in America. But if you don't have the resources to give someone a whole spa vacation, a trip to the day spa is also wonderful. Here's what you need to know about buying spa gift certificates.

Spa Vacation On Holiday Dream List originally appeared on About.com Spas on Friday, December 4th, 2009 at 12:16:11.

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Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa Has New Home at Doral Golf Resort

2009-11-27T12:32:01Z

I had an overweight boss in the '80s who was always on the Pritikin diet. He was a compulsive eater and could never keep it off, but lots of other people have had great success with the Pritikin program. It consists of:

An eating plan based on natural whole foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, seafood, and limited lean meat
Daily exercise
Lifestyle education that focuses on practical training such as reading food labels, cooking healthfully and deliciously, and learning how to manage stress and adopt an emotionally nourishing outlook

People who want to get immersed in the program can go to the Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa, which has a luxurious new home at the Doral Golf Resort and Spa in Miami, a huge Italianate resort on 650 acres. (It was formerly at the Turnberry Isle Yacht Club in Aventura, Florida.) Pritikin will start accepting reservations on Dec. 6, with rates starting at $4,500 a week (the minimum stay) and $7,500 for two weeks. Spa suites are more.

At Pritikin, guests receive extensive medical evaluations from board-certified physicians, Read more...

Pritikin Longevity Center & Spa Has New Home at Doral Golf Resort originally appeared on About.com Spas on Friday, November 27th, 2009 at 12:32:01.

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Making Friends At The Spa

2009-11-22T18:50:21Z

My trip to Miraval in Tucson, AZ, one of the best destination spas in the country, has me thinking about all the things that are so great about destination spas, also known as health spas. One of the best things is how easy it is to make friends.

I met Claire on a hike on the first day of my trip, and we became "spa buddies." We went to some of the same classes, compared notes on massage therapists (I can highly recommend John Graziano), and dined on Chad Luethje's terrific spa cuisine together most nights. A really great destination spa gives you a protected space to think about what is going on in your life, and Claire and I talked openly, even though we had just met.

On the last morning we set off in different directions -- she went on a fitness hike and I tried "Zen Boot Camp," (too tough for Oprah but I made it through.) I was set to leave on the 10 AM van to the airport and was sorry I wouldn't get to say goodbye. But Claire came running from her spinning class to see me off. This is a photo someone took of us right before I headed off.

Every day I get an email from a man I met at Rancho La Puerta, with some inspirational sayings like "forgiveness will take a lot of the bumps out of the road of life." And a few weeks ago I got to celebrate when Ellen Sussman, a writing teacher I met at The Ranch, spread the news about selling her new novel through Facebook. I think this social aspect of destination spas is one of the best things about them, and the internet gives us a new way to keep the relationships going.

Making Friends At The Spa originally appeared on About.com Spas on Sunday, November 22nd, 2009 at 18:50:21.

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