World Class Spas
Dateline: 04/05/98
This week's guest author is Madelyn Miller, a food, wine and travel writer who contributes to 12 Publications with a combined circulation of several million. She is the founder of Southwest Travelwriters Association. Fondly called "The Travel Lady," she frequently gives travel tips and advice on Fox-TV KDFW and NBC in Dallas. She recently started doing National Public Radio, and is heard on the syndicated show "Sisters and Friends". Last year, she took 30 trips to destinations such as India, Rio, Israel, Montreal, Australia and Hong Kong. In this article, Madelyn shares her spa experiences at seven superb spas around the world.
Julie Register
Spa Guide
World Class Spas
by Madelyn Miller
photos courtesy of Madelyn Miller
In today's fast paced world, it is easy to feel overloaded. Excess stress creates tension which can lead to reduced productivity and even illness. Listening to our inner voice and taking the time to properly nourish and pamper ourselves every day will help to improve health and well-being of the mind, body and spirit. For total health we must eat well, exercise, sleep and maintain a positive, balanced frame of mind. And that's where spas come in.
What do you think of when you hear the word spa? A place to be pampered? A fat farm? A hot tub in the desert? A healthy club in the city? A yoga retreat in the mountains? A place where celebrities dry out?
All of these and many more places have been called spas.
A "spa" can be defined as a facility offering a life enhancing experience catering to toning the body and soul, offering pampering, reconditioning of the body, tuning the diet and cleansing the mind. It's the place to go when the daily pressures have reached the point where you want to scream -- "I can't take it anymore."
Once thought of as a place women went to relax and be made over, today many spa guests are busy executives. They need a peaceful place -- a quiet retreat where they can relax and unwind.
A spa is perhaps the purist form of vacation. Rather than rushing around exploring a country or continent in seven days and six nights, the combination of fun and exercise, a health and balanced diet, pampering relaxation and education on managing stress levels adds up to a remarkable chance for renewal. You truly feel like you've been on vacation when you return home rested and renewed.
Solace:
Banff Springs Hotel: Canada
Grand
Hotel Villa Serbelloni: Italy
Grand
Wailea Resort, Hotel and Spa: Hawaii
Topnotch
Spa: Vermont
photo courtesy of Topnotch
-Madelyn Miller
Reprinted with permission by Madelyn Miller,The Travel Lady
copyright 1998,
all rights reserved.
Madelyn's web site, The Travel
Lady, has lots of interesting features. Some highlights are:
•Destinations
- What the Travel Lady has to say about different destinations to help you plan the
perfect trip.
•Global Cuisine
Some of the Travel Lady's more food oriented excursions and reviews.
•Gourmet
Goodies You too can eat like the rich and famous.
•Special Interest
You'll go anywhere to scuba dive. Or travel around the world to taste the best chocolate
(The Travel Lady really did it). Or want to play on every golf course in the world. The
Travel Lady recommends places to go in your special interest area.
•Gadgets and Gizmos
Things The Travel Lady has found that make travel easier.
For links to the web sites of the spas in Madelyn's article, go to the
following Spa Site pages:
Health Spas and
Fitness Resorts outside the U.S. by Country: Canada
Health Spas and Fitness
Resorts outside the U.S. by Country: Hong Kong
Health Spas and Fitness
Resorts outside the U.S. by Country: Italy
Health Spas and Fitness
Resorts in the U.S. by State A-M Hawaii
Health Spas and Fitness
Resorts outside the U.S. by Country: Indonesia
Health Spas and Fitness
Resorts in the U.S. by State N-Z Vermont
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