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Nice
Touch! Awards 2001
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visited many spas in 2001 and enjoyed them all. Every once in a while, I
ran across something that made the visit extra special, something
extraordinary - a unique or outstanding treatment, a gesture, a touch, a
program, or a feature of the facility. To these spas, I present the First
Annual Nice Touch! Award from Julie Register, Your Guide to Spas. Here are
those spas in alphabetical order: |
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1.) Absolute
Spa at the Century
Complementary
spa cuisine is served with every service. This really encourages you to
linger and relax after treatments. I also had and "Absolutely" personalized facial with Doina -
one of the best I've had. All services were top notch.
Nice touch!
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2.) Banyan
Tree Spa at the Banyan Tree Phuket
Fabulous
exotic, private, open-air treatment rooms for two with garden,
relaxation area, shower, steam bath, tea and snacks. Treatments start
with a footbath. Ms. Junya gave me one of the best Thai massages I've
had. Nice touch!
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3.) Echo
Valley Ranch & Spa
A true East-meets-West experience at a remote working
cattle ranch in a unique location where mountains, desert, tundra,
and meadows meet. Authentic Thai treatments and architecture in the Canadian
wilderness. Nice Touch!
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4.) The
Spa at the Grand at Grand
Okanagan Lakefront Resort & Conference Centre
LaStone Therapy is the crème de la crème of hot stone massages, but
most practitioners only use hot stones. Beth used both hot
and cold stones as per LaStone guidelines. She also incorporated energy work and
visualization. Nice touch!
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5.) Healing
Springs Spa at Harrison Hot Springs Resort
Ceilings have radiant heat
panels over treatment tables so exposed skin is not chilled during massage or
wrap, lamb's wool pads are used beneath sheets and down comforters are
used on top of treatment tables. Couples
room has fiber optic stars in ceiling and large slate bath for two using mineral water
from hot springs without chlorine. Nice touch!
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6.) The
Canadian Wellness Centre at The Hills
Health Ranch
 Therapists
and estheticians provide printed information sheets on everything used in treatment
- where it comes from, what benefits it provides, etc. Nice touch!
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7.) The
Imperial Mandara Spa at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel
All massage tables had bowls filled with beautiful flowers to look at
through the head rest when face down on the table. Other spas in
Thailand also had this, but this spa was the first one I visited that
did. It was also the first spa I visited that was filled with the aroma
of lemongrass - now one of my favorite scents. Nice touch!
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8.) Kingfisher
Oceanside Spa at Kingfisher
Oceanside Resort & Spa
Treatment rooms face the ocean. The sound of the surf can be heard
through open windows while enjoying your treatment. A heating pad warms
your feet when you're face-down and your tummy when you're face-up on
the massage table. A fortune shell
(instead of cookie) is given at end of your visit. Steam " cave
." Nice Touch!
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9.) The
Lanna Spa at the Regent Chiang Mai
Breathtaking spa architecture and interior design. Wonderful treatments
using indigenous plants and local healing traditions. Service was
outstanding at the spa and the resort. My overall favorite. Nice touch!
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10.) The
Health & Beauty Spa at The Lodge at Paratiho Farms
Fabulous facials in a world-class getaway. Facials include a back
massage, therapeutic mud treatment for your back that heats up, bubbles and
fizzes, and a relaxing foot massage. The facial left my face feeling soft
and clean. My back and feet felt pampered and rejuvenated. Nice touch!
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11.) Polynesian
Spa
Series of beautiful natural hot springs
pools in increasing temperature from warm to hot overlooking lake and
bird preserve. Located in a very
active geothermal area. Nice touch!
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12.) Senses
Spa at Our Lucaya
This spa makes the most of its unique Caribbean location with The Sense
of Wisdom - The Dolphin Journey spa package and treatments using
Bahamian bush medicine. Nice touch!
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