Unexpected Resort Spa Getaways

Two weeks ago we shared with you our Top 10 Spa Week Getaways.  We loved these ideas for a Spa Week-end so much that we decided to bring you more – this time in places you’d never expect. Escaping to Arizona, Florida or Vail for solace may seem standard, but what about a weekend getaway to Idaho or Pennsylvania? These aren’t destinations that typically come to mind for luxurious spa retreats, but you’ll be surprised — That’s exactly why we’re so excited about them!

If you’re one to prefer the road less traveled, look no further than these “unlikely” spa getaways:

1. Evensong Spa at Heidel House Resort – Green Lake, WI

The unofficial cheese capital of America doesn’t exactly scream “SPA!” But once we saw the gorgeous scenery and picturesque views of Green Lake surrounding this resort, we quickly realized the naiveté of that statement. Heidel House Resort looks like just the place to enjoy the changing leaves and crisp fall weather – with a seasonal Spa Week treatment to compliment it!

  • 45 Min Aromatherapy Back, Neck and Shoulder Massage with Hot Towel Infusion
  • 45 Min Sugar and Cream Soothing Body Polish
  • 50 Min Warm Apple Cinnamon Indulgence Pedicure

2. The Spa At The Hotel Hershey – Hershey, PA

When we think of Hershey Park, we think of chocolate. When we think of Pennsylvania, we think of Amish farmland, homemade bread (and, for some, Nittany lions!). But you may not be aware of the indulgent, luxe spa located in Hershey — and the great deals you can get there during Spa Week:

  • 50 Min Hydrating Body Wrap
  • 60 Min Sweet Feet Pedicure with Chocolate Sugar Exfoliation, Chocolate Mask, Paraffin Dip, and Chocolate Moisturizing Massage
  • 60 Min Reflexology Foot Soak

 3.  JoBella Salon and Spa at the Omni New Haven Hotel – New Haven, CT

One of New England’s most charming little cities, New Haven, is also home to one of our most charming resort spas. The hotel is newly renovated and New Haven has a whole host of activities to keep you busy for a weekend – shopping, museums, the theatre, and of course, spa-ing! The treatments at JoBella don’t fail to impress:

  • 50 Min Computer Stress Massage
  • 45 Min French Vanilla Sugar or Lavender Salt Scrub Includes Shower and Lotion Application
  • 45 Min Mini Facial with Customized Peel

4.  Grand Traverse Resort & Spa – Grand Traverse, MI

Due to the cold weather, we had counted Northern Michigan out as a region we’d likely want to head to for exciting spa excursion. That is, until we discovered the Grand Traverse Resort & Spa! The breathtaking views speak for themselves – as do their fabulous for fall Spa Week treatments!

  • 50 Min Warming Relaxation Massage
  • 50 Min Pumpkin Infused Exfoliating Facial to Brighten Complexion
  • 50 Min Orange Spice Express Manicure and Pedicure Package

5. Spa Ssakwa’q'n at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort – Worley, ID

Potatoes, potatoes…spa? After becoming acquainted with the Spa Ssakwa’q'n at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort a new word comes to mind when we think of Idaho. Nestled between lakes and mountains, and home to the largest day spa in the Northwest (and a casino, for you gamblers!) a weekend at Coeur d’Alene Casino Resort will be one to remember! If that wasn’t enough to convince you, check out their awesome Spa Week treatments:

  • Choice of 60 Min Palouse Prairie Massage or 60 Min Mountain Rain Shower Scrub, Body Wrap and Vichy Shower Experience
  • 60 Min Cell Renewal Vitamin Infusion Facial to Stimulate Collagen Production
  • 60 Min Crystal Lake Stone Pedicure with Warmed Basalt Stones

 6. The Spa at Omni Mount Washington Resort – Bretton Woods, NH

This quaint New England getaway will serve as a tranquil oasis for a weekend away from it all – literally. This resort is situated in rustic Bretton Woods, a far cry from the stressful reality of everyday life. Better yet – they’re having an amazing deal for overnight stays during Spa Week for just $99/night! Check out the details here, plus their great treatments:

  • 50 Min Pumpkin Spice Body Scrub
  • 50 Min Baborganic Youthful Facial
  • 75 Min Pumpkin Spice Pedicure

Top 10 Spa Week Getaways

By Arielle Sidrane

Happy Friday, Spa Weekers! Have any exciting weekend plans? If you’re dreaming of escaping workplace stress and spending a weekend relaxing (with a view!) we’ve got some amazing ideas for you!

Some of our Spa Week deals are so awesome we think it would be worth it to plan a weekend long spa-cation around them. Check out the deals you can find in ten of our favorite resort towns:

1. VAIL, CO

Experience Vail in the off-season and enjoy the perfect fall weather! There’s plenty of outdoor activity to be enjoyed, and of course, a relaxing experience at the spa! Spa at the Lodge and Spa at Cordillera is nestled into the mountains, offering breath-taking views and a gorgeous spa and lodge facility.

  • 50 Minute Cordillera Custom Massage
  • 45 Minute Mountain Rain with Rosemary Sugar Body Exfoliation
  • 50 Minute Cordillera Custom Facial

2. TUCSON, AZ

Revel in the beautiful Southwest at the Red Door Spa at Westin La Paloma Resort in Tucson, AZ. Whether you prefer golf, hiking or just lounging by the pool, Tucson has it all.

  • 50 Minute Spa Week Stress Melter Body Treatment includes Exfoliation, Aroma Therapeutic Body Wrap and Scalp Massage
  • 50 Minute Spa Week Facial
  • 50 Minute Spa Week Spiced Eden Pedicure included Exfoliating Scrub and Pressure Point Massage

3. MIAMI, FL

Party in the city where the heat is on…and then relax at one of the city’s most exclusive spas – ELLE Spa at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach. There’s never a shortage of fun or sun in Miami Beach!

  • 60 Minute Spa Week Manicure and Pedicure with Luxurious Mango Hand and Foot Massage, plus copy of ELLE magazine
  • Full Leg Wax with Aquatherapy
  • Spa Week Wash and Cut Hair Service

4. LAS VEGAS, NV

Leave the craziness of Vegas behind when you escape to the beautiful Spa Moulay at The Westin Lake Las Vegas. Not on the Vegas strip, this place is perfect for a relaxing weekend getaway just outside of Sin City.

  • 50 Minute Aroma Journey Massage Choice of Ylang Ylang, Tangerine or Vanilla
  • 50 Minute Botanical Kinetics Facial
  • 50 Minute Aroma Journey Manicure/Pedicure – Ylang Ylang, Tangerine or Vanilla

5. NEWPORT, RI

Newport, Rhode Island makes the ideal tranquil getaway. Situated right on the harbor, The Spa At Newport Marriott boasts beautiful views and a location right in the heart of historic Newport.

  • 50 Minute Therapeutic Cascading Massage with Aromatherapy
  • 50 Minute Hydrating Infusion Facial

6. PALM SPRINGS, CA

Spa Week’s Official Destination Sponsor, Palm Springs, CA is of course one of our favorite places for a weekend trip. A weekend at the Feel Good Spa at Ace Hotel & Swim Club will be a mellow getaway with an unforgettable spa experience.

  • 50 Minute Basic Goodness Massage with Organic Almond Oil
  • 50 Minute Good Body Scrub with Hand-Ground Natural Sugar Scrub
  • 50 Minute Detoxifying Good Face Facial, including Extractions

7. NEWPORT BEACH, CA

Southern California’a favorite getaway spot, Newport Beach, is home to pristine spa Pure Blu Spa at the Newport Beach Marriot. An hour outside Los Angeles, Newport Beach provides the perfect backdrop for a spa-cation.

  • 45 Minute Bamboo Lime Massage
  • 45 Minute Customized Facial

8. ATLANTIC CITY, NJ

Some call it the Vegas of the east coast – with casinos, nightclubs and beaches abound, Atlantic City makes for an exciting weekend away. And when you’re ready to unwind, check into your Spa Week appointment at Red Door Spa at Harrah’s Resort Atlantic City:

  • 50 Minute Spa Week Stress Melter Body Treatment includes Exfoliation, Aroma Therapeutic Body Wrap and Scalp Massage
  • 50 Minute Spa Week Facial
  • 50 Minute Spa Week Spiced Eden Pedicure included Exfoliating Scrub and Pressure Point Massage

9. SAN DIEGO, CA

Enjoy gorgeous fall weather and maybe even a trip to the iconic San Diego Zoo before you plop down for some pampering at the beautiful Blue Marble Spa at the Hyatt Regency Mission Bay in San Diego.

  • 45 Minute Organic Massage using Organic Sunflower, Olive and Jojoba Oil
  • 45 Minute Pure Results Facial including Customized Purification, Exfoliation, Facial Massage and Rehydration
  • 45 Minute Pedicure Ritual using Sustainable Bamboo, California Sea Salts and Lavender

10. HOUSTON, TX

Get a taste of Texas when you jet to Houston for the weekend. Sitting at the beautiful pool or being pampered at The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Houston will definitely help take your mind off of things…

  • 50 Minute Relaxing Massage
  • 50 Minute Clarisonic Facial
  • 60 Minute Specialty Pedicure with Foot Massage

Pelican Hill Resort & Spa, An Ocean-Front Spa Week Hideaway

By Mary Rambin

Admittedly, I’m a spoiled gypsy travel writer.  So when I say my Saturday at The Pelican Hill Resort in Newport Beach California was pretty much perfect, that should make you curious as to why. I actually got out of this delicious bed early for an early workout.

Spent the morning playing a round of golf on one of two plush beachfront courses. Devoured a delicious lunch on this lovely terrace. Layed out by the pool overlooking the ocean with a surprisingly lively crowd drinking and mingling to a Jimmy Buffet cover band.

Spa-ed the rest of the day away with a soak, steam, and massage.

And dined on traditional, hand-crafted Italian food. What more could a girl want?!

I’m not the only one who touts this property as extraordinary. The Pelican won The Conde Nast Readers’ Choice Awards in 2010 for #1 California Golf Resort,  #2 of the “Top 100 U.S. Mainland Resorts” and #22 of the “Top 100 Best in the World.” The Spa has won the Forbes Five Star Award in 2010 and 2011. The golf courses have won so many “The Best…” awards I don’t have enough space to list them all. So, this place is legit.

The Pelican resort is what I call a “fully furnished” destination – it has everything. Anyone can find something to fall in love with, and in my opinion, it’s the ultimate vacation for a golfer with a family.

The sprawling property designed with Palladian Italian symmetry and style (that honestly seemed very Tommy Bahama to me) includes 204 bungalows and 128 stand alone villas, two golf courses constructed by Tom Fazio (clinics and all-inclusive packages available), a gigantic pool with cabanas, multiple restaurants that serve fresh pasta and olive oil produced on-site, wine tastings, a huge spa, kids’ activities for all ages, free wifi, and coaches to drive you around the meticulously landscaped, palm-tree lined streets.

Should you want to enjoy this little adult wonderland without the room rate, simply book a spa treatment or buy a day pass!  They offer weekday specials to locals who aren’t guests. Otherwise you can expect regular spa prices.

For Spa Week (October 10-16), The Spa at Pelican Hill will sweeten the deal:

  • $50 for a 50-minute Amber Gold Massage
  • $50 for a 50-minute Classic Cleanse Facial

In additional, they are also have other special offers in honor of Spa Week that aren’t listed spaweek.com:

  • $30 for lunch at the Coliseum Pool & Grill, overlooking one of the world’s largest circular pools and the Pacific Ocean
  • $25 for one-day Coliseum Pool access (a rare opportunity as pool access is usually reserved exclusively for Resort guests)
  • $50 for a 50-minute Personal Training Session at The Spa’s Fitness Center (full-price regularly $76)
  • $20 for an add-on Bright Eyes Facial upgrade (conducted within any facial treatment) to rehydrate the delicate eye area and soften fine lines and dark circle in the orbital area.

The Pelican Hill Resort and Spa
22701 Pelican Hill Road South
Newport Coast, California  92657
800.820.6800

Mary Rambin of MoreThanMary.com is a professional blogger and travel features writer for The Houston Chronicle. In NYC, she co-founded NonSociety and produced a weekly web series called TMI Weekly. Now she trains small businesses in the basics of social media amidst her travels all over the world.  Follow Mary on Twitter at @MaryRambin.

 

 

(Full disclosure:  A generous media rate and comped golf was provided for my stay.)

Travel Tuesday: Dive Into Summer Savings


Are you going through weekend withdrawals after this past holiday weekend? Are you burnt out and bloated from all the bbq-ing, beach-bummin’ and pool hopping? Do you need to escape for a few more days to recuperate, rejuvenate and refresh? If you NEED it to be the weekend again then it’s time for you to get away and dive into summer savings  at one of these three amazing resort spa destinations from Travel by Spa Week.


Bask in rich tranquility at the Four-Diamond JW Marriott desert Springs Resort & Spa in Palm Desert, CA . Book the Resort Credit package and enjoy a $200 spa treatment credit for each night you say. Rates starting at just $259!

Centrally located in California and just 2 miles from Yosemite, the Four-Diamond Tenaya Lodge at Yosemite in Fish Camp, CA features the newly built Ascent Spa. Relax with mega-moisturizing treatments, sugar scrubs and  messages perfect for couples or girlfriend getaways. Through October 1, 2011 receive 20% off spa treatments.

Sit back and relax with the Spa Escape! Package at The Spa at Doral and Pritikin Longevity Center in Miami, FL. For $149 per person per night, enjoy a garden view room, breakfast buffet.

 

 

For more deals on resorts and travel destinations, visit www.spaweek.com/spa-travel.

Travel Tuesday: Relaxation or Bust!

Now that you have your road trip music (and your ripped abs), you  need to check into one of these 5 fully-loaded spa resorts across the USA. Each retreat from across the country has its own philosophies about health and wellness… and is definitely worth the drive. Grab your man or a girlfriend and pack the station wagon… it’s road trip time, relaxation or bust!

The Equinox Golf Resort & Spa

Reconnect with nature at the Spa at the Equinox in Manchester Village, VT as you are enveloped in products indigenous to the surrounding Vermont region and incorporated into a long menu of treatments. The spa captures the natural energy and healing atmosphere permeating the surrounding mountains, trees, and water flowing freely from the famed Equinox Springs.

Cal-a-Vie Health Spa

When you first enter Cal-a-Vie Health Spa in Vista, CA you are greeted by a wellness consultant to help create your personal program. Developed in coordination with international health and beauty experts, the tailored Beauty and Body program will provide the ultimate experience and help  restore your body to its natural balance.

Sundara Inn & Spa

At the resort in Wisconsin Dells, WI, enjoy the heated outdoor infinity edge pool, sculpted fireplace, waterfalls and curving deck connect seamlessly with the tranquil environment. The main building is representative of some of the most striking Organic-style architecture in the Midwest. Inside, the principles of Feng Shui contribute to a soothing environment. Plus, the spa treatments incorporate the finest organic products from around the world.

Bedford Springs Resort and Springs Eternal Spa

Springs Eternal Spa, in Bedford, PA is one of the few spas in the country utilizing natural spring water in all of its treatments. The spa’s treatments are inspired by the resort’s eight mineral springs, first used by the local Native Americans for their healing properties.

Boyne Mountain Resort and Solace Spa

The relaxed and luxurious surroundings at Boyne Mountain Resort in Boyne Falls, MI features soothing whirlpools, cedar saunas, purifying steam rooms, indoor  and outdoor pool, state-of-the-art fitness and training facilities, a Cafe, and a beautiful salon.

For more information on spa resorts you can road trip to visit: spaweek.com/spa-travel