Destination Insights January 2013

January 2013

Just breathe...

Welcome to the third edition of my magazine Destination Insights.

I hope you enjoy it and get some great ideas for your next vacation.

For the third edition, I thought I would entice you with some health and wellness vacations. After the hustle and bustle of the holidays everyone needs to take a few deep breaths and just relax. ere is nothing I enjoy more than a relaxing massage and I have just started to learn yoga. I try to check out all the spas on my fam trips but I don’t always get time to have a treatment. If I don’t, I dream while I read the menus of all the treatments available. I have only highlighted a few places. ere are 1000’s of spas around the world.

Contact me if there is a specific destination or spa type you are looking for.

I am a certified travel counsellor associated with Travel Professionals International and I LOVE what I do.

I am very passionate about travel and I have a huge bucket list of places around the world I want to see. I go on familiarization trips whenever I can and I am constantly taking courses to learn as much as I can about destinations, resort chains, cultures, cruises and tours.

My job doesn’t end once your travel arrangements are made. I am here for you before, during and after your trip.

It could be river cruising, cruising on tall ships, small ships to the Galapagos or Hawaii or steamboating on the Mississippi.

Before I arrange your trip I find out exactly what you are looking for. Whether it be a romantic weekend away or the trip of a lifetime. Call me with questions about what to bring, what to expect, what to see and what to skip. To help with these questions I have made travel guides for your destination that answer many of these questions.

ere are women-only tours, hard and soft adventure tours – literally anything and everything you can think of.

After your trip, I will call to find out how your time was, what you liked and if there was anything I could have done to have made your trip even better. I measure my success by your satisfaction.

Please let me know where you are thinking about travelling to and when. I get hundreds of emails everyday from suppliers telling me about specials and niche vacations that they are putting together. I am more than willing to keep track of your wishes and send you out information when it comes in.

Hopefully my magazine will inspire you to try something new or explore something old.

I also want to let my clients and friends know that I really appreciate all the recommendations that I have been receiving and the confidence that you have shown in me over the last 7 years. I look forward to arranging your vacations in the future.

You can contact me anytime at 613-926-1707 | 866-926-1707 hmcnamara@tpi.ca Follow my adventures at www.facebook.com/destinationinsights

Whatever you are interested in ... there is a vacation out there that will encompass that. Whether it be Wine and Culinary Tours, Cycling Adventures, Kayaking, Photography, World War II memories, Beatles or Elvis fans, Nascar to Formula One, riding on an elephant or a safari in Africa, trekking the outback or hot air ballooning.

Regional Office Ontario: 4 Robert Speck Parkway, 15th Floor, Mississauga L4Z 1S1 Ontario TICO Registration 1576226 | 905.896.6948

Table of Contents Medical Spas

Take a Zen-Cation

5

18 Wine Spas

Day Spas

6

20 Yoga Spas

Hotel Spas

8

22 Mind, Body, Spirit

Resort Spas

10 Destination Spas

24 Ireland

14 Cruise Ship Spas

16

26 Tips

30

Life is Short. Experience the world now!

Drive a convertible Ferrari in Tuscany. Run with the bulls in Pamplona. Swim with the dolphins in Kaikoura. Sink a hole in one at St.

Andrews. Stay out all night in Paris.

Hike through the foothills of the Himalayas. Go skinny dipping at midnight in

Reykjavik. Shower under a waterfall in Costa Rica. Watch the Palio from a balcony in Siena. Make love on a beach in Vietnam. Sing karaoke on a stage in Tokyo. Taste wine from the barrel in Burgundy. Watch Tiger Woods win the Masters. Find harmony in the Kingdom of Bhutan. Cook risotto with a Michelin starred chef. Send a message in a bottle from Hong Kong. Follow an aboriginal songline through the Outback. Ride a camel across the Sahara. Sip champagne at the Wimbledon finals. Go wild at Carnival in Rio. Travel in the footsteps of the Incas in Peru.

If you can imagine it, I can make it happen!

Take a Zen-cation

Spa breaks can be deliciously pampering, but their increasing attraction for many of us in our busy, world is their ability to make us feel better from the inside out. e word “spa” stands for sanus per aquam – Latin for health through water – and traditionally referred to a healing place that had a natural source of mineral water. Its definition has been joyfully stretched over the years to refer to any retreat, hotel or holiday that helps us relax, take stock, rebalance and replenish our joie de vivre. And why not, when most of us feel pretty stressed a lot of the time? ere are now thousands of spas all over the world vying for our attention, with expert trainers, chefs concocting tempting and healthy diets, star yoga teachers, signature treatments, state-ofthe-art products, holistic exercise regimes and dedicated well-being programmes designed to sort out our sleep, bad backs, eating habits, weight problems, immune systems, mental states and much more.

Whatever you choose, taking a break for true respite is worth the time and money – whether you go for the facial or something a whole lot deeper.

Change If you're dealing with a trauma, such as divorce, or just feel your lifestyle isn't working, try a coaching break. ey don't offer solutions but listen to you and ask pertinent questions to help you to take charge.

Cleanse Detox breaks can help you to shift excess weight, soothe stressed skin, treat digestive disorders, boost your immune system and increase your energy levels. e most effective, if you're short of time, are supervised juice fasts combined with colonic irrigation, gentle exercise and supportive treatments. For a lighter alternative, choose a place that offers a raw-food detox.

Do it in a day You can get a lot out of a day spa,

but go somewhere nearby so you don't get stressed by the travelling. If you're exhausted, go for holistic treatments such as shiatsu, ai massage or anything Ayurvedic. ese seek to rebalance your energy but leave yourself time to use the facilities.

Frolic Who said spa breaks need to be serious? Try long weekends that team yoga with earthly pleasures such as cooking, surfing, belly dancing and live music; or a yoga and chocolate retreat.

Indulge Pampering in a spectacular location is always worth saving for. Book treatments ahead of your stay and don't be afraid to ask for specialist therapies – a decent deep-tissue massage, for example.

Meditate Meditation is designed to help us tame our "monkey minds" by concentrating on our breath, a symbol, or a mantra – and anyone can do it.

Day Spas

Day spas are a place you go for the day to get massage, facials, and body treatments, like sea salt scrubs and mud wraps. ey’re called day spas because, unlike destination spas or resort spas, you don’t spend the night.

Day spas come in a huge range of styles and personalities, from small village day spas with two treatment rooms to 35,000-square-foot extravaganzas with hydrotherapy tubs, Vichy showers and an elaborate spa menu.

Many day spas combine both a hair salon and spa. It usually started out as a successful salon and added spa services. is can be a wonderful combination, because you can get spa services that leave you relaxed, then get your hair washed and blow dried.

But it's important that the two operations are completely separate!

Salons are inherently noisy and bustling. Spas have to be very quiet so you can completely relax. So it might be worth a visit to the spa to make sure it's the real thing. Some hair salons call themselves day spas when all they have is one massage room off the salon.

Another possibility is going to a resort spas for the day, especially in big spa cities like Scottsdale and Phoenix, Arizona. ey welcome locals on a day spa basis. e prices for treatments are more expensive, but you can use all the lavish amenities like steam room, sauna, or hang out by the pool for the day before or after your treatment. is is a great thing to do with girlfriends.

Here is what a day spa should offer • a quiet, peaceful atmosphere • robes and slippers. (Some small spas have no locker rooms and have you change in the room).

• a full menu of massage, facials, and body treatments • professional massage therapists and estheticians • private treatment rooms with fresh linens • professional spa products • a relaxation room with tea • a scrupulously clean facility • in large spas, secure lockers, steam room and sauna

What You Should Know About Day Spas • Not all day spas give manicures and pedicures.

• Medical spas perform treatments like laser resurfacing, photo facials and Botox alongside traditional spa services.

• Very small day spas won't have steam, sauna and Jacuzzis. ink about whether that's important for your spa experience.

Caribbean Spas ough just a few hours' flight from most major North American cities, the Caribbean is truly a spa and wellness lover's dream set amidst pristine white sand beaches, turquoise waters, soaring mountains and lush, verdant rainforests. e Caribbean's rich mix of cultures, along with its resort spas, add to this sense of escape.

Anguilla & Aruba Aloe vera, rum, beach stones and ginger find their way into Anguilla spa treatments. In Aruba, you'll heal and relax with local ingredients such as aloe, tropical fruits, herbs, cactus, desert mud and sea salts. When you're not inhaling this heady, intoxicating mix, hit the beautiful water by diving, snorkeling, fishing, parasailing, windsurfing, waterskiing, boat racing and — my favorite — swimming with dolphins.

The Bahamas Legend has it that in the 1500s Ponce de Leon traveled to the Bahamas looking for the fountain of youth, which he didn't find. Hundreds of years later, though, you can shed the stress with a revitalizing spa treatment in a refreshing outdoor facility. And

then there's the local bounty used in Bahamian spa services: fresh coconut, pineapple, coffee beans, herbs, flowers, nutmeg, ocean seaweed, aloe vera, cucumber and local salt.

British Virgin Islands Most British Virgin Islands spa facilities are located on Tortola, Virgin Gorda and Peter Island, with many offering services indoor and outdoor with ocean views, including bohios.

Spa staff members will often travel to hotel rooms, yachts — this is known as the yachting capital of the world, after all — and even other islands to perform services. Visitors sampling a British Virgin Islands spa treatment will find that many local ingredients are used for services.

Jamaica Tropical gardens, bamboo beds, seaside gazebos, waterfalls and suites are just some of the settings where you'll experience spa in Jamaica.

Flower and plant extracts (coconut, pineapple, frangipani and coconut) make your massage, aromatherapy, body wrap and facial that much more nourishing. Montego Bay has the most resorts and private beaches, while Ocho

Rios is one of the main cruise ports.

Negril has a laid-back vibe, and Kingston is near the Blue Mountains.

St. Lucia In St. Lucia you'll find some exotic offerings on spa menus, including those that harness the power of local ingredients like island fruits, coffee, Kweyol spiced rum, herbs, wild flowers, banana leaf, volcanic minerals and rainforest plants. Many St. Lucia spa treatments have European influences or may be inspired by the Arawak Caribs, the island's first inhabitants.

Trinidad and Tobago Carnival runs the spa scene in Trinidad and Tobago. Many spa treatments there are based on preparing for, or recovering from, events surrounding the season, which usually runs from December to March.

Treatments at Trinidad and Tobago spa properties are often inspired by native tribes, South American, Caribbean and African cultures and may incorporate local ingredients such as eucalyptus and jasmine.

Spa Hotels

A spa hotel is generally in an urban setting and lacks all the outdoor amenities. It can range from the splashy, over-the-top spas in Las Vegas to elegant, sophisticated spas like e Mandarin Oriental in New York City.

A spa hotel typically offers luxurious and beautiful spa facilities, signature spa treatments you can't find anywhere else, and a higher level of amenities and customer service. In exchange, you pay a premium. Prices at spa hotels tend to be much higher than the average day spa. And the more luxurious the hotel and the spa, the higher the price.

Spa hotels usually have facilities like steam, sauna, fitness facilities, and a swimming pool. Regular exercise classes are unusual, but some spa hotels

have them. You might also be able to hire a personal trainer or yoga teacher for a private class.

Hotels spas are open to locals as well as hotel guests. However, locals may not have full access to all the facilities a hotel guest would, like the pool or fitness facilities, or you may have to pay extra for a day pass. Make sure to ask if that's important to you.

Sometimes spa hotels have special loyalty program for locals or offer discounts in off-season.

Spa hotels are different from spa resorts which offer outdoor recreation like golf, hiking, tennis, and swimming pools and sometimes even kids clubs.

Both spa hotel and spa resorts are different from destination spas or

health spas, where the focus is on a healthy, engaged vacation full of exercise and spa cuisine.

Spa hotels tend to have luxurious rooms, fine dining restaurants, and a luxurious spa that is all about rest and relaxation. It's a good choice when you're visiting a city, either as a tourist or a business traveler, and want topnotch spa treatments as part of the experience.

To make the most of your time at a hotel spa, arrive at the spa 45 minutes or so in advance. is gives you plenty of time to get changed, shower, enjoy the amenities and atmosphere, and relax, so you're already relaxed when you're treatment starts.

Give yourself time to rest after the

spa treatment, to receive the full benefit. And if you're on business, book your treatment near the end of the day so you can go to bed right after. e Spa at Mandarin Oriental in New York City is the greatest luxury hotel spa in New York City - and one of the most expensive. Located on the 35th floor of the Time Warner center at Columbus Circle, both the spa offers sweeping views of Central Park and NYC. But it's not the view that makes e Spa at Mandarin Oriental so wonderful. It's the combination of a stunningly beautiful setting, a gorgeous spa, a super-polite but warm approach to people, and probably most important, a great staff of spa therapists and unusual spa treatments.

Relaxation and rejuvenation e multi-award winning Spas at Mandarin Oriental are havens for contemplation and discovery. Guided by their oriental heritage but influenced by local cultural diversity, they provide world-class treatments in luxuriously serene surroundings. From

signature therapies to locally inspired treatments, their expert therapists offer a completely holistic experience that goes well beyond simply delivering massages to tired bodies. Each spa also provides a variety of other disciplines that include: fitness options, nutrition counselling, yoga, tai-chi, meditation, beauty and relaxation.

Mandarin Oriental Signature Spa Therapies Mandarin Oriental’s signature spa therapies have been devised to address guests’ increasing desire for simple, effective and authentic spa experiences.

Developed in consultation with specialists in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and master aromatherapists, each signature therapy consists of a relaxing, hands-on body massage ritual that combines the powerful effects of oriental meridian massage with the therapeutic benefits of custom-blended essential oils, created uniquely for Mandarin Oriental. e treatment begins with a private therapist consultation in order to determine each individual’s personal and current state of wellbeing. e treatment and oils are then tailored to

each guest in order to leave the body, mind and spirit in perfect harmony.

Guests are also provided with nutritional and exercise guidance, in order to extend the beneficial effects of the program at home.

Among the Mandarin Oriental’s spa offerings are t’ai chi, yoga, Pilates, and ai massage. It has a makeup studio, manicures and pedicures, varied salt and herbal scrubs, and excellent cardiovascular equipment, each with a personal television and headset.

Resistance equipment and free weights are also available. e spa offers aromatherapy massage, along with Balinese, Mandarin hot stone, jet-lagged reviver aromatherapy, deep-tissue, ai, Shiatsu, and stimulating hip and thigh massages.

Also available are pre-and postnatal treatments; hydrotherapy baths; detoxifying algae, nourishing mud, and oshadi herbal treatments; purifying hot linen wraps; a range of facials, makeup sessions, and express treatments; Ayurvedic treatments; joint release and massage; and a customized time ritual, in which the amount of time booked dictates the number of stages.

Spa Resorts A spa resort provides a relaxing, pampering experience for people staying at the resort or people who live locally. At a resort spa you stay overnight, enjoy spa treatments, and eat whatever you want – steak, wine, you name it. is is different from a health spa or destination spa, which is more about healthy living and personal transformation. (ough just to make it more confusing, many destination spas are now calling themselves "spa resorts" because it's more highly searched term on the internet.) e classic resort spa offers golf, tennis, swimming, kids clubs, gyms, and the spa is just one more amenity. ey might also offer exercise classes, either for an extra fee or free. Older resort spas, built in the nineties, tend to be smaller and not so "over the top".

Newer resort spas tend to be bigger and more lavish.

How Spa Resorts Differ from Health Spas At a resort spa, you usually pay for your spa treatments à la carte instead of having them as part of the total package. e resort spa may offer classes like yoga, and the selection is

usually much more limited than at a destination spa. ere are a few exceptions. Golden Door Spa at e Boulders and e Spa at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale are two excellent resort spas that offer a fairly large schedule of classes, free for anyone getting a treatment at the spa.

Resort spa restaurants generally offer spa cuisine, but their real forte is the rich food that most people like to order when they're out on the town or having a special night out. Spas are the new must-have amenity at resorts and hotels, so almost everyone says they have a spa.

It's important to do your research before you go. You don't want to find out what the hotel is calling a "spa" is a hot tub, or one treatment room off the gym.

What You Need To Know About Spa Resort • Large resort spas will have a wide range of activities, including golf, swimming, tennis, and sometimes water sports, horseback riding and skiing. Some also have kids' camps.

• Resort spas do not include meals.

Destination or health spas include meals. Keep that in mind when you

compare prices.

• You may have to pay anywhere from $15 to $25 for yoga or other exercise classes at resort spas. Classes at health spas are included.

• Many resorts have kids' camps.

Health spas don't allow children.

Go to a Spa Resort if you want: • Spa treatments as part of your overall vacation experience.

• To spend time with your family.

• A particular vacation spot, like Hawaii or Scottsdale.

• To spend just one-two nights. Most destination spas have two-three night minimums.

• Particular amenities such as golfing, tennis, or lots of swimming pools.

• To drink, eat rich food or gamble.

• To go to the spa while your partner, mate or kids do something different.

• To relax instead of taking lots of classes.

Examples of great resort spas include e Spa of Colonial Williamsburg in Virginia, e Spa at Hotel Hershey in Pennsylvania, and e Watermark Hotel & Spa in San Antonio, Texas.

Renew your spirit and body with their personalized wellness program.

Challenge yourself through adventure treks across Dominica’s rugged terrain.

Or just relax and be with nature using one of the many meditation spots found throughout 22 acres.

Achieve a healthy lifestyle on your vacation with a personalized wellness program. eir holistic approach includes nutrition, fitness, relaxation and nature.

Reflect in one of the outdoor meditation spots, with river rock and wood benches, found throughout the resort.

To help you in your journey, the wellness coordinator can create a plan tailored to your needs and provide the tools necessary to be successful at home.

Features include: • Daily yoga classes (group and private classes) • Guided nature hikes and tours • Organic cuisine • Organic cooking light classes • Massage lessons • Guided meditation • Relaxation treatments at Kalinago Spa Kalinago, an oceanfront Dominica spa, sits above the surf and offers customized treatments inspired by

nature. From hydrating volcanic mud to hot river stone massages, spa treatments use ingredients grown at Rosalie Bay Resort and found on Dominica to provide natural healing. e full-service menu features a variety of treatments including massages using hand-pressed oils, detoxifying hydrotherapy treatment, hydrating body wrap and renewing organic body scrub.

After pampering in one of the three treatment rooms, relax overlooking the Atlantic while sipping fresh coconut water or herbal tea.

A nature resort unique to Dominica Rosalie Bay Resort is surrounded by nature. Paths wind through tropical flowers and river rocks. Hillsides are covered in vibrant green hues. e deep blue sea salts the air. Lounge on one of the hand-carved benches throughout the nature resort to take it all in.

From March to October, witness an ancient nature ritual as endangered sea turtles nest and hatch on the protected black sand beach.

And that’s just on their 22 acres.

Two-thirds of the 289.5-square-mile island of Dominica is blanketed in natural vegetation. Rich volcanic soil

and a daily sprinkle of rain provide ideal growing conditions for more than 1,200 species of plants. Flying overhead are more than 172 types of birds, including two endangered parrots. Offshore, dolphins and sperm whales can be spotted year round.

Only in Dominica can you climb from the ocean to 5,000 feet and explore six variations of forest in a single day.

Prepare to be amazed by the nature island. So much adventure awaits. ere’s something for every fitness and experience level on land and sea.

You just need to bring your sense of adventure (and a good pair of shoes for hikes).

Organized tours e concierge will be happy to arrange an itinerary for you. A wide variety of tours and activities are available and include: Aerial Tram, Bee Hive Trip, Bird Watching, Boiling Lake, Carib Territory Tour, Emerald Pool, Fresh Water Lake, Indian River Tour, Jeep Safari, Market Day Trip/City Shopping Souvenirs, Rainforest, River to Ocean Kayaking Adventure, River Tubing, Sari Sari Falls, Snorkeling Beach Day, Syndicate Rain Forest, Ti Tou Gorge, Trafalgar Falls, Victoria Falls, and Whale Watching

“Give us your body for a week and we'll give you back your mind” e BodyHoliday is an amazing St Lucia resort experience. It is a unique combination of one of the world's most beautiful islands, a resort that provides a truly luxurious and personal service, a Wellness Centre that provides a range of treatments that will leave you feeling alive and a range of activities that could keep you busy from dawn until dusk. On top of this they cater for every taste in food and drink with three great restaurants and relaxing bars. It is an experience that allows you to be as busy or as quiet as you want. It's your holiday; choose whatever you want to do.

The Experience Experiences are very personal; you create your own. At e BodyHoliday in St Lucia, they subscribe to this principle and provide you with everything they think you could possibly need.

You see the great thing about your holiday is that it is yours. You decide what you want to do and when you want to do it. e BodyHoliday just provides the choice - from the treatments and therapies at e Wellness Centre, to the Coubaril Valley Tennis and Golf Academy, to the SCUBA diving, to the archery, the water-skiing, the windsurfing, yoga, Pilates, sailing, golf, fencing, volleyball... it's your choice.

I could endlessly list all you can do but that would never sum up the feeling that you get both when you first arrive or indeed when you sadly have to leave. e BodyHoliday is not just about activities or treatments, the food

or the rooms; it is about the experience, the feeling, and the journey that you go through. ey have always said that if you give us your body, we will give you back your mind and their mission is to allow you to find the vacation that you need to unwind.

Whether you need to be constantly active by running, spinning or swimming; or you need to lie down, enjoy the warmth of the sun and the plot of your latest novel, they want you to enjoy yourself.

Inclusive Treatments When you arrive at the top spa resort in the Caribbean, e BodyHoliday, you will receive your personal treatment schedule. Every day of your stay (except on the days of arrival and departure) you can receive one of a possible 7 pre-paid, 50-minute body treatments designed to relax, rejuvenate and awaken your senses.

Included in the price of your holiday: Lucian Lime & Ginger Scrub Exfoliation ritual to invigorate and bring vitality to the body.

After a light body brushing, warm oil is drizzled sparingly over the body and then lime and ginger is used to cleanse and polish the skin.

Aloe Vera Body Wrap is is a gentle massage using lavender aromatherapy oil, followed by an application of Aloe Vera gel. Your body is then enveloped in a wrap; leaving sun exposed skin soothed and hydrated.

Full Body Massage ese massages are based on Swedish Massage techniques using medium pressure and aromatherapy oils. You can choose between: Serenity Massage- A heavenly, relaxing massage using soothing essential oils with gently flowing movements to ease tired muscles and calm the mind.

The Saint Lucian Sizzler- A revitalising massage using active and rhythmic movements offering welcome relief to muscle fatigue; increases vitality and promotes healthier circulation.

Aromapure Facial Your therapist will prescribe the correct facial to suit your skin type that will leave the skin with a radiant glow; whether your concern is congestion, sensitivity, dehydration, aging or sun damage. Gentlemen are asked to shave 3 hours prior to the

facial.

Deluxe Coconut & Spice Combo is invigorating massage encompasses a range of powerful massage movements using local Organic Coconut Oil and Spices. You will be seated in a special chair to work exclusively on the back, neck, shoulders and scalp to alleviate pain caused by stress.

Hydrotherapy is is a filtered seawater treatment. Seawater contains calcium, phosphorous and sodium ions, which are absorbed through the skin by using massage jets and specific series of fun exercises to increase blood circulation, stimulate muscle tone and aid weight loss. Please remember your swim suit (a one piece is best suited).

Hand and Foot Zone Therapy e hands and feet are the most sensitive parts of our body. is massage is designed to relax these areas that often get neglected. Pressure points and soothing movements will unwind the mind and body.

Nurturing Mother-to-be Massage Ideal massage for expecting mothers to help relieve tension in the lower and upper back, as well as alleviate swelling of the hands and feet.

Destination Spas

Destination Spas are those whose sole purpose is to provide guests with lifestyle improvement and health enhancement through professionally administered spa services, facilitated physical fitness, educational programming, and on-site accommodations. Healthy spa cuisine is served exclusively. All programs and classes are coordinated to facilitate take-home habits.

Although destination spas really started the spa market, there are a relatively small number of them. e ratio of employees to guests tends to be one or more employees to each guest. e destination spa allows the participant to “get away from it all,” to really concentrate on health, stress reduction, beauty, a turning point in life, or developing a new way of living that can be maintained after the spa visit. For this reason, most destination spas report a high percentage of single reservations or reservations for two people who are friends or relatives. e destination spas that are remote from larger cities are particularly likely to have single guests taking time for themselves, although many offer periodic couple getaways and mother-daughter stays.

Canyon Ranch has two properties; one in the Berkshires and one in Tucson. e Canyon Ranch stay is generally the guests’ primary vacation. ey have health packages and medical specialty weeks, a sleep lab, and sexuality consultations. eir services include massages, spiritual awareness, facials, Pilates, herbal wraps, nutrition, movement therapy and preventative medicine. Both properties have multiple gyms, aerobic and strength-training rooms, and sports activities.

In California, the Cluff family owns two destination spas, e Oaks at Ojai and e Palms at Palm Springs.

Cathy Cluff, Director of Marketing for both, says their 26 years of operation have taken them through

drastic changes. “In the beginning, we were thought of as a fat farm, and no one was interested in hearing about anything else,” she said. “Now there is a diverse clientele which a very strong repeat factor.”

Half of their clients now come alone, and in many cases, where couples arrive together, the man might pay golf all day. “It’s a good safe environment for a woman alone,” Cluff says, “and our guests at Ojai are about 90 percent female, and it’s about 80 percent at e Palms. Many clients prefer to come alone to concentrate on their experiences. ere are also a lot of interesting people, and guests find that they have common situations.” Menus are set, posted on a board, with vegetarian meals, kosher options, and special meals to accommodate food allergies. e Cluffs offer theme weeks with specials practically every month. For example, during mother-daughter stays, held three times a year, as many daughters as can fit in the room with the mother enjoy the spa for 50 percent of the normal rate. Cluff said the Mother’s Day special sells out as much as a year in advance. Other promotions allow guests to bring a friend at a discount, and they have holiday spa training classes in November and intensive yoga programs with outside instructors joining their staff. Massages, Pilates mat work, dance, top-to-bottom toning, rollerblading, weight training, and acupuncture are among their offerings.

When you're taking a spa vacation, the most important choice is between a destination spa and a resort spa.

Destination spas are a select group of spas where the whole emphasis is on wellness and personal growth. Spa purists love destination spas.

Resort spas are far more common. e resort spa is an amenity alongside traditional vacation pleasures like rich

food and wine, golfing, even gambling. It's good for the casual spagoer, family vacations, weddings or business meetings.

Go to a destination spa if you want: • An all-encompassing spa environment where the whole emphasis is on getting healthy, finding new energy and getting inspired.

• An adult environment.

• A sense of camaraderie and an atmosphere where it’s easy to get to know people.

• A supportive environment for recovering from major life events.

• Lots of programming, including exercise classes, hikes, meditation, and lectures on health and personal growth.

• Healthy food. Most don't serve alcohol and some don't serve caffeine.

• Pricing that includes room, meals, classes, lectures and usually some spa treatments.

Examples of great destination spas include Golden Door in California, Red Mountain Spa in Utah, Lake Austin Spa Resort in Texas and e Lodge at Woodloch in Pennsylvania.

Some resort spas like e Spa at Camelback Inn in Scottsdale, Arizona and Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California are becoming more like destination spas by offering hiking and exercise classes without charging extra. But typically resort spas charge for classes, and don't have nearly as much programming. Spa treatments are an "a la carte" amenity to your larger vacation.

A cruise ship spa is exactly what it sounds like; a spa aboard a cruise ship. e majority of cruise ship spas are served by one London-based company, Steiner, which has recently expanded to land-based spas as well. In addition, there are cruise lines with famous name spas and special proprietary spas, such as Golden Door and Canyon Ranch.

In fact, Canyon Ranch is planning its own cruise ships.

Even the Steiner spas have variants, with differences in services provided for a luxury Crystal Cruises spa compared to a mass-market Carnival facility, but the range of product and the size of the spa will surprise those who have never seen them before. Cruise ship spas have come a long way since they were glorified small beauty salons with massages and facials.

Treatment rooms are generally comparable to those in land-based spas, often featuring one-way glass that

allows the clients to watch the sea. ey have the most sophisticated hydrotherapies, as well as a variety of facials and skin care treatments. Stress reduction packages and a very broad spectrum of massage treatments are offered, along with dozens of rejuvenating treatments.

Spacious salons offering a full range of treatments sit side by side with steam rooms, Jacuzzis, saunas, recovery rooms, juice bars, and even full-size lap-pools and

meditation gardens. Some of the services may extend to the ports of call, with the spa setting up sheltered tables for a massage by the sea.

Cardiovascular facilities at sea often rival or exceed excellent health clubs on land. Cruise lines such as Costa, issue a key for fitness equipment that allows each passenger to set a custom program on the machines that will automatically run whenever he or she uses the equipment; after the cruise has ended, the key can also be used on similar equipment on land.

In general, cruise spa treatments are booked individually, although there may be special combinations offered at a discount.

When booking groups, you can arrange

Cruise Ship Spas whole programs in advance. Typically, the use of cardiovascular equipment, steam rooms, saunas, aromatherapy rooms and so on is free.

Cruise ship spas are extremely popular, and many have had to extend their hours from 8 am to 8 pm daily or even longer. e number of men using the facilities has skyrocketed, and they have become much more adventurous in booking unusual or new treatments, as well as massages, facials and skin care or age-defying treatments.

Since cruise ship spas are booked up quickly, you should make your appointment on the first day, as soon as you embark. If you are going to be using the aerobics or fitness center,

remember to bring your workout gear in addition to your bathing suit.

Most cruise ship spas have reduced rates for the days that they are in post so you might want to check.

Celebrity Solstice AquaSpa e two-story AquaSpa and fitness center is an integral part of the Celebrity Solstice where the goal is to create a healthy spa-resort fitness feeling. e Solarium indoor pool is among the prettiest pools at sea with waterfalls and dancing water fountains.

Before and after treatments guests can lounge with sea views in the Relaxation

Room that offers comfy and plush wicker ottomans or the spa’s Persian Garden that offers warm marble lounges to laze on. e spa offers a wide array of treatments, but acupuncture therapy is the highlight and is very popular among returning guests.

Adjacent to the spa are 130 AquaClass staterooms, which offer unlimited access to the spa facilities and come equipped with an amazing five-head Hansgrohe “shower tower” that offers a waterfall showerhead and side jets.

Medical Spas

Medical spas are those whose primary purpose is some form of healing or medical/cosmetic procedure.

In one growing trend, the client goes to a spa to get a very thorough physical examination with a battery of tests by the medical personnel while receiving nutritional and exercise counselling, stress-management treatment and advise, and so on.

Other medical spas are closer to specialist hospitals; they provide a particularly nurturing environment for cosmetic surgery and other procedures, Still others stress herbal and meditative health. Mineral springs in North America and abroad can be grouped within this category.

A whole separate market is emerging with medical spas, which have been a standard in Europe for many decades.

In fact, many European health plans include an annual spa stay.

Medical spas are becoming increasingly popular with North Americans who are seeking cosmetic surgery, enhanced well-being, or help

in healing. ese spas combine traditional spa treatments with exhaustive physical examinations, plastic surgery, dermatology, and alternative medicine. Some of these spas come under insurance plans, and a few are designed for designated plans.

Questions You Should Ask Before You Choose A Medical Spa Who owns and operates the medical spa? Is it owned by a doctor? Is he actually on the premises supervising operations and doing treatments?

Regulations vary from region to region.

A medical doctor generally has to oversee the procedures performed in a medical spa, but this does not mean he is always (or ever!) on the premises.

Sometimes doctors lend their names to medical spas but have relatively little involvement.

Who will be performing the procedure?

What is the licensing and training of the people who are actually doing the services?

How long have they been doing the procedure? is is especially important with laser hair removal. Many regions don't require any license whatsoever, and you can be badly burned – literally – if someone doesn't know what they're doing. Ask for before and after photos of their work.

What kind of equipment do they use?

When did they buy it? Prices for medical spa treatments like laser and skin tightening (or skin rejuvenation) are high because the equipment itself is expensive. You really want the most up-to-date, least painful technologies for procedures like skin tightening.

What will this treatment realistically do for me? Sometimes doctors and cosmetic surgeons open medical spas as an adjunct to their practice, so they can sell more services. You may give more credence to a doctor's recommendation that you get microdermabrasion or laser treatments. Don't lose your critical judgment just because a doctor is recommending a treatment.

Dr. Fish e fish therapy is not an unfamiliar idea since the Kangal Spa in Turkey has been functioning since the early 1900s. e Middle East and parts of Turkey have hot springs where Garra Rufa fish have been alleviating and sanitizing the skin of the bathers for many years. An accidental discovery, people in the baths noticed that these tiny fish were biting off dead skin cells while leaving the healthy skin as it was. ese tiny, unpaid, primitive therapists would use their saliva to soften the skin and begin nibbling the callus covered skin. Sometimes referred to as ‘Doctor Fish’, the fishes exudes an enzyme called diathanol that fastens the regeneration of skin. ese fishes are renowned for their ability to find and feed on dead or damaged areas of the skin surface while the skin gets exfoliated. e fish nibble away the dead membrane cuticles and coat the

skin surface with saliva encouraging the speedy recovery of the lesions. Fish therapy is effortless on the part of the paying patron and does not cause irritation or scarring of the skin. e down side is that one suffers from bouts of giggles as the fish bites feel ticklish on the skin.

Fish therapy seems to have an

unmatched capability to remove dead skin involving the simple procedure of nibbling by a school of Garra Rufa. In the language of spa goers, the fish kisses the skin while one gets riddance from dead skin and healthy skin is left intact. ere are additional benefits of fish therapy as it releases stress and amplifies blood circulation and fosters relaxation.

Indigenous Treatments At a Spa Indigenous treatments are a spa trend that highlight local ingredients and therapeutic traditions – ruby grapefruit scrubs in Texas, blueberry wraps in Maine, Lomi Lomi massage in Hawaii.

Spas use a lot of creativity to come up with these indigenous treatments. At their best, indigenous treatments are deeply authentic, giving you experiences you couldn't have anywhere else, like a highly skilled Lomi Lomi massage by a skilled Hawaiian practitioner.

Here are a few examples of indigenous treatments:

• The Arizona Biltmore Resort & Spa offers a Cactus Flower Wrap that uses prickly pear cactus extract to soften your skin, and a Sedona Mud Wrap that uses local mud to detoxify your body and nourish your skin.

• Hawaiian spas offer Lomi Lomi, a healing type of Hawaiian massage derived from ancient Polynesian traditions. It usually begins with a blessing, and the massage is given with very fluid motions using the forearms.

• Mohonk Mountain House in upstate New York has a

Mohonk Red massage that uses towels infused with a witchhazel that only grows in the Shawangunk Mountains.

• The Cliff House in Maine has a Blueberry Body Wrap and Blueberry Smoothie Pedicure and offers hot stone massage with stones it collected from its own beach.

• The Cotton House in the Caribbean island of Mustique uses tropical fruits in its Lime and Pineapple Extravaganza. Fresh lime is mixed with sea salt for a body scrub, followed by a pineapple, yogurt and honey wrap to soothe and soften the skin.

You’re soaking in an oak barrel bath treated with Pinot Noir, your face covered with a Merlot grape seed wrap. erapists splash you clean with cool fresh grape water, then massage your back with a grape masher. Soon you’ll be sitting down to a Michelin Star dinner, drinking wine made from the vineyard outside and retiring to a room in a luxury hotel.

It sounds like an oenophile’s fantasy, but this is no wine-induced dream. Spagoers the world over are now exfoliating with crushed cabernet scrubs and soaking in tubs of wine-tinted water.

And increasingly, they’re doing it at a wine spa hotel.

It’s no surprise as to why this trend is taking off. Recent studies suggesting that the French suffer less heart disease due to a regular intake of wine confirmed what most oenophiles have long suspected: Wine not only tastes good; it’s good for you. But the rejuvenative qualities in a bottle of Bordeaux or a carafe of Cabernet tell only half the story. Grapes, grape seeds and grape vines happen to contain some of the nature’s most powerful antioxidants, helping to account for the

hottest new trend in the global spa industry — wine and grape-based treatments known as vinotherapy.

Indeed, it’s rare to find a spa these days that doesn’t feature some kind of vinotherapy. Luxe resorts such as e Inn at Camelback in Arizona and the Shore Club in Miami are offering wine treatments using Olavie’s Le Vin range of oils made from Chardonnay grape seed. Across Europe, spas are using ISHI Elements — creams and oils from Chianti, Chardonnay and Pinot grapes sourced from organic vines in Tuscany.

While wine spa treatments are one thing, traveling to wine country to have them is the ultimate vinotherapy experience. In recent years chic wine spa hotels and luxury vinotherapy resorts have sprung up on vineyards and wine estates all over the world.

“What can be better than getting a Merlot face wrap while gazing out on a view of beautiful rolling vineyards in Sonoma or Spain?” asks Mary Blackmon, founder of the directory Spa-addicts.com. “When your treatment becomes an extension of the environment you’re in, that’s when

you’re really immersing yourself in the experience.”

Fittingly, the origins of vinotherapy and wine spa resorts can be traced back to France. It was in 1993 on her family’s vineyard in Bordeaux that Mathilde omas and her husband Bertrand met the eminent pharmacologist Dr. Joseph Vercauteren, who discovered back in 1970 that grape seeds were rich in the antioxidant polyphenol. Using grape products harvested on their Château Smith Haut Lafitte estate, the omas’ created the Caudalie skin care line in 1995, used by the likes of Madonna and Isabelle Adjani. en in 1999, they trademarked the name Caudalie Vinothérapie when they opened the world’s first vinotherapy hotel, Les Sources de Caudalie, on the estate.

Today, treatments there include the Pulp Friction massage, a cult favorite using fresh grapes that are crushed over the body.

Given that she created the wine therapy concept, Mathilde omas seems surprisingly unruffled by the new wave of rival wine cosmetics companies and spas. “On the contrary,” she said.

“It makes me feel proud to see how quickly wine therapy has grown.” e trend has spread to America’s wine country, too. One of the classiest wine hotels in the U.S. is Kenwood Inn and Spa, a 30-room, Mediterraneanstyle boutique villa surrounded by vineyards in the Sonoma Valley, and specializing in such soothing therapies as the Sauvignon Massage. “In Hawaii you can get a hot lava rock massage, in Sonoma it makes sense to do wine-

based treatments,” says Kenwood Inn Spa Director Debra Burquez. “ere’s something about doing wine tastings in the day and getting a soothing vine bath at night that makes visiting here so special.”

But Mathilde omas does warn spagoers that not all wine spas are the real thing. Contrary to some perceptions, drinking wine during a treatment is not encouraged. “You should drink water of course. Only afterwards you can drink

e first Vinothérapie® Spa is located at the heart of Les Sources de Caudalie in an environment of rare beauty amidst the vineyards. It offers a full range of exclusive treatments that combine the virtues of naturally warm spring water, rich in minerals and trace elements drawn from more than 540 meters underground, with the very

latest scientific findings on the benefits of the vine and its grapes. In 2011, the Les Sources de Caudalie Spa was voted the second best Spa in the Overseas Spa Retreats category by Condé Nast Traveller. e Les Sources de Caudalie Spa with its 5-star hotel is situated in an environment of rare beauty. Deep in the grounds of the Chateau Smith Haut Lafitte estate, it overlooks Graves Grand Cru Classé vines that stretch away as far as

wine over a good meal.”

As for bathing in wine a la Cleopatra as some spas suggest, that’s a complete no-no. “Bathing in wine is definitely not good for you,” said omas. “You should bathe in spring water treated with the extract of red vines, which is good for the circulation and the skin.”

Sounds like fine advice to us. She’s French, after all.

the eye can see. It is a magical place punctuated with a clever mix of noble materials combining stone and wood that give the treatment rooms and rest areas their unique charm, all against the bewitching and terrestrial backdrop of the vineyards. Lie back and let our Vinotherapists’ expert hands take care of your body in an elegant atmosphere from which you will emerge refreshed and rested. Little extra: A hot spring located 540 meters beneath your feet gushing water rich in trace elements and minerals, just a 20-minute drive from Bordeaux city center, Bordeaux Mérignac airport and Bordeaux SaintJean train station.

From massages on a terrace overlooking the vineyards to the Vinolift Anti-Ageing facial (grape products are rich in collagen), the Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma, Calif., is the nation's leading wine spa.

Yoga Retreats Most people take a vacation to get away from it all, but students of yoga are increasingly using their hard-earned holidays to deepen their yoga practices by combining travel to exotic places with intensive yoga programs.

If you are considering going on a yoga retreat, these tips will help you know what to expect and ensure that you will have a great, relaxing trip.

Go With What You Know: One of the best ways to pick a yoga retreat is to sign on for one led by your local studio or regular teacher. Running these retreats, often to tropical locales, has become big business for studios and independent teachers, so they will go out of their way to make sure that everything goes smoothly and you get good yoga instruction.

Reach for the Stars: If you sign up for a retreat with one of yoga’s star teachers or well-known studios, you will undoubtedly be treated well. Again, these teachers have a vested interest (their reputations) in making sure you have a good time and get your money’s worth. In addition, many studios run their retreats as yoga teacher training programs. If you are at the point in your practice where this makes sense, it can be a great way to earn your registered yoga teacher (RYT) certification while on vacation.

Get Fancy: If you can afford it, many luxury spas have yoga on the menu. is is a great way to relax, be pampered, and do some yoga on the side. Going this route may result in a sacrifice in the quality of yoga instruction, so this option is for those who just want a little yoga with their mud baths, seaweed wraps, and hot stone massages.

Stay Close to Home: ere are many excellent retreat options in Canada and the United States. Choose one that you can drive to in order to cut down on the air expense.

You Get What You Pay For: If something sounds too good to be true, it probably is. So, if you go the bargain basement route, expect rustic accommodations. If you are OK with living conditions that are closer to camping facilities than a hotel, this can be a good way to save some money.

Some retreats will offer shared or dormitory-style rooms at a discount.

Food is almost always included in the price of the retreat, and usually features healthy, fresh, local cuisine. Airfare is almost always NOT included, so make sure to consider this when budgeting.

Daily routine: Yoga classes will usually be offered in the morning and evening. Other activities will vary according to the focus of the retreat, but often include meditation. Some retreats organize a lot of extra activities, which – depending on locations – may include things like hiking, native dancing, or even cooking classes. It is a good idea to clarify ahead of time whether these extras are included in the price of the trip.

Whether you're looking for beaches or mountains, the physical or the spiritual, there's a yoga vacation out there for you. Yogis come in all shapes and sizes. Some are content with their once-a-week Anusara class at their local studio while others have made yoga and its philosophy a way of life.

Some have no problem dropping thousands of dollars on a decadent suite for a weekend of oom-ing and stretching, while others have a tighter budget. Regardless of the style of yoga you practice, you will find soothing escapes and life-changing experiences worldwide. So grab your mat and start planning your perfect yoga escapade. Namaste!

Mind, Body, Spirit Treat Your Spirit to a Spiritual Retreat Taking a few minutes out of your hectic day for a mental reprieve or taking a half-hour bubble bath each evening are good stress relievers. But they are probably simply not going to be sufficient for easing those larger anxieties that are slowly eating you up inside. Everyone needs a change of pace to help bring balance to their lives. You may need to take an extended vacation from work, or feel you need go off by yourself away from family members for a few days to find solace. Whereas an ordinary vacation can bring about its own stresses, a spiritual retreat feeds the spirit. You'll come home refreshed and more readily able to face your day-do-day stresses.

Places of Peace and Power Since ancient times, sacred sites have had a mysterious allure for billions of people around the world. Legends and contemporary reports tell of extraordinary experiences people have had while visiting these places.

Different sacred sites have the power to heal the body, enlighten the mind and inspire the heart.

Join Sacred Journeys to visit and connect with the ancient spiritual energies that exist at the most important Sacred Sites around the world. e Great Pyramid and Sphinx in Egypt, Sacred Temples in Bali, Stonehenge in England, Ancient Temples and Ashrams in India, Machu Picchu in Peru, Sacred Sites & Vortexes in Sedona, and sacred Mt. Kailas in Tibet are just some of the Sacred Places visited.

• Travel with like-minded people and make new long-term friendships • Take time out from your regular life to reflect, and to broaden your horizons • Learn about different cultures and develop more understanding and compassion for others • Serve and to give something back to the people and places visited • Travel safely with the comfort of a small group & an experienced Tour Leader • Respect the environment and others' customs and lifestyles • Experience the culture, life and spirit of a place rather than follow the normal tourist route • Connect with ancient spiritual energies and power spots at Sacred Sites around the world • Explore a new spiritual practice or belief

Ireland… the Emerald Isle I spent a week in Ireland in September 2012 and was hosted by Tourism Ireland and Fáite Ireland. We travelled from Dublin to Innismore, Aran Islands to Clifden, to Galway, to Kilkenny, to Waterford and back to Dublin. e accommodations and the meals were absolutely amazing. is was my second time in Ireland. I went in 2008 on the Scenic Ireland tour with Globus. We started in Limerick and went all the way around including Northern Ireland and ended up back where we started. I think I could spend a year on this lovely island and still not see everything. I didn’t get to spend time in the spas unfortunately because of our busy itinerary but I dreamed every night over their menus of wonderful treatments. We did get to visit the ESPA at the “g” hotel in Galway. I can’t say I care much for the decor of the rest of the hotel (black and bright magenta) but the spa was a soothing area. We all wanted to have a treatment done! ey have overnight spa packages as well as à la carte.

My favourite spot is still Kylemore Abbey. e first time I visited it I was not in a very good place in my life. I was going through a devastating divorce. As soon as I stepped on the grounds I felt such a sense of peace come over me. I didn’t want to leave. I am not religious at all but it was a wonderful feeling. It would be a perfect spot for a retreat.

Ireland is full of moments that persist even after you’ve run out of words that mean “green.” All throughout this friendly island, world-

class destination spas are nestled among the lush countryside, interspersed with ancient healing wells, mystical standing stones, and fascinating historic sites.

Deep spiritual significance has long been conferred by Celtic (and other) traditions upon geographical sites with springs, wells, streams, and lakes, illustrating the global historical connection between water, healing, and the sacred. In Irish mythology and many of the country’s pagan traditions,

were deliberately moved or erected to designate a place of spiritual significance. e prehistoric stone circle overlooking the coast near Dooncarton, for instance, is believed to have been a place of worship. Other sites include Ardgrrom in County Cork, and the Brownshill Dolmen, listed as a National Monument. ese stones and their specific arrangements suggest, perhaps, how the early inhabitants of this lovely land expressed their understanding of the sacred. In some cases, stones— such as that of the Proleek Dolmen in the coastal village of Ballymascanlan—are surrounded by legends. A giant called Parrah Boug MacShagean is said to have placed the massive stones that make this ancient monument, known for the 46-ton capstone that rests on the surface of a trio of huge vertical rocks.

Unlike much of Europe, Ireland Kylemore Abbey remained comparatively free of water was a vital element in sacred rites Roman exploration. ough that and ceremonies—and some sources resulted in a lack of the Roman’s usual estimate that over 3,000 holy wells and bequest of elaborate bathing temples, springs can be found here. Sites include spas have definitely found their way Doon Well near Kilmacrennan in into Ireland’s modern wellness culture.

County Donegal, Tobair na Glóire near Scattered across the island, onceLismore, and St. Brendan’s Well and its private estates, castles, and country seaside altar in Dingle, County Kerry. houses have been transformed into spa havens that offer innovative therapies Some of the mysterious standing inspired by healing traditions from stones, cairns, and circles of stones around the planet. Given their frequent found throughout the countryside and proximity to ancient springs and holy along the coasts—many of them wells, they might even be considered to megalithic in their proportions—date be modern adaptations of that ancient back thousands of years. Historians connection between water and and archaeologists continue to debate wellbeing. their absolute meaning and purpose, but it seems clear that many of them

Monart Destination Spa County Wexford Over one hundred acres of private woodlands surround Monart’s 18th century manor house in southeast Ireland. If you can bear to leave the spa, you can hike, ride, fish, or play golf. e resort has excellent fitness facilities with state-of-the art equipment, and complimentary classes including stretching, aqua classes, and Swissball (large exercise balls). Multiday themed spa getaways include weight loss, anti-aging, and

Lyrath Estate & Spa Hotel County Kilkenny Near Kilkenny City, the elegant, ivycovered manor house of Lyrath Estate is sprawled across 170 acres of grounds ideal for walking, hiking, and horseback riding. Treatments at the property’s Oasis Spa are built around Lyrath’s concept of the Seven Pillars of Wellbeing, defined as Beauty, Harmony, Vitality, Aqua, Life-balance, Nature, and Nutrition. Products from Kerstin Florian, along with the Mediterranean-based Green Energy

detoxification. ere’s a physical therapist on staff for more serious treatment requests, and a supervised cancer care program. e wide range of spa therapies feature Voya and Pevonia Botanica spa products. An extensive thermal area includes an indoor sauna, outdoor sauna log cabin, organic mud chamber, Scandinavian samarium/ sauna, warm caldarium, Kneipp soaking pools, heated benches and footbaths, aromatherapy steam bath, salt grotto and hydrotherapy pool. erapies include dry flotation (which suspends you in a watery envelope while keeping you from getting wet),

organic seaweed wraps, and a decadent crème fraiche wrap with papaya and pineapple. Pregnancy therapies include a water lily float to relieve fatigue. Posttreatment, you can choose to relax in a dark room or light room. e light room features unique curved cubbyholes built into the walls for guests to relax in. e entrance to the spa is one of its most fascinating features, with an extensive, winding indoor corridor open to the area below that forces you to slow down as you approach the spa, and was designed to help you “unwind” as you enter the healing space.

line of organic skincare products, are featured in treatments. Try the Sámi Zen treatment, a melding of ancient traditions and modern technology that includes scent, hydrotherapy, healing touch, and sound therapies designed to induce complete harmony between body, mind, and spirit. Besides the expected facials, massages, and nail care options, there’s also a Rasul mosaic steam chamber, where you can be covered in soothing layers of mineralrich therapeutic muds, and relax while they work their magic on your skin and muscles. When you’re ready to rinse off, you’ll be doused with a warm rain shower while an ever-changing array of tinted lights twinkle over your head.

e spa’s Relaxation Suite looks out over the estate’s landscaped parkland.

Loungers are equipped with remote controls that activate self-massage features, and headphones that allow guests to drift away to their own choice of music. Unique treatments include Windsphere Massage, a form of Tibetan massage that focuses on rebalancing energy through the use of two wind-generating spheres that are directed at specific chakra points. Also nice: e 150-minute long Luxurious Chocolate and Cinnamon Body Sculpting Soufflé and Facial—a wrap and facial combo guaranteed to be calorie-free.

Spa Packages

Spa Specials

Body Beautiful Package 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199 Full Body Exfoliation Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap Full Body Massage Finish with Spa Lunch in The Gallery

Pamper Me Please 90 minutes - €150 Full Body Exfoliation Hot Stone Back, Neck & Shoulder Massage Voya Express Organic Facial

Facial Fusion 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199 Facial Experience Marine Eye Therapy File & Polish Fingers & Toes Finish with Spa Lunch in The Gallery Ultimate Journey Package 5hrs + Spa Lunch - €480 Full Body Exfoliation Detoxifying Seaweed Body Wrap Hot Stone Massage Spa Lunch in The Gallery Organic Anti Ageing Facial Marine Eye Therapy Mini Manicure Mini Pedicure

Aghadoe Heights Hotel & Spa

Together Special 1hr 20 minutes - €130 per person Full Body Massage & Express Organic Facial in our Couple’s Suite Heavenly Face & Body Ritual 2hrs - €170 Experience a full body massage followed by an organic facial experience Nail Care

Temptation Tuesdays 50 minutes - €79 Full Body Massage OR Voya Facial Experience

Spa Packages

Spa Specials

Ultimate Body Retreat Luxury Spa Manicure 1hr - €60 2 hours - €180 Pamper Me Please Dead Sea Salts & Oil Body Scrub & Wrap 90Luxury minutes -Organic €150 Spa Pedicure 1hr - €70 with hot followed by a Exfoliation luxurious full body massage Full Body stones.

Stone Back, Neck Shoulder Hot Manicure 30 & min - €30 Massage Mini Voya Express Organic Facial

Body Beautiful Package Midweek Magic 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199 60 - €89 Fullminutes Body Exfoliation Back, Neck & Shoulders Massage Body Wrap Detoxifying Seaweed Voya Express Organic Facial Full Body Massage Finish with Spa Lunch in The Gallery Treat Yourself Thursdays 75 minutes - €115 Facial Fusion Full Body Exfoliation 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199 Hydrating Kaolin Clay Body Wrap Facial Experience Voya Express Organic Facial Eye Therapy Marine Finish Lunch from our ‘Spa Bites’ Menu File &with Polish Fingers & Toes

30 min - €30 Mini Pedicure Maternity Packages Temptation Tuesdays 50Gelish minutes - €79Manicure 30 min - €30 2 Week Pregnancy Pre/Post Full Body Massage Package 1hr 25minutes - €140 OR Gelish 2 Week Pedicure Back, Neck & Shoulders Massage 30 min - €30 Facial Experience Voya VOYA Organic Facial Experience Tinting Midweek Magic Mums to be Package 60Aminutes - €89 patch/allergy test is required 24 hours 2 hrs - €160 Back, Neck & tinting Shoulders Massage prior to all treatments Hydrating Kaolin Clay Body Wrap Voya Express Organic Facial VOYA Organic Facial Experience Eyebrow MiniTreat Manicure OR Mini Pedicure €15 Yourself Thursdays

throughout Irish mythology. e hotel Touch of Lotus, a 90-minute wellness and spa, however, are definitely set in experience that begins with a lotus the present. e Finish ultra-modern, with Spa Lunch intrendy The Gallery flower ceremony and includes a head Friday Feeling County Kerry lodgings include80 a minutes spa ofJourney - gorgeous €99 Package Wedding Bliss Ultimate and ear massage, starfruit facial peel, Voya Organic- Facial 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199pp is five-star resort consistently 5hrsExpress + Spa Lunch €480 the proportions, noteworthy for being Mini Manicure Full Body Exfoliation Full Body Exfoliation hand and arm exfoliation, lotus mask, garners top awards aroundDeep theRelease worldBack Massage withfirst Mini Pedicure Hot Aveda Stones concept spa inSeaweed Ireland. e Detoxifying Body Wrap Voya Organic Facial Experience Stone Massage minutes - €115 Hot 75Eyelash for its accommodations, dining, and& Scalp Treatmentproduct line has Midweek €15 and Yummy a lotus oil massage. Private yoga since to Mummy Packages (Monday-Thursday) Head Massage Lunchexpanded in The Gallery Exfoliation Spa Full Body 2hrsHydrating - €150 Kaolin Clay Body Wrap & Revive Refresh withthe Lunch from our ‘Spa Bites’ Menu Finish of Organic Anti Ageing Facial spa. Aghadoe’s location is one include Biodroga, Futuresse, and Eyebrow & Eyelash €20 and VOYA Pilates classes areFacial available, and the Organic Facial Experience 30 minutes + Spa Lunch - €75 Marine Eye Therapy Voya Express Organic Hydrating Hair Treatment and Head Massage any 25 minute treatment & finish with Spa Honeymoon Package Neom. ere’s a Choose reasons—overlooking the Lakes of fullManicure thermal suite, with Mini Finish with Lunch from our ‘Spa Bites’ Menu Hair Removal mainLuxury relaxation area, with its wall of Spa Pedicure Spa in The Gallery 90 minutes - €150pp MiniLunch Pedicure Killarney with views of theEnjoy Paps rock sauna, aroma Includes full use of thegrotto, Spa Facilities a Back, Neck & Shouldershammam, Massage Friday Feeling A patch/allergy test isfuturistic required 24 hours angled80glass, features chaise Voya Express Organic Facial Wedding Bliss minutes €99 treatments Mountains, this area has long been one mist and deluge showers, warm prior to all -waxing Head Massage & Scalp Treatment 2hrs + Spa Lunch - €199pp Voya Express Organic Facial loungesMinimade of ceramics, with an Gentleman’s Club Pedicure/Ladies Mini Pedicureand a Full of Celtic spiritual significance.

Guests laconium, stone with Body cabin Exfoliation Manicure Brow Shape €15 Deep Release Back Massage with Hot Stones undulating Mini Pedicure design that’s crazy can gaze out at Lough Lein, the “lake aroma, light, andVoya sound e Organicfeatures.

Facial Experience Full Leg €30 Head Massage & Scalp Treatment Midweek Packages (Monday-Thursday) comfortable. of learning,” a location mentioned signature Futuresse therapies include Half Leg €25 Refresh & Revive Finish with Lunch from our ‘Spa Bites’ Menu Spa Honeymoon Package 90 minutes - €150pp Enjoy a Back, Neck & Shoulders Massage Voya Express Organic Facial Head Massage & Scalp Treatment Gentleman’s Club Pedicure/Ladies Mini Pedicure

30Full minutes Spa Lunch Leg &+Bikini €40 - €75 Choose any 25 minute treatment & finish with Bikini Line €20 Spa Lunch in The Gallery Includes use of€18 the Spa Facilities Underfull Arms Lip/Chin/Sides of Face €15 Arm Wax from €15 Back Wax from €20 Holiday Waxing Package €60

Dromoland Castle County Clare ere are thousands of castles in Ireland, but Dromoland may well become your favorite, thanks in large part to the dreamy spa. It is located a short, 15-minute drive from the airport in Shannon on Ireland’s west coast. is 16th century Renaissance structure dates back to 1543, when it was the royal seat of the O’Brien clan—and still has corridors and halls lined with medieval armor. Transformed in 1962

into a luxury hotel, it only recently added a spa. erapies in the flowery, candlelit space are built around e Anne Semonin Treatment Collection, and the organic, all-Irish Voya line.

Locally-themed spa choices include the Gaelic Body Experience, an hour and a half of exfoliation and hydrating massage, and the Fig Leaf erapy, which begins with an aromatic fig body scrub, followed by a fig and seaweed body wrap, and a full-body massage. e Mermaid’s Purse includes a dry

hand mitt body exfoliation, organic seaweed wrap, and a scalp massage. You can keep the mermaid vibe going by heading for the pool in the spa’s tranquil wood and stone water space, which also offers self-massage water features. After dinner, wander the castle’s nooks and crannies, and try to decide who’s featured in all those stern looking portraits in the halls, and whether or not a great massage would perhaps have made them look a little less serious.

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Mount Juliet Conrad County Kilkenny Located on the banks of the River Nore, Mount Juliet Conrad was originally two separate estates, Walton's Grove and Ballylinch. Once combined, the lush, green domain and its Georgian manor house was named by the resident—the first Earl of Carrick—in honour of his wife. ere are 32 bedrooms at Mount Juliet

House, and many of the individually designed rooms have views over the river and the nearby paddocks of the famous Ballylinch Stud, which has produced an impressive number of racing champions. ere’s an equestrian center on site, and miles of riding trails. You can take a riding or tennis lesson, try your hand at archery, croquet or snooker, or enjoy the surrounding countryside from the seat of a bicycle or on foot. e spa is elegant and peaceful, with a full service

gym, enormous pool, and a progressive selection of treatments on the menu that include a Dead Sea Discovery Flotation Room, Reiki, stone therapies, and the newly offered Softime Float Experience—a floating waterbed which is heated with infrared emissions and stimulated to resonate with a mild, vibrating pulse that helps achieve deep relaxation. Product lines include E-SPA and SpaFind natural mineral products.

Tips for a Relaxing Vacation Sometimes the best vacations aren’t about all the things you get done, but about all the things you don’t have to do Stay at an all inclusive resort When you need to truly relax and let go, an all inclusive resort can be the perfect escape. You don’t have to worry about details that can consume a vacation like “where are we eating?” and “how do we get there?”. Imagine a week of not having to decide what to make for dinner or cleaning up afterwards. Most resorts will offer several dining options on site, transportation is as easy as an elevator ride, and you’ll usually find a full activity calendar centered around multiple pools and rec rooms.

Go to the water Whether it’s an ocean, a river or a quiet lake not far from home, the waterfront provides a soothing backdrop for a relaxing vacation. e best thing about the beach is that you don’t have to do anything to enjoy it. One of my favourite activities is just listening to the sound of the waves.

Unpack your suitcase It doesn’t matter if it’s a long weekend or an extended 10 day vacation, living out of a suitcase sucks.

Digging through luggage every morning can make you feel cluttered and disorganized. Cluttered and disorganized are not feelings that are conducive to total relaxation. It’s a constant reminder that you are not at home in your own space – and not in a good way. Taking the time to put your clothes in the drawers and in closets and unpack your bathroom things creates a home away from home feeling.

Make lists, not itineraries You can still go sightseeing and play tourist without stressing yourself out.

e trick is to loosen the reigns on your schedule a little bit.

Before you leave for your vacation, make a list of the attractions and things to do in the area you want to see. Take note of prices, hours of operation and days they might be closed. Make a loose outline instead of rigorous time sheet. You can hit the high points without the added stress of keeping an eye on your watch for your entire vacation.

Bring cash If you’re traveling on a budget, it’s hard to fully enjoy the things you’re spending money on if you’re keeping a running total of what you’ve spent in the back of your mind.

Decide on a budget that makes sense for you before you leave. Regardless of how much or how little you can afford, take out all the cash you’ve budgeted for spending money – souvenirs, dinners out, tips, etc. Now, you obviously don’t need to be walking around with massive wads of cash. Put the bulk of it in the hotel safe and take out what you need for the day (or night, whatever). is might seem silly, but it’s a lot more freeing to know you can spend whatever you’ve got on you without worrying about a surprise on your credit card (or bank statement) when you get home. It’s hard to relax if you’re stressing about money.

Pamper yourself Self indulgence is relaxing.

Indulgence means something different for everyone. It might be a 90 minute massage at a spa, or buying something because it fits and not just because it’s on sale. Maybe it’s ordering whatever you want at a great restaurant or going to a popular Broadway show. Or maybe it’s convincing your husband to go para sailing with you even though it’s $60 a person for a 15 minute ride.

Whatever your selfish indulgence is, allow yourself at least one thing on your vacation that is just for you.

Get enough sleep Do you ever notice how exhausted people are when they get home from vacation? Maybe it’s because they stayed up late and woke up early in a frantic attempt to get it all in.

I’m not suggesting you sleep your vacation away, but if a solid 8 hours or an afternoon nap means scratching a few items of your list of things to do, it might be a sacrifice to consider. As cliche as it sounds, being well rested is crucial to really relaxing.

Unplug I consider a smartphone a necessary travel accessory, because I am generally away on fams and still working, but even I can appreciate the value in not being constantly connected while I’m on vacation.

Do you know people used to leave home without cell phones? ere was a time when people would go days without answering emails! How did they ever survive? e fact is, the world will not fall apart if you’re unreachable for a few days. If you’ve left the kids at home with a sitter, it might be important to keep your phone on – but it’s also OK to say “please only call for emergencies”. Let people know ahead of time that you’re going on vacation and set up a plan with key people to reach you in case of emergencies.

Remember that you’re paying for this vacation and it’s OK to take a break from all the responsibilities and obligations once in a while. It will all still be there waiting for you when your vacation is over – whether you’ve spent that time truly relaxing or not. Make the most of it!

Managing Jet Lag Jet lag happens when a body's inner clock falls out of sync with the daily cycle of light, food and sleep. Here are a few tips from savvy Travel to Wellness contributors who travel for a living and usually have to be bright-eyed and ready-to-go when they arrive at a destination: Put yourself on local time at the destination as soon as possible. If possible, try to ease yourself into the new zone a few days before you fly.

If necessary and when possible, go to bed later or get up later in order to help ease yourself into that new time zone. An eating scheduled based on destination times also helps to reset your body clock.

Eat light meals the day of departure and try to exercise or take a brisk walk.

Fresh air and exercise is always good for body, mind and soul. Well it's good for combating jet lag too.

On the flight wear comfortable clothing that will allow you to nap as needed, yet arrive looking as if your haven't just gotten out of bed.

Eat according to your destination time zone, drink LOTS of water and avoid beverages with caffeine, sugar and alcohol.

Take short walks up and down the aisles to stretch out muscles at least every couple of hours. Drink LOTS of water to keep you hydrated PLUS you'll get the added bonus of exercise

when you have to get up to walk to the washroom.

Pack an eye mask to cut out light if the destination time zone demands that you should be sleeping, or at the very least resting.

More and more airports now offer spa facilities so if a long layover for a connecting flight allows you the opportunity of time, book a head and shoulder massage. It really makes a difference on how quickly you'll bounce back after a long flight.

At the destination make sure you stay on local time, get lots of fresh air on the first day and a good night's sleep. Relax and enjoy the journey!

Frequent Traveller?

For business travellers, it can be hard to unwind and find some time to actually relax. When you're a frequent traveller, every trip isn't about vacation.

Most of the time, it may be that excursions are for business or other important matters that don't leave much room for leisure. Since travel is so schedule-based, there's not a lot of room for error; running for a plane or train can leave muscles sore and heads pounding. To relieve this pressure and improve time away from home, unwind using one of several stressbusting methods on your next trip.

carry a small amount of healthy snacks in your carry-on; nuts, fruit and whole wheat crackers are balanced options that fill the stomach and stave off junk food cravings. Don't forget to sit and eat, since meals on the run can affect digestion.

Put Health First When travelling, it's easy to forget about healthy eating. Large meals, drinking and exotic foods can wreak havoc on the body, causing digestive stress. Minimize bodily problems by keeping your diet on point. Eat 4 to 6 small meals a day, including plenty of vegetables and lean protein. If you can,

Keep Up with Exercise Just as a regular diet routine can be disrupted during travel, so can a workout regime. is doesn't have to be the case. Many hotels offer a fitness center or a discounted membership to a nearby gym. ere may also be nearby facilities that teach free or lowcost yoga, Pilates or group fitness

Explore Airport Pampering Many airports now contain on-site spas and salons that offer stressreducing therapies for travellers. It is now possible to get a manicure, massage or nap during a layover without being a VIP flyer.

classes. If there's not enough time for a class, do some research on travel fitness, yoga and stretching. Chair yoga is a popular pastime for many, and ten minutes is more than enough time to take a walk around the parking lot. Just a few stolen minutes of exercise will have cumulative benefits and can lower stress levels.

Use Comfort Items Travel companies often sell lightweight aids to help travelers keep their cool. Put together a kit that includes an inflatable travel pillow, sleep mask and earplugs to help improve rest during long flights, and wear comfortable, natural fibers to regulate body temperature. A warm scarf or cozy sweater can also be a relaxing, soothing touch when the climate is cool. Lastly, load your digital music player with quiet music or audio meditations to help you de-stress while in transit.

How To Come Back To Earth After A Spa Vacation

Spa vacations are especially nurturing, which makes it is all the harder to come home. is is especially true if it's a destination spa or health and wellness spa where the experience is about living better, getting healthier, and learning something about yourself.

It's often a place where you connect authentically with yourself and others, sometimes in a profound way, and it can be hard to come back to everyday life. Here's how to ease your re-entry into the real world after your spa vacation, and bring the spa experience home with you.

Go To Spa Lectures & Workshops Most destination spas offer at least a few lectures about topics like health, human relations, and spirituality. ey might offer workshops where you make jewelry or draw a mandala, or have healthy cooking demos. Try some of these things while you're there because you'll bring home something new, or even something you made.

Write Down What You Want To Remember

Give Yourself Time To Transition

At a destination spa we can step outside our usual boundaries and experience ourselves in a new way and meet people who inspire us. Bring a journal. Write down the thoughts you have or the things you hear that you want to hold onto. "Life is about more than just work."

It's hard to have a life-changing, inspiring, relaxing, nurturing experience, then head the airport, get home at 11 PM and head to work the next day. Try to schedule a day or two to transition at home, integrating the experience in a way that is meaningful for you. at could mean resting, journaling about your experience, shopping for healthier food, cooking a healthy recipe you enjoyed there, finding a new walk nearby, or telling a friend what you learned. ink about how you can keep the spa spirit alive in your life, every day.

Bring Home Some Inspiration Bring home something that will remind you of your visit and inspire you to stay on the path of health and wellness. Most destination spas have excellent cookbooks, and their gift stores have inspirational books, beautiful exercise clothing, high-quality teas, scrubs and body oils that can all improve the quality of your life and help you remember what you got out of the experience.

Have A Plan For Coming Back To Work You go away to the spa and come back to emails, deadlines, pressures at home and work. Before you go away to the spa, develop a realistic plan for reentry. Make a list of your work priorities for your return, but

understand you may not get to them all. Be sensitive to what tasks require brain power and creativity and what are a little easier, and match your task for your capability that day. When you're first back from a spa vacation (or any vacation), you may not be as efficient as you usually are. And it's okay.

coming home. It's about learning how to take better care of yourself all the time! While you're at the spa and when you come home, think about what little changes you can make that would bring you closer to the person you really are, and want to be. Regular massages, facials and exercise are ways you can nurture yourself throughout the year.

Have Another Massage When You Get Home Travel is so hard on our bodies. Even though you may have had massage at the spa, have another one after you get home, preferably within a week. It will help your body make the most of the treatments you had at the spa, and support you during the transition back to real-life. And make regular massage a part of your routine to keep your body healthy and supple.

Check Back In With The Spa Specialists Most destination spas have highly trained and qualified professionals, including counselors, nutritionists, personal trainers, even spiritual advisors. Try to have a session with someone that addresses the issue that's most important to you while you're there, and follow up with them when you get home. You're worth it!

Get Regular Spa Treatments e destination spa experience is not just about having a nice few days and

Give Yourself a Home Spa Treatments Recreate the spa experience by giving yourself a home spa day every once in a

while. ere are lots of treatments you can do for yourself to promote your health and relaxation –s relaxing baths with bath salts, body scrubs, skin brushing, body masks. Buying highquality essential oils is another way you can help balance your mood and keep the spa spirit going in your life.

Get Enough Sleep Did you sleep better at the spa?

Chances are you did because you were exercising, eating well, and relaxing.

Getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health. We tend to give it short shrift in this country and celebrate the people who can get by on five or six hours a night, but most people need more. If you don't have good sleep habits, try to develop them.

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Heather McNamara, CTC Certified Travel Counsellor heather@destinationinsights.ca 613.926.1707 | 866.926.1707 www.destinationinsights.ca