Now that you’ve decided to go away
for a spa break, you must choose between a destination spa and a resort spa.
Destination spas are fully equipped
spas with state of the art facilities and the top practitioners in their fields
offering dedicated spa retreat programmes.
The emphasis is on overall wellness with each spa specializing in a
different area of expertise, a particular philosophy, or a unique location. Most people go to destination spas for
week-long programmes to kick start their health or to focus on a particular
issue that can only be overcome through diet, exercise and spa treatments which
are carefully constructed and calculatingly executed. Spa purists love destination spas, but there
are programmes at every spa that are also appropriate for first timers, so
anyone can benefit from a spa retreat.
Resort spas are spas located at
hotels or resorts for day use by guests of the resort, although some resort
spas allow non-guests to book spa services. Resort spas are more common than
destination spas. The quality of the spa
facilities, treatments, and practitioners can be extremely high, particularly
at luxury resorts, but most resort spas focus more on pampering, relaxation,
and beauty treatments than intensive wellbeing programmes meant to foster
personal growth. Resort spas are popular with casual spa-goers on a holiday
where the spa isn’t the main focus of their experience.
Go to a DESTINATION SPA if you want:
- A purposeful retreat to focus on the solution to a particular issue/problem.
- An adult environment.
- Personal privacy and a high degree of discretion by staff.
- To be surrounded by like minded people who provide camaraderie, inspiration, and energy.
- A supportive environment to recover from a major life event.
- An experience where it is easy to meet others and to socialize.
- To practice under experts in their fields with personal interaction.
- A pre-determined diet of spa cuisine tailored to your needs.
- To follow a particular nutritional philosophy.
- To abstain from alcohol and other toxins, sometimes including caffeine.
- Consultations with doctors, nutritionists, and instructors.
- To make a major, long-term change to your health and habits.
- Programming which includes exercise, classes, outdoor activities, lectures, and meditation.
- An all inclusive pricing plan which includes accommodation, meals, classes, and some spa treatments.
Go to a RESORT SPA if you want:
- To go to the spa while your children or travel partners do something else.
- Spa treatments as a part of your overall holiday, but not to be the main focus.
- To spend time with friends or family that you are travelling with.
- To participate in activities such as golf, tennis, and water sports that are not provided by the spa.
- To drink alcohol or caffeine.
- To eat meals outside of the spa or to not be restricted by particular diets.
- To stay in a particular hotel or location that does not offer destination spas.
- To gamble.
- To relax and rest instead of taking classes.
Many resort spas are now offering
more of the services and facilities of destination spas, but they typically
charge extra for these classes or activities and offer them a la carte, as they
do their spa treatments.
MY RECOMMENDATIONS -
Some of my favourite world-class
destination spas:
Some of my favourite destination spas
at the moment:
I always book my spa getaways with Healing Holidays because
I think they offer the best spa holidays to the world’s top luxury spas and
their new website is very interactive
with blogs, videos, and other useful resources.
By Spa Samurai
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