Do you plan trips around spas?
 

We are rethinking our appraoch to spa travel here at Fodor's, and I wanted to throw some questions to the Fodorites:

-Have you ever planned a vacation specifically to go to a spa?

-Are hotel spa facilities a make-or-break for whether you will book a reservation?

-Are spas luxuries or necessities in your life?

-Or any other thoughts...

thanks,
Peter

Of course not!

-No

-No, although I loved the spa that the Ritz Carlton, San Francisco. But I didn't book specifically because of the spa facilities.

-No. I love to get messages, but I am very, very picky about who gives them. Hence, I much prefer having a message at home (with my regular licensed massage therapist) instead of having one while away. I'm quirky that way :D

...should be "at the RC"...

How about a spell check function??? :D

I haven't, but planning a trip to Israel now and considering a few days at the Dead Sea spas.

Also know few people going to Karlovy Vary spas for health reasons.

Interesting thread, how about starting one "do you plan trips to all inclusive" or "how important is it to stay at a resort" or "at a BnB"?

In 4 years on Fodors I've seen all kind of weird threads I think.

No, I travel either to ski, or to see new places.

I don't even ask if they have a spa.

Neither: Spas don't interest me.

Becuase we live not an hour away,Mr R5 and I plan mini-escapes to Calistoga 2-4 times a year just for a spa vacation. We can spend endless hours
in the various pools and jacuzzi pools.
We'll do a package that includes mud
bath, mineral soak, blanket wrap, massage and foot reflexology and typically re-book with massage therapists we know. It is both a luxury
and necessity. Keep in mind that the
majority of the Claistoga spas are not marble and gold leaf experiences, a tad more down to earth, but we prefer
this more casual experience. Of course
the added draw of wining and dining in the Napa Valley isn't to bad either.
R5

"Claistoga"=Calistoga, and "to"=too.
Sheesh, maybe I need to start planning
our next visit !
R5

I seem to be in the minority here, lol!

I do plan trips specifically for spas, but they are girlfriend getaways so it fits the bill. The Red Mountain Adventure Spa in Utah was great. Over a dozen girlfriends from around the country went for a week and had our fill of spa treatments, hiking, cooking classes, and various fitness classes. I also do a long girls weekend every year at SunRiver Resort in Oregon. We stay in the River Lodge and spend a lot of time at their Sage Springs Spa. Two of the therapists have become good friends of mine, lol!

If we are going on a trip as a family, I rarely look into the spa at the hotel.

For me, spas are a luxury. It is a time to pamper myself and relax.

Razzle, you are in a good company here. The first ones in line for spellcheck must be the Fodor's people. Just read the OP post - is "appraoch" a word?

I am a real minority here. I hate spas - have no interest in their services. Now, ask me about decent restaurants nearby, great pool/gym facilities - that would make a difference.

FainaAgain wrote:
<i>&quot;do you plan trips to all inclusive&quot;</i>

guess we better add grammar checker to the list as well. :)

While I enjoy spa's at home and/or a maassage now and then, I would feel like I was wasting precious vaca time that could be spent outdoors, or exploring the city or country or what have you. I would just as soon go to a nice spa in my area....

I always look at the hotel/resort website and peruse the spa options as if that would be something pleasant to do, but I've yet to ever book anything. I always figure I'll be out having too much fun and not want to be attached to a schedule or having to get back to the resort.

Oh, bronxzilla, yes, please do, I can benefit from it greatly! You don't know how difficult it is to learn English grammar if you weren't born in an English-speaking country and come here later in life!

I can quote that lady from &quot;The streetcar named Desire&quot; - I've always depended on the kindness of strangers.

Thank you for offering me help, kind stranger Bronxzilla! Looking forward to improving my skills!

FainaAgain: Where did you emigrate from?

Do you consider Betty Ford a spa? :-?

I have never planned a vacation specifically to go to a spa. But a few times something has turned up once I arrived (facial in Honolulu, massage in Puerto Vallarta, manicure in Montreux).

Kal--LOL! When we went to Red Mountain in Utah, we flew into Vegas and stopped at the first liquor store we could find. Stocked up and then hit the road for the spa! Let's just say a few of those hikes were done with hangovers:)

Thanks for asking, Peter. I appreciate the energy you are putting into trying to find what people want from this site and Fodors .
I love spa treatments and do include consideration of their availability in some of my trip planning. When my DH and I take hiking or outdoor adventure trips, I always try to book a luxury last night with massage and facial. When I go to a place I have visited before like London, Paris or Bermuda, I often take an afternoon for a spa treatment. If I am going some place new which I don't expect to visit again, I probably would not waste any time on a spa treatment. And if I find myself in a facility like the Greenbrier or the Grove Park, I definitely take advantage of the spa. I have not ever taken a spa vacation, but will one of these days.
Again, thanks for asking.

I don't consider myself a spa 'hater', but the concept simply doesn't interest me. I think part of the issue is I don't like being touched by strangers. Plus, I think I'm just too cheap....

I have to say that one of the delights of an annual leaderhsip conference for the company from which I recently retired, was that they always tried to stay somewhere with a wonderful spa. The last I enjoyed was Bellagio in Vegas (in 2004) where I was introduced to a seaweed body wrap that was detoxifying, envigorating and totally amazing. The spa experience, however, really is a personal one and I probably wouldn't make my DH stay somewhere just so I could have an extraordinary spa experience. However, I'd love to take my daughter and sister somewhere fantastic at Christmas...I'll have to start looking &quot;locally&quot; as I'm hosting everyone again this year.

Only in my dreams!...sigh!

Belle

Very rarely and never with my family.

I have gone to Canyon Ranch with a few girlfriends for a long weekend. This was specifically a &quot;girls getaway&quot; and a spa vacation was what we wanted (and needed).

Other than this particular type of vacation, spa facilities don't factor into my hotel plans, because I am normally travelling with a toddler who just doesn't appreciate those things (neither does her father).

Spas are definitely luxuries in my life.

Yes, when someone else is paying

I always plan my trips with my wife around spas. She loves em and I could care less. I always get her a 1 1/2 hour massage on the day we arrive and I walk 6 miles in 1 1/2 hours while she is being massaged. No matter where we go I always plan for stops at hotels/resorts with spas such as all the Ritz Carltons/Four Seasons resorts. There's nothing wrong with spoiling your wife while you enjoy your self in your own sport.

I plan some trips around spas. This can even be a nice diversion on a roadtrip or just quiet time during a family vacation.

A hotel's spa facilities don't automatically influence my hotel reservation because usually I can visit a spa without staying onsite. But all else being equal, I'd take the property with the spa onsite.

Spas are nice luxuries. I think of a spa treatment as much of a luxury as a golfgame or a fancy dinner.

No interest in spas. I stay at a lot of hotels/resorts with spas but I've never gone to a spa.

Spa services are an important feature for me, but are by no means a deal breaker for most vacations.

I will take 1-2 weekend trips per year that are spa-centric and for those trips the spa services are absolutely a critical part of the decision making process. A longer spa vacation would not appeal to me personally.

Spas are not necessities in my life, however massages are to help reduce the impact of injuries that I've sustained. As a result I need (vs want) a massage every 3-4 weeks. So if my need for a massage coincides with a trip or vacation I get that massage on the road. With my travel schedule that typically means I'm using a hotel spa at least once every 6-8 weeks.

I am apt to get more frequent massages in countries where those services are cheap - e.g. I &quot;frequent&quot; Guangzhou China for business and while there get massage daily. I stay at an Asian (vs Westernized hotel where such service tends to be &quot;pricey&quot;). In the hotel a 60 - 75 minute massage runs the approx equivalent of $8-10 US. At that price daily massage is a given for me :-)

Methinks travels4fun works for the Honor Mansion. As for Kal and Razzle, yes Betty Ford is a spa and you need to get there stat. Personally, it ticks me off when I'm bidding for travel or looking for specials and spa services are thrown in as part of the package. I've had a massage once and hated it. I don't like getting naked in front of strangers and having their hands on me. I have trained my husband to do my back and feet and that's part of any good marriage contract. Now, a good pool or exercise room is another matter. Or good hiking/running. Have to have a place where I can get a workout, and pumping aluminum and wrist curls do not count.

Thanks for the answers so far. Now, more questions for those of you who are spa aficianados:

-How long are your spa trips?

-What do you look for in a spa resort/hotel?

-What are your favorite treatments, and how often do you get them?

-What is your most memorable spa experience---good or bad?

Hey Travels4Fun: Cut it out and stop being a shill. My finger is hovering..

Peter

Have you ever planned a vacation specifically to go to a spa?

*** Nope

-Are hotel spa facilities a make-or-break for whether you will book a reservation?

*** Nope

-Are spas luxuries or necessities in your life?

*** Definitely luxuries

Thanks for asking! Spa services are a big deal for me. I have a demanding job don't always manage stress the best. I consider massage, reflexology, etc. a need, not a luxury. When I think 'getaway,' a spa is a big part of that.

In fact, I have a small group of friends who do a 'Mom's day out' spa weekend once a year--we're always looking for great places to go but surprisingly, good spa reviews are hard to find--almost impossible.

I work in the marketing field and have been reading about the absolute spa boom (make that BOOM!) of the past several years. You must be reading the same material, Peter, if you're asking :-)

travels4fun sounds an awful lot like...:-?

Nahhh...that's impossible or else t4fun would post the same stuff on tripadvisor too. ;)

LLC, Thanks for the advice. I, and I'm sure razzle appreciate it. :^o

I had a massage once. That was enough. I don't know if it's because I had to drive home afterwards or I'm like JeanH.

As for facials and other things: No way. I do have sensitive skin so I'm not going to use a new product full of scents and smells so I can sneeze and have hives for the rest of the vacation.

Also, I'd want to know the sanitation practices of the facility. A communal mud bath - no way. Maybe if they added in some chlorine. And about that pool: let me see the logbook on it. And don't get me started on hot tubs. Last thing I want from my vacation is a rash.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to get back into my bubble.

Peter:

Put me on the No list.


I have planned trips to a specific resort that has a great spa. Example, I planned a trip to the Arizona Biltmore because it is such a spectacular resort. I've also planned a trip specifically to the Venetian in Vegas (Canyon Ranch).

I rarely use the spa becaus there are so many good day spas in my hometown and I don't want to waste my time in another place dicking around with a facial or massage.

I will occaisionally get my hair done or work out in the gym section.

Yes, but not in the U.S. In Europe (where we live), we do semi-regular week-ends to Baden-Baden to take advantage of its spas.

In September, we were supposed to spend an entire week at a beautiful spa hotel in the Austrian Alps (www.trofana.at). It was going to be a luxury R &amp; R vacation (at less then luxury rates, because we booked a week pacakge in their off season) and we booked there because of its outstanding spa facilities (and good restaurants). About two weeks before we were scheduled to leave, I emailed them to confirm the reservation. Got an email back saying, oh, gee, didn't you know? We're closed due to damage from the floods in August and won't reopen til November 1.
We never received an email from them about the flood and I checked their web site regularly and saw nothing posted there.

Another reason why you should always re-confirm your reservation and not just show up.

I would like to try a really good spa hotel in the U.S. sometime, but it hasn't worked with our plans.

Nope , never :)
Did have a facial at the Bellagio spa. Delightful.
Since a spa is meaningless to me, I never notice if a hotel I choose even has one.

*** traveles4fun *** is all over other boards too, with the same advertising..Hit that button, Peter!! :)

&lt;How long are your spa trips?&gt;
Anywhere from 4-7 days.

&lt;What do you look for in a spa resort/hotel?&gt;
Quiet, nice lodging, good meals (does not mean fine dining) either on site or within walking distance, near outdoor activities.

&lt;What are your favorite treatments, and how often do you get them?&gt;
Reflexology, hot stone massages as well as regular deep tissue, wraps/exfoliation, and pedicures. I will only get pedicures at certain places though...very picky, lol! I cannot stand facials, so those are out. Usually we will do 2 treatments a day, but on our last full day we will do 3-4 and just totally immerse ourselves in it, lol!

&lt;What is your most memorable spa experience---good or bad?&gt;
Becoming friends with two therapists at one resort.

Kal - LOL at your &quot;Betty Ford Clinic&quot; question. Luckily my company has a good health plan so I was able to use the facilities at &quot;Maxwell House&quot; for my addiction but left just as hooked on &quot;Ol Joe&quot; as ever!

Now seriously - while I'll use many of the services of spas at home, I'm another who won't while traveling. Also no interest in other &quot;all-inclusives&quot;. My travel varies on either that I consider a hotel as just a place to sleep &amp; cleanup, find my own restaurants, museums &amp; points of interest, or I bicycle for days never in any location more than a night.