All-inclusive resorts have come of age

The design and decor of the Secrets Marquis Los Cabos exude high-end luxury. A dramatic open-air reception lobby, with an arc-shaped roof, frames an expansive view of the Sea of Cortez. Each of the 235 ocean-view suites and casitas has a balcony overlooking three infinity pools and the sandy beach. In addition to a 15,000-square-foot spa, the property boasts a museum-quality art collection of more than 400 pieces, with monumental bronze sculptures by leading Latin American artists in public spaces and original oil paintings in every guest room.

When the Marquis Los Cabos opened in 2003, the hotel drew a steady stream of honeymooners, families on vacations, and corporate incentive travelers. But as the global economic downturn arrived, occupancy rates and revenues spiraled downward. So the private owners (who also own Marquis Reforma Hotel Spa in Mexico City) took the bold step of relinquishing management responsibilities to AMResorts last November, rebranding it as the adults-only, all-inclusive Secrets Marquis Los Cabos. Since the changeover, occupancy rates have increased by nearly 300 percent.

“Today’s travelers are focused on getting the best possible value for their travel dollars,” says Henry Harteveldt, a travel industry analyst with the Atmosphere Research Group in San Francisco. “Our latest survey of more than 5,000 US leisure travelers shows that 87 percent of travelers establish a budget for their trips. When looking to save money, 54 percent focus on lodging, versus 41 percent who focus on airfare. All-inclusive resorts offer travelers a way to manage their budgets.”

Beyond buffet lines

When Club Med began in 1950, it was aimed at fun-loving singles traveling on a shoestring budget. A typical vacation package included meals, soft drinks, some alcohol, use of resort facilities, and tips. In 1967, Mini Club Meds began sprouting up to accommodate guests with children.

Like the entire travel industry, Club Med suffered after 9/11 but weathered the recession by diversifying. Club Med now has more than 80 resorts worldwide, catering to singles, couples, and families, and is expanding its emphasis on children’s programming, themed vacations, as well as on luxury. Twenty-three of the properties offer Club Med’s “ultimate family vacation experience,” targeted to the upscale family travel market.

Particularly in Mexico and the Caribbean, there has been industry-wide proliferation of upscale all-inclusives. “According to our American Express Travel booking data, we’re seeing substantial year-over-year growth to destinations that are known for top all-inclusive properties,’’ says Ellen Bettridge, vice president of American Express US Retail Travel Network.

“In difficult times, people may not necessarily be looking for an inexpensive alternative, but like to know upfront what the vacation will cost,” says Bjorn Hanson, divisional dean of the Preston Robert Tisch Center for Hospitality, Tourism, and Sports Management at New York University.

Looking for luxury

Like its sister resorts (there are nine other Secrets Resorts spread across Mexico and the Caribbean), Secrets Marquis Los Cabos now offers an “Unlimited Luxury” package, which includes: breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks each day; unlimited premium beers and top-shelf spirits; in-suite mini bars refreshed with soft drinks, bottled water, and beer; gourmet reservation-free restaurants; 24-hour room service and poolside wait service; live nightly entertainment; and a menu of daytime activities — all with taxes and gratuities included.

Brands such as The Ritz-Carlton, Fairmont, and Starwood are dipping their toes in the all-inclusive waters by offering packages at selected properties. The Ritz-Carlton Golf and Spa Resort, Rose Hall, Jamaica, offers an “Escape to Luxury” package that includes unlimited beverages and meals at the resort’s dining venues coupled with a fifth night free.

Since last November, the Fairmont Mayakoba, Riviera Maya, has experimented with an “Appetite for Luxury” package that includes 24-hour food and beverage service, children stay free, three hours per day supervised Kids Club activities, and several other amenities.

Late last year, Starwood announced the opening of its first two all-inclusives, the Westin Resort Spa, Playa Conchal in Cabo Velas, Costa Rica, and the Sheraton Bijao Beach Resort in Panama.

Finding their niche

With the increase in numbers, all-inclusives are seeking to distinguish themselves from each other by offering unique and memorable experiences. Here are a few examples:

Wellness and self-improvement: Located on Pink Gin Beach, Grenada, LaSource Resort recently added scuba yoga and a “sleep school” to its holistic offerings, which already included a rotating series of master classes on such topics as Tai Chi, meditation, Pilates, and Zumba.

Sustainability: The El Dorado Spa Resorts Hotels, Riviera Maya, have green initiatives to preserve the ecological richness of the Mayan jungle. These include a 70,000-square-foot hydroponic greenhouse growing herbs and produce; energy-saving air conditioning; solar water heating; and recycled water systems.

Environmental immersion: The spa and water pools of the 82-acre, eco-friendly Grand Velas Riviera Maya derive their inspiration from the surrounding jungle. A personal spa valet guides guests through a signature seven-step “water journey.”

Gourmet dining: Also at the El Dorado, Riviera Maya, a “Gourmet Inclusive” package allows foodies to select fresh fish from the catch of the day to be prepared for lunch by the chef; a choice of Italian, Mexican, Asian, and grill dining; and unlimited, premium-brand alcoholic beverages.

Personal service: Sandals Resorts, another pioneer in the all-inclusive world for the last 30 years, offers “Luxury Included” vacations. For a high-end experience, guests can stay in suites with private plunge pools served by butlers trained at the Guild of Professional English Butlers. Stays at the Sandals in Jamaica and St. Lucia include unlimited golf with complimentary greens fees.

The bottom line

Similar to when booking a cruise, it is important to find out what is included in the price of an “all-inclusive” vacation before you place a deposit. If you are unsure, check the website, speak to your travel agent, or call the resort.

“All-inclusive pricing is very competitive as compared with the costs of staying at a conventional property,” says Glenn Haussman, editor in chief of HotelInteractive.com. “The real difference is piece of mind.”

Guests are reassured knowing there will not be another charge for every activity, meal, and amenity, and there will not be a gratuity to be paid every time. “For many it is more an issue of convenience than cost,” says Hanson.

Irene S. Levine can be reached at irene@irenelevine.com.

The Oriental Spa At The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong Wins Hotel Spa … – eTravelBlackboard

The Oriental Spa at The Landmark Mandarin Oriental, Hong Kong, is delighted to have won the award for “Hotel Spa of the Year, Asia and Australasia” in the inaugural World Spa Awards 2012. Held on Sunday March 4 in London, the prestigious award organised by Professional Beauty, recognized nine destination and hotel spas from 4 regions – Europe, the Americas, Asia and Australasia, Middle East and Africa.

“We’re extremely honoured to be the first winner of this prestigious award in Asia which was made possible by my team at The Oriental Spa who strive to continually elevate our offering and service at the spa. In line with Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group’s spa philosophy, we will continue to deliver holistic experiences while focusing on providing a consistent level of service excellence to our guests,” said Anthony Costa, General Manager of The Landmark Mandarin Oriental.

To be nominated for hotel spa of the year, each hotel spa must have full wellness facilities including hot pools, steam and other heat experiences in addition to relaxation areas and treatment rooms. At the same time, the spa has to excel in service and offer an exceptional customer experience throughout the entire spa journey while creating a welcoming experience for both customers and staff alike. The spa should be a leader in the industry with a comprehensive treatment menu and consist of innovative, well-researched treatments and spa packages based on sound physiological and therapeutic principles.

The finalists were chosen by a panel of seven expert judges, based in each geographical area, and the final winner was selected for each category following a visit from both an “official” judge and a “mystery” judge.

The New Retirement Resorts

By KELLY GREENE

Instead of moving his mother into an assisted-living apartment three years ago, Eli Portnoy rented condos for both of them, two floors apart, at Canyon Ranch Hotel Spa in Miami Beach, Fla.

Enlarge Image

(l-r): Getty Images; Canyon Ranch; Agence France-Presse/Getty Images

His mother received many of the same services and amenities that would have come with an assisted-living facility—on-site doctors, healthy meals, a gym and all kinds of wellness classes—but in a far more appealing setting.

The kicker? Mr. Portnoy, a 57-year-old branding consultant, estimates that he saved $50,000 to $75,000 a year—even including round-the-clock private nursing aides—over what he would have paid for an assisted-living apartment luxurious enough for his mother, a retired New York art dealer who died in December at age 90.

A growing number of intrepid retirees, wary of spending years in an assisted-living facility or staying at home, are opting for arrangements that provide them with a full range of services and a greater sense of adventure—fully staffed homes in Costa Rica, backyard bungalows on their children’s property, so-called cohousing arrangements, full-time spa living and even serial cruises.

John Mattos

Assisted living emerged in the 1990s as a popular alternative model to nursing homes for older people who no longer felt comfortable on their own but were too independent for a nursing home. An estimated 733,200 people in the U.S. lived in an assisted-living facility as of 2010, the latest data available, according to the American Health Care Association’s National Center for Assisted Living.

Typically, assisted living consists of a small apartment with services that may or may not cost extra, such as medicine management, personal care, housekeeping and laundry, meals, activities and transportation to doctors’ appointments.

Now, some pioneers are piecing together similar services on their own in a setting more to their liking—often with help from their adult children—and at a price comparable to or cheaper than an assisted-living apartment. A one-bedroom unit in an assisted-living facility cost as much as $9,500 a month in 2011 before any add-on services, according to long-term-care insurer Genworth

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Of course, coming up with your own plan for care requires a lot more work than simply writing a check to an institution. Finding paid help you can trust takes time, legwork and background checks—and there are no guarantees. The total costs can be hard to pinpoint in advance. It is tough to pull it all off without the vigilance of a good advocate, typically an adult child.

John Mattos

On top of that, getting a long-term-care insurance policy to pay your care expenses could take some negotiating. Still, they should generally be covered, as long as you need help with at least two daily-living activities, such as dressing or bathing, or cognitive care. Additionally, many newer policies have language about covering “alternative plans of care” that are developed in the future, says Rona Loshak, a long-term-care insurance broker in Roslyn, N.Y.

There aren’t data available on how many people are foregoing conventional living arrangements in retirement, but experts in the field confirm the trend is growing and is likely to expand as 77 million baby boomers—more likely to identify assisted living as an option for their parents—head into old age.

“People are getting more creative in how they’re spending their senior years,” says geriatrician Lee Lindquist of Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine. Even as they start to develop medical problems, “they don’t want to spend their time in one room every day.”

For those who prefer to follow their own path, here are several alternatives.

John Mattos

Going offshore. Americans have been retiring abroad for years, but going abroad for long-term care is relatively new. One of the pioneers was Bob Preston, a retired CPA and actuary in Sarasota, Fla.

For $3,500 a month, Mr. Preston rented a home in Costa Rica for his ailing father a decade ago, shared with two other patients. The price included a supervising nurse, three aides, a care coordinator and a chauffeur.

“We had tried everything in this country,” Mr. Preston says, such as an assisted-living facility that cost $8,000 a month, including private help. He was frustrated by the lack of attention being paid to his father, the retired chief financial officer of a large pharmaceutical company.

For less than half that, his father was able to live in relative luxury in Costa Rica. He attended church on Sundays, took a group to brunch afterward and went out to dinner several times a week.

The arrangement lasted for three years, until Mr. Preston’s father died in 2001. Mr. Preston says that even including his monthly visits, the costs were much lower than long-term care would have cost in Florida. The flight from Connecticut, where he lived, took four hours and 20 minutes, just an hour and 20 minutes more than flying to Florida.

Mr. Preston concedes that he had qualms at first. For the first month, he hired a bilingual caregiver from the U.S. to be on the scene. He checked every reference he could. He contracted with a local secretary to pop in unannounced.

It worked so well that he was making plans for his mother, long divorced from his father, to go there after she suffered a broken hip last year. “We tried a nursing home for six weeks in a five-star place,” he says. “But she disliked it.” His mother died in February, at age 92, while he was planning the move.

One of Mr. Preston’s friends followed his lead, moving her mother to Costa Rica, where she lived until she died.

Yes in my backyard. Many older people want to be with their families when they start to need help with daily living. But disagreements about where to set the thermostat, TV volumes and curfews for teenage grandchildren can make life difficult.

For such families, several companies are developing cottages that either an older adult or an adult child could use as separate living quarters in the other’s backyard. Ken Dupin, a minister in Salem, Va., developed so-called MedCottages with help from Virginia Tech researchers after studying family-managed care in other countries.

A MedCottage, which costs about $85,000, has a 12-by-24-foot living area with a handicapped-accessible bathroom, kitchen, hospital bed and living area, and is outfitted so that the person living there can be monitored online.

One of the bigger challenges: getting building permits. Mr. Dupin’s company, N2Care, and its distributor worked to get a Virginia law passed two years ago that stops local governments from keeping out the structures as long as the family has a doctor’s prescription and meets lot requirements, he says. Now, several more states have approved or are considering similar statutes.

Socorrito Baez-Page, a doctor who has spent a number of years caring for her elderly parents in Fairfax County, Va., has been working through the permit process to install a MedCottage for her 86-year-old mother. Her mother has been living in her home since January, but has trouble getting up stairs to bathe.

“Having a cottage in the backyard will help,” Dr. Baez-Page says. “There will be a little bit of definition between here and there.”

Cohousing. These arrangements, which originated in Denmark decades ago, were designed for anybody interested in living communally. In a cohousing development, residents live in private homes but share a central “common house” with a kitchen and other facilities.

Now, “senior” cohousing is starting to catch on as well, with four such projects already built in the U.S. and many more expected to follow. (You can find them at seniorcohousing.com). By 2020, there should be at least one cohousing community in every metro area, or 235 developments, and about one-third are expected to serve older adults specifically, says Charles Durrett, a Nevada City, Calif., architect who is promoting the concept.

ElderSpirit Community in Abingdon, Va., one such community, was built in 2005 and features 29 cluster homes and apartments with prices in the $160,000 range. Founded by former nuns, it is nestled in a high valley between two mountain ranges and along the Virginia Creeper Trail, a 34-mile-long path that offers a place to walk or bike.

Richard and Linda Brumleve, a retired English teacher and research analyst, moved in five years ago, drawn by the focus on spirituality and the beautiful scenery. After Mr. Brumleve, 73, was diagnosed three years ago with Parkinson’s disease, they decided to stay. He can still go fly-fishing along the shore, and he paints in an artist’s studio on the common house’s second floor, reachable by elevator.

The permanent cruise. A number of years ago, Dr. Lindquist of Northwestern met some older travelers on a Caribbean cruise who had essentially retired on water—even though they shared the same sorts of health problems as her patients living in assisted-living facilities.

That gave her the idea to compare cruise-ship living to assisted living. She concluded in a paper published in an academic journal in 2004 that the costs are about the same, and many of the amenities and services line up as well: dining, escorts to meals, help with medicine and housekeeping.

In between trips, they might stay with family, or in a hotel.

Ralph Ponce de Leon, a 78-year-old retired Motorola executive who lives in Phoenix, spends at least one-third of every year seeing the world aboard Carnival’s Holland America line with his wife Kathie.

On their first cruise with the company, he says, he was surprised to see a number of passengers in their 90s, including a 92-year-old from the U.K. who told him she had taken 18 world cruises, which can last as long as four months.

One big advantage on a cruise ship: “You have a 24/7 physician and nurses,” while doctors aren’t always on-site at an assisted-living facility, Dr. Lindquist says.

It isn’t clear how many people already are living on cruise ships full-time, but more than 400 people reached out to Dr. Lindquist after reading her paper, she says—many of whom planned to attempt it. The costs between the two choices have remained roughly the same since, she says.

Spa living. Mr. Portnoy of Miami Beach isn’t the only person who used a spa instead of an assisted-living facility. Melinda Minton, executive director of the Spa Association in Fort Collins, Colo., says others are beginning to connect the dots.

One reason: Spa resorts increasingly are trying to expand into residential communities, “so you have people typically your age and in the same phase of life as you are,” she says.

Meanwhile, Mr. Portnoy says, a friend’s mother recently moved into Canyon Ranch, and he has talked to more people who live at the resort part-time, or have vacationed there, and are considering similar arrangements with their own parents.

For other adult children considering such a move, he cautions that there were times when he felt he was in over his head, particularly in hiring nursing aides. But Canyon Ranch’s medical and wellness teams “couldn’t have been more supportive,” he says. “They embraced me in what I was trying to do.”

Of his mother, Mr. Portnoy says, “I think she lived much longer than she would have if she’d been in an institution.”

Write to Kelly Greene at kelly.greene@wsj.com

A version of this article appeared Mar. 17, 2012, on page B7 in some U.S. editions of The Wall Street Journal, with the headline: The New Retirement Resorts.

Escape to nature and luxury

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The Arabella Hotel Spa is situated just over an hours drive from Cape Town.

A troop of Chacma baboons sits on a bridge over the Palmiet estuary, waiting for a cool breeze from the water to offer some respite from the heat. They’re a kind of welcoming committee as I near my destination, the coastal town of Kleinmond, home to one of the province’s top resorts, the Arabella Hotel Spa.

The town is just over an hour-and-a-half from Cape Town, along Clarence Drive or the R44, the coastal road which skirts breathtaking beaches and the rugged Hottentots-Holland mountain range.

I take a detour down a gravel road into the Kogelberg Biosphere Reserve, described as “an escape to nature where there are no traffic lights, casinos or cinemas” before I check into the resort. It’s home to 1 880 plant species, second only to the South American rainforest.

Conservationist Zibele Blekiwe says a biosphere means there are no fences to keep people in or out. But there is a commitment from communities, the government and conservationists to protect this magnificent landscape.

“This is the heart of the fynbos kingdom. We’re building five new overnight cabins for guests to enjoy the tranquillity. They should be completed next month. You can hike, mountain bike or kayak.”

The star of the show at the moment is the rare red disa flower, the size of a coin.

The resort has recently been added to Proteas superior luxury collection, African Pride Hotels.

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But I’d have to hike in search of this beauty. So instead we head to the Rooisand Nature Reserve, where there is a chance of catching a glimpse of the shy wild horses that roam the dunes and wetlands.

Blekiwe says there are 23 horses in the herd, one of two wild herds in southern Africa. The other is in Namibia, said to be descendants of military mounts abandoned after the Anglo-Boer War.

After a bumpy ride on a dirt road we stop. I’m in luck. Grazing in the distance among the bird life is a group of horses. I drink in the view and take the time to appreciate the stillness and sanctity of this place.

I receive a blessedly cool welcome at the Arabella Resort and Spa, thanks to the air-conditioning. The entrance is grand, with soaring wooden beams. Large windows along one side of the entire lobby look out on to water cascading into the swimming pool. On the other side there is the vast Bot River Lagoon and the 18-hole, par 72 Peter Matkovich golf course.

The resort has recently been added to Protea’s superior luxury collection, African Pride Hotels.

I meet Leon Meyer, the new general manager, over lunch. I tuck into a delicious sandwich of prawns, salmon and dressing. The wholewheat bread is freshly baked on the premises. There is a side serving of chunky potato wedges dusted with herbs and coarse salt.

STRESS-FREE: Men and women enjoy the pamper sessions at the Arabellas spa.

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There has been a shift from the resort’s focus from a predominantly international market. Overseas visitor numbers have been fickle since 2007, a situation exacerbated by the global economic crisis. So they drew on their 30-year experience in the SA hospitality industry.

“We flipped the ratio – now 85 percent of our guests are local travellers, a market Protea knows well. While South Africans might not necessarily spend money on an overseas trip, they’re still willing to spend money on holidays at home.

“We are a lifestyle resort. We offer one of the top golf courses in the country – some of the world’s finest golfers have played here. There is a luxurious spa. We are ideally situated among boutique wine farms, pristine nature reserves with great outdoor activities like whale watching, hiking, horse riding and mountain bike trails and beautiful beaches.”

He says it’s not a fixed rule that women head for the spa and men for the greens. The dawn of the metrosexual has led to more men booking a pamper session at the spa, while the fairer sex are often out on the fairways, or testing their mettle on the 8th hole, which has been described as one of the most beautiful par 5s in the country.

After the interview I have a tour of the hotel. There are five different classes of rooms ranging from deluxe to the presidential suite. The Première restaurant offers seafood and Jamani, “rustic” South African fare. There is a cigar lounge, the Laguana lounge and the Barnabas Bar, which offers colourful cocktails and rich malts. There is a large range of conference facilities.

Then it’s time for some fun.

The last time I was on a golf range it was apparent that I was no Michelle Wie (the first female golfer to qualify for a USG National tournament). When my club finally connected with the ball, it flew to the high heavens, only to plonk back down at my feet. The only fun I’d have on the green would be zooming around in the golf cart. I suspect that would be frowned upon.

So I opt for what any self-respecting metrosexual would – a one-hour Swedish massage. The masseuse works her magic. My body is kneaded and rubbed down until the stress eases away. Deeply relaxed, I retreat to my room, a grand deluxe with stunning views of the lagoon and golf course. It’s spacious, with a small lounge and a lavish kingsize bed. The large bathroom has a similar view, and there is a TV overhead. There is a large private balcony, where you can enjoy your breakfast.

Dinner is served in the Première. Still in a trance from my massage, I watch the sunset on the glassy lagoon as the last of the golfers wrap up their game. I eat perlemoen and prawn bake, tender steak and Elgin apple pie.

Back in my suite I find a surprise, a tray of strawberries, chocolate dipping sauce, chocolate mousse and brownies. The Arabella just gave new meaning to the expression sweet dreams.

The next morning I enjoy breakfast overlooking the pool, and then leave, pampered and rejuvenated.

l Melanie Peters was a guest of the Arabella Resort and Spa. – Weekend Argus

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Escape to Mira Day Spa for Valentine’s Day

(Mission Times Courier, San Diego, CA) – San Carlos has a gem in
Mira Day Spa, which is nestled beside Pizazz Salon and Essential
Points Acupuncture along Jackson Drive. Don’t let the Mira Day
Spa’s black and white sign fool you into thinking this day spa is
for functional minds only. Once inside, clients are treated to a
variety of visual and tactical pleasures.

And while it’s not easy to decide to treat yourself to a
massage, once you’ve experienced the treatments at Mira Day Spa,
it’s that much more difficult to deprive yourself. Like many people
who are still semi-devoted to their New Year’s resolutions, I’ve
begun trying to work out regularly at L.A. Fitness on San Carlos.
Although it’s great for my health and highly recommended by my
doctor, my new exercise regime has done a number on my couch potato
body, resulting in sore muscles and the occasional back spasm. The
new physical activity coupled with the extra time spent in front of
a computer demanded I seek the tender ministrations of a
professional.

When I entered the spa, I was invited to fill out the customary
form for new clients. I marked down that my trouble areas – my back
and neck – needed special help.

Mira Day Spa’s Sommer Willis is a refreshing ray of sunshine.
She gives off the kind of vibes you want from a masseuse. A
positive person who loves her neighborhood – she cites Windmill
Farms as one of her absolute favorite spots for lunch – Willis has
a great touch.

After I told her I felt drained from my daily routine, she told
me it’s important to treat yourself every now and then. “We must
take care of ourselves first so that we can take care of others,”
Willis said. “We are coming from a much better place when our cups
are full. It is a pleasure to give when we are feeling loved and
pampered.”

Now that’s a philosophy I could get behind.

Willis’s treatment room is as good as any downtown or hotel spa
in San Diego. There’s classical music quietly playing in the
background, dim lighting, and a decadently warm massage table – my
favorite part of the process.

Because I opted for the Valentine’s Day special – a 45-minute
Chocolate Massage followed by an Organic Honey and Cocoa Facial –
there were also red petals to greet me, placing me in a very happy
mood. Until this treatment, red petals on any table or floor were
relegated to scenes from movies.

A warning for any chocoholic: The Valentine’s Day special smells
delicious. Willis told me the antioxidants in cocoa nourish and
protect the skin cells by scavenging free radicals and allowing
optimal cell regeneration. As she applied the cocoa oil to my back,
I couldn’t help but wonder whether chocolate candy bars offer the
same benefits.

The accompanying hot rock therapy on my back was a unique
experience, but one that paid off in spades. Willis also used
camphor and menthol lotion to keep circulation flowing in the tense
muscles of my back and neck and hot towels to relieve tension in
the feet.

After the massage, I received the spa’s signature mini-facial
with Josh Rosebrook’s organic enzyme and a honey exfoliant that
softened my skin and gave me a nice glow that my husband insisted
he recognized upon my return home. I also experienced the
peppermint foot mask and a pure Shea butter and paraffin hand
treatment. By the time Willis was finished, I felt renewed,
hydrated and relaxed.

Mira Day Spa is an ideal gift for any Valentine who’s
overstressed and overwhelmed. Heck, it’s a great present for anyone
– even if the intended recipient is yourself.

The Advantages of a Health Spa

Image provided by Pan Pacific

Spas are a popular destination for millions of people every year. While few experiences can match the relaxation of a hotel spa, people who are looking for a more meaningful and beneficial experience should look into visiting a health spa.

Health spas offer a very unique experience. Visitors not only relax and reduce stress, but they learn meaningful information about their bodies that can be applied every day of the year. The typical day spa experience provides a wealth of relaxation, but the lasting benefits can be minimal. A week or two after the treatment, the relaxation has worn off.

Health spas look to educate during relaxation. Many of the health spa resorts offer guests a number of health and fitness programs. Some of these might include Zumba, yoga, swimming, cardio boxing and other fitness-based activities. Guests can learn new methods of fitness training and try new classes in a stress free environment.

Another feature of most health spas is nutrition. Many offer classes on improving nutrition and offer personalized plans and tips. These are extremely valuable and important to maintaining a healthy lifestyle year-round. You’re sure to discover nutritious meals at health spas too!

You’ll find a number of experts in fitness and nutrition at a health spa, but perhaps the best thing you’ll find is a sense of community. Between a knowledgeable staff and other guests, health spas create an environment that provides life-changing benefits for its guests. Instead of simply relaxing next time you are trying to get away from it all, look into a health spa and walk away a better person.

Santa Fe Winter Fiesta at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Pavilion, Jan. 27-Feb. 5 …

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Santa Fe Winter Fiesta in Santa Fe, NM, Jan. 27 through Feb. 5

“The Santa Fe Winter Fiesta is a great way to experience the music, food and culture of Santa Fe,” explains Scott Hutton of SantaFe.com

Santa Fe, NM (PRWEB) January 11, 2012

SantaFe.com and the City of Santa Fe announce the 2nd Annual Santa Fe Winter Fiesta January 27 through February 5. The fiesta runs 10 consecutive days and includes an array of fun events for everyone — whether you’re a brew festival fan, a music lover, a comedy show buff, a skier, or a foodie. The Winter Fiesta offers an event pass called the 2012 Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass. The passes are $10 each and provide discounts to all the Winter Fiesta events. The Winter Fiesta includes multiple events, with music from seven different bands — one of which is a Grammy Award winner — a comedy show, a movie screening about extreme skiing, a brew festival featuring more than 20 New Mexico breweries, an “Amazing Race”-style scavenger hunt on snowshoes in the mountains above Santa Fe, a salsa dance competition featuring local Latin dance band Nosotros, a reggae music dance party, free horseback rides for Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass holders, an art show, a Santa Fe Valentine race and, finally, a Super Bowl party and concert. All featured events take place at the Santa Fe Farmers Market Pavilion. At this year’s Santa Fe Winter Fiesta there is something fun for everyone.

Between Jan. 27 and Feb. 4, Santa Fe Winter Fiesta hotels will offer discounts on hotel stays, spa packages, dining and other services and items. Participating hotels include the following: Inn of the Governors/Del Charro Saloon, Encantado – An Augerge Resort, Eldorado Hotel Spa, Water Street Inn, Inn and Spa at Loretto, Hotel Santa Fe – The Hacienda and Spa, Courtyard by Marriott, La Posada De Santa Fe Resort, Luxx Hotel, Santa Fe Sage Inn, Bishop’s Lodge Ranch Resort Spa, Inn at Santa Fe and La Fonda De Santa Fe. Visit the following Getaway Host link to book your stay to save money while attending the Santa Fe Winter Fiesta event.

If you’re a skier with a Santa Fe Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass this is your lucky week. Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass holders will receive a $10 discount on daily ski lift tickets from Ski Santa Fe, during the Santa Fe Winter Fiesta. Simply present your Winter Fiesta Adventure Pass at the Ski Santa Fe lift ticket window to receive your $10 discount when buying your lift ticket.

“The Santa Fe Winter Fiesta is a great way to experience the music, food and culture of Santa Fe,” explained Scott Hutton of SantaFe.com, which produces the Santa Fe Winter Fiesta in association with the City of Santa Fe. “Between all of the great bands we have lined up for the event, the brew festival, and all the other fun activities, Winter Fiesta is a great Santa Fe destination, for both locals and travelers alike. Here at SantaFe.com we are very happy to help put on this fun winter event.”

The Santa Fe Winter Fiesta is co-sponsored by The Santa Fe Reporter, Chalmers Capitol Ford Lincoln Mercury, The Agave Lounge at the Eldorado Hotel, Heineken, and the Coca-Cola Bottling Company. The event is also brought in part by the Museum of New Mexico Foundation, Century Bank and Sierra Santa Fe Buick GMC. Participating sponsors of the event are local Santa Fe businesses Santa Fe Mountain Sports, The Five and Dime General Store and La Fonda de Santa Fe.

For more details or to purchase tickets to the Santa Fe Winter Fiesta visit http://www.santafe.com/winterfiesta/.

About SantaFe.com

SantaFe.com provides Santa Fe and visitors to Santa Fe alike the most current interactive platform for events, music, arts, business, dining and lifestyle. SantaFe.com is a division of Hutton Broadcasting, located at 2502 C. Camino Entrada, Santa Fe, NM 87507.

Contact Information:

Scott Hutton

SantaFe.com/Hutton Broadcasting

http://www.santafe.com

(505) 471-1067 (Media inquiries only, please)

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Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Wins Irish Tatler Best Hotel Spa Award 2011

BRUSSELS, December 23, 2011 — /PRNewswire/ –

The Health Spa at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is delighted to be named the Best Hotel Spa in this year’s Irish Tatler Spa Awards. 

Set in 1300 acres of unspoilt countryside, Farnham Estate Health Spa at the Radisson Blu Farnham Estate Hotel in Cavan is one of Ireland’s most popular spa retreats, and one of only sixteen Fáilte Ireland designated ‘Resort Spas’ throughout the country.

Irish Tatler judges at the ceremony in the Westin Hotel, Dublin said they were bowled over by the generous size of the luxurious spa which covers a massive 40,000 sq. ft. and encompasses the Water Mint Thermal Suite with Aroma Steam Bath, Kneipp Walk,  Laconium, Ice Fountain,  Reflexology Foot Basins, and experience showers, as well as the Indoor and Outdoor Infinity Hydrotherapy swimming pool, 19 treatment rooms, relaxation and chill out areas and a large spa restaurant serving healthy and wholesome food.

They were also impressed by the “expert therapists at hand to pamper clients with YonKa spa treatments” and recognised the great value offers available.

“Thanks to its sheer size, the Health Spa at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate is a retreat to get lost in for an entire day,” said the judges. “And with flotation and hydrotherapy treatments starting at just €25, Farnham gets an extra nod for providing great return on minimal investment.”

The Health Spa’s Manager Erinn Cracknell is thrilled with the award. “Everyone at the Health Spa in Farnham Estate works so hard to ensure that our guests and visitors have wonderfully relaxing pampering experience. Winning this award means that we are achieving our goal to provide a truly special spa treat for everyone who walks through our doors, and we will be sure to continue to do so.”

For more information on the fantastic spa, Cavan hotels special offers and Cavan accommodation packages available at Radisson Blu Farnham Estate visit http://www.farnhamestate.ie.

About Radisson Blu Hotels Resorts:

Radisson Blu Hotels Resorts (formerly Radisson SAS Hotels Resorts), part of The Rezidor Hotel Group, offers first class service, providing guests with a contemporary, upscale hospitality experience. Radisson Blu has received numerous awards for Best Hotel Chain and is renowned for its “Yes I Can!” spirit of service and the “100% Guest Satisfaction Guarantee”. September 2005 saw the roll out of a free broadband service across the portfolio – the first international hotel chain to offer this service. Radisson Blu currently includes almost 250 hotels either in operation or under development and more than 58,000 rooms in Europe, the Middle East and Africa, including hotel Cavan Ireland.

PR Contact:
Christine Reiter,
Senior Director Corporate Communication,
The Rezidor Hotel Group
Avenue Du Bourget 44
B-1130 Brüssel
Belgien
+32-2-702-9331
http://www.radissonblu.com

SOURCE The Rezidor Hotel Group

Win a Spa Vacation for Three People

Enter Kirkland’s “Lap of Luxury” sweepstakes by December 22 (9:00.01 a.m. CT, to be precise) for a chance to win a spa vacation for three people in Miami, Scottsdale, or Chesapeake Bay. Prize trips include three nights’ hotel, airfare, a 60-minute spa session for each person, and a shopping spree.

To enter, complete and submit the online form. In so doing, you’re opting in to receive the sweepstakes host’s newsletter, but you can easily unsubscribe.

The Fine Print

• Sweepstakes is open to legal residents of the 50 United States, including the District of Columbia but excluding Alaska, Hawaii, and Puerto Rico, who are at least 18 years of age or the age of majority in their state of permanent residence, whichever is greater, at the time of entry.
• Limit: one entry per person per day during the sweepstakes period.
• Approximate Retail Value (“ARV”) of the grand prize: $5,700 for the Miami trip; $6,250 for the Scottsdale trip; $7,630 for the Chesapeake Bay trip.

This article originally appeared on FrequentFlier.com.

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First Saskatoon hotel spa opens

The Delta Bessborough in Saskatoon opened the city’s first hotel spa on Wednesday afternoon, “The Damara Day Spa”.

Mayor Donald Atchison joined the Bessborough’s general manager and Damara’s partners to unveil the new 1,800 square foot facility, featuring eight treatment rooms including a hydrotherapy tub and a Vichy shower facility.

“It will absolutely add to the tourist’s stay,” said the mayor.

“The Bessborough hotel is part of my history, myself, having had the opportunity to be employed here years ago.”

The new facility will also offer guests treatments including massage, manicures, anti-aging treatments.