All you ever wanted to know about the spas
Spa Types
Day Spa
A facility that offers various professionally administered spa services on day-use basis. Services include various spa treatments for beauty, wellness and relaxation.
Destination Spa
A facility that offers overnight lodgings and programmes that can last from two or more days. On-site health and wellness programs and therapies include exercise, body treatments, stress-relief activities and health food to give patrons substantially beneficial lifestyle changes. Provides guests with lifestyle improvement and health enhancement through professionally administered spa services, physical fitness, educational programming and on-site accommodations. Spa cuisine is served exclusively.
Holistic Spa
Offers optional therapeutic approaches and nutrition to reach a higher level of well-being in mind and body.
Medical Spa
Individuals, solo practices, groups and institutions comprised of medical and spa professionals whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment which integrates spa services, as well as conventional and complementary therapies and treatments.
Mineral Springs Spa
A health resort that draws on an on-site natural source of mineral, seawater or thermal springs for hydrotherapy to treat certain ailments or just for relaxation.
Hotel/Resort Spa
Owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest, this is a great place for business travelers who wish to take advantage of the spa experience while away from home.
Fitness/Adventure Spa
A center whose primary objective is fitness, with a selection of sports and outdoor adventure programmes like golf, skiing, fly-fishing or marathon conditioning. It may also provide the usual variety of spa treatments like therapeutic baths and body treatments.
Club Spa
Facility whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis.
Cruise Ship Spa
A spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices.
How to Choose a Spa?
The key to having a great spa experience is to find out as much as you can about a spa before you go. This insures that you're time will be well spent.Remember to find out:
- reputation of medical programs
- about guest service
- if you will be able to create a stress free experience
- if the facility is well-maintained and well-staffed
- about available exercise equipment
- if there are health and fitness assessments
More Questions to ask:
- What programs are available? - stress reduction, yoga, relaxation, fitness, weight management...
- What's on the menu? - vegetarian, calories counted...
- What's included in the price? - lodging, meals, classes, services, treatments...
Spa Services
Aromatherapy
Application of essential oils from leaves, bark, roots, seeds, resins, and flowers during massage, facials, body wraps, and other treatments. Odor from the oils is said to evoke certain feelings, such as relaxation.
Balneotherapy
Immersing the body in mineral water from hot springs or the sea to restore and revitalize the body.
Body work
Forms of therapeutic touch, such as massage, that retrain the body's posture and movements for optimal functioning.
Deep muscle massage
Massage technique that separates muscle groups and loosens fascia (connective tissue) to realign the body and increase range of motion.
Deep cleansing facial
Use of sophisticated machines or manual techniques to open pores, extract blackheads, purify skin, close pores, and revitalize skin.
Detoxification
Cleansing the body of accumulated poisons that can accumulate from addictive habits, such as smoking.
Exfoliation
Skin treatment where the upper layers of dead skin cells are sloughed off by a loofah sponge, sea salt, brush, or by other means.
Facial
A series of techniques used to clean and revitalize the facial skin. Facials typically include massaging, cleansing, toning, steaming, exfoliating, and moisturizing.
Fango therapy
Application of highly mineralized mud to the body to detoxify, stimulate circulation, and relieve muscular and arthritic pain.
Herbal wrap
Wrapping the body in warm linen or cotton sheets that have been soaked in aromatic herbs. The body is then covered with blankets or towels, preventing the moist heat from escaping. Herbal wraps help relax the muscles, soothe soreness, and soften skin.
Hydrotherapy
Water therapies using jets, underwater massage, and mineral baths.
Massage
Manipulating the skin, muscles, and joints to relax muscle spasms, relieve tension, improve circulation, and stretch connective tissue.
Salt glow rub
Rubbing the body with a vigorous, abrasive scrub consisting of coarse salt usually mixed with essential oils and water.
Thalassotherapy
Applying to the body a mixture of seaweed, vitamins, algae, magnesium, calcium, and trace elements from the sea. The treatment is said to remove toxins while reinvigorating the skin.
Best Spas in the World
Nice Touch Awards 2001.
1. Absolute Spa at the Century (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)
Complementary spa cuisine is served with every service. This really encourages you to linger and relax after treatments. I also had and "Absolutely" personalized facial with Doina - one of the best I've had. All services were top notch. Nice touch!
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2. Banyan Tree Spa at the Banyan Tree Phuket (Thailand)
Fabulous exotic, private, open-air treatment rooms for two with garden, relaxation area, shower, steam bath, tea and snacks. Treatments start with a footbath. Ms. Junya gave me one of the best Thai massages I've had. Nice touch!
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3. Echo Valley Ranch & Spa (British Columbia, Canada)
A true East-meets-West experience at a remote working cattle ranch in a unique location where mountains, desert, tundra, and meadows meet. Authentic Thai treatments and architecture in the Canadian wilderness. Nice Touch!
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4. The Spa at the Grand at Grand Okanagan Lakefront Resort & Conference Centre (Kelowna, Brittish Columbia, Canada)
LaStone Therapy is the crème de la crème of hot stone massages, but most practitioners only use hot stones. Beth used both hot and cold stones as per LaStone guidelines. She also incorporated energy work and visualization. Nice touch!
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5. Healing Springs Spa at Harrison Hot Springs Resort (British Columbia, Canada)
Ceilings have radiant heat panels over treatment tables so exposed skin is not chilled during massage or wrap, lamb's wool pads are used beneath sheets and down comforters are used on top of treatment tables. Couples room has fiber optic stars in ceiling and large slate bath for two using mineral water from hot springs without chlorine. Nice touch!
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6. The Canadian Wellness Centre at The Hills Health Ranch (British Columbia, Canada)
Therapists and estheticians provide printed information sheets on everything used in treatment - where it comes from, what benefits it provides, etc. Nice touch!
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7. The Imperial Mandara Spa at the Imperial Queen's Park Hotel (Bangkok, Thailand)
All massage tables had bowls filled with beautiful flowers to look at through the head rest when face down on the table. Other spas in Thailand also had this, but this spa was the first one I visited that did. It was also the first spa I visited that was filled with the aroma of lemongrass - now one of my favorite scents. Nice touch!
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8. Kingfisher Oceanside Spa at Kingfisher Oceanside Resort & Spa (Vancouver Island, British Columbia, Canada)
Treatment rooms face the ocean. The sound of the surf can be heard through open windows while enjoying your treatment. A heating pad warms your feet when you're face-down and your tummy when you're face-up on the massage table. A fortune shell (instead of cookie) is given at end of your visit. Steam " cave ." Nice Touch!
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9. The Lanna Spa at the Regent Chiang Mai (Thailand)
Breathtaking spa architecture and interior design. Wonderful treatments using indigenous plants and local healing traditions. Service was outstanding at the spa and the resort. My overall favorite. Nice touch!
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10. The Health & Beauty Spa at The Lodge at Paratiho Farms (Upper Moutere, Nelson, New Zealand)
Fabulous facials in a world-class getaway. Facials include a back massage, therapeutic mud treatment for your back that heats up, bubbles and fizzes, and a relaxing foot massage. The facial left my face feeling soft and clean. My back and feet felt pampered and rejuvenated. Nice touch!
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11. Polynesian Spa (Rotorua, New Zealand)
Series of beautiful natural hot springs pools in increasing temperature from warm to hot overlooking lake and bird preserve. Located in a very active geothermal area. Nice touch!
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12. Senses Spa at Our Lucaya (Grand Bahama Island, Bahamas)
This spa makes the most of its unique Caribbean location with The Sense of Wisdom - The Dolphin Journey spa package and treatments using Bahamian bush medicine. Nice touch!