Quick Last Minute Update:

The other day I posted about a special I have at Canyon Ranch in  Lenox from 9/18 – 22.  Great news…..due to the popularity of this special I have more space available, however this ends  tomorrow (Wednesday, 9/14).

If you’re still thinking about Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA while the whether is still warmer (high 60’s) then this is a great time to go at a great rate.

SPECIAL OFFER:

The opportunities are endless, however this special will  end soon.  If you can travel between 9/18 – 22 for a 3- or 4-night stay contact me at 1-800-532-5590 or via e-mail and I’ll review the details with you. Space is limited and this special must be reserved no later than 9/14/11.

PS  If you’re thinking of another time of year, call or e-mail me and I’ll review what’s possible.   If you’d like to go to Tucson, I have a great opportunity for late October.  More details coming up.

The kids are getting ready to go back to school.  Work will most likely get busier after Labor Day and you might be thinking it’s a good time for a quick getaway.  Canyon Ranch in Lenox, MA may be the answer.  The weather is still great in September and with this special offer you can save quite a bit and enjoy everything that Canyon Ranch has to offer.

Outdoor activities abound like kayaking, hiking, biking and more.  There is an abundance of fitness opportunities, healthy living classes, cooking demos and oh those luxurious and pampering spa services, like the Canyon Ranch massage and the ever popular Ayurvedic treatment, Bindi-Shirodhara.

If you’re focused on weight management, then this is the place to get back on track or enhance your already good eating habits.  One of the most useful sessions I’ve ever experienced is the Metabolic Exercise Assessment.   Great information and insight to help you change body composition and much more.

SPECIAL OFFER:

The opportunities are endless, however this special will  end soon.  If you can travel between 9/18 – 22 for a 3- or 4-night stay contact me at 1-800-532-5590 or via e-mail and I’ll review the details with you. Space is limited and this special must be reserved no later than 9/6/11.

If you’re stopping by this site then chances are you’re seeking a destination spa, like Miraval in Tucson, AZ.   Perhaps it’s time for a getaway to recharge and relax or perhaps you’re ready to celebrate a milestone birthday.  Many of you call me to discuss weight loss, fitness (kickstarting…) and a transition in your life.   And many of you call me about Miraval Arizona because you want to spend a few nights with your best pal to relax, be pampered and just say Ahh!

Some say timing is everything and today, timing is everything if you’re looking for a Miraval getaway.  This is a good time to tell a friend and share the news about this new offer at one of the top ten spas in the U.S.

Here’s the skinny on Miraval’s mid-week special…….

Travel between September 1 and December 23
Travel between Sunday and Wednesday (checkout must be on Thursday)
Based on double occupancy only
(Subject to change and based  on availability.)

All of your meals, classes, activities and a nightly resort credit are still included with your Miraval mid-week getaway.

Savings are substantial and I haven’t seen fall rates at Miraval this low!

E-mail me at donna@spa-vacation-experts.com or call me directly at 1-800-532-5590 and I’ll give you one
more bonus for Miraval as my gift of renewal with your 3-night stay.

Most of the U.S. is under ‘heat-wave’ conditions and yet there is a mountain sanctuary less than two hours from San Diego, CA  that’s experiencing milder temperatures.  If you thought it was too late for a summer vacation, think again.  Rancho la Puerta, one of my favorite destination spas (and the World’s #1 Destination Spa by the readers of Travel+Leisure) in Tecate, Mexico is offering an amazing summer promotion that you should know about.  If you’ve been to Rancho la Puerta, then you know this is something special and if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience a week at the ‘Ranch,’ then now might be a good time.

Read my latest article about Rancho la Puerta (pages 62-64)
in TravelWorld International Magazine.

SUMMER VILLA & SPA PROMOTION:
- 20% off Any Villa, Any Number of Guests -OR-
Save 25% when four share a Two-Bedroom Villa or Three share a Villa Studio

- Valid for weeks through August 27, 2011
- 7-night stays are from Saturday to Saturday

Spa Bonus:  You’ll also receive THREE COMPLIMENTARY MASSAGES**
** Per Person and not valid with the Four-Hands Massage

What does my week include?
7-nights – Saturday to Saturday**
A week at the ‘Ranch’ includes all (vegetarian) meals
Hiking, fitness classes, wellness classes and activities
Ground Transfers from San Diego Airport (Saturday only)

The weeks ahead include:
Water Week (7/23), Writer’s Week (7/30), Ballet Week (8/6 & 13), Pilates Week (8/20) and
Rancho Reads & Writes Week (8/27)

Are you a first timer?
Let me know when you call me directly and we can review much more about Rancho la Puerta!

My gift to you:
In addition to the Summer Spa Savings above,  I’d love for you to enjoy a little more pampering so when you call me directly (1-800-532-5590) to reserve your week, you’ll also receive -one- 50-minute Relaxation Massage as my gift.

Renew, Relax and Rejuvenate at the Ranch!

Call me directly at 1-800-532-5590 with any questions and the week that interests you. My week was amazing and I hope you’ll consider a week that could help you change your life for the better.  There’s still time to make 2011 your best, most fit and healthiest year ever!

If you like to look at Top 10 lists, then this is one for you!

The World’s Best Awards 2011 has been released by Travel+Leisure.   Take a look and see if your favorite destination spa is on the list.

As always, if you have any specific questions about a destination spa, feel free to e-mail me.

Happy Travels!

It’s cold just about everywhere in the United States and I don’t know about you, but I’m already thinking about leaving the snow behind for warmer weather.  One of my favorite destination spas, Rancho la Puerta in Tecate, Mexico is offering an amazing end of year promotion that you should know about.  If you’ve been to Rancho la Puerta, then you know this is something special and if you haven’t had the opportunity to experience a week at the ‘Ranch,’ then now is the time.

Reservation and Deposit:
Before you continue reading, there’s an important point to this -
Reservations must be made by Friday, Dec. 31, 2010 to receive this reduction

Details, nothing but the details:
Save 25% on weeks between Jan. 8 – Feb. 12
* A couple of January weeks have limited space
Save 20% on weeks between Feb. 19 – June 4

What does my week include?
7-nights – Saturday to Saturday**
A week at the ‘Ranch’ includes all (vegetarian) meals
Hiking, fitness classes, wellness classes and activities
Ground Transfers from San Diego Airport (Saturday only)

** Based on availability, you may also consider a shorter stay for
Wednesday-Saturday or Saturday-Wednesday
Ground transfers are available on Saturdays only

A Sample of the Weeks Ahead:
Jan. 15 - Pilates Week
Feb. 5 – The Truth About Sleep with Dr. Rubin Naiman, Ph.d.
March 12 – Hatha Yoga Week
Develop your Personal Power
March 26 – Focus on Golf
All weeks – Culinary Experiences at La Cocina Que Canta

My gift to you:
Spa services are a la carte, however I’d love for you to enjoy a little pampering so when you call me directly (1-800-532-5590) to reserve your week, you’ll also receive -one- 50-minute Relaxation Massage as my gift.   Renew, Relax and Rejuvenate at the Ranch!

Kick off the New Year with the gift of wellness. 
Call me directly at 1-800-532-5590 with any questions and the week that interests you.

My week was amazing and I hope you’ll consider a week that could help you change your life for the better.  Make 2011 your best, most fit and healthiest year ever!

 Are you in the know about Miraval rates?  Here’s the FYI for 2010!

Rates have changed at Miraval, and while the $399++ per night promotion is gone, there are some great options being offered through 2010. 

The 5-th night free promotion at Miraval is back when you reserve the Deluxe room (or higher) and it’s the best value at this time.  If 5-nights isn’t in the stars, then the standard room is the next best option if less than 4/5 nights.

And, rates for 2010 at Miraval Spa are seasonal, so if you travel between June 6 and August 14, you’ll receive the very lowest rates of the year.  And, there are date ranges at Miraval for the other seasons so for instance, if you travel between today and Feb. 20th, you’ll receive the Premium rate and then it goes to peak season for Feb. 21 – March 6th.  There are several date ranges for each season and this is just an example.  (Rates are subject to change.)

The other option at Miraval for 2010 is the custom rate, which means that spa services can be a la carte.  A little advice though – if you’re planning on getting one Miraval spa service per day, then go with the full package as it offers a better value.

So now you’re in the know about Miraval rates!

Extra, extra…read all about it! SpaFinder released their seventh annual “Top 10 Global Spa
Trends to Watch in 2010” and I’ve included a briefing of them below.

Whether you’re a consumer or also in the industry, take a look at the listing below to find out more about where the spa industry is heading. It’s going to be another exciting year and I’m so thrilled that prevention is becoming more apparent in the growth of the spa lifestyle.

And, check out the bonus trend at the bottom…….it’s what many of you have known for some
time now and why I do what I do. A destination spa vacation is an investment in you and the
first step to integrating a healthier lifestyle and an awakening to who you truly are.

Here’s to you and to a year of health, adventure and 365 nights of restful sleep!

Source: SpaFinders.com

Top 10 Global Spa Trends to Watch in 2010

1) The New “P” Word
Goodbye, pampering. Hello, prevention. Well, not so fast. It’s more like, move over, pampering; hello, prevention. Against the backdrop of a global healthcare crisis, prevention is poised to be the new “it” word of the spa industry in 2010 and beyond. But rather than replacing established industry concepts like pampering and wellness, it’s a sharp (and smart) refocusing of the conversation. Pampering, after all, speaks to the stress-reduction, relaxation goal of most spa-goers, and that in itself is preventive.

2) Year of the Hammam
With spa-goers increasingly seeking authenticity, tradition, and that magical spa experience that also offers true results, the Middle Eastern hammam (hamam in Turkey) represents one of the hottest trends for 2010, albeit with a distinctly modern expression. This is the year in which people who have never heard the term hammam will learn its meaning, and those already familiar with it will discover new places to experience it.

3) Not “Going to,” But “Belonging to” a Spa
No longer a place where you infrequently “go” for the occasional treatment, spas are being creatively re-imagined as places of “belonging”—not only through the big rise in membership programs, but also in the diverse ways spas are being recast as social or communal hubs—contributing the additional, although unspoken, benefit of emotional health.

4) The Online Spa
2010 will be a watershed year for the spa industry’s virtual presence. Consumers are already online searching for spas, booking treatments, joining online weight loss and coaching groups, and embracing social networking sites, such as Facebook and Twitter. (Some even play the online Sally Spa game.) But there’s more to come.
Get ready for gaming while you exercise, for having health information (like your blood pressure and heart rate) automatically uploaded for access online by your spa or doctor, and for spas to use yield management software that—much like the airlines—enables price variation, so spas can offer a less expensive massage on weekday mornings, compared to Saturday afternoons. And in early 2010, you’ll be able to stroll down any street in the U.S. and check your iPhone to pinpoint the spa nearest you, thanks to the upcoming SpaFinder App.

5) The Hybrid Spa
The modern spa is increasingly a “hyphenated” affair, with spas incorporating far more fitness, fitness centers incorporating more spa, hospitals incorporating spa elements, and spas bringing in more medical doctors and specialists. The era of the spa/fitness/integrated-health-center/hospital/spiritual-retreat/wellness-center/beauty-clinic is on a serious upswing. It’s one integrated human body, after all, and the “pure” spa is on the decline, while the hybrid spa is busy inventing new you-name-it plugged-in hybrid models.

6) The Price Is (Still) Right
2009’s headline spa story was the industry’s aggressive response to the global recession and the near-universal focus on deals, deals, and more deals. While there’s (cautious) consensus that the economy is in recovery mode, there’s great news for consumers in 2010: The spa bargains will continue apace, not only straight discounting, but also more innovative incentives smartly designed by spas to drive incremental revenue and retain loyal customers. And keep an eye out for savvy new spas combining less expensive treatments and facilities with a touch of glamour, hitting a sweet spot between nice and price.

7) Wellness Tourism Wows
We’re familiar with people seeking spas for wellness—and also with “medical tourism,” crossing borders for medical procedures (often plastic surgery, dentistry, knee replacements, etc.). Well, make room for “wellness tourism,” a new term describing travel across borders for preventive services, diagnostics, spa and well-being vacations, even stem cell banking. The concept not only dramatically broadens the appeal of the medical tourism model (which has suffered from its narrow association with plastic surgery), it’s increasingly poised to become the way we define our time away from home and work in the future.

8. Scary and Silly Spa Stories Drive Evidence, Science, and Standards
The fallout from heavily publicized spa horror stories—and the recession-driven consumer insistence on no-gimmick treatments with real, measurable benefits—will quicken a rising industry trend: the demand for evidence-based therapies, stricter industry standards, and greater transparency/resources to help spa-goers separate the wheat from the chaff. As spas move into the health and wellness sectors, facts, evidence, and science that support industry approaches will move front and center, even at the cost of a few diamond facials.

9) Diversity at a Tipping Point
For years analysts have discussed how the spa industry has been attracting new demographics (men, teens, seniors, new ethnic groups). But in 2010 diversity has reached a tipping point: It has fully arrived, and it’s here to stay. Spa-going has become so mainstream that the face of the spa-goer will now continue to reflect the wider global population. Every spa region has its unique “diversity story,” and around the globe far more men, younger and older generations, and ethnic groups are hitting the spa. And spas are taking note, with offerings that cater to these diverse groups’ needs and wants. Set to explode: In the U.S. alone, where approximately 78 million baby boomers are poised to enter their 60s, watch for “silver spa-ing” to really take off.

10) Stillness
The modern human experience is an unprecedented amount of sensory overload, noise, and media stimulation. We’re wired to the gills, spending nearly all waking hours in front of TV and computer screens—bombarded, texting, tweeting, clattering away—now even on airplanes. With the spa as one of the last remaining sanctuaries of silence and serenity, look for the industry to put a new emphasis on stillness, on slowness, on silence. From totally silent massages/treatments or using white noise and subtle nature sounds instead of music; to silent walks, hikes, and dinners at Red Mountain or Rancho La Puerta; to Six Senses Spas’ focus on a “Slow Life” approach; to an upswing in meditation offerings and programs, spas will help clients move from busy-ness and overload to quiet, to stillness. “Sounds” awfully good.

Bonus Trend: Celebrating Celebration
In a recent survey, travel agents reported the #1 emerging spa travel trend was people increasingly hitting stay spas for special occasions like the big ’0s’, anniversaries, weddings, retirement parties, etc. And after the severe downturn in spas’ corporate/meetings business (which, because of virtual conferencing, will continue to decline), the industry is aggressively incentivizing group celebration travel to revitalize lost business. This concept was born at the day spa (with its long tradition of bachelorette, graduation and “girlfriend” parties), and its rapid migration into the travel arena in 2010 is one great reason for the industry to celebrate.

About SpaFinder, Inc.:
The world’s largest spa media, marketing, and gifting company, SpaFinder, Inc., connects millions of wellness-focused consumers with thousands of spas worldwide. SpaFinder’s media properties include the award-winning Spafinder.com, the Spa Enthusiast newsletter, and the annual Global Spa and Wellness Directory. SpaFinder and its new gift division, Salon Wish, offer spa gift certificates and cards that are redeemable at a combined network of over 9,000 spas and salons worldwide and are available at thousands of retail outlets. The company’s technology division innovates new solutions that help spas build and streamline their businesses, including the popular SpaBooker online booking system. SpaFinder Europe and SpaFinder Japan offer regional spa marketing and gifting programs, including localized, native-language websites. Founded in 1986, the privately held company is headquartered in Manhattan./p>

Source:
Copyright © 2008, SpaFinder, Inc. Information and data extracted from SpaFinder (Inc.),
the publisher and source.

I just returned from a week at Canyon Ranch in Tucson and participated in the Life Enhancement Program. For anyone that is looking at being their best physically, emotionally, mentally and spiritually I highly recommend this program and a stay at the Ranch. I’m working on a more detailed post and an article that covers my stay so please check here again in the next few days for an update.

In the meantime, if anyone has been considering a stay at Canyon Ranch (Tucson) I am putting something together for early January (approx. Jan. 2) so that you too can start the year off with the tools you need to be the best you that you can be. When armed with healthy living tools and ideas, and the opportunity to take action in a nurturing environment, it’s amazing how much better you feel and how much more you’re capable of attaining for yourself……all of your senses are heightened, you live more joyfully and fully and are ready to move forward in your life.

One of the reasons I chose the Life Enhancement Program was due to an injury I sustained, which had been taking longer than I hoped to heal. The staff is incredible and Doug, my exercise physiologist, was able to review a program that best suited my needs and more important than that was the encouragement he offered and the feeling of being hopeful when we were done vs that hopeless feeling I came in with. That’s just the start of the amazing week I had. More to come…….

And, again, if you’re interested in realizing your own aha! moments and tools for a healthier life, drop me a note about Jan. 2 and I’ll get you the details.

Have a joyful day!