A short train or bus or car ride, you’ll find a smorgasbord of area spas…and spa deals. You’re staycation didn’t really do it for you, then an autumn spa trip, a luxury normally reserved for the upper middle class, may be a getaway you can actually manage. What with the leaves changing and wallet friendly deals the sky - or rail - is your limit. Relaxation is calling your name. But before you get those typing fingers flying to websites like Spa Index, Travel Muse and even CitySearch, there are some important things to consider that will make your search much more pleasurable.

First and foremost, consider your needs. Are you in desperate need of an extracting signature facial or are looking for full service serenity? Do you want a spa where you can relax rather than a wam-bam-thankyoumam run of the mill massage. It’s your trip of the year, so you may as well squeeze the most out of it. What other attractions are important to you? Restaurants, horseback riding, lakefront rooms, hiking trails, HBO, wineries… Name your pleasure. On your commute to work you can even list in order of importance. This will tailor your search allowing for a more relaxing overall experience. And that’s the point, right?

Next, speak with people you know. The best spas are found via word of mouth. Having a recommendation can help you on the booking end as well. Destination spa guests constitute over half repeat customers, so if you mention that your friend has been there or that several people have been raving about the XYZ Facial or their classic Thai massage, you may even get a discount. If you butter them up, they’ll, er, butter you up to. Again, that’s the point, right?

Sleep and eat. Some spas even allow you to stay in the room of your service and sleep immediately after your facials and massages as sleep is a very important part to maximizing your experience. Make sure that the spa and surrounding relaxation period are well scheduled. (Former prioritizing will help this as well.) A facial followed by a dirty hike may not be the most peaceful experience for your skin.  Proper hydration and nutrition are also important, so take advantage of the light lunches and fruity breakfasts offered at most spa-savvy destinations.

Embrace spontaneity. Spa destinations often have cancellations and last minute deals are often easily booked. Have three or four places at the top of your list to call on available weekends. Don’t be shy about asking for last minute specials or deals on the services you were hoping for. Remember, it’s barely post-recession and these resorts will be hurting for a while. Use that to your advantage…and relax.
Emma Dinzebach

Digg      Del.icio.us     Technorati     Reddit     Tweet This
Share on Facebook