How to Get the Most Out of Your Spa Vacation
By Brooke Le Poer Trench
(Photo: Getty Images)
So you want to get in shape—or just spend a few days living the zen life—through a spa vacation. Before you whip out your credit card and commit to the first beach-laden result you see on Google, make sure you’ve considered all your options. I talked to Jaclyn Sienna India, a New York City– and Palm Beach–based travel consultant and the owner and founder of Sienna Charles, a luxury travel agency, for tips on how to get the most out of a destination spa, without any regrets.
Check the facts. “Plenty of resorts with the word ‘spa’ in their name are just hotels that offer massages and facials. A real destination spa has strict protocols and a focus, whether it’s on fitness, weight loss, wellness, or all three. You spend time with experts, follow a program, and commit to days or even weeks.”
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Know your goal. “There are spas where you can either lounge by the pool or fill your day with exercise and treatments (like Canyon Ranch). Others are hard-core ashrams where phone use is discouraged, your calories are limited, and you hike for miles (like the Ranch at Live Oak in Malibu). If you want to relax, don’t sign up for boot camp. And if you want to lose weight, you’ll need a place with a strict regimen.”
Go farther afield. “American spas tend to focus on exercise and weight loss but make room for pampering. Spas in Europe often put the emphasis on rest and treatments, sometimes with doctors on site (La Prairie in Switzerland analyzes your blood). Southeast Asian spas (like Chiva-Som in Thailand) are more about yoga and detoxing, with strict diets and cleansing components, such as colonics.”
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Make the call. “Before you book anything, call the spa director and find out what your days will entail. Are they programmed or left open? What will you eat? Will you have to wake up early? Do you need to prepare by getting in shape or giving up caffeine? If you’re traveling solo, is the spa well suited to that? You don’t want any surprises.”
Try a short stay. “Some spas offer long-weekend sessions for people who can’t get away for a full week. Even with a shorter stay, I’ve found you can jump-start a health kick.”
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