Planning Your Spa Vacation

Money Matters

Yes, cost counts when looking at spa vacations. Whether you’re planning a cheap spa vacation or looking for a luxury spa resort, it’s important to have a budget mind before booking. Check with your travel card companies, too, like American Express, which offer points toward travel and booking options. You can book spa vacation packages or spas by destination, depending on your travel interests.

Once your narrow your options by determining your goals, contact the spas that interest you and request a menu of spa services. Find out what is included the price of the service (use of locker rooms, sauna, steam rooms, pools, fitness centers, etc.) If you’re heading to a luxury spa resort it’s important to find out the following:

• Does the price of the spa package include hotel rooms, food and spa treatments?
• Are exercise classes, golf course access and special excursions part of the spa price?
• What service charges are included in the overall price? For example, is gratuity automatically included in the price of your treatments, or will you be expected to tip after each spa service?

Budget spa-goers can book cheap spa services if your dates are flexible and you do your research. At some spas, it’s cheaper to book a spa package than to choose treatments a la carte. Call ahead and ask about any mid-week prices or off-peak prices that might not be advertised.

Affordable spa vacations are available. It’s not a luxury niche anymore - everyone wants the concept of wellness into their life. Spa vacations … are not something that needs to be excluded to those who don’t have an indispensable income.

Enjoy Your Spa Vacation

The most important to do on your spa getaway is to have fun and relax. But, it’s equally important to ensure the spa can provide you with the peace and tranquility you seek. Before booking with any spa, check that the spa is certified by the International SPA Association.

“We always urge spa-goers to look for the ISPA logo,” says Shelby Jones, Public Relations Coordinator for the ISPA. “All ISPA members sign a standards and practices along with a code of ethics document. It is also a requirement of membership to have licensed therapists (each state has different requirements).”

The ISPA Web site (www.experienceispa.com) offers spa-goers a list of all certified spas and a Code of Conduct that lists the rights and responsibilities of spas and spa guests.