vacation

My trip to Istanbul last September was whirlwind. Two and a half days, myriad hotel tours, and one trip to the hammam. What exactly is a hammam you ask? Think part serenity… part surprise… and brand new skin!

Spa-goers around the world trek to properties in Latin America for the amazing food, championship golf courses and wellness experiences set in exquisite ecological landscapes. From Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Costa Rica, Ecuador, and Peru – the extraordinary SpaFinder spas in these countries let visitors immerse themselves in the natural surroundings of volcanoes, tropical rain forests, hot springs, Caribbean beachfront and more. Check out HOT SPOTS & DEALS IN SOUTH AMERICA.

Traditionally, the thing to do after hitting the slopes was always sit around a cozy fire with pals, drinking hot cocoa or noshing on bread bowl of chili. The trend now is spa après-ski. You stay cozy and comfy, but instead slip on your spa robe and relax those tired muscles at the spa. Check out the new TOP 10 SKI SPAS below plus great winter specials.

Many people think of Thanksgiving as a time to gorge yourself silly on the caloric, decadence of holiday fare. Well, it doesn’t have to be! This year, why not escape nearby to a spa? Many spas offer guests healthy and delicious menus for Thanksgiving – and special holiday packages.

Get a great deal on your fall foliage spa excursion

There’s no better time to see the magnificent color change of the seasons and no better place than at a getaway spa in New England. Start planning your first weekend escape and enjoy breathtaking fall foliage along with spectacular savings. Unwind at the spa, plus enjoy hiking, biking, apple picking and more in one of the most scenic backdrops you can imagine.

Discover fantastic deals at premier getaway spas in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, and Vermont.

Celebrating Asian traditions of hospitality and natural beauty MANDARA SPA is the newest spa brand to be featured on SpaFinder. Offering Balinese-inspired services in luxury resorts, there are more than ten Mandara Spas across the United States now featured on SpaFinder.com. Part of the MANDARA vision is that beautiful surroundings, a serene ambience, and skillful, attentive service are as important as the treatments themselves.More about Mandara Spa

Like beauty, sexy is in the eye of the beholder. With that in mind, we asked top spa editors from around the globe to tell us which spas they thought were the sexiest – and why each made their list. Here then are the top 10: The Dolder Grand Hotel in Zurich, Switzerland If your […]

Italy has been at the forefront of fashion and glamour for centuries, and it’s been famous for its spas since the time of the Roman Empire. So here’s a perfect combination: a chance to win a luxurious vacation to Italy and an opportunity to shop Italian designer fashions for less – all brought to you by […]

Kids…can’t vacation with them, can’t vacation without them! SpaFinder has the answer – our new Top Ten Kid Programs So You Can Spa are the best getaways with activity programs for children allowing you to escape to the spa and relax while your little ones play. The fabulous thing about kid-friendly getaways is your ability […]

I am behind on my blogging, with several topics piling up. I think it is the same problem everyone is facing…lots to do, limited time and feeling extra pressure because of the current focus on economic challenges. So I thought I would try something new: A short recap of four topics (that could each be […]

Visited Adlon Day Spa in Berlin. Learned that it is a day spa connected with the historic 5-star Adlon Kempinski Hotel…which was magnificently rebuilt right next to the Brandenburger Tor in the late 90s. The day spa is not part of the Kempinski brand, however, I think that this spa facility, with its 13 porcelain-colored […]

Traditionally, the thing to do after hitting the slopes was always sit around a cozy fire with pals, drinking hot cocoa or noshing on bread bowl of chili. The trend now is spa après-ski. You stay cozy and comfy, but instead slip on your spa robe and relax those tired muscles at the spa. Check out the new TOP 10 SKI SPAS below plus great winter specials.

That Famous Spa in Switzerland, Clinique La Prairie and the Product Line, La Prairie – Sorting it All Outby Susie EllisSpaFinder Insider (Note, if you aren’t seeing any photos in this blog post, then please read the blog at http://www.www.spafinder.com/blog/ as the photos will be a big help in following this timeline!) By now I […]

The Flavor of Swiss Spas by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider Fast forward from my last blog entry re Zurich and skydiving. The weather turned rainy – skydiving was cancelled – change of plans – we all got into the car and headed for Lausanne. We drove the back way over the hills so Nicholas could […]

Touring Spas of Switzerland – First Stop,the Spa at Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel by Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider Landed in Zurich, rented a car and drove with Peter and his son, Nicholas, to Interlaken where we checked into the historic Victoria-Jungfrau Grand Hotel. (It took us under two hours, which included a stop for my much […]

Kids & Teens at Spas…Supply or Demand? by Susie EllisSpaFinder Insider This article, “Spas Go All Out To Give Kids the Treatment” by Andrea Petersen and Miriam Foster was in the Wall Street Journal yesterday. It’s about the trend of more kids and teens going to spas for treatments. I have two comments. Both relate […]

Advice from Seasoned Spa Consultants By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider Judy Singer and Patti Monteson are spa consultants who I have known for almost 20 years. In fact, they were the first spa consultants I ever met. Their company HFD, Heath Fitness Dynamics, is based in Florida. (Sometimes I wonder if they would select the […]

In the Club Spa e-newsletter, which goes out twice a month, I get to answer one of the many spa questions our readers send in. Here is the Q & A from this week. Am sharing it because I have received an avalanche of response and follow-up questions. Detox is a hot topic! Thought I […]

The Whisper Lounge: a Perfect Place for Pre-and Post-massage RelaxationBy Susie Ellis One of my favorite places at Woodloch is the Whisper Lounge. John and Ginny Lopis who created Woodloch did something that very few spas do (because it is very expensive). But it was really smart. They created a special lounge for pre and […]

Qua Baths & Spa: a Las Vegas Day Spa or Stay Spa at Caeser’s Palace Featuring Unique Spa Treatmentsby Susie Ellis From the Qua Baths & Spa menu at Caesar’s Palace: Bath Liqueur, Sleep Health, Hypnosis for Wellness, Raindrop Therapy (registered), Morning Dew, Banana Leaf Body Wrap (with incense), Dilo Wrap (oil from Fiji), Volcanic […]