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Valentine’s Day Spa Packages
Valentine’s Day is a popular time for hotels to offer packages with champagne and romance concierges (you know, to help your hopeless partner plan a romantic evening out), but it’s not as easy to find packages that include spa treatments and massages. Luckily, we’ve done the searching for you, and we’ve found some great budget options as well as some luxurious extravagances. For both a romantic and relaxing February 14 (or thereabouts), try out these hotels and spas, from East Coast to West.
The Budget Picks:
The Westin Beach Resort & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, FL
Sunsets on the beach are already dreamy, but the Westin Beach Resort & Spa is taking the swoon factor a few steps further with its “Rekindle Romance” package. It starts at only $319/night and is available for stays from February 10-15. What do you get? The package includes breakfast in bed, a visit to Shula’s on the Beach (for dinner, the Chef’s Tasting Menu, and wine!), champagne and strawberry turndown, and the Heavenly Healing couple’s spa treatment at the Heavenly Spa.
Indulge at Newly Opened Paradisus Resort’s Yhi Spa & Health Club
When you book a trip to the recently opened Paradisus Resort in Playa del Carmen, be sure to visit the YHI Spa and Health Club, a 20,000-square-foot luxury oasis. The spa boasts 14 massage cabins, two outside cabins, and a Whirlpool bath for water treatments.
As you enter the YHI Spa, you are greeted by a warm staff of spa professionals and personal trainers. Enjoy a luxurious treatment, then relax in the complimentary Whirlpools, dry and wet saunas, and steam rooms. You can also purchase massage oils, makeup, incense, and other essentials at the Spa Boutique.
The YHI Spa offers both couple and individual massages and personal outdoor showers. My favorite features at YHI were the array of burning incense that created a different ambiance in every room. The spa also offers a great full-service salon for hair, makeup, manicures, and pedicures, which is perfect for guests who are getting married at the resort or simply want to look special for an evening out.
For general trip-planning information, see our Playa del Carmen Travel Guide.
Three Spas That Offer Free Services for Cancer Patients
Between juggling doctor’s visits, hospital bills, and facing the emotional and physical challenges of an often life-threatening diagnosis, cancer patients aren’t always able to squeeze in a pricey visit to the spa – even though they are the ones who could benefit most from a stress-relieving massage or pampering manicure. To make life with cancer a little easier (and earn some good karma), a few spas offer patients free or reduced services, plus host special programs and events.
Fairmont Banff Springs: A Spa Escape in the Canadian Rockies
Set in the heart of Banff National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Fairmont’s Banff Springs Resort and Spa has lured royals and celebs since its opening in 1888 – well before Kate and Wills crossed the Canadian border. Given the area’s stunning natural aesthetics and the grandeur of this iconic Canadian resort, it’s easy to see how this property singlehandedly kicked off tourism in the famed Canadian Rockies.
Today Fairmont’s Banff Springs continues to woo alpine and luxury enthusiasts alike, all in search of that decadent adventure in an otherworldly setting.
Slip in to one of Banff Springs’ 768 well-appointed rooms in the Scottish baronial-style castle property; no two rooms or views are alike. Each room offers cozy yet classic accommodations with sweeping Alberta mountain views.
Miami Spa Month Returns with $99 Treatments
After a popular run last summer, Miami Spa Month returns July 1 with $99 treatments at the best spas in the city. This year, however, the promotion lasts through August 31 – offering twice the time to take advantage of these cut-rate massages, facials, mani-pedis, and other indulgent treatments.
For the best bang for your buck, try one of these splurge-worthy treatments:
- A 75-minute customized massage and scrub at The Ritz-Carlton, South Beach; regularly $210
- An 80-minute melting lavender massage at Agua at Delano; 60-minute massage normally starts at $140
- Combined hammam therapy (regularly $110) and fusion massage (regularly $95) at Exhale Mind Body Spa at Epic Hotel
Note that some spas do not offer the promotion on Saturdays. Tax and tip are not included in the price of the treatment. For a full list of participating spas, visit www.miamispamonth.com.
For general trip-planning information, see our Miami Travel Guide.
Score a Free Pedicure from Marriott in New York City June 23
Here’s a deal we won’t resist: To properly kick off sandal season, Marriott and Renaissance Caribbean & Mexico resorts is doling out free pedicures, massages, and pairs of Lindsay Phillips flip flops to New York City-based fans who “like” the brand’s Facebook page.
Masseuses, foot reflexologists, and pedicurists will set up shop June 23 at 25th Street and Fifth Avenue, next to Madison Square Park. Attendees just need to “like” the Marriott page on Facebook, print the invite or show it on their phone, and settle in for some midday bliss.
Father’s Day Spa Packages Offer Special Pampering for Pops
If Mom can spend her special day ax throwing or white-water rafting, why not send Dad to the spa? These brand-new packages and treatments for Father’s Day will leave your dad relaxed, refreshed – and in a much better mood to hear about how you’ll be taking summer classes this year to make up for your party-heavy spring semester.
Ciel Spa at SLS Hotel Beverly Hills
This L.A. hotspot has put together a Dad’s Day of Relaxation package, redeemable on any day Dad chooses. Along with a 60-minute massage and a 30-minute facial, the package includes a beer and steak salad served at the spa. Deal Alert: Booked a la carte these services would cost over $250, but you can score them for your dad for just $175. cielatsls.com/specials
Cleansing Spa Treatments Worth Trying
Cleansing spa treatments so often over-promise their life-change potential. But don’t throw out the seaweed with the seaweed bath. Many treatments based on holistic and alternative medicine can give you a feel-better New Year kick-start (or a kick in the pants) – particularly if you build these detox spa treatments around a weekend of eating right and exercise. Some cleansing spa treatments worth trying:
Seaweed Wrap with Dry Brushing
After your skin is dry-brushed to stimulate the slow-moving lymph system (its responsible for getting rid of your body’s cellular waste), high-quality seaweed is slathered over your body for a wrap, which does a push-pull action – first of infusing your skin with minerals (copper, zinc, calcium, manganese, and more), then draining away excess water (and whatever else it can grab) – leaving skin healthier, hydrated, and even a tad firmer. At ESPA spas around the world; from $200 for 90 minutes, depending on location: www.espaonline.com
Elephant Trekking and Free Spa Treatments in Thailand
SHERMAN’S EXCLUSIVE
The Luxury The JW Marriott Khao Lak Resort & Spa, set about 50 miles north of Phuket in Khao Lak, Thailand, offers guests a suite of beach and adventure activities. Visitors can sunbathe on the white-sand shores of the Andaman Sea, float down the nearly 2-mile-long lagoon-shaped swimming pool, or ride an elephant through the dense jungle on a 3-hour tour.
$247+: New Riviera Maya All-Incl. Hotel w/Two Exclusive Massages
When it comes to booking a vacation on a sun-drenched beach with commanding views of the shimmering azure surf on Mexico’s Riviera Maya, you probably don’t need much convincing. But, just in case you’re holding out, the posh, all-suite Azul Fives Hotel just opened its doors and is offering incredibly appetizing rates that can add up to 45 percent in savings – and that doesn’t include the exclusive two 30-minute massages (valued at $156) per couple that ShermansTravel.com readers will receive! Rates start from $247 per person, per night and include all gourmet meals served a la carte, unlimited alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, 24-hour room service, and access to a full-service concierge. Plus, children ages 3 to 12 are 50 percent off regular rates and kids under three years old are free.
THE HOTEL: Located on the incandescent Caribbean shores just 10 minutes away from Playa del Carmen, the 360-suite, gourmet-inclusive (fancy terminology for all-inclusive) Azul Fives Hotel features nine restaurants and bars and offers guests a wide array of amenities and services like water sports, beach beds, as well as free babysitting. Suites are stylishly decorated with comfort, practicality, and sophistication in mind – outfitted with rain showerheads, marble countertops, and double sinks in the bathroom, and flat-screen televisions in the living area.
