Top 10 Best Massages at a Spa Resort or Lodge
Posted July 22, 2009 , add a commentPosted by Nancy D. Brown
Shibui Spa in Sisters, Oregon
I’m the first to admit that I love a good massage. In fact, if I won the lottery, I’d have a massage once a month; once a week if it was the super-lotto. But I don’t play the lottery, so I splurge on a massage whenever I can.
Here are some of my favorite lodging properties where I have experienced wonderfully relaxing massages:
Aurora Hotel and Spa Certified Massage Therapist Lavina Jones works out of the Aurora Hotel and Spa on Southern California’s Catalina Island. Her speciality massage combines aroma therapy with Swedish massage and finishes with hot river stones and warm towels.
Bernardus Lodge and Winery provides a relaxing place to unwind and recharge in Carmel Valley, California. The Spa at Bernardus Lodge offers services from vinotherapy and marine-inspired, to international treatment techniques. While you’re there, visit the spa’s meditation garden, warming room, and soaking pool.
Carnival Splendor a floating resort on the sea, offers a 21,000 square foot, two level spa and gym facility. The Thalassotherapy Pool features jets of water that massage your body and a special formulation of ocean water. If you splurge for a Cloud 9 Spa Stateroom, you’ll have access to the special pool and Theramal Suite, in addition to two complimentary fitness classes and priority spa appointment bookings.
Five Pine Lodge in Sisters, Oregon is also home to Shibui Spa. I had the Thai Bandle massage, heated Maja Bandles, filled with lemon grass and other herbs are steamed and used as heated compresses during the massage. Guests leave with a suggestion card for using the herbal compress with a Metta Mantra on the other side of the card.
Metta Mantra
May I be safe
May I be happy
May I be healthy
May I be peaceful
May I be filled with loving-kindness
Spa Gaia in the Napa Valley is connected to the eco-friendly Gaia Hotel. I tried the Ayurvedic Hot Stone massage and it was wonderful. After filling out a short survey, my dosha (natural constitution) was determined and the relaxing massage began.
After a day of horseback riding at Riochet Ridge Ranch, I was in need of a massage. Fortunately the Third Court Salon and Day Spa is located on the Little River Inn property. I have plenty of recommendations on places to visit, stay and dine in Mendocino.
Visitors to southern Napa can check out the 9,000 square foot underground Spa Terra and try the cave stone massage. Pardon the pun; this massage rocked! If you are a guest at Meritage, you are welcome to use the spa facilities, including the hot tub, complete with water wall, until closing time.
Sheraton Maui Spa at Black Rock
For an outdoor massage experience with the privacy of a treatment room, The Sheraton Maui’s Spa at Black Rock is Kaanapali Beaches’ newest addition. The Mango Pomegranate signature line of products smell entoxicating.
While not on property at Sonoma’s Inn at Occidental, the Osmosis Day Spa in nearby Freestone, California offers a unique spa experience. Now that I’ve tried it, I can say that I am not a fan of the cedar enzyme bath, but the massage was first-rate.
On a recent trip to Lugano, Switzerland, I experienced my first water massage at Villa Sassa Hotel and Spa. The Aurum Spa offers the Mare massage on a bed of colored water reproducing the effect of the vibrant blue shoreline.
Photos by Nancy D. Brown
Inn on 5th in Naples, FL Delivers Old World Elegance
Posted , add a comment
The Elegant Lobby at The Inn on 5th in Naples Florida
Naples, Florida is one of those old-money type of vacation cities, so it should come as no surprise that when it came time to open a hotel smack in the middle of the chic 5th Ave. shopping district, it would be housed in a former bank.
What’s nice about the Inn on 5th, is that it has retained a lot of the elegance of the bank both inside and out. The lobby was absolutely gorgeous, with marble floors and chandeliers. I would classify this as more of a boutique hotel, since there were only 87 rooms and suites. My room was a king-bed Jr. suite with a private terrace that overlooked 5th Ave at the front of the building.
The room was rather large and the recently renovated bathroom had a shower with more marble everywhere. I was surprised for all the upgrading that the towels were regular bath size and a bit worn, but housekeeping was quick to respond when I called down for extra (though I didn’t get the extra pillows I’d requested). There was also a small sitting area in the room, with a couch. The room decor was definitely more Florida than the hotel’s common areas.
A Jr. Suite at The Inn on 5th in Naples Florida
The room was equipped with free Wi-Fi that I made use of later when I came back to the room with a bottle of Amarula and sat out on the terrace watching the street light up at dusk. Other nice touches were the in-room plush robes and the iPod docking station/alarm clock.
In the morning, I made use of the pool that sits on the second floor rooftop, which was surrounded by short towers of rooms on two sides. The vibe was Italian/Mediterranean, with a walk-down shallow pool with a small waterfall and a neighboring jacuzzi. I felt like I needed a wide-brimmed hat and a pair of big sunglasses to complete the whole look poolside.
The hotel has several restaurants, of which I tried the Irish pub, McCabe’s. The Guinness-battered Brie appetizer was delish, the burgers were cooked to order and a pint of cold Guinness rounded out the meal. Tasty, if a tad high priced.
Deluxe rooms start at $150/night during the off-season, which in Naples is pretty much the warmer summer months. During the winter months, all the snowbirds come down, so expect rates to start around $209, with holidays more. Self-parking in the back is included, but valet at the front entrance is extra.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The Inn on Fifth
699 5th Avenue South
Naples, Florida 34102
1-888-403-8778
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Related Post:
The Seaside Inn, Falmouth Heights, Massachusetts on Cape Cod
Posted , add a comment
The Seaside Inn is home to a British pub and looks out over Nantucket Sound.
Just a block from the homeaway.com cottage my family and i rented last month is the Seaside Inn, a beachfront hotel in Falmouth Heights.
The attractive shingle building with a landscaped courtyard and decks that overlook the Nantucket Sound caught my eye.
While having our own six-bedroom rental home was great, I wondered whether it wouldn’t be better to have crisp linens made up for us daily while we were out and about and a private place to retreat to if being surrounded by family got to be overwhelming.
Plus the Seaside Inn was slightly closer to the beach than our rental home. The annual Falmouth Road Race ends at its doorstep and it is also a front-row seat to the Cape Cod Marathon.
And they have a nice pub on the premises. Less then stellar weather caused us to spend a fair amount of the British Beer Company. It is the perfect English pub, a cozy fire on the hearth to stave of the chill outside and windows facing the windswept beach. I sampled a good clam chowder one night, a comforting crock of onion soup the next. Live music draws friendly crowds in the evening, most dressed in something with a Boston Red Sox logo, my family and the staff included.
Falmouth Heights beach is across the street.
Though it is a family inn, The Seaside Inn rooms would have been a little tight for my family of four and the kitchenette, which is great to have when traveling with young children, was super tiny. Staying here would have boosted my pub tab even higher! So drama or no family drama, we were better off in the rental. But, boy, those decks were alluring!
Rates vary by size and type of room (standard, ocean view, and decks), day of the week, and time of year but are still pretty reasonable for the superb location. The lowest rates are January through April and November through December ($59 to $89); May ($79 to $149); June through Labor Day weekend ($144 to $189); and September through October ($109 to $189).
The Seaside Inn
263 Grand Avenue
Falmouth, Ma 02540
(800)-827-1976
Photos by Dan Dion
Act Quick to Bag a Summer Holiday Bargain - Huge Savings of up to 30% with Eurocamp
Posted , add a comment) With discounts of up to 30% available ? for a limited time only - on a top selection of European holidays this summer, now really is the time to book and take advantage of some fantastic deals from Eurocamp.
There’s 30% off Eurocamp’s popular I Pini parc, which enjoys an enviable position overlooking the stunning Tevere Valley and just 20 miles from the centre of Rome ? making it a highly cost-effective city break with a difference.
So with the spectacular Vatican City, Colosseum, Pantheon and Trevi Fountain on its doorstep, it’s a great base for sightseeing whilst offering some stunning natural woodland surroundings to explore on foot, mountain bike or even horseback.
The parc ? with its two pools, bar, restaurant, pizzeria, takeaway and shop - provides return bus services into the city, as well as a complementary pick up service from the nearby Fara Sabina rail station.
Transfers can also be arranged from nearby Rome Leonardo de Vinci Fiumicino and Rome Ciampino airports. Further deals can be enjoyed by traveling there with a number of low cost operators including Easyjet, Jet2.com and Ryanair.
Book now and a seven night holiday at Eurocamp’s I Pini holiday parc, near Rome, from 31 July costs just £814.50 for the whole family, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Superior’ mobile home (sleeps 7 maximum), accommodation only ? saving £296.
Fantastic savings of 30% can also be enjoyed at Eurocamp’s Ferme de la Fée parc, in Verdelot, near Paris. With its unique French ambience and idyllic country setting, this parc provides a taste of authentic France just a short distance from home.
Set in wonderfully tranquil, lush parkland - dotted with flowering shrubs and apple trees which were historically part of an orchard - spacious grassy pitches lead down to the large tree-fringed lake, which is ideal for a fishing holiday.
Situated in the heart of Brie Country - just an hour and a half from Paris and only 45 minutes from Disneyland® Paris - Ferme de la Fée is the perfect rural base to enjoy the countryside, as well as the bright lights of the city and the fun of the theme park.
Book now and a seven night holiday at Eurocamp’s Ferme de la Fée parc near Paris, arriving 6 August costs just £667.50 for the whole family, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps 7 maximum), including free midweek P&O Dover-Calais ferry crossing ? saving £296.
Enjoy impressive 30% savings on holidays to La Grande Tortue, in the pretty village of Candé-sur-Beuvron, Loire. One of Eurocamp’s most small and friendly destinations ? and very much off the tourist trail - this parc is ideal for family holidays and those who love all things rustic and traditional. With its own small, pleasant restaurant, there’s also a choice of three pools for spending days splashing around in the sun as well as plenty to do and explore nearby.
Book now and a seven night holiday at Eurocamp’s La Grande Tortue parc in the Loire, arriving 30 July 2009 costs just £643 for the whole family, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Comfort’ mobile home (sleeps 7 maximum), accommodation only ? saving £285.
Also with 30% off is Eurocamp’s Duinrell parc located near the village of Wassenaar, Holland. While staying at the parc, families can enjoy the excitement of the neighbouring theme park or countless hours splashing around on site at the ‘Tiki’ tropical waterpark ? both free to Eurocamp customers for two hours each day. Other on-parc facilities include rowing boats, bicycle hire, crazy golf and a climbing wall, perfect for an action packed holiday.
And for those wishing to enjoy the area’s more natural surroundings, Duinrell’s coastal location - amongst the beautiful woodland and dunes of South Holland - makes it an excellent base for outdoor activities and scenic walks.
Duinrell is located just outside the vibrant city of The Hague, and some 30 miles from Amsterdam with its many attractions, and just a short train journey from Schipol airport, to which many low cost operators fly from the UK.
Book now and a seven night holiday at Eurocamp’s Duinrell parc, arriving 6 August 2009 costs just £736.75 for the whole family, staying in a 2 bedroom ‘Superior’ mobile home with decking (sleeps 7 maximum), accommodation only ? saving £443.
For further information on Eurocamp please call 0844 406 0552 or visit www.eurocamp.co.uk
New Survey Reveals the Highs, Lows and Illicit Loves of Britain’s Motorway Service Stations
Posted , add a comment) With this summer set to be a bumper one for UK tourism and millions of travellers hitting the roads, a new survey reveals that 1 in 6 would like to have an illicit romantic liaison at a motorway service station ? compared to 1 in 20 who already have.
The survey, by leading car hire comparison site Carrentals.co.uk, questioned over 2,300 people on their experiences at garages and service stations across the UK, and found that while there were a range of complaints about prices and cleanliness there was still an interest in them for a romantic tryst.
The top service stations for these romantic get togethers are located in the Midlands and North West, followed by London and South East ? according to respondents who have tried them - with the 36 ? 45 age group the most likely to opt for these motorway illicit liaisons.
Gareth Robinson, managing director of Carrentals.co.uk, says: “This survey was designed to look at just what people think of motorway service stations, particularly the prices charged, and also the experiences they have had in them. The level of illicit romantic liaisons came as a complete surprise to us, but when you look at the most popular locations they all tend to be around the main travel routes through the country so service stations must make convenient, and secret, meeting places.”
The high costs charged by service stations was one of the key issues found by the survey, with nearly 60% of respondents saying service stations should lower their prices, with medical items, sweets, souvenirs and CDs all highlighted as being over priced.
Another area of complaint was the toilet facilities, with 1 in 5 saying they thought they should be cleaner and men being more critical of toilet cleanliness than women, while the choice of food on offer was also highlighted as needing major improvement.
Gareth adds: “With many people being more cautious with money and opting against an overseas holiday, this summer is set to see more travellers hitting Britain’s motorways than ever before, but the main complaint that came from the survey was the prices charged in service stations. In the current climate and with the school holidays just around the corner, just driving from a to b can be expensive for parents, so the best option is to stock up on snacks and magazines before you set off.”
Carrentals.co.uk compares car hire deals from up to 35 car rental companies, including Alamo, Holiday Autos, Sixt and Thrifty in over 9,000 locations worldwide.
For more information visit www.carrentals.co.uk
Carrentals.co.uk was launched in February 2003 and grew to become one of the UK’s leading online car hire companies by 2006.
In 2007 the company re-launched its site to create the first major online price comparator in the travel industry. The Carrentals.co.uk site now searches up to 35 different car hire websites comparing the best prices in over 9,000 locations.
Websites searched include Alamo, Budget, EasyCar, Ebookers, Hertz, Holiday Autos, Opodo, Sixt and Thrifty.
The Carrentals.co.uk site also features over 5,000 pages of travel information in a mini-guide format.
In 2008 Carrentals.co.uk was voted Best Car Hire Website in the Travolution Awards.