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The Atlantic Hotel & Spa, Fort Lauderdale, Florida The Elysian Hotel & Spa, Chicago, Illinois Hyatt Regency Curacao Golf Resort, Spa and Marina, Netherlands Antilles The Spa at Hyatt Andaz Wall Street, NYC
The Well Spa at Miramonte, Indian Wells, California |
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 Don't Miss: Spa Cuisine Recipes of the Month courtesy of the women-only retreat Green Mountain at Fox Run, Vermont.
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WHAT IS A BED & BREAKFAST SPA?
A spa located within a residential Inn or Lodge in which a guest is provided a private sleeping room and at least one meal (typically breakfast, although additional meals, tea service, or snacks could be available) prepared and served on the premises.
Residential common areas (seating areas, dining, bathrooms) are usually shared. ©
Tip: The spa should be a dedicated room or outbuilding for that purpose and provide at a minimum a menu with massage, skincare and body care.
See: In-Room Spa. Browse our Bed & Breakfast Spas
WHAT IS A CLUB SPA?
A facility whose primary purpose is fitness and which offers a variety of professionally administered spa services on a day-use basis. †
A spa that primarily offers aesthetic/cosmetic and prevention/wellness procedures and services such as facials, peels, waxing and other non invasive procedures that are within the scope of practice of its staff but do not require on-site medical supervision. †
See: Day Spa, Salon Spa
WHAT IS A CRUISE SHIP SPA?
A spa aboard a cruise ship providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. †
Browse our Cruise Ship Spas
WHAT IS A CULINARY SPA?
A hotel, resort, or destination spa which offers seminars, demonstrations, or classes which teach the best way to shop for, store, and prepare healthy food used in spa cuisine, focusing on dishes which are healthy, low fat, high protein or meet special dietary needs. Culinary Spas can also include hotels,
resorts and lodges which offer cooking classes with a regional flair, such as cooking with locally sourced or grown-on-site ingredients, historic or regional specialties, and kids-in-the-kitchen programs. ©
Browse our Culinary Spas
WHAT IS A DAY SPA?
A spa offering a variety of professionally administered spa services to clients on a day-use basis. Day spas offer many of the same services and procedures as cosmetic spas. †
See: Cosmetic Spa, Salon Spa Browse our Day Spas
WHAT IS A DENTAL SPA?
A facility which offers both professional, licensed dental care as well as relaxation and aesthetic treatments designed to relax the patient before or after dental services. These services may include color therapy, hand and foot massage, manicures and pedicures, body massage, aromatherapy, and skincare.
©
Browse our Dental Spas
A destination spa is a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming. †
See: Resort / Hotel Spa
WHAT IS A DETOX SPA?
A detox spa is a facility which has developed and encourages guests to follow either a "Detox Diet" or dietary plan (e.g., unprocessed or raw food, or the juice of fruits and vegetables only, or vegetarian diets, typically all with the elimination of sugar, caffeine, tobacco and alcohol) which the facility's directors believe will have detoxifying effects. Detox Spas often offer colon hydrotherapy (colonics) and/or hydrotherapy to aid in a "body cleanse."
©
Tip: We believe great care, advance study, and medical advice should be undertaken by guests before considering following a Detox Diet for any period of time. Browse our Detox Spas and Exercise Caution with Detox Diets
WHAT IS AN ECO-SPA OR GREEN SPA?
A green spa is a facility, either for day use or in a hotel environment, which subscribes to an ecological sustainable ethos and strives to carry out predominantly ecologically and environmental friendly practices, including but not limited to favoring natural and organic ingredients over synthetic ingredients in treatments;
organic and natural textiles in linens and apparels; use of alternative energy and power; recycling of both goods, textiles, and water; and reduction of noise, light and sensory pollution. ©
Browse our Eco Friendly Green Spas
WHAT IS AN IN-ROOM SPA or a MASSAGE ONLY SPA?
 
Strictly speaking there is no such thing as a "massage only spa" because massage modalities don't offer the literal translation of "health through water" (Watsu [in-water massage] would be an exception) or involve aesthetic service. Still, many hotels and resorts offer so-called "in-room spa treatments" in order to encourage guests to view massage or limited associated services as part of the means to relax and rejuvenate. Typically, a massage therapist will set up portable massage and treatment tables and perform a variety of massage modalities in the privacy and comfort of your guest
room so that you need not travel outside of the room and can shower and change in the comfort of your own guest bath. This is particularly useful if you are body-shy, have limited mobility, or you are on a strict schedule. Some in-room services include light skincare (e.g., treatments or services which don't require the use of sophisticated equipment, such as galvanic
current, steam, lasers, and such), and "bath butler services" whereby your guest room's bath is converted to a spa like environment with luxury amenities, rose petals, wine, scents, oils, and more. ©
Tip: If "in room services" for massage and skincare are offered and provided by the same therapist, be certain the therapist is both a
licensed massage therapist and a licensed aesthetician.
See also Mobile Spa.
WHAT IS A MEDICAL SPA?
A facility that operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed health care professional whose primary purpose is to provide comprehensive medical and wellness care in an environment that integrates spa services, as well as traditional, complimentary and/or alternative therapies and treatments. The facility operates within the scope of practice of its staff, which can include both aesthetic/cosmetic and prevention/wellness procedures and services. †
Browse our Medi Spas
WHAT IS A MINERAL SPRINGS SPA?
A spa offering an on-site source of natural mineral, thermal or seawater used in hydrotherapy treatments. †
Browse our Hot Springs Spas
WHAT IS A MOBILE SPA?
A mobile spa contracts with or employs licensed and trained therapists (which may include massage therapists, aestheticians, and stylists) who travel to the guest's residence, hotel, special event (wedding, church, reception) or office (conferences, seminars) to perform skin care, body care, massage, hair styling, and similar services.
©
Tip: A mobile spa should contract with or employ therapists trained and licensed in each of these areas, as opposed to strictly "mobile massage therapy."
Browse our Mobile Spas
WHAT IS A RANCH SPA?
A ranch resort or lodge which offers as its primary recreation a menu of outdoor activities including horseback riding, fishing, hiking, camping, swimming and trail walking, and, dining is more rustic and hearty, often outdoors or on the trail. The ranch spa should offer on site spa and wellness services. Some ranch
spas classify spa services as massage or hot-tub soaks, while others more appropriate classify it as offering massage, hydrotherapy, skincare, hand and foot treatments, and aromatherapy services, of a level more easily performed in a rustic environment (e.g., without more advanced services which require equipment not suitable for a rustic environment).©
Browse our Ranch Spas
WHAT IS A RESORT / HOTEL SPA?
  
A spa owned by and located within a resort or hotel providing professionally administered spa services, fitness and wellness components and spa cuisine menu choices. In addition to the leisure guest, this is a great place for business travelers who wish to take advantage of the spa experience while away from home. †
While exclusive hotels may restrict access to the spa to overnight guests, in many cases resort/hotel spas also act as day spas for local clientele and may offer special rates for people that live in the community. Hotel Spas can include "boutique" hotels and Inns (limited rooms), while Resort Spas can be
significantly larger.
© WHAT IS AN RV SPA RESORT?
An RV spa resort is a camping or lodging facility which provides space for parking recreational vehicles (RVs) intended to be used as accommodations by the RV owners. At casual RV Spa Resorts space for parking the RV is be provided, but no hookups for sewer or power. At luxury RV parks and resorts, dedicated spaces with hookups for sewer and power are provided, as well as common area facilities including fitness rooms, swimming pools, whirlpools, and spa treatment rooms.
©
Tip: Many motels, hotels and RV parks refer to a whirlpool bath (Jacuzzi) as a "spa." This should not be confused with a hot springs spa, mineral springs fed spa or pool, day spa, or spa treatment room. Browse our RV Spa Resorts
WHAT IS A SALON SPA?
A beauty salon which offers primarily services for cutting, grooming, and styling hair for men and women, and also offers certain spa services, usually in a smaller space, including skincare, waxing, threading, and massage. Typically there is neither a private quiet-lounge or relaxation area, nor sauna/steam/hydrotherapy services.
©
Tip: A masseuse alone, either onsite or on call, does not constitute a "salon spa."
See Day Spa, Cosmetic Spa
WHAT IS A SPIRITUAL SPA RETREAT?
A spiritual spa retreat is a wellness destination with overnight accommodations (lodge rooms, bunkhouse, dorm, cabins, or guesthouses) at a retreat centre (e.g., farm, monastery, school) conducted by individuals who encourage the use of personal reflection, prayer, or meditation, as well as offering body and wellness services which could include yoga, massage, hydrotherapy, colon therapy, steam and sauna, and more.
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Tip: A masseuse alone, either onsite or on call, does not constitute a "spa retreat."
WHAT IS A VINOTHERAPY SPA?
Vinotherapy or Vinotherapie is a beauty therapy process in which either the residue of wine making (the pips and pulp) are incorporated into skincare and body care treatments (scrubs and masques) because the pulp is believed to have anti-oxidant, anti-aging and exfoliating qualities, or, wine (still in drinkable
form) is added to a treatment (usually hydrotherapy) to soften the skin. Increasingly, the incorporation of grapeseed oil, a natural antiseptic, ground grape seeds as a "scrub", and wine extracts and scents in lotions and potions are also being described as "vinotherapy" as well, although this is more pleasurable than therapeutic.
©
Browse our Vinotherapy Spas
WHAT IS A WEIGHT LOSS / HEALTH RETREAT?
  
A weight loss spa is a facility which operates under the full-time, on-site supervision of a licensed professional, which may include a medical doctor, dietician or nutritionist, whose primary purpose is dietary and nutritional education, counseling, programming in order to assist guests in achieving healthy
weight goals. Additional services may be available, but the primary focus of the retreat is a healthy weight by proper nutrition. With respect to a Weight Loss Camp, the facilities and programs are geared toward the needs of children, teenagers and young adults.
At a health retreat, additional wellness programs are offered, which may target other health issues, including diabetes, hypertension, and more, as well as offer aesthetic or cosmetic procedures and services. ©
Browse our Weight Loss Retreats
Definitions marked with † are (c) International Spa Association.
All other definitions are (c) Spa Index Media, LLC |
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Watch this space for our newest content and updated pages, newly added spas, special features, news and announcements |
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Spa Recipes added:
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Suncadia Resort
Washington
$119 per night includes
a $25 spa credit
Though March 2010
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