Now more than ever, people need to get away, relax, and de-stress. You can still treat yourself to some R&R without totally blowing the budget at a number of affordable spas around the U.S., from Arkansas to Vermont, and North Carolina to Wisconsin.
Lakeview at Fontana (tel. 800/742-6492; www.lakeviewatfontana.com) in Bryson City, in the Smoky Mountains of North Carolina is within a three-hour drive of Atlanta GA, Knoxville TN and Charlotte NC. It will re-open after its winter hiatus on April 3, 2009 and offers 50-minute spa services priced from $79 and room rates also starting from $79, which makes it certainly fit into the budget spa category without forgoing any of the amenities and service standards. The prices for its spa services and packages have actually been reduced to 2006 levels, with a saving of between 20-30% over last year's prices as an incentive to get you here. The Treat Yourself Right package features two nights' accommodations in a casual comfort suite, two 50-minute spa treatments of choice, daily breakfast, one lunch, all yoga classes, and Aveda bath amenities for $365 per person. If three nights isn't enough to forget your woes, upgrade to a five nights with four 50-minute spa treatments of choice, daily breakfast, four lunches, all yoga classes, and Aveda bath amenities for $875 per person.
New Life Hiking Spa (tel. 866/298-5433; www.newlifehikingspa.com) operates at The Inn of the Six Mountains in Killington, VT from May 14 to September 27, 2009. They offer spa and fitness vacations ranging from the two-to four-day mini vacation, priced at $249 single occupancy or $229 per person per day for accommodation, all gourmet meals, nutritious snacks, hiking, fitness classes, and exercise programs plus one facial or massage. In between, they also have five-to-ten-day Jump Start Getaways priced at $239 for singles or $219 for doubles. Book your 2009 vacation by March 15 and receive $15 off single occupancy per night and, $15 off double occupancy per person/per night for stays from May 14 to 21 and from May 26 to September 15, 2009). Book an 11-night Weight Loss Retreat between May 25 and June 5, 2009 and receive $250 off per person.
Deerfield Spa (tel. 800/852-4494; www.deerfieldspa.com) is located in East Stroudsburg, PA, about 90-minutes' drive from New York City. This boutique property accommodates 33 guests at a time in an intimate setting that specializes in seasonal (April through October) fitness programs. An average day starts with an early yoga session, followed by a walk or a hike along the Appalachian Trail, and your choice of as many as ten different fitness class options including tai chi, qigong, aerobics, and box-ercise. Deerfield is offering a number of incentives and discounts this season including a ten-day stay for the price of a one-week stay (including one $75 massage) from April 3 to 12 or April 17 to 26; a mini-week stay with a 10% discount (including $150 worth of personal services) from April 12 to 17; and Friendship Week where you can bring a friend or family member and each will receive a 20% discount(including $150 worth of personal services) from June 21 to 28. Regular rates are $370 per person for a two night stay, a mini-week from Sunday to Friday from $825 (including $150 worth of personal services) and $875 for a week including one 50-minute Swedish massage. These prices include all fitness activities and all meals and snacks. Massages, healing, body treatments and facials are priced from $65. Their Massage Sampler package includes a 50 minute Swedish massage, a 50 minute Warm Stone massage and a 50 minute Reflexology for $210, and the R&R Package lets you pamper yourself from head to toe with a Deerfield Signature facial, a relaxing Swedish massage and a warming Seaweed Body Masque for $215.
Aspira Spa (tel. 800/876-3399; www.aspiraspa.com) at The Osthoff Resort on Elkhart Lake, WI, a 90-minute drive from Milwaukee. Their Aspira Journey package is priced from $299 plus tax for two people and includes a one-night stay, $125 in spa credits and breakfast for two for stays until April 1, 2009. The Aspira Retreat package includes two-nights of elegant accommodations, a $40 dining certificate and $175 in spa credits priced from $398 for two people for stays through May 22. The Soul Sisters Reunion package includes two nights' accommodations in an elegant suite, a bottle of wine upon arrival, $250 spa credit, per person, $40 dining credit, per person and one yoga class, per person for stays through May 23. This package is priced from $209, per person, per day, plus tax for Sunday to Thursday stays. All packages include unlimited use of spa facilities, including meditation sanctuary, learning center, indoor and outdoor hydromassage whirlpools, warming fireplace area, sauna, and luxurious changing rooms with cascading showers. Also priced from $209 per person per night is the Girlfriend's Celebration package which features two nights' accommodations in a two-bedroom suite (Sundays to Wednesdays through April 30, 2009), Champagne and chocolate upon arrival, breakfast for two days, per person, $125 in spa credits per person, a complimentary yoga class and a three-hour cooking (and eating) workshop preparing dishes like pâté au choux, crêpes and galettes, or elegant edible dishes.
The Arlington Resort and Spa (tel. 800/643-1502; www.arlingtonhotel.com) is an historic, grand property located in the heart of Hot Springs National Parks in Hot Springs, Arkansas. Their ultimate Spa Retreat vacation package is priced from $1800 for two people and includes five nights' accommodations in a junior suite, breakfast for two daily, four hot springs special mineral baths, four massage treatments, four rounds of gold (or unlimited tennis), two facials, two body masques, two manicures, two pedicures, two hair styling sessions, two make-up applications, $100 food and beverage credit plus all taxes and meal gratuities. If you and your friend can't get away for that long, for $269 for the first night (and $119 for subsequent nights), you can indulge in the Pamper Me Spa package which includes deluxe accommodations for two adults, breakfast in the Dining Room, and a choice of one pampering service per person: deluxe signature facial; Thallasso Seaweed Mineral Water Whirlpool Bath and Massage; Shiatsu Pressure Point Facial; or Tropical Oasis Salt Mousse Full Body Scrub. Choose additional treatments from this list and pay only $65 per service.
