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| The Eight Most Romantic Spas Around the World Posted: 19 Oct 2010 01:38 PM PDT Most spas embrace the basic three-R tenet of rejuvenation, relaxation, and renewal. However, only the best spas around the world have what it takes to grab the fourth R: romance. Spas are fast becoming prime date places for couples who want to spark up their relationships. When you go to a spa, you hit two birds with one stone. You have a blast while spending time together, and you get to relax from the strenuousness of your daily routines. However, the first part of that statement can only really happen if you visit these spas. Let us take you to the most romantic, renewing, relaxing, and rejuvenating sites around the world. Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos
If you're looking forward to a weekend away from work and everything stressful, then a night or two at the Las Ventanas al Paraiso in Los Cabos should do the trick. Here, you won't even have to step out of your suite to have your treatments. The spa brings them to you. The suite also has its own private terrace where you can also have your massage done while bathing in the sun. The spa's outdoor garden is also a nice choice, if you don't mind walking too far from your bed. This resort sprawls out on a beach stretch at the very tip of the Baja Peninsula, Mexico. This is still covered by the colonial Jose del Cabo town, though the beach stretches back to the jovial Cabo San Lucas as well. The recommended treatments here include the Sea and Stars Massage (best done in your terrace), which lasts for 90 minutes. Keep the hearth warm by letting the fireplace crackle and dipping into the suite's Jacuzzi with your partner. The Jacuzzi has a fine view of the ocean, so expect a lot of bookings during the full moon. If you're planning on this vacation, you better book months ahead of time. The Sofitel of Los Angeles
Le Spa which can be found in the Sofitel, L.A., ranks fourth as the world's most romantic spas. This is situated strategically between Hollywood and Beverly Hills, which means that it's at the center of the dining and shopping capitals of the U.S.A. For the most romantic treatment, you and your partner should sign up for the Touch of Love. You can learn the techniques from your masseuse during the 60-minute to 80-minute session. After that, the spa will let you take a booklet home so you can treat your partner to a massage next time. The hotel spa will also give you a special aphrodisiac massage oil which will surely get things steamy in your own bedroom. Before that, though, don't miss out on all the shopping. Cruise the Rodeo Drive for the best designer boutiques, or walk-through L.A. neighborhoods. Silverlake and Santa Monica are recommended for sightseeing. Hungry from the trip out? The hotel also has one of the best restaurants in the area. Try the delicate yellowtail carpaccio, and sweeten up the evening with an avocado pudding. La Pleta in Spain's Aran Valley
When it comes to romance, it's not very surprising that Spain is among the top travel destinations. The most romantic spa in the whole world (at least for this year) can be found in La Pleta, Aran Valley, Spain. The mountain lodge's spa is called the Occitania Spa which is filled with mystery, what with its aromatic candles, elevation, and the snow that's just right outside. The La Pleta is also a haven for people who love winter sports. You and your partner can have fun in the snow first. After your activities, you can treat your sore muscles with a full body massage from the spa. The Two Lovers' Massage is very popular here. After the massage, you should go for a hot soak and walk through their reflexology pathway. Here, you'll be walking on smooth stones which would relax the soles of your feet while warm water runs through your ankles and calves. After that massage, you and your partner can feast on chicken paillard which is stuffed with mushrooms. To pair off the dish, order a bottle of their local sweet wine. Coeur d'Alene Resort in Idaho
The view here is spectacular. You will be surrounded by fountains, spanning views of the lake, and waterfalls. With that description, need we explain why it's such a romantic spa? If you sign up for the spa suite, you'll also be sleeping on a waterbed which actually doubles as a massage table, while three fireplaces keep your spacious room warm. What's best is that this have is only a short 40-minute drive from Washington, making it a favorite relaxation site of a lot of hardworking government officials who are trying to make it up to their life partners. We recommend the Pure Essence Shower. You'll be enjoying the healing waters of the Alps through a rain shower, but that's not all. Jet showers are also built in the treatment room, massaging all of your pressure points. When you're not in the spa, you can also enjoy winter sports like skiing, snowhoeing, and cruising in a snow mobile. The food is also delectable. You should try the caramel Muscovy duck, and the restaurant's hot huckleberry soufflé. All the while, you'll be dining in front of the lake and possibly rubbing elbows with only Beverly's finest people. The Starr Pass in Tucson, Arizona
Back in the home front, Tucson, Arizona's Starr Pass scurries up to the eight place with its own spa called the Hashani. The spa overlooks the Tucson Mountain Park, and this should appeal to you if you find the Old West wildly romantic. The resort itself is the same color as the sand, and you'll feel the desert growing around you as forests of cactuses surround the hideaway. Among their best treatments is the Cupping Therapy. While this is a Chinese technique, making use of suction cups to release toxins and improve blood circulation, the Starr has been pretty well known to it. This is the perfect way to end a tiring day hiking the trails of the Sonoran Desert. After your massage, feast on seared scallops, black bean puree, and of course, pepper tequila which fits perfectly with your Texan backdrop. The InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta
Coming in second is a spa that's not so far from home. The InterContinental Buckhead in Atlanta is set up in the posh Buckhead Area. You and your partner will be in close proximity to the best shopping and dining places, and they're always good places to be in after a good, romantic massage. You should try the Body Indulgence package. This includes a generous 90 minute massage, an hour's worth of facial, an hour long reflexology foot scrub, and a scalp treatment that lasts for fifteen minutes. You'll be spending almost four hours at the spa, which is always a good precursor an indulgent dinner in the area. There are also clubs where you can dance in all night, or galleries if you prefer a quiet evening contemplating on art. Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California
What's more romantic than an old adobe inn spa with its own heirloom gardens, rooms that still have that Spanish glint, and spa treatments en suite? While the Ojai Valley Inn and Spa in California didn't top this list this cozy hearth might just be the answer to your anniversary question when you were looking for a great hideaway that's not too far from home. This spa is right on top of the Topa Topa mountain. The inn is surrounded by old oak trees, orange groves, and lavender fields. With everything practically local to it, the site is a natural spa in itself. All you have to do is breathe in the air and you'll be so relaxed, you'll forget that you're only a few miles from your office. The Kuyam experience is very popular here. The package includes a guided meditation, inhalation treatment, cleansing mud, and dry heat. This treatment is best followed by a Massage Duet that would relax both you and your partner. Aside from the spa treatments, you can also play gold, horseback riding, sign up for Pilates and dancing classes, or explore the woods by hiking. After a full day's activities, sit back and relax with an El Jefe cocktail while sitting right outside, under one of the ancient oaks. The Mandarin Hotel in Prague
The best spas are built in the most unlikeliest of places. This particular site used to be a monastery in the 14th century before it was converted into the Mandarin Hotel we know now. Prague has the 7th most romantic spa in the world, and its beauty would inspire even the most coldhearted of couples. You can't possibly not fall in love in Prague, especially not in this the Mandarin Hotel spa's couples suite. Built underground, the couples suite has two connecting gothic-inspired rooms. For the best treatments, try the Linden trees. The Linden Blossom scrub will rejuvenate you with its honey scent. After the treatment, you'll be served with a pot of steaming Linden blossom tea as well. Round up the day with a short walk along the Mala Strana neighborhood. You'll think you were in a fairytale while you were in Prague.
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| Top 8 Travel Tips for Choosing that One Bag: The Art of Light Travel, Simplified Posted: 19 Oct 2010 12:46 PM PDT Getting the most expensive bag of the lot doesn't make a light traveler out of you. Below is a list of the best eight travel tips for choosing the right carry-on. Tip #1 Find out your airline's weight limit for carry-ons Once you step into the luggage section of any department store, sales people will crowd you and probably convince you to buy a bag that's bigger than what you need. Remember that most of the expensive packs in this section are for camping. You're purchasing a bag for a weekend getaway whenever you take the plane. Most airlines only allow up to 15kg for carry-ons. Buy a bag that's just small enough for this weight limit. Tip #2 Always go for quality Look at the hems and stitches of your carry on. If you can find a water-proof carry-on bag with double or even triple stitching, choose that one. You'll need something tough which you can use every time you travel. You're trying to establish that habit of traveling light. You won't be able to stick to the habit if you think you have the option to keep on changing bags. Sturdy one bags are always the way to go. Tip # 3 Consider Transportability Carry-ons are convenient because you don't have to wait around for the roller machine to deliver your bag to you, if it's still there. A lot of bags are lost during check in because they've been loaded to the wrong plane if they were loaded at all. Some airlines have developed a notorious reputation for losing luggage all the time, so you would want to carry your own bag. Since you're taking the bag with you, expect to carry it from the airport's doorway to the plane's seat, and down the plane again. Look for packs with comfortable shoulder pads because you will need protection. 15 kg is not an easy load to carry. If you can find a bag with wheels but can be carried as a backpack or a shoulder bag as well, choose that one. Bags with wheels are convenient because they don't strain your back, but you'd want another option, say, if you're transferring from the plane to the bus to the boat. On the other hand, backpacks without wheels are handy during camping trips, but they're also inappropriate for business trips. Convertibles give you the best of both worlds. Tip #4 Look at the shape of your bag Consider all your necessities and how they'd fit inside your bag. If you pick something too narrow, then you might have trouble packing your clothes unless they can all be rolled. This is not a problem if most of your travels are for leisure and you're taking cotton shirts and pants. For business travelers, a wider luggage which allows you to fix your pressed shirts in place should be the better choice. Each traveler has his own packing needs so there's no distinct rule about the shape of one's "one bag". Tip # 5 Avoid Curves Curvy bags may look more aesthetically pleasing, but they actually limit the volume of your luggage. Just look at your home's closet. They're always made with edges, right? The same rule goes for your one bag. If you're going to be away for more than two nights, curved backpacks which make it close to impossible for you to pack anything on top would be highly inconvenient. Instead, you should choose boxier looking bags instead. You'll find that it's also easier to pack your things when the bag shape is more regular. Tip # 6 Know what Fabric to Look for Aside from the number of stitches they used at the seams, you should also look for bags that have the right fabric. It's not recommended for you to choose bags with hard shells because they're too heavy. You'd want as many things in that allowed 15kg. Since you'll be close to your carry-on the whole flight, you don't need hard-shell protection for your things. What you do need is a sturdy but lightweight fabric which is easy enough to carry but strong enough not to break under all that weight. Look for bags that are made from industrial nylon. There are two popular variants: the Condura nylon and the ballistic. The difference between the two is only cosmetic so you can choose either one, and you'll be fine. Tip # 7 Choose the Chain Zipper over the Coil Zipper Choose zipper bags over bags that hook up to lock. Better yet, choose bags with chain zippers because the coil zippers tend to break more easily. The last thing you want is for 15kg of your personal belongings bursting in the middle of the airport lounge. If you keep a laptop in that carry-on, that makes for a disastrous trip. Test the zipper of your bag once you've picked something you think is sturdy enough. Make sure that the teeth of your zippers aren't faulty, and that they're not prone to misalignments. While you're packing, make sure that you don't overdo the packing. Even the sturdiest zippers will break under pressure if you try to slip in too many of your things. Tip # 8 Look at the Warranty This is where the price of your bag will come in. Most expensive bags have lifetime service warranties. If you're a frequent traveler, and you think you can invest on a good brand with a long service warranty, go ahead and spend the extra bucks on it. If you don't travel much, though, and you're only going to use that bag for a maximum of thrice a year, then a two year service warranty should suffice. Just make sure that your bag looks sturdy enough even if you're purchasing it with a shorter service warranties. Some packs are extremely cheap, but usually, they don't come with any kind of warranty at all. You would do well to avoid those bags because they might not last for more than two months.
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