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Top Spa & Wellness Retreats in South Africa

By holidayhorizon

Article by African Sands

South Africa is extremely blessed to have stunning scenery, an incredible coastline, a wild untamed Africa with its magnificent Game parks, internationally cosmopolitan cities and wonderful Spa and wellness centres that allow complete relaxation and rejuvenation!

I have composed a list of my favourite Spas and Wellness Centres that I know offer a complete sensual and relaxation extravaganza in amazing settings. They are my personal top spas, so I hope you enjoy them too!

Twelve Apostles Hotel & Spa

This beautifully located hotel & Spa is positioned between Bantry Bay and Llandundno flanked by the mountains and the sea – offering guests the best of both worlds. It was awarded 6th place in the Conde Nast Traveller Magazine 2006 Reader’s Awards for Best Overseas Hotel Spas and ever since it has continued in its fashion of excellence. The Sanctuary Spa combines earth, air and water to replenish body, mind and soul. Treatment packages make use of the Moya range (a locally-created fynbos essential oil product range). You are able to relax and unwind at the rock pools, or enjoy treatments in the 2 secluded mountain gazebos. The gazebos are cleverly designed – ensuring maximum privacy and maximum views.Definitely try the Signature Treatment, the Moya Crystal Massage – the home-grown version of hot-stone therapy using crystals sourced from Africa.

Bushmanskloof Wilderness and Retreat

This is another Western Cape marvel! Bushmanskloof offers a brilliant getaway for the more spiritually minded. Meditation and yoga retreats are on offer 2-3 times a year – and these are extremely popular with international visitors. These wonderful retreats are a combination of rock art walks, nature drives, and yoga as well as special meditation sessions throughout the weekend. They leave you feeling relaxed and at peace. The environment is restful with wide open spaces at the foot of the Cederberg Mountains. There is also incredible rock art in the caves and mountain cliffs that gets one instantly in touch with the ancestors of this land. Singita Lebombo

The Mpumalanga region is celebrated for a number of exquisite, luxury African bush spas. Places like Singita Lebombo (Kruger National Park) boast an amazing combination of wild African bush and soothing treatments adapted locally for the ultimate wellness experience. Not only is this an exclusive game lodge with excellent Big Five game viewing, but it has won international awards for the excellence at the Spa.

Camelot Earth Nature Spa at Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge

Sabi Sabi Earth Lodge is famous as being a truly contemporary and ultra luxurious private game lodge, but it is equally renowned for its outstanding spa – the Camelot Earth Nature Spa. Relaxing in the African bush, connecting with nature, rejuvenating mind, body and soul, this is what awaits you at the Camelot International Earth Nature Spa at Sabi Sabi’s Earth Lodge. Enjoy four fully equipped and tranquil spa treatment rooms – including a double room ideal for couples – that look out onto uninterrupted views of the African bush, where animals, birds and plants exist as they have done for centuries. Adjoining the spa – and perfect for holistic revitalization – is a tranquil Zen meditation garden that blends into Earth Lodge’s structure, offering a retreat for quiet moments.

Cybele Forest Lodge and Health Spa

The Forest Health Spa at Cybele provides a natural wellspring of health and peace, offering a wide range of treatments to rejuvenate the body and restore the soul. Experience a haven of serenity, the heart of which is created around a tranquil Zen garden. With a plethora of treatments available, Cybele offers two Hydrotherapy baths – one hewn from natural granite and situated in its own private courtyard. The other is located indoors for year-round use.Guests can choose between sharing their Spa experience in a tastefully appointed double treatment room, or luxuriate on their own in one of our two separate therapy rooms. Guests also have the option of enjoying their treatments in their own suite. Support your wellness regime with walks in the nearby woods and enjoy health meals created by the skilled Cybele chefs.

Falaza Spa

The KwaZulu-Natal province is rapidly gaining kudos for its wellness retreats. The Falaza Spa is definitely a sure bet. Located in the Hluhluwe wildlife region, you can go on a game drive and spot the Big Five, followed by a stress-defying massage under the trees – with the local birdlife serenading a musical tune a complimentary addition to your treatment. Combining up-to-date facilities with impeccable service, the spa is nestled among the indigenous foliage of the magnificent bush, a peaceful, natural haven to rejuvenate mind, body and soul.The Spa at Falaza offers relaxation, revitalization and pure pampering for men and women alike.An added excitement is that accommodation at Falaza is in luxury tents – go on experience a bygone area! The age of Safari and Adventure!

Fordoun Spa

Fordoun Spa boasts a team of expert specialists that include skilled masseurs, Reiki and Bio-energy specialists, a traditional African Healer and highly trained aestheticians. It is an incredible all round experience. The spa features internationally celebrated treatments such as the rasul, (a Turkish steam and clay treatment room), a saline Floatation pool, heated swimming pool, a gymnasium, sauna, steam room, vichy shower, hydrotherapy room, and a couples’ treatment suite with hydrotherapy bath. Part of the holistic relevance of everything at Fordoun has led to the development of the Fordoun signature range of products, created in conjunction with Dr Elliot Ndlovu, herbalist and ethnobotanist, who is a traditional African Healer and Inyanga, and a director of Fordoun Spa. Fordoun also make use of Elemis an exclusive up market international beauty treatment range which works well with the Ndlovu range and compliments the natural, South African range, Africology. This is pure peace at its best.

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I hope you have as much fun exploring these spas as I did! Relax and Rejuvenate! The world will seem like a much better place when you are pampered and spoiled. Enjoy!

About the Author

Although I currently live in England, my home country, South Africa, will always have my love and passion. It is a beautiful land with so much to offer everyone. I want to share my pride with everyone. I think everyone should be able to have incredible, magical memories that last them a lifetime! http://www.africansands.com

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Spa Trends 2011- Changing Spa Industry

By holidayhorizon

Article by Deborah

A spa resort seems to be the best destination to relax and refresh our body and mind. After a tiring day you can look forward to a spa treatment to reduce physical discomfort by a non-medical procedure. Apart from physical benefits, it also has spiritual and emotional effects. Different types of scrubs especially Dead Sea scrubs are the most popular ingredient for most spa therapies.

Spa Trends 2010: Last year most spa-goers opted for traditional, authentic and magical spa therapies. The most popular spa therapy of 2010 was hamam from the Middle East. The concept of medical tourism turned into wellness tourism. The spa owners offered more incentives to retain loyal customers and at the same time earn more revenue. Most spa centers have introduced fitness programs to provide a complete beauty and healthcare package to the customers. Fitness centers are also incorporating spa therapies along with their fitness programs. Not only that, hospitals are also implementing spa elements in their treatment. Doctors and specialists are recommending spa treatments for various diseases. There is a new trend of combining the best of different wellness programs offered by spa, health-centers, hospitals, wellness centers, fitness and beauty-clinics. The concept pure spa is on a decline and the concept of hybrid spa has become is increasingly taking its place.

Changing Trends of 2011: Research shows that focusing on the need for spa therapies for senior citizens will bring further development in this sector. Spa with physiotherapists, chiropractors, osteopaths who deal with movement, bone and joint problems, looks quite promising. People ‘over 65′ are now the focus of most wellness programs. The traditional therapies such as Ayurvedic medicine and acupuncture will still have a strong impact on spa therapies. Spa industries in Asia are expected to develop at breathtaking pace.The spa trends of 2011 are likely to mark the come back of the age-old salt body scrubs used in different spa therapies initially. The age old ritual of basking in salt water will be introduced in different spa programs. With the help of these body scrubs it is possible to improve the skin type along with curing different types of diseases. Research shows that salt scrubs is beneficial for respiratory illness like asthma and skin problems like psoriasis and acne.

To satisfy the customers further, many spa centers are trying to recreate the old micro-climate salt caves by infusing negative ions and salt into the air. Some of them have made hyper-modern rooms made out of sea salt blocks. It is important to build a positive brand experience through effective promotional activities. This can be done by impressing the customers through consistent performance over considerable period of time. Offering online discount coupons can help in creating a positive customer relationship. With the increasing scientific benefits of spa many medical professional are now using different spa therapies in their treatment. It is expected that the demand for such treatments are going to increase in the near future. Local resources of a particular region, like natural herbs, honey, fruits and vegetable are also becoming popular elements of spa treatments. This will create the bedrock for future development of spa industry.

Different spa resorts and destinations should formulate different strategies and new creative activities to attract more customers.The awareness of ill effects of various chemical peels and other artificial supplements combined with painful process like derma-rolling, incline more men and women natural spa treatments.Amongst the different types of spa, airport spas are most likely to become popular. To promote airport spas it is important to have 24/7 online appointment system, anytime access and mobile application assisting the customers to locate the spa and choose the right spa therapy based on their preferences. So if you are a spa owner focusing on these elements will help you to successfully fulfill your sales objective for the year 2011.

About the Author

Deborah Nelson is a spa owner who has conducted a research work to understand the changing spa trends in the market. According to her, body scrubs are the most popular spa elements used in most spa therapies. She also provides useful lifestyle help resources which supports healthy living.

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What Makes a Spa Hotel Special?

By holidayhorizon

Article by Dave Matthews

We all like to relax. In fact there is nothing better than kicking off your shoes in a place where the realities of life are about as far away as they could possibly be. This is why people like to use a spa hotel. They’re calm, tranquil, and perhaps most importantly, they close their doors to the rest of the world.

Some spa hotels are better than others though. In fact, some spa hotels are just special. What do we mean by special? Well, perhaps they offer something extra as regards their treatments. Or perhaps they have the very best customer service on the planet. Or maybe they just serve the best champagne in the Jacuzzi. Whatever it is, you know when you’ve found a truly special spa hotel.

If we were to outline the key areas of good service and overall quality that we think a good spa hotel will have we would most definitely look at the treatments that the spa offers. If you are the type of spa customer who just wants to lie back and have the ultimate pampering session, the high end luxury spa hotels will meet your demands. There are a multitude of spa hotels out there that bring you the very best and latest treatments. What makes them special is the attention they give you. So if you are the type of spa customer who wants pampering, the best indication that the spa hotel is special is the high number of treatments they offer. This means more than one massage. In other words, if they can offer a Thai massage as well as a Japanese massage, you’re on the right track.

Then there is location. What makes a spa hotel truly special when it comes to location is the remoteness of the establishment. However, this does not mean spending three days to trek to the top of a mountain in the middle of nowhere. The best spa hotels offer true remoteness even if they are in the middle of a bustling city. Spa seekers want to feel like they have entered another world, or at least another country so if you are looking for a good spa hotel, try one where guest comments on the website or their literature use words such as ‘shut away’ or ‘remote’. If the spa hotel has a reputation for being tranquil and distant from real life pressures you are in the realms of the unique, special spa experience.

Finally, the other aspect of spa life that, if done well, can make a spa hotel visit truly special, is the food and drink you can enjoy there. We’ve mentioned the champagne already. But if you are talking truly special cuisine, you want something that is above and beyond the normal spa fare.

Spa hotels like to make sure you eat healthily, but if you are looking for the best, a spa that offers healthy food that actually tastes good is a good sign that you’ve found it. This means being able to have the leanest steak available for example. And it means fruit baskets and nutritious soups, with anything you eat sourced locally and using the finest ingredients. This means a lot, especially when you are paying for it. When it comes to food, you need to expect the best.

The best way to tell if a spa is special is to visit it, and use it. Get a feel for what you want. Do this, and you will soon be a spa hotel expert, someone who is able to find the best one for their needs, time after time.

About the Author

Dave Matthews is writing on behalf of Shire Hotels, whose roster of hotels include the Aztec Hotel and Spa, a luxury Bristol hotel.

Unwind in a tropical and secluded ambiance, just minutes away from exciting South Beach, and leave our oasis feeling re-balanced, relaxed, and rejuvenated. Fresh from a top-to-bottom renovation in 2010, The Palms Hotel & Spa will awaken your spirit with its all-new offerings, including 251 soothing guest rooms and suites with spa-inspired bathrooms, The Palms Spa — an Aveda destination spa presenting soul-reviving spa experiences, natural gourmet cuisine at Essensia and a selection of inviting meeting and event facilities, all inspired by the hotel’s lush landscape and seaside setting.
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Experience the Luxury of a Spa Resort

By holidayhorizon

Article by Stella Van H

A spa resort is a more luxurious version of an ordinary health or day spa. Just like other resorts, it also offers many different facilities and accommodation. A spa resort get away is perfect for people who have been lucky to get some time off. Bring some friends or loved ones to make your stay more fun and enjoyable.

Most spa resorts are located in a quiet and tranquil environment. This will help you achieve total mind and body relaxation. The peaceful environment is perfect for healing your body, mind and soul. Spa resorts focus on the body’s natural healing process and detoxification to promote better health and treat any kind of ailments. Most resort spas provide their guests’ meals. These meals are delicious, highly nutritious, and very good for the guests’ health. They often have their own cooks or chefs that will prepare the meals with the help of a nutritionist.

Spa resort has many facilities that guests could use and enjoy. These facilities could include natural landscape such as garden, ponds, lakes, mountain, lagoon, river, and waterfalls. Beautiful flowers and plants are tastefully planted and scattered throughout the whole spa resort to add natural beauty to the place. It could also include man-made pools, waterfalls, and garden to give the place a natural environment feel.

A spa resort have it’s own walking or jogging track that will also give you a spectacular view of the resort’s surrounding. After an hour of doing these exercises, you can take a rest in their comfortable lounge. Some resort spas also have spots for reading, relaxing, and just enjoying the nature. These spots will provide you with an undisturbed environment for a peaceful meditation or relaxation.

Spa resorts also offer comfortable and luxurious accommodation rooms and suites. These suites are fully furnished and well-decorated to make sure that their guests will have a great and memorable stay. Each suite is designed to exude classic elegance and sophistication. Guests can enjoy the view of the resort by just looking out their windows or stepping out of their room’s balcony or terrace.

A resort will not be complete without a restaurant where you could satisfy your taste buds with healthy and nutritious foods. This is a great place to stay and just have a chat with your friends or loved ones while munching on yummy snacks.

The main spa area has state-of-the-art gym equipment, jacuzzi, jet tub, and swimming pools with different sizes and temperature. This is where you could detoxify your body to promote healing through massages and other therapies. The spa area is usually surrounded with breath-taking views to enhance the relaxing and soothing effect of the treatment. Spa resorts offer different kinds of massages, therapies, and treatments. All of these have only one goal, to bring out the new and healthier you. Some spa resorts have their own massage oil products that are used exclusively for their guests and are not available in stores.

Each spa resort has its own fitness and health programs. Depending on your needs, you can choose which program you want to enroll yourself in. They have programs for fitness, weight loss, spa and massage, spiritual, and psychological aspects. These programs are conducted by instructors who are well-trained and experienced to help you achieve what you want.

Before you go to a spa resort, make sure that you visit their site or read the brochure carefully so you will learn their rules and regulations. Some spa resorts may require you to bring your own stuff like swimwear or exercise outfits. It is also important that you follow their advice and instructions regarding classes, diet, and lifestyle to maximize the effect of your health or fitness program. Spa resorts are not cheap but the health benefits for your mind and body and the luxury you could experience even for a few days will be worth the investment.

About the Author

For more information on Spas In London Ontario contact Ethos the Spa at http://www.searchenginesimi.com/London-Ontario/Spas/

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The Luxury Resort Spa and the Lake Spa Resort

By holidayhorizon

Article by rick carsten

Hotels, by nature, aim at providing guests optimum service and satisfaction. Such establishments are filled with numerous facilities, built to make life easy and to kill stress. The spa happens to be one of the facilities where stress is instantly turned into a non-factor. By staying in one for an hour or two, you’ll feel reinvigorated. No wonder a lot of luxury hotels have spas. For ultimate relaxation, you might as well check in on the best spa hotels and spend some time inside the spa.

The Luxury Resort Spa

Classy establishments, such as the best spa hotels and resorts, have a luxury resort spa. The facility features quite a number of massages, covering different parts of the body. Implementing the massages may also differ, depending on the hotel’s offerings as well as the skill levels of the masseuses. Some involve the simple pressing and pulling of muscles while others require the use of various strokes, to release pressure. After getting a massage, you will spend some time in the sauna, a heated steam bath, which eases much of the tension that came from the massage. Your muscles will feel loose and relaxed, right after. The use of a luxury resort spa may come with rather stiff charges, but given the pleasurable experience coming from the facility, spending some dough is definitely worth it.

The Lake Spa Resort

The lake spa resort is often similar to a luxury resort spa, however, some establishments have a more “organic” feel to both the facilities and the massages. They may not come close to the class and prestige of luxury resort spas, but the refreshing feeling generated is nearly the same. Some lake resort spas feature distinct therapies based on the materials readily available by the lake. Like the luxury resort spa, the lake spa resort also has a sauna, a shower area, and a spacious room for changing. Going for a massage is perfect after a casual swim. If you want to avail of the best facilities’ services, better check out the best spa hotels in the area.

Spa Packages

Some hotels and resorts offer special rates and packages for using the building’s facilities, including the spa, especially during the off peak months. Just check the websites of the best spa hotels or with your travel agent, about the promos given by your preferred establishments. More than a few packages are usually offered, which saves you a lot of cash. Pick one that suits your every need as a traveler, and get to enjoy the most relaxing part of your vacation in a luxury or lake spa resort. If you have trouble picking a package or an establishment, you can always seek the advice of your travel agent and hotel/resort review websites.

Satisfaction Guaranteed

The spa is a popular destination for most people, regardless if it’s found at the heart of the city or at a faraway tourist attraction. Its benefits far outweigh the costs; in fact, satisfaction is a certainty right after a visit, so better prepares your budget.

About the Author

Rick Carsten is a self-made entrepreneur, a well known travel consultant and internet marketer.His areas of writing include travel experiences including reviews of best spa hotels, best resorts and best hotel Paris.

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Discover Why it is so Beneficial to Unwind And Rejuvenate at Health SPA Resorts

By holidayhorizon

Article by Doctor Marek

There is nothing to beat a rejuvenating session in a comfort spa. If the spa resort in matter happens to be portion of a magnificent resort spa, then the delight is doubled, what with all the other amenities on proposition. No wonder then that a number of of the best spa hotels are about always booked to capacity. The very mention of a luxury resort spa is sufficient for your mind to conjure up metaphors of delightful harmony and a lot of amusing. Though spas have been in life since ancient epoch, these time they seem to be enjoying various kind of a revival, appreciation to luxurious best spa hotels.

Spas and resorts appear to be made for each other. In truth, a significant number of resorts have been established around a spa. This is right to a large degree in the case of spa and hotels too. Seldom do you discover a hotel that does not have a health spa these time. A plain web based search is all that you have to to do in order to find a lake spa resort or a spa hotel nearby you.

Imagine walking through the door with absolutely no obligations and no one depending on you for period of your vacation. Moreover, each person in spa resort will be working hard to make your each hope come true and are there to pamper you and make you experience completely refreshed and prepared to beat the earth when you leave. No matter if it is for one day, a few days or an entire week you will leave recharged and tension-free.

Whereas numerous consider Spa resort retreat narrowly for girls there are as well facilities that cater men as well as other than that attract men and women and especially couples. Mutually can take pleasure in the invigorating physical pampering of massages and aromatherapy as well as aromatherapy environment. The pair can both go through the calming atmosphere and learn how to relieve hassle once they come back house and help out each other remember the feel of their time at spa resorts. Sharing the experience can make the time away from homeland more meaningful and stress-free, as both parties know what the other is going through.

By sharing the experiences both parties could better understand what is required to simplicity the tensions in their lives and even during activities where the couple is separated for privacy, they can learn further about themselves making the time spent at spa resorts not only physical but can account for psychological improvement as well.

Whether it is for being sure your glow on your wedding party day or to drive away all the work related stress, you be able to find best spa hotels are the places to head for. When you have zeroed in on your option, you can then relax in the tranquil environment on offer and entirely recharge your batteries at the Spa resort and hotels.

Commonly a variety of therapy choices would be on offer in a luxurious resort spa. Manicures, pedicures and of course unique forms of massages are some of the alternatives that you could choose from. Beauty consultation is one more thing that you could look forward to in a magnificent spa resort.

Most people are under the mistaken feeling that spas and resorts are all about beauty services only. Naught could be further from the truth. A stress-free day at the spa resort would additionally offer you a diversity of therapeutic benefits. The sense of relaxation that a session in a Spas and resorts would endorse is possibly the most excellent tension buster of them all. Spa and hotels are in reality the best places to chill out. The diversity of ex foliation and body wraps on proposal at the spa resorts can assist you relieve whatever toxins that your body could have. Once your metabolism is stimulated, you could always have joy with the further selections available at a Spas and resorts. This possibly will generally include, live leisure or a round of golf.

With powerful competition existing among the best spa resort vacations, you could simply find a spa that best suits your desires and budgets these time. Unique spa resorts are coming up in all sorts of places. A lake spa resort for example, would be perfect if you are someone who prefers complete silence and desires to be close by to nature. A Spa and hotels inside the city might be the choice of a few others, who would not require to miss out on their other commitments, whereas they relax in luxurious. The choice is absolutely yours, although regardless of it, you are bound to get a great time.

About the Author

Author is Spa resort retreat specialist with focus on Czech Health Spas treatments. More information and consultation about appropriate destination spa resort could be found at Spa-Resorts.cz

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