Low-Cost Luxury: 5 Destination Spas For The Budget Traveler

May 15, 2015

It is easy to find bliss in sunshine, warm breeze and cool waters. But booking a spa vacation is often considered tedious and expensive. Spa resorts aren’t always cheap, and you end up paying a steep price for relaxation and well-being.

That said, there are many affordable alternatives in the country. With some research, you’ll come across budget vacationing options that pamper your body and nurture your health. Luckily, we’ve done the hunting for you.

Here’s our roundup of the best budget-friendly spa vacations:

1. Tennessee Fitness Spa, Waynesboro
This spa focuses on physical activities and healthy eating. Guests are given a fitness evaluation and then put on a low fat, low sugar, low sodium diet, or a vegan diet. A salad bar and healthy snacks are accompanied by an informative lecture on diet and nutrition. There are a variety of fitness classes through the day, including tai chi, Middle Eastern dancing, qi gong, water aerobics, Pilates, toning, stretching, body sculpting, aerobics and yoga. There is a gym, a junior Olympic-sized pool, sauna, and hot tub. Spa services include facials, beauty treatments, mani-pedis, massage therapy, reflexology, body wraps, and hair styling.
Cost: Spa services start from $10 and go up to $80.
Visit: Tennessee Fitness Spa

2. Red Mountain Resort & Spa in St George, Utah
Surrounded by the scenic red rocks of St George, this resort has several amenities for guests, including wellness programs and recreational services. The Sagestone Spa offers body treatments, massages, skin care, and hair services, with the use of indigenous desert botanicals, Utah honey and mineral-rich mud, clay and salts.
Cost: Their retreat packages start at $205. Every package includes three healthy meals daily, unlimited yoga and fitness classes, guided hiking and biking, cooking demonstrations and healthy living classes.
Visit: Red Mountain Resort

3. New Life Hiking Spa, Killington, Vermont
This 37-year-old spa offers people a chance to lose weight through exercise and diet. You can expect hearty, low-calorie meals that fit into the weight loss program. Daily activities include walking trails, a Chi Kung class, water aerobics, Pilates or Zumba, besides cooking demonstrations and relaxation classes. Spa services include deep tissue massages, exfoliation, reflexology and health counseling.
Cost: A hiking spa program (room included) starts at $126. This includes a $75 spa service. Additional services are priced at $75 to $90 per hour.
Visit: New Life Hiking Spa

4. Deerfield, East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Located in the wooded hills of the Poconos mountains, Deerfield is a casual health retreat and day spa. It has state-of-the-art gyms, a heated outdoor pool, gazebo-enclosed hot tubs, outdoor sports court, and a full-service spa. Their seasonal programs include yoga sessions, hikes along the Appalachian Trail, and a selection of 40 fitness classes including tai chi, aerobics, Pilates, and Zumba. Their list of services includes massages, reflexology, healing practices, facials, anti-aging procedures body and skincare treatments, wraps, and makeup services.
Cost: Per-person rates start at $590 for two nights and $1485 for a week, inclusive of lodging, fitness activities, hiking, evening activities, calorie-counted meals and use of all facilities. You get spa credits, depending on the package you pick.
Visit: Deerfield Health Retreat & Spa

5. The Oaks at Ojai, California
A short distance away from Los Angeles is The Oaks, a resort that balances exercise and relaxation. The spa services are varied—natural skin treatments, fit and firm treatments to control aging, salon services, massages and body treatments, and a low-calorie menu. The spa is also open to only-day visitors. Those with an inclination for fitness can choose from more than 25 training and fitness classes. Their spa menu features a 1,000-calorie-per-day cuisines with meals that are low in fat, salt and sugar. You can attend evening programs that include talks in the areas of fashion, medicine, business and motivational techniques.
Cost: Packages start at $340, including an overnight stay, fitness classes, healthy spa meals, consultation with a health technician, and use of all facilities.
Visit: The Oaks At Ojai

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