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DEL.ICIO.USWhat’s the best spa?
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Our Getaway story today to Berkeley Springs, W.Va., is all about taking the restorative hot spring waters, in a quaint, homey setting. Today’s spas are much more luxurious, and not necessarily in a town with natural hot springs.
What’s your favorite place nearby to take a spa treatment? We’ve written about some excellent ones at upscale lodgings, but you don’t have to check into a Ritz-Carlton to get a top-notch spa treatment. Where do you go when you need to unwind? Can you recommend a place?
I don’t often have time to indulge in a spa visit, but I had an amazing one once at Charleston Place in Charleston, S.C. And some years ago, my sister and I treated ourselves to the spa at the Arlington Hotel in Hot Springs, Ark., very much a hot springs town but quite a bit larger than Berkeley Springs. It was pretty fabulous to soak in a deep tub, then be wrapped from head to toe in hot towels, before an expert massage. It wasn’t exactly today’s standard for spas — for instance, when we were wrapped in towels, we were lying on tables in a long line of women — but we left feeling pampered and nearly too relaxed to walk.
Permalink | Comments (21) | Categories: Spas we love
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By Rebecca McCormick
June 7, 2006 2:57 PM | Link to this
Hot Springs, Ark., is still a great spa town!
By CopFriend
June 7, 2006 3:30 PM | Link to this
Figures, the AJC pulls a blog that actually gets some good debate going and replaces it with a fluff piece like this. Toads.
By Clint
June 7, 2006 4:11 PM | Link to this
Joq Day Spa.
By Michelle
June 7, 2006 4:20 PM | Link to this
It’s NOT Spa Sydell.
By Alex
June 7, 2006 4:49 PM | Link to this
Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico!
By Rollin
June 7, 2006 5:10 PM | Link to this
The best spa I know of is open 24 hrs. It’s an Oriental spa on Roswell Road in Sandy Springs that has all the windows blacked out and a neon open sign. At 4 a.m. after a hard night of drinking you just might receive a “Happy Ending”
Rollin
By Romona
June 7, 2006 5:28 PM | Link to this
Grove Park Inn Resort and Spa in Asheville, NC!
By Shawn
June 7, 2006 5:31 PM | Link to this
AThe BEST —> Ddolf Beicker in Rittenhouse Square in Philly.
By Shawn
June 7, 2006 5:31 PM | Link to this
The BEST —> Adolf Beicker in Rittenhouse Square in Philly.
By Sexione
June 7, 2006 5:38 PM | Link to this
Chateau Elan is pretty good. Also, The Westin Resort & Spa in Savannah….right on the harbor, excellent food and drinks!!!
By Cate
June 7, 2006 5:45 PM | Link to this
Miraval is the best, and Canyon Ranch is a close second.
By Susan
June 7, 2006 6:09 PM | Link to this
We just returned from the Dingle Skelligs Spa in SW Ireland. That is the best. Next up, the Terme di Saturnia in Tuscany or Maruba Spa in Belize.
By George Carter
June 8, 2006 8:36 AM | Link to this
The Gay Spas are the best. I am gay and that’s where I get it on!
By hellinahandbasket
June 8, 2006 8:49 AM | Link to this
Yeah, Chateau Elan is great if the fact that over 85% of their staff are illegals doesn’t bother you.
By Jeanette
June 8, 2006 9:03 AM | Link to this
The spa at the Grove Park Inn in Asheville, NC is the nicest spa I’ve ever been to. In addition to the wonderful spa treatments, they have a beautiful room of pools - a lap pool, mineral pool, waterfall pools, and whirlpools. My husband and I spent about 4 hours a the spa in addition to our spa treatments, and it was amazing!
By Amanda Miller
June 8, 2006 10:44 AM | Link to this
Hi Jeanette
I’ve heard the Grove Park Inn’s spa is wonderful. It got the seal of approval from Paula Thrasher, too, when she went after it first opened. I’m sorry to say I’ve never been. Paula also gave Chateau Elan’s spa high marks.
Callaway Gardens is about to open a spa, too. I think I’ll battle Paula for the chance to try that one.
It’s certain that the spa trend is here to stay. I think we all need to feel pampered now and then.
Amanda
By Sexione
June 8, 2006 11:01 AM | Link to this
I’m about to try the spa at the Chattanoogan in TN, anybody been there?
By Vicki Berrong
June 8, 2006 11:18 AM | Link to this
Best hot springs spa is Sierra Grande in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico. For about $100/night, you get a private’soak’ in the outside or inside hot spring spa, extensive healthy breakfast, and private room tub with jaccuzi for two. Also, the town is quaint, friendly and has two bookstores and multiple coffee shops.
By Shont
June 8, 2006 11:29 AM | Link to this
I went to the Chattanoogan Spa for Easter. It was nice for a smaller scale spa. Its probably the best that Chattanooga has to offer!
By GeorgiaGirl
June 8, 2006 11:43 AM | Link to this
In my next life I will be a spa critic. Some of the best spas are in Vegas. The Bellagio is great, but THE Hotel at Mandalay Bay is incredible. Grove Park Inn is very nice. In Atlanta, the Spa Sydell at The Forum Shops is much nicer than any of the rest of them. Chateau Elan is nice, but it is older and could use an update. Does anyone know of any nice resort-style spas in Atlanta? One that has hot tubs, steam showers and saunas like you would find at a nice hotel.
By Amanda Miller
June 8, 2006 1:40 PM | Link to this
Hi GeorgiaGirl
Your comment about day spas reminded me of one that hasn’t been mentioned, Renew Day Spa on Shallowford Road in East Cobb. My sister-in-law has been a couple of times and loves the place; I’ve never had a treatment there, but I toured it once and the atmosphere is very nice and professional.
Amanda