Iberostar Grand Bavaro ~ May 2012

I was lucky enough to get to stay at the Iberostar Grand Bavaro in Punta Cana at the end of May.   I used their spa for a very reasonably priced Caribbean Day package that included a body scrub, wrap, and massage.  A great experience but a little awkward at times.

First I was asked to disrobe and put on paper panties.  Between the therapist and I we agreed the modesty check was not needed.  She started with an exfoliating body scrub.   This was a muddy,dirty mix of clay, herbs, and oils.   Here is the awkward part...she said in broken English, "okay, you take shower".  Across the room was a glass shower that had no privacy and no shower wand.   So as she busied herself with setting up the massage table I tried to rinse off the heavy clay the best I could but getting into all of the creavices would have been easier if the shower had a wand.

 Next she handed me a towel and directed me to a plastic sheeted table.    She asked me to sit up while she brushed my back with a heavy, cold, gloppy mixture of oatmeal and cut fruit.   It didnt smell very good and it was very cold and wet.   I laid down onto this and she covered the rest of my body with the cold, smelly goop.   I was then wrapped in the plastic and blankets and she gave me a great scalp massage followed by a foot massage.   Then I was directed back to the shower but it was embarrassing because with each step the heavy, wet glops of the oatmeal mixture plopped onto the floor.   As I showered I had to watch her cleanup my mess.   Embarrassing.  

The last part of the treatment was a great massage with wonderful warm scented oils.   All in all a great treatment which would have been better with a bit of privacy and a shower wand.

El Dorado Maroma ~ April 2012

I enjoyed a vacation with my husband at the small and perfect El Dorado Maroma.  The spa is small and many treatments are done outside in overwater treatment cabins.   I didn't miss the lounge, saunas, or water features like other resorts.  This was just a great massage with no frills.

But while visiting there I learned that the sister resort in the Riviera Maya, the El Dorado Seaside just opened a huge new spa.   I am planning another trip for next year already.

LeBlanc Spa ~ Cancun, Mexico - August 2011

One of the reasons I love my job is I get to experience great new resorts and report back on them to my clients, coworkers and friends. And sometimes I'm lucky enough to get to bring someone to join me. This month I got to take my mom with me to Cancun Mexico where we stayed at the Beach Palace. This is a great resort and we loved our 11th floor room with a huge balcony looking out over the crystal clear caribbean waters.

While here we enjoyed days by the pool reading and playing our favorite travel game - bananagrams. The servers came by often with drinks, the pool was warm, and we could spend hours watching the waves roll in.

One of the days we ventured out of the resort to enjoy a day at Le Blanc Spa. I had a day pass to the resort and we were able to relax by the infinity pool, play in the ocean, and of course get some treatments.

We both opted for their signature facial, but were treated first to their hydrotherapy circuit. Phenomenal service! We were lead between the sauna, steam room, Chromashowers, reflexology massager and jacuzzi tub all while being offered Chlorophyll drinks and even cool cucumbers for our eyelids.

After the circuit we were given chairs in the relaxation room before we headed off to our facials. The price for this 5 star treatment was more than I'm used to paying but worth every penny in my experience.

Osthoff Resort and Aspira Spa ~ Elkhart Lake, WI

Remember the resort in the original Dirty Dancing? Kellerman's? This resort reminded me of that resort. A beautiful family resort on a lake in the middle of no where. We had a beautiful one bedroom lakeview unit where we enjoyed 5 days of relaxation. And I was lucky enough to get two days in the Aspira Spa while there and it was a treat!

Here I experienced a Chakra Balancing Massage and a Yin Yang Facial. The service and treatments were superb. The facility was lovely too. They had a meditation room, relaxation area, ample locker room facilities and both an indoor and outdoor soaking pools with loungers.

This would be a perfect place to come with girlfriends for a getaway.
I look forward to another visit soon.

Iberostar Paraiso Maya - May 2010

I just returned home from a relaxing vacation at the Iberostar Paraiso Maya last week. This is a lovely resort and I'd describe it as Modern Mayan. The complex is huge and there are 5 different resorts sharing the same golf course, spa and other amenities.

El Spa is the 32,000 square foot spa located in the Shopping Complex. I was able to make an appointment on Thursday for Friday appointments for a package that included a Berry Body Scrub and Mud Massage. I also got a tour of the spa to see that you can easily spend a whole day in this adults only paradise.

First there is a large indoor hydrotherapy pool surrounded by more than 20 loungers. This is a coed pool with more than 10 hydrotherapy stations included water jets on the ankles, knees, and back as well as the waterfalls for the upper back and shoulders. This salt water pool was kept very close to room temperature and a huge wall of windows and skylights helped make you feel like you are outside.

Beyond the pool area, is also two Hamman's, a Roman Bath with 5 pools, three different showers including Rain Shower and Chronoshower. Their steam room and sauna are also very comfortable and seat up to 8 people each.

The locker rooms were not anything special and neither is the waiting area, but the services I had were awesome. Dulcinea was my therapist and she handled the body scrub at the same time as my mud massage. She started with the scrub and did a very thorough scrub massage then wiped each section of my body with warm, wet towels to remove the exfoliant. Then she applied the very warm, soft, and slippery mud and massaged it into my skin. This mud then stayed on me as I turned over and she repeated the scrub and massage on my back. After the 1.5 hour treatment, she gave me a loofah sponge and started the warm shower in my room for me. I then spent about 10 minutes in the shower to rinse off all of the mud. I can't even imagine how much laundry this treatment produced, but I loved the feel of my skin for days after the treatment.

Excellence Riviera Cancun

Oh how I was looking forward to this vacation with my girlfriends. There were four of us and we spent 5 days at the Excellence Riviera Cancun early this November. The resort was very nice but we had rain every day of our trip. Hurricane Ida was coming right towards us. We spent more time than maybe we would have otherwise in the Mille Spa because of the rain. Had it been sunny, more time would have been spent on the beach and in the pools.

The first day I tried the Shirodhara massage which involved warm oils streaming onto my forhead for several minutes during the massage. I loved the way the oils smelled and the feel of the oil on my scalp and in my hair. The treatment also included a full body massage which was a very relaxing way to start our vacation.

The second day I tried a Vitality massage and facial combo. The facial wasn't anything clinical, more a relaxation facial with great moisturizers. And the massage was lovely and relaxing, but not deep tissue. After this 100 minute treatment, I felt plastered to the table and had a hard time getting up.

On the last day, I did a Stress Relief Massage. Now at this point, I really didn't have any stress in my body. Three full days of relaxing, spa treatments, good food and fun time with friends is good for both the mind and body. So I didn't need deep tissue massage, but I think some of my friends thought the massage was a little whimpy.

The Marine Wellness Ritual (which I had described after visiting the Excellence Playa Mujeres) was also a treat, but I found that it really depended on how full the spa was and who the assistant was. At times I was rushed and almost felt blown off when they were busy with other clients.

Las Caletas - Paradise Found

On a recent trip to Puerto Vallarta, I had the pleasure of taking a day excursion to Las Caletas.

Las Caletas was once the private home of film director John Huston who considered it one of the most beautiful places in the world. It is nestled in a secluded nature preserve on the southern shores of Banderas Bay. Las Caletas is so isolated and unspoiled, its only accessible by sea, so we traveled there by catamaran and enjoyed the most fantastic scenery the Mexican Pacific has to offer on our hour long trip to the beach paradise.

Once settled on shore, I knew this was a perfect setting to really relax. After enjoying the sunshine and a swim in the calm waters, I indulged in a massage at their hilltop Spa Center. I admit it was a bit of a hike to get up there, but once there I found one of the most perfect massages I have ever had. They had 4 open air rooms for massages and facials and although the rooms had shutters and curtains it did see a bit out in the open. I quickly got over any modesty and found I had never felt such a perfect temperature in my life. The breeze from the mountain, the simple ceiling fan, and the sunshine barely touching the shutters, it was the kind of comfort I am always searching for. The massage therapist was good - I mean REALLY good. She was quiet, thorough, firm and warm. In fact, my biggest problem was that I spent about 20 minutes of the massage thinking of ways to extend the massage for another hour. Sadly I was unable to get another hour while there, but will never forget that lovely afternoon.