Atlanta, Georgia, Blogging Conference

 This isn't about get fit spas.  I'm in Atlanta for a 3 day conference to learn how to improve my blog.   Stay tuned and see if I find some new ideas.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Last Day

The last day is always sad.  I went to water aerobics as usual and didn't wear my SFP 50 pool shirt.  I decided I needed a little color before heading home.  And I was successful!  Maybe a little more burn than I would like, but livable.

A wonderful relaxing week..... but then while waiting for the bus to take me to the rental car agency, I didn't see my bag.  It was 15 minutes before departure.  I asked the man in charge if that was normal.  Then there was a flurry of activity.  Calls on the pager, golf carts going back and forth, all in search of my bag.  Just before departure they discovered that a patron had claimed my bag as their own and taken it to the airport on an earlier bus!  Now I had to go to the airport and go to security (some unknown place at the airport) to claim my bag.  At the airport they said what do you mean by security?  The police department?  TSA?  airlines have lost and found departments? And now instead of being dropped off at the rental agency I had to walk.  By the time I got there they had given away my reserved midsize car and I had to settle for a compact.  Just a total nightmare. All of the relaxation wiped out in one short hour.  The bus driver was extremely apologetic and went with me into the airport and waited until I actually had keys to the rental car.  However, I rather expected some sort of apology from management or customer service.....They have my email.  It may not have been Miraval's fault, but it certainly was their responsibility.  Too sad that the visit had to end on a downer.

Champney's Special Deal

For three select weeks in December you can get the 6 day traditional week package for two people at the price for one person.  That's a really big savings!  Of course, the weather in England isn't great in December.  Go to Champney's website for all the details.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Day Five

This is the water aerobics pool.  Just your garden variety large pool but check out the surrounding mountains.  You can watch the weather appearing over the Santa Cantalina Mountains while participating in the class.  It's a beautiful view.  Under the eaves behind you, you will find two nests containing the cutest little barn swallows.  Mom and Dad are flying around regularly gathering meals for the kids.  All of the other pools are the resort style kidney or oval shaped, smaller, and surrounded by palms.

I got up early today so I could breakfast in time to take the Cardio Drumming class.  But I decided to take it easy.  I went to three classes yesterday so I deserve a break.  Of course, I attended water aerobics at 10.  It was a major workout today both cardio and resistance.  Now I have the grueling task of my 80 minute massage(!).  No other exercise on the program today. Later...  the massage was fabulous.  The extra 30 minutes is worth every penny because every muscle gets a little extra attention.  My favorite parts

rock formations near spa entrance

were the small muscles in the hands, face and ears lobes.

Thunder and lightning are in the vicinity.  Luckily the resort supplies umbrellas at every entrance.  The class on Anti-inflammatory Diet was really informative.  I have taken copious notes that I will try to transcribe next week after I get home.  On the way out from the nutrition class, we discovered that the spa shop was offering champagne and meringue cookies along with 15% off anything in the store.  I partook of the champagne, but with 15% off, the baseball cap was still too expensive at $34.

Enjoyed a wonderful dinner with new friends.  Did I tell you that Miraval doesn't have a 'friendship table' like so many resorts have?  It's nice to have an option to socialize, but usually it's more comfortable to sit by yourself.  Here at Miraval it was the norm to sit by yourself.  But tonight I really enjoyed spending time eating dinner, having good conversation and sharing a meal with kindred souls.  I hope I get to meet up with them again soon.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Day Four

the bar

   I finally made breakfast without ordering an egg main dish.  Instead I had a cheese blintz with blueberry sauce.  Of course I still added a turkey sausage and chicken sausage.  Followed by tons of berries with honey lime yogurt.
    It started raining before dawn and at 10am it was still pouring when water aerobics was set to start.  Since there was no thunder or lightning, Melissa was willing to get in the pool with the four of us that showed up despite the weather.  Thank heavens - because this was my only exercise for the morning.
    The lunch special today was a chicken breast marinated in yogurt and balsamic vinegar.  Yummy - along with a cucumber salad.  This didn't prevent me from having the incredibly tasty orzo salad with sundried tomatoes and basil.  At 1:00 I participated in the balance class and then stayed for the "On the Ball" class at 2:00.  Both were also with Melissa who is a fabulous instructor especially for those of us who are up in years.

veggie and cheese snacks at the bar

   The facial at 4:30 was wonderful.  I'm not crazy about the mist that makes me claustrophobic, but I stuck it out to be good to my pores.
    As you can see from the picture at left, I had a lovely time munching in the bar where I ordered yet another bottle of wine to be stored under my room number.  They have the most amazing blue cheese - it is either Maytag or roquefort.
    Dinner had all of my favorites.  Tomato basil soup was one of the starters.  Then I had filet mignon prepared medium rare with carrots and onions in a balsamic glaze.  The filet was placed on top of a bed of creamed spinach - something I don't normally like - this was fabulous. The bread, which changes every night, was foccacia served with a garlic olive oil.  The butter/oil changes every night to go with the bread.
    So I came to Miraval because I got a really good deal.  I found a deal that did not include a lot of treatments because I am here for exercise.  So what did I do tonight?  I made an appointment for an additional massage not included in my package.  Not just a 50 minute treatment, but a full 80 minutes.  I am definitely looking forward to tomorrow (except that it is my last full day!).  Next time I will go with the deal that includes a lot of resort credits for treatments and not pretend that I only want the free exercise classes.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Random Thoughts

• Miraval's elevation is over 3,000 feet so my breathing is a little short.  It also explains my lightheadedness.
• My big sister and spouse would love this place.  They provide golf lessons, so she could probably get a round of golf arranged.  They would both love the spa, gym classes, lounge, and dining.
• This would be a great place for the group of seven fine ladies (KO's Gang) that are still together 45 years after meeting in high school.  There is the challenge course and yoga for the ones who go for that sort of thing, at least 4 pools for lounging that we all enjoy, spa treatments for relaxing, decent wine list for sharing at dinner or in the room, a variety of activities but enough free time to laugh and cry together.
• If you have a sensitive bum bring your own toilet paper.  The provision here is a bit rough.
• The desert environment contains lots of little lizards - not a bother.  But there have been several tarantula sightings.  I only saw one near the gym and I hope I don't see one near my room like others have.
• There is a wider mix of people here than any other destination spa I have been to.  Several blacks, a few Asians, over a dozen men and not all of them with their spouses.  Of course the larger population is still mostly women either traveling alone, with friends, or doing a mother-daughter outing.  And there are all ages and sizes.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Day Three

     Once again I started with a big breakfast. They had turkey bacon today instead of sausage, so

courtyard outside my room

of course I had to try it.  I ordered the special scrambled eggs which came with a chipolte salsa, tortilla chips and cheese.  Since I couldn't eat the salsa, it wasn't the best choice.  But the beautiful fresh berries and yogurt took care of any remaining hunger.  Actually I kept eating the fruit long after being full.  Maybe I will be better at lunch.     I wanted to go to the Power Punch Plie class, but the instructor said it was not for someone with bad knees or any other joint issues.  There aren't that many classes with resistance training so I worked extra hard at the water aerobics class.  Many times I don't even take the weights, but this week I will.  The lunch special today was a medium rare flatiron steak with a red wine sauce.  Extremely tasty - which I accompanied with a big salad and a yukon potato.  There was also a really tasty quinoa salad with roasted vegetables.  And of course I finished it all off with a brownie.  The prickly pear iced tea was a nice change.  I'm afraid the Chi Gong class will not wear off many of the calories consumed at lunch.

   It's a slow day today.  The only other item on the agenda I was interested in is the class on exercise and aging.  The class was interesting and lecturer entertaining, but once again we started almost 10 minutes late.  I have to get over my aversion to lateness before I come back.

    Dinner was a surprise.  I had the vegetarian entree which supposedly was 180 calories.  It was extremely filling and very tasty.  Containing beans, zucchini, artichokes, and several other veggies I can't remember.  Since I was being so good with the entree I went with the flat bread again which this time had fresh mozarella, fennel, carmelized onions and baby squash.  Yum!  

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Day Two

stream running through resort

The sight and sound of water running through the resort is very relaxing.  It also helps to counteract the sight of hundreds of cacti and sand everywhere.  A cooling sight in near 100 degree afternoons.

The day started with an egg white omelet with mushrooms, scallions and cheddar cheese; from the buffet I added turkey sausage, chicken sausage, whole grain toast and lots and lots of fruit with honey lime yogurt.  They have four special egg dishes each day and you can also get eggs anyway you want.  Then my favorite water aerobics.  It was a great workout. 
     I overate at lunch as well:  big salad, then salami, cheese, crackers, and a chocolate coconut almond bar for dessert.  The afternoon was busy with a lecture on Mastering Metabolism, On the Ball weight and balance training, Posture Stretching on a foam roller, and finishing off with a deep tissue massage. 
     Dinner was another overeating extravaganza - I have to do something about this!  Although so far the extra exercise has kept off any weight gain.  This is my first full day and the server no longer has to be told about my bell pepper allergy.  She came prepared to tell me exactly what I could have off the menu.  All starters and entrees change every day so someone on the dining room staff must be coaching them.  Great service!  So I ended up with the flatbread with goat cheese, beets and arugula; followed by the best pork tenderloin I have ever had.  Extremely tender, perfectly cooked with a chili rub and prickly pear sauce.  I couldn't have the salad so they substituted mushroom asparagus risotto which was fabulous.  The portions are supposed to be small but I couldn't finish my meal---as much as I wanted to!  So I took the vanilla bean flan with fresh berries back to my room for later.

The only down side was that out of four classes the instructors were late four times.  Not a good impression for me - a chronically on-time, usually early person.

Miraval, Tucson Arizona - Day One

view of my private patio

First impressions are running high.  The desert scenery is breathtaking even though it is man-made.  There is a waterfall running near my room so the only sounds I hear are of running water.  This photo is the view from my room.  The patio extends from the french doors, seemingly right into the desert.  My room is huge for most standards.  They say 300 square feet, but it seems larger.  The king bed is piled high with ultra puffy, soft pillows and comforter.  The comforter adds another foot to the height of the bed.  The decor is southwestern, but without the bright orange and red.  Mostly brown and earth tones instead which is very relaxing. 

Unlike all the other spa resorts I've been to, Miraval has a bar/lounge open from 4-9 with free hors d'oeuvres.  I will try to take a picture tomorrow.  The veggie platter is missing the ubiquitous celery, carrots and radishes and instead sports asparagus, jicama, cauliflower, heirloom cherry tomatoes.  There is also a giant platter of cheese - probably 10 different varieties.  I've purchased a bottle of red and a bottle of white wine for partaking over the next couple days.  They keep the bottle at the bar or let me take it back to my room.  In addition to a nice selection of wines, they have a menu of special cocktails and the back of the bar is lined with favorites such as Dewars, Jamesons, Glenlivet, Hendricks, Beefeaters.  Miraval has all the beauty of a destination spa with the conveniences of a resort hotel.

The dinner menu changes daily and contains four starters and four entrees.  With my bell pepper allergy I will be limited because many dishes are prepared in the southwest style.  However, they are bending over backwards to accommodate my culinary needs.  They encourage you to try something you might not like because they will gladly replace it with something else if it doesn't suit.  Tonight I'm being brave and ordering grouper.  I'm very glad I did.  The arbol chili rub was spicy enough to mask any fishy taste (I'm very picky about fish!) and it was light and flaky as promised.  It came on top of yams and topped with a jicama/watermelon salsa and a watermelon coulis.  The small portion size allowed me to enjoy the blueberry crumble/creme brulee for dessert.  It is going to be a struggle to keep my weight under control.

If I ever get hungry I will try the smoothies made to order with any number of interesting items.  They are included in the price.  And there is no tipping anywhere at the resort - not at the bar, dining room, spa, anywhere.

Canyon Ranch revisited

I'm happy to say that Canyon Ranch has reinstated the ability to view all four rates.  Now I can get serious about when I can get the best deal and hopefully find some special along the way.

Red Mountain, St George UT, another special

Jetsetter has just announced a deal at Red Mountain for $215/night instead of the regular $400/night.  $245/night starting September 12 and on weekends.  This is all inclusive for 2 people.  Not bad!

Canyon Ranch - looking for a deal

   Canyon Ranch has recently changed their website so it is harder to see what rates are available.  I prefer researching possibilities on the web instead of calling.  What do I say?  Um... how much is one night in January.   Um.... what if I stay 4 nights.   Um.... What about if I stay in June.  Um... do you have any specials coming up?  On the web I just poke around and see what my choices are.  A few weeks ago, they listed regular double occupancy, regular single occupancy, spa sampler double occupancy, and spa sampler single occupancy.  Now they only list regular double occupancy.  The old spa sampler included a smaller resort credit which is what I prefer. 
     They have two destination spa locations:  Tucson, AZ, and Lenox, MA.  Tucson in summer and Lenox in winter are the cheapest options.  Both provide complimentary transportation from nearby airports.  The cheapest web price is about $3000 for a four night stay including a $650 resort credit.  As a first time visitor I can ask for a 20% discount, but that still leaves $600/night.  And I would be either visiting Tucson when it's 100 degrees or Lenox when it's 30 degrees.  A prime time visit to Lenox is $5120 for the same four night stay or $1024/night after the 20% first time discount!!  It must be a really special place.
     I will be calling sometime in the future to see if my old favorite "spa sampler" rate is still available.  Or maybe their clientele will complain and they will reinstate viewing of multiple rate types on their website.

Red Mountain, St George, UT, special

If you connect to Living Social you can get accommodations at the Red Mountain Resort until September 30, 2013 for two people for $280/night.  Normal cost is $400/night.  Of course, this is only a good deal if you have someone to share the room with. 

Champneys UK special

From July 1 - August 31 you can book a six day stay at any Champneys and not have to pay the single supplement.  They also are throwing in $100 to use during the week for extra treatments, food and beverage, etc.  That's about $250 in savings over the regular rate.  However, since it's last minute, you can't take advantage of the advance purchase discounts of 10% (30 days), 20% (60 days), or 30% (90 days).
I discovered this because I signed up for their email notifications.

Miraval update

I've been checking the Miraval website daily to get the August activity schedule.  I didn't need to bother - as soon as it was available, the "pre-book supervisor" sent me a copy of the entire month.  I will have my favorite water aerobics every day at 10am.  And it looks like I will be able to find at least two other classes per day.  My resort credit will take care of a massage and facial which I plan to book next week.  So far customer service has been fabulous!  I'll let you know how they deal with my questions and treatment reservations.

Champney's an even Better Deal Now - UK

Just checking for deals at Champney's.  Champney Springs was one of my first destination spa experiences and I have a goal to try out all four locations.  So far I have been to Springs and Forest Mere.  Next will be Henlow or Tring.

They have always had a 20% discount if you booked 60 days ahead.  Now I see that you can get 30% off if you book 90 days ahead.  Or 10% if you book 30 days ahead.  I will definitely try to schedule a visit this year (October to March sometime!)

Booked for Miraval - Tucson, AZ - Here's the Deal

The first deal I discovered was through a Vacationist email.  Girls Getaway for $578/night which includes $150 per day resort credit.  The resort credit can be used toward spa treatments or some of the special classes with a fee.  In order to make this be a deal I need to have a spa treatment every day.  I booked for 4 days.

Then right after I booked I was on the Miraval web site and found a Discover Miraval rate for $462/night which includes $50 per day resort credit.  Since I don't want to have a massage every day, I changed my reservation.  For a slightly lower total price I will be staying 5 nights instead of 4 nights.  By booking three days or more I get an extra $100 resort credit for the stay.  The price goes up to $633/night on September 13.

They don't have a penalty for cancellation unless it is within seven days.  Better than most places.

Final Day - Lake Austin Spa Resort - Texas

This was a great trip.  The only thing that would have made it better is a longer stay.  I believe that next time I will try to find a deal for seven days.  The staff at the desk, dining room, and spa were all fantastic.  They took very good care of me.  And I met some wonderful people at the friendship table - I highly recommend sharing the table at dinner to meet others.

• 7:00  Breakfast:  my favorite blueberry and ricotta pancakes with a slice of ham
• 9:00  FUNctional circuit.  This was the heaviest workout of my stay.  There are 8 stations in the weight room:  1.  with a band under your feet walk sideways, 2. throw a ball up in the air and catch in a squat, 3.  woodcutter with the rope on cable, 4. bench step up (I had to modify to the treadmill because of knees), 5. bar pull ups and bar push ups, 6. assisted squats and shoulder press, 7. bird dog, 8. plank.  We did 2 sets of 35 seconds at each station and then repeated the whole thing.  Really kept the heart rate up!  And for a change I was able to do all of the exercises.
• 11:00 Lunch:  Salad bar; Barbecued chicken sandwich which had a large spread of guacamole, tomatoes, onions, lettuce and a finely grilled chicken breast; Orange burst sorbet for dessert.
• 12:00 Departure - Boo Hoo

Day Four - Lake Austin Spa Resort

I'm afraid it will be another lazy day.  It is forecast to be over 100 degrees.

• 7:00  Breakfast - spinach and feta omelet, ham, gluten free toast
• 8:00  Stability Ball
• 8:30  Gentle Stretch
• 9:00  Strawberries, blueberries, cantaloupe (breakfast dessert!)
• 11:00  Water aerobics
• 12:30 Lunch - probably the best cobb salad I have ever eaten.  Instead of the usual turkey it was beef tenderloin cut in bite-size pieces.  Ample avocado, crisp bacon, and blue cheese topped a nice mix of greens and scallions.  A perfectly cooked hard boiled egg on the right and several yellow and red cherry tomatoes on the left made for a picture perfect presentation.  Chocolate caramel turtle frozen yogurt for dessert.
• 2:00 Cooking demo - tabbouleh but instead of couscous or quinoa, the chef used finely chopped celeriac and red cabbage.  A tasty gluten free version after also adding chopped apples, radishes, grapes and hazelnuts.
• 3:00 Hard core abs.  I really miss my trainer.  He has found lots of core exercises for me that don't stress my lower back or make my neck cramp (crunches); or hurt my shoulders (side planks).  Unfortunately that was pretty much the whole class today!
• 4:45 Current temperature 102!
• 6:30  Dinner:  starter special similar to quiche but a little creamier with bacon, onion and cheese; chicken special with an absolutely divine sauce with capers, chicken grilled to perfection, fingerling potatoes, green beans (one of my favorites); dessert of orange, rhubarb, strawberry clafoutis.
• 8:00 "Sweet Dreams" facial.

General - Lake Austin Spa Resort

Flowers, flowers, everywhere flowers.  To the right is a lovely planting next to the spa pool.  Lake Austin has a day spa in addition to the resort.  So the spa pool is open to those "day trippers".  The pool in my other post is reserved for the overnight resort guests.

To the left is a picture the public bathroom.  Fresh red carnations adorn the marble countertop.  And notice the towels in the corner.  There are no paper towels in any area.  Only real towels.

Every table in the dining room has fresh flowers. Every guest room has a bouquet of fresh flowers. 

The guest rooms are extremely comfortable.  The only thing that could have improved the layout is a one king bed or one double.  There would then have been room for a couch and chairs.  The main bedroom is approximately 14x13 - larger than my room at home.  This measurement does not include the walk-in closet, dressing room, entry way or bathroom.

From the bed looking back on the entry way on your left.  On the right you can see into the dressing room with a double sink large vanity stretching the length of the 7x7 room.  The bathroom containing toilet and large bathtub is also 7x7.  Very spacious and comfortable.

It is brilliant to have the sinks in a separate room from the bath and toilet.  When I return with girl friends it will be very easy to share the room.

Day Three - Lake Austin Spa Resort

I gave up on my idea to hit the "Serious Strength" class at 8am.  1) I was hungry and needed a big breakfast, 2) My pecs are really stiff from the 30 pushups done yesterday in the Bosu class and back is sore from the Kettle Bell class. So today will be lazy.

• 7:30  Breakfast of blueberry and ricotta pancakes, ham, fruit and yogurt
• 10:00  Five Tibetan Rites- Yoga Tibetan style
• 10:30  Weight machines on my own
• 11:00  Key lime sorbet
• 12:30  Lunch at the Aster Cafe which is attached to the spa.  Guacamole with baked chips, followed by white pizza flatbread that had spinach, broccolini, ricotta and mozarella cheeses.  Ordinary old chocolate frozen yogurt.  I'm STUFFED!
• 3:00  Water aerobics with Sandy again - can't say enough good things about her classes.
• 4:00  Hang out at the spa
• 5:00  80 minute massage called Muscle Tension Melt. First the body is rubbed with a heated packet of herbs wrapped in muslin.  Then arnica oil is used for the massage.  My therapist was great.  A tiny thing, but surprising strength that could really dig in to my stiff muscles.  The herb packets are mine to take home and use for the next two weeks (instructions included).
• 6:45  Dinner - Fava bean puree on garlic toast, spring salad loaded with nice vegetables, nightly special sirloin steak with summer squash, chocolate walnut cake and lemon bar for dessert.

Day Two - Lake Austin Spa Resort

Pool with Lake Austin in background

• 7:30  Breakfast
• 9:00  BOSU Cardio Blast - being the only attendee I had a private personal training session from Annie
• 10:00  Kettle Bell boot camp - being in my 60's I had to quit half way through.  Too hard on the back
• 11:30  Lunch - Salad with all the fixings and a yummy blue cheese dressing followed by a flatbread pizza that was enough for 2 people.  I managed, though, to eat most of it.  Finished off with a coconut frozen yogurt.
• 2:00  Cooking Demo on the "Flavors of Argentina" where we eat the results.  Flank steak with chimichurri sauce and sweet potatoes with honey and fresh thyme.
• 2:50  Frozen yogurt - combination peanut butter and red velvet cake (at a health spa???)
• 3:00  Water Aerobics with Sandy
• 4:30  Appetizer - edamame salad.  Not very inspiring.  Ate the edamame but left the whole wheat pasta
• 6:00  Dinner - I know it's hard to believe I can still eat after all the food today.  Maybe tomorrow I'll be better.  Fava bean puree on garlic toast; tomato and watermelon salad; grilled chicken with chimichurri sauce, manchego flan (really yummy), and garden vegetable Napolean; blueberry cobbler.  "Garden vegetable" here means literally from their garden.  The Napolean had heirloom tomatoes, summer squash, egg plant and red bell pepper.
• 7:30  Mindful Eating - educational program - I skipped this since I am very far away from mindful eating.

Day One - Lake Austin Spa Resort

pool area with flowers everywhere

  WOW!  My first impression is Wow!  The staff is incredibly friendly, large amounts of food and drinks are included, the grounds are absolutely gorgeous.  Situated right on the edge of the lake, beautiful flowers everywhere, a large garden where they grow vegetables and herbs for use in the kitchen.  Sunday is a day of transition - most of the people either checking in or checking out.  So I got a one-hour private water aerobics class with Sandy.  She is extremely knowledgeable and it's obvious she loves her job.  I'm looking forward to my daily water aerobic class with her.
   I've looked at the menu for dinner and it is going to be very hard to choose.  A member of the staff offered to give me more information after noticing that I was new and looking around.  Included in the rather pricey daily rate (see Getaway Deals on Destination Spas page):  all day beverages like lemonade, coffee, various teas;  frozen yogurt - 4 different flavors; breakfast; lunch; five course dinner (or however many courses you want!).  You can even get room service at no extra charge.  Not included is beer and wine.  The wine list is very impressive and not overly expensive.  A few wines are available for $8.00/glass.  Veuve Cliquot (one of my favorites) is available for $85/bottle which is less than twice the retail price.  Every day at 3:00 they serve appetizers.  Today it was artichoke dip on garlic toast - yummy.

• 1:00 Arrived 
• 2:00 Water aerobics which ran over an hour because Sandy was willing to spend extra time with me.  
• 3:15 appetizers in the living room overlooking the lake.  
• 4:00 Foam roller remedy. 
• 4:30 Gentle stretch
• 6:00 Dinner
• 7:30 Watercolor class (also included in daily rate)

Preparations for Miraval, Tucson, AZ

   Just got a great deal through Vacationist saving $200/night at Miraval.  Of course, just like Austin Texas, the special deal is available only when the average temperature is 100.  At least in Tucson there won't be much humidity.
   Check back at the end of August to see how it goes.  I hear wonderful things about the place, but it has been above my budget.  (It seems that my idea of affordable is creeping higher every month)
 

Day One continued - Lake Austin Spa Resort

View from dining room

Dinner:

• Spring vegetable & chick pea soup - a bit bland
• Quinoa tabbouleh salad - beets, almonds, great dressing
• Filet mignon with oven roasted mushrooms, green & white asparagus on a shallot capers jus
• Chocolate chip bread pudding

Breakfast:

• Hash browns
• Ham
• Poached Egg
• Gluten free toast

Snacks:
In less than 24 hours I have tried three flavors of frozen yogurt:  mango, strawberry and sweet coconut.  I may have to move to the fresh fruit soon or my gym clothes won't fit.

Preparations - Lake Austin Resort, TX

    In just a few weeks I will be heading over to Texas to check out the Lake Austin Spa and Resort.  It has been on my radar for quite some time and I finally found a deal that made it worth a try.
    At my request, the spa has arranged transportation from the airport to the resort in a town car/limo.  It costs $79 each way plus tip, but I checked out rental cars and it would be about the same price.  For about half the price I could have taken a shuttle, but why have the hassle to save $80 when I'm spending over $2000.  Besides this trip is for relaxing not spending two hours in a bus with a dozen other people.
     I have booked my "Sweet Dreams" facial and "Muscle Tension Melt" massage.  Both are included in my package price.  The calendar of activities is not available for my week yet, but the latest one shows that I will have plenty of classes to choose from without the need to take yoga or pilates (my least favorites!).  There is one water aerobics class per day.  Stability ball, core, bosu, stretch, kettle ball are scattered throughout the week.  More on each class starting June 23 when I arrive in Texas.  It will be hot, probably close to 90 degrees, so the water classes should be popular.

Getaway to Bermuda

     Bermuda is an unbelievably beautiful island.  I have wanted to go there for as long as I can remember.  I think my love affair first started with watching old James Bond movies.  I'm sure there were some scenes in Bermuda with the local secret agents dressed in Bermuda shorts.
     Unfortunately, I had to leave off the "get fit" portion of my blog when giving this post a title.  We stayed at the Fairmont Southampton which is a fabulous resort.  They have a daily water aerobic class and alternate yoga and pilates every day.  But that's it - not my ideal Getaway to Get Fit.  The Willow Stream spa was wonderful.  We got the room attached to this beautiful balcony for half price because we went in March.  And we were upgraded to this one with a view because I have a Presidents Club membership.  Check out the hotel page for all the details on specials.  We tried several restaurants and the food was great no matter what we ordered.
     If you really want to relax you can just stay at the Fairmont: visit their private beach for lunch, sit at the pool in the afternoon, have dinner at any one of the hotel restaurants, and the next day have a massage and spend the day lounging at the private spa pool.  Repeat as necessary.  There is no need to go anywhere else.
     Bermuda lived up to all my expectations which means I will be watching for the "pink sale" again next year to get a spectacular room for $135/night.  Looking forward to drinking another "dark and stormy" on my return.  If you are lucky enough to be upgraded on the Delta flight from Atlanta you will have the pleasure of being taken care of by "Bermuda Bev".  Probably the best, friendliest, most efficient flight attendant in the Delta work force.

Coming Soon - Lake Austin Resort, Texas

I'm very excited to have finally found a deal that makes the price of the Lake Austin Resort and Spa affordable.  The regular price for a four-night stay is $3470.  I booked a four-night stay for $2396 that also includes $400 to use on spa treatments.  Still pricey, but doable.  Check back at the end of June for a review.

Getaway Get Fit in Hampshire UK

View from patio

     Champney's Forest Mere is set in a bucolic part of Hampshire near the town of Liphook.  The lake in this picture along with the surrounding forest is home to varied wildlife.  Like Champney Springs (see March post) this place has everything I'm looking for in a Get Fit Getaway.  The class schedule is full of possibilities every day ranging from multiple water aerobics to fun hula hoop sessions.  The all-inclusive Traditional Week price includes meals, lodging, classes and several spa treatments.  Forest Mere is a bit more expensive than the Springs - about 13%.  Other than it being closer to London I didn't feel it was worth that much more money.  I found the staff a little less friendly here, with a couple exceptions.
     One server/hostess stood out.  I mentioned that I was allergic to bell peppers.  For the rest of the week she provided my own private typed menu of specially prepared items and a list of the daily items that I could eat.  Very special!  I again opted for a superior room which included sparkling and still water for the week.  I left a note requesting only sparkling water with a small tip and received 4 bottles every day for the rest of my stay. 
     Liphook is a short train ride from London Waterloo.  One way is about £20 for the 1 hour 10 minute ride.  Champney's will provide you with the number to call to arrange for a taxi to take you to the spa.  The taxi was waiting when the train arrived and cost £8.  Effortless travel.

Getaway Get Fit at Water Week Ojai California

Check out the Oaks at Ojai in a previous post.  As I mentioned in that post, this is probably the most affordable spa in California if not the United States.  Because I get their email newsletter I discovered a week with a special discount because part of the resort was being remodeled.  In addition, it was Water Week.  This meant three to four water aerobic classes per day.  Nirvana!  I asked to extend my stay at the last minute and they upgraded my entire stay for a reasonable fee to a Mini Spa Suite.  It was huge and away from most of the spa traffic.  The grand accommodations led to a fine feeling of pampering, but the extra water classes kept me to a good workout schedule.  There are many other special weeks where different exercise regimens are featured.  Go to Oaks at Ojai for more information.

Travel to Red Mountain Resort

St George, Utah, has a brand new airport with two, yes 2, gates.  You can get to SGU with a connection through Salt Lake City or a direct flight from Los Angeles.  Red Mountain will pick you up if you let them know when your flight arrives.  It's free except for a tip to the driver.  An alternative is to fly into Las Vegas and arrange for a shuttle to St. George.  There are several every day and they drop you right at the resort.  I prefer getting frequent flyer miles so I have flown into SGU on both of my visits to Red Mountain.

Getaway Get Fit in St George Utah

View from restaurant

     Red Mountain Resort near St. George, Utah, is aptly named.  It is surrounded by beautiful red rock formed centuries ago into eye-catching cliffs and canyons.  The buildings of the resort were designed to blend in perfectly with the surrounding scenery.  This is one of the more affordable places in the U.S. to getaway to get fit, especially if you sign up for email notifications and wait for a special.  You can go on an all-inclusive package or ala carte.  The package is almost always a good deal, even though it doesn't include spa treatments like Champneys does (see previous post).  If you are a returning customer you get a discount on spa treatments.
 

Fitness center garden

      The fitness focus here is hiking which is at the bottom of my list.  If I wasn't afraid of heights and didn't have bad feet, I would love to walk in these stunning mountains.  Other than hiking, there aren't many choices for exercise before lunch.  The afternoons, however, have a full range of aerobic, strength and yoga classes.  Water aerobics, at the top of my list, is only offered two or three times a week, so I have to plan the timing of my visit carefully.  They do have one easy hike that is also fun.  It's the Pound Puppy Hike--where you take dogs from the local shelter on a one hour walk over level terrain.  It looks like they have added some other hikes since I was last there, so I may need to check them out.
     You can eat healthy if you have willpower.  The breakfast and lunch buffets have good choices.  Once again, I gained weight--no willpower--especially with the very tasty three course dinners.  They have an interesting choice of entrees including vegetarian, elk, and venison as well as the standard beef, pork, chicken or lamb.  The menu changes regularly so you won't get bored no matter what you choose.  And you can buy a reasonably priced glass of wine (or two!)

Travel to Champney Springs

I flew into Birmingham via Amsterdam and then grabbed a taxi outside the airport.  When I researched cab rides it said I could use a credit card.  Unfortunately that is only if you have the "chip and pin" style, which the US has not yet developed.  Luckily I had just enough cash to pay for the trip (£65 or $110).  Next time I will probably fly to London, spend the night, and take a train to Tamworth which is just 20 minutes away from the resort.  This should be a much cheaper taxi fare.
Note:  the resort is not within walking distance of any town, so be sure to pick up cash at an ATM before getting to Champney Springs.  You won't need much because you can charge extras to your room.  Just enough for an occasional tip.

Getaway Get Fit in Leicestershire UK

This is the view from my room at Champneys Springs, Leicestershire, The Midlands, England.  The superior room was worth the extra cost.  It is huge and the bathroom is as deluxe as any you will find in a 5-star hotel.  Champneys has four destination spas and this is the first one I have checked out.  If you want outside activities you will need a car because this view is similar to every other direction from the spa; open country and farm lands.  Even after adding in airfare from the US this spa was surprisingly affordable.  I managed to get in on a special with no single supplement.  They also have reduced rates if you book early.
     Their six night "Traditional Week" is all-inclusive.  Buffet breakfast and lunch with a three course dinner, where the menu changes daily.  I'm afraid I gained weight with the fresh bakery bread in the morning and a dessert every night.  They also serve wine by the glass or bottle at a reasonable price.  Tipping is not expected but an occasional pound to the server and/or hostess is graciously accepted.
      The most amazing part of this Traditional Week is that it also includes 3 massages, 2 facials, 3 thalassotherapy pool sessions, scalp massage, wrap, all of the fitness classes, and lifestyle talks.  You can start the week with a free health assessment.  The fitness class schedule includes 3 water aerobics and several other fun aerobic and strength training classes every day.  I especially like the hula hoop class--it makes you feel 10 years old again.  The weekly schedule is available on line so you can plan your day before you leave home.  The superior room comes with free sparkling and still water.  All rooms come with a robe and slippers which is how you dress all day.  Dinner is dress up time.
     As of this writing you can book a week sharing a room for £849, equivalent to US $215 per night.  The superior room as a single is £1149, or US $292 per night.  Champneys Springs is less than an hour from good friends, so this getaway to get fit was perfect.  www.champneys.com

Getaway Get Fit in Ojai California

Ojai is a small town southeast of Santa Barbara, California.  Main Street is reminiscent of many small towns, with an emphasis on culture and refinement.  In this bucolic setting you will find the Oaks at Ojai.  The first thing that drew my attention to the Oaks was the price--probably the most affordable in California.  They have specials during the year and the single supplement isn't outrageous.  Next the class schedule, available on-line, was extensive.  At least two water aerobic classes every day and plenty of other classes for stretching, aerobics and strength training.  If you want to lose some weight this is the place.  The limited choice menu (all-inclusive) is low calorie and low fat with virtually no sodium.  Yet everything is tasty.  The muffins at breakfast are so good, I bought a couple dozen to bring home.  I did the same with their soups.  Have you checked the sodium content on store soups?  The Oaks is able to make very yummy soups without all that salt.  The only drawback (or asset depending on your point of view) is that the next block on Main Street contains a wine tasting room, ice cream parlor, and restaurants.  So if the spartan dinner isn't enough for you, there are plenty of high calorie options available nearby.  Oh, I almost forgot--there are any number of spa treatments available for an additional cost.  See the Oaks website for all the details.

Checking out Monart in Ireland

Doing some research on Monart in Ireland.  So far the reviews look great, but I haven't found out much about the fitness classes.  The website says a schedule is available upon arrival.  Too late!  It isn't all-inclusive, but the dining options on-site look interesting and have decent reviews.  Looking at their packages, they don't seem to cater to long stays.  The packages are all for 1 or 2 nights.  If I travel overseas, I would like to stay at least 5 days.

Getaway Get Fit

It’s difficult to describe exactly what I look for in my Getaway Get Fit quest.  I want multiple fitness classes, but I don’t want a boot camp atmosphere.  That is why I include spa in my search.  To me, spa implies that there will be relaxation and pampering, but I want to stay active.  I need to have group fitness classes and not just a fitness center for working out on my own.  In order of preference, my search for classes: 

1. water aerobics
2. strength training
3. fun aerobics (hula hoop, drumming, etc)
4. pilates
5. yoga
6. hiking

GetAway Get Fit introduction

Destination spa  fitness  health  education   travel  all-inclusive  resort  active  experience  relaxation  edification  value  affordable  wellness   

These are just a few of the words I have used to search the web over the past year.  Hours have been spent trying to find the perfect getaway.   I’ve followed every promising link from one site to another. 

Here’s what I’m looking for:

Location:  I like to travel, so preferably the destination needs a flight.  US and Europe are currently on my radar.  Once arriving, it should be accessible by public transportation or a reasonably priced taxi. 

Accommodations:  I like my comfort, so dorm or hostel style is not for me.  The spas I’ve visited so far have hotel type accommodation.  It should be a place that is comfortable for a single visitor and doesn’t charge an arm and a leg for a single supplement.  All-inclusive is best, but at least a restaurant on-site.  A glass of wine available with dinner is definitely a plus. 

Activities:  Fitness classes – yoga and pilates are OK, but I prefer to have other types of aerobic and strength training group classes.  Water aerobics is my class of choice, so it is the first thing I look for on the schedule.  Spa treatments are a plus.  So far I have not found a resort that has group fitness without also having spa facilities.  It's fun to have a cooking or art class, or a lecture on wellness.

My next post will describe my first experience at the Oaks in Ojai, California.  I didn’t get to take a plane to get there, but it had everything else I was looking for.