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.