Saving At The Spa Basics

Spa Week's Bargain Spa Treatments

Spa Week is famous for its $50 spa treatments. Here's what you need to know to get in on it.

What Is Spa Week?

Spa Week is a promotional event where participating spas offer select spa treatments for just $50.

When Is Spa Week?

Spa Week takes place in the spring and the fall in many of the U.S. and Canada's major markets. The next Spa Week is October 15-21,2007 for cities and states outside the West Coast. The West Coast Spa Week took place September 17-23, 2007. You can sign up for my newsletter to make sure you don't miss the next Spa Week in the spring.

Where Is Spa Week?

Spa Week takes place at over 400 spas in 22 markets, including New York City, New Jersey, Philadelphia, Boston, Washington D.C., Virginia, Baltimore, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago, Dallas, Austin, Miami, Denver, Minnesota, Toronto, Arizona, Los Angeles, San Diego, San Francisco, Portland and Seattle.

Can I Get Any Treatment I Want for $50?

No.Each spa chooses the treatment they want to offer. It could be a body polish, a facial, microdermabrasion, or massage.

Why Do Spas Participate in Spa Week?

They want you to try the spa, enjoy your experience, and then come back and pay full price. Sometimes the spa offer treatments like microdermabrasion or light therapy that are best done as a series and they're hoping you will go for the series. Not every spa in your city will participate.

How Do I Get the $50 Spa Treatments?

You have to register at Spaweek.org to get access to the listings. They go up a few weeks before Spa Week is set to begin. Log in, then click on your city or state to see a list of participating spas and the treatments they offer. Once you see a treatment you want, call the spa directly to make your reservation. The spa will ask for your credit card number to secure the reservation.

What If I Cancel? Cancellation policies vary, so check when you're booking your treatment. If you let them know early that you need to cancel or reschedule, it shouldn't be a problem. If you cancel at the last-minute or don't show up, you will be charged.

Is there a limit to the Number of $50 Spa Treatments I Can Try?

No. You can try as many treatments as you want. But your body has limits. Don't get two facials or two microdermabrasion sessions in one week. It's not good for your skin. Instead, try treatments that complement each other like facial, a body treatment, and a massage.

How Much Should I Tip?

Tip on the full value of the service, not on the $50 you're being charged.

What A Spa Trip Costs

Just because you're staying at a spa doesn't mean you have to spend a lot of money. There's a huge range in the pricing at overnight spas.

A week-long stay in a room for four costs $750 per person at Tennessee Fitness Spa, one of many budget destination spas.

At the ultra-luxurious Golden Door near San Diego, a week-long stay would set you back nearly $8,000. And you can find spas at every price between.

Here are the factors that will affect how much you spend on your spa trip:

-How far am I traveling? Spas are so popular now that there's usually one within reach. Take a weekend spa getaway near home and save on travel. If you want to have a more unusual experience half-way across the country, airfare adds to the cost.

-How long do I plan to stay? Most destination spas have a minimum stay of two or three nights and it might go up to a week.

-What's included in my package? Most destination spa rates include meals, exercise classes and sometimes spa treatments. Most resort spas are a la carte -- you pay for room, meals, classes and treatments separately. Some add daily resort fees or fees for access to spa facilities.

-How much luxury do I need? If you're willing to share a bare bones room that you won't be in much anyway, the price goes way down. Motel-style rooms and rustic settings will be cheaper than plasma TVs and Frette linenes.

-What part of the country am I in? The places that aren't considered great spa meccas, like Maine, Michigan and Ohio, tend to have spas with more competitive prices.

-Do I want to make my spa vist on weekends in peak season? You can always get a better rate if you can time your stay mid-week in low season. Look for hot spa deals.

-Am I traveling in a group? If there are enough of you, you can probably negotiate a group rate.

-How many spa treatments do I want? Spa treatments are more expensive at destination and resort spas than your average day spa, so budget accordingly. And you may want more services than are included in your package. If you want more, book them before you go.

-Do I want extra services like medical evaluations or smoking cessation, available at spas like Canyon Ranch Lenox? These highly specialized services will drive your bill up considerably.

Saving on Your Spa Vacation

Want to save money on your spa vacation? Here are a few tips for getting the best deal.

-Look at the the hottest spa deals to find the best deals I've uncovered right now.

-Make sure you know what type of spayou're staying at and what's included. Is the price just the room, or does it include meals, exercise classes and a credit toward spa treatments?

-Travel off-season. In the Northeast, rates are lower in the winter, higher in the summer. It’s the reverse in the Southwest and Florida.

-Stay mid-week for the lowest rates. Destination spas usually have a three-night minimum.A Thursday night arrival will cost more than a Sunday night arrival.

-Look for special packages like Girlfriend Getaways, but add up the costs a la carte to make sure you're really getting a good deal. Sometimes it's just another way to package things at "rack rate."

-If there is a particular spa you want to experience, visit its website. It will let you know about any special savings programs.

-Look at destination spas that are known for good value, like the Tennessee Fitness Spa in Waynesboro, Tenn., or the New Age Health Spa in Neversink, NY. They are rustic, but offer a healthy holiday at an affordable price.

-Some spas are copying the airlines with “frequent spa-er” programs. Lake Austin Spa Resort's Monarch Club lets you earn credits towards future stays.

-Deals are always changing. Go to Spa Finder Best Buys to find some of the deals offered through its member spas – everything from free spa treatments to discounted rooms to additional nights.

Spa Bargains - Keeping Costs Low

Massages at most spas start at $90 and facials at $75 and higher. Many states have a service tax, and a tip of 15-20% is good spa etiquette. Is there any way to get these services more cheaply?
The biggest savings to be had is by going to a school where massage therapists or aestheticians are trained. A facial might be $25, a massage $40. But it won't offer a "luxury" experience, and their skill level will not be as high as a practiced professional.

Massage therapists and aestheticians who work out of their home usually have lower fees than a full spa. They don't usually charge tax or expect a tip. Again, you won't get luxury amenities that make a spa an "experience".

Destination spas have lower prices in their off-season -- summer in Tucson or winter in Lenox, Mass.Check their web sites for particulars.