My favorite spa is a local one in Hawley, PA, which also happens to be listed as one of the top spas in the country. The Lodge at Woodloch is a destination spa here in the Pocono Mountains. I've experienced their amazing facials and their classic Swedish massage. Their facilities are amazing with an Aqua Garden and a Women's Retreat.
– Shannon Nelson

You can never go wrong w/ a Bliss spa. While the NY originals are the best, I plan to send myself on the Bliss world tour and have successfully visited all three NYC locations, Dallas & Chicago. SF, Atlanta, London, here I come!
– Christi Woodworth, Oklahoma City, OK

I don’t visit NY without a trip to the Chopra Center & Spa at Dream New York. It has every imaginable relaxing spa service and the décor, music, smells and staff create the ultimate atmosphere for meditation and relaxation. It is very easy to forget Times Square is just outside the spa’s doors. My favorite spa treatment is one which they drip oil over your forehead and hair. I used to think a slow drip of anything over the forehead was used as a form of torture, so I was highly shocked when it became the best spa treatment I’d ever had in my life.
– Diana Rohini LaVigne, Fremont, CA

Just wanted you to know about a great experience a friend and I had recently at Ojo Caleinte in New Mexico. I live in Santa Fe, land of great spas (including Ten Thousand Waves, default great spa), so was pleasantly surprised when I drove up to find that funky old Ojo had transformed into the most marvelous spa.
– Mara Harris, Santa Fe, NM

I am a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in Taos, New Mexico, which is about an hour and a half's drive to my favorite regional spa, Ojo Caliente. I go at least once a month to rejuvenate. The ancient sacredness of the Native Americans who graced these waters can still be felt. For me there is an instantaneous re-member-ing of my body, mind and heart as I recall the ancient ones who soaked before me. It is proven that water holds memory, and I embrace the memory of those who ages ago engaged in water ceremony at Ojo. This connection reminds me to be gentle with myself, and others and Mother Earth.
– Ana Easter, Taos, NM

I love the Grand Spa at Tabacón Grand Spa Thermal Resort in Costa Rica. The spa is in the middle of the rainforest and all treatments are in open-air bungalows with monkeys running around, the wind blowing, rain coming down and birds flying. What could be more amazing! Oh, yeah, you can often hear the volcano coughing.
– Meryl Pearlstein, NYC
 
Spa Avania, located at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch has a very unique concept. The treatments, smells, sounds and even the food is designed to be in sync with the body's biorhythms. Spa Avania pays particular attention to how the body reacts in the morning, noon and evening and with that in mind, they've designed treatments to feed the body's needs at these key time periods.
– Ally Schupbach, Phoenix, AZ

My favorite spa is the Burke Williams Spa in Sherman Oaks, CA. I think the therapists are also trained physical therapists and it's one of the few places where you truly come away feeling as if you've had "therapy," not just a massage. I feel "fixed" when I leave. I also love CuisinArt Resort & Spa in Anguilla. There isn't' a lot to do there except eat and lie on the most beautiful beach on the bland, so this brand new 27,000 sq. ft. spa is an awesome addition to the resort and the island.
– Jody Diamond, Los Angeles, CA

My favorite spa is the located at the Broadmoor Hotel & Resort in Colorado Springs, CO. The best part of this spa is their Mountain View relaxation room, which provides plenty of comfy lounge chairs with the most AMAZING view of the resort and mountains.
­– Mariechelle Bonifacio, Long Beach, CA

The Omni Springs Eternal Spa in Bedford, PA is unequivocally the best spa I’ve ever experienced. The Bedford Bath ritual followed by the Relaxation Room completely relaxes the body and mind before even being called into the treatment room.
– Bette Slayton, Bedford, PA

I usually feel uncomfortable at a spa, but The Deerfield Spa in East Stroudsburg, PA makes guests feel right at home. Nothing "uppity" about this one. If you're looking to de-stress and do it on a budget Deerfield fits the bill!
– Mary Simons, Yonkers, NY

My favorite spa is Chill Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. After a week of hiking in the National Parks, a massage was just what I needed. Chill Spa's dedication to the environment through the use of organic products and innovative treatments was fantastic. The fantastic Sky Lounge was relaxing and provided stunning views of Teton Village.
-Rachel Scheer, New York

My favorite spa is the Solitude Spa at Teton Mountain Lodge & Spa in Jackson Hole, Wyoming. I had the opportunity to experience the spa this past summer, after a long day of hiking through the Grand Teton National Park and it was heavenly.
– Meaghan Calnan, Freehold, NJ

At the Embellish Nails & Boutique in Austin, customers are offered warm neck wraps, refreshing cucumber water or mimosas and free chocolaty snacks like M&Ms. It’s a girl’s pampering paradise, complete with pink walls and a boutique filled with cute handbags, tees and jewelry.
– Julia McQueen, Austin, TX

My favorite spa is bo Salon in Austin. Ron King, the owner, is a sweetheart and makes everyone feel like a celebrity.
– Joie Tamkin, Austin, TX

The new spa at Buttermilk Falls Inn & Spa in Milton, New York is in a beautiful, natural setting. It's located on 70 acres of cliffs overlooking the Hudson River north of New York City. I like the fact that the spa was built to use geothermal and solar power to operate everything from the computers to the sauna and steam room, so it's good for the environment as well as being an enjoyable experience.
– Tami Bergman, Newburgh, NY

My favorite spa is The Greenhouse in Dallas, TX. You are pampered all day and walk away much thinner. My friends and I also do The Red Door in Absecon when we can only escape for the day.
– Beth Dunn, Dallas, TX

Arcona Studio in Santa Monica, Ca is amazing - they have their own line of all-natural products and fantastic facials. I'm obsessed! My skin seriously glows after using their products.
– Meg Lennox

My favorite spa destination is The Heartland in Illinois, about two hours outside of Chicago on an old farmstead. It’s very reasonably priced and extremely unpretentious: everyone wears Heartland sweats and eats the same simple but very good meals. Rumor has it, Oprah used to go there when she was just another Chicago talk-show host.
 – Karen Doyne, Washington DC

My one and only favorite spot is The Minneapolis Wellness Center. I go there for massage and waxing. This is just a great spot because they REALLY care about you.
– Uyen "Wing" Nguyen, Eagan, MN

Terme di Saturnia is my favorite destination spa in Europe. It’s nestled in the hills of Tuscany at the foot of the medieval village Saturnia. The resort was built around a 3000 year-old thermal pool. Their approach is holistic instead of cosmetic. The emphasis is not on diet and small portions but on quality and freshness. What I love most about the spa is that I walk around all day in my robe in the public areas.
– Charmaine McClarie, Los Angeles

Ten Thousand Waves in Santa Fe, New Mexico lends itself to a complete escape from “real life.” You feel like you’re in a giant, exotic tree house while you’re there – and when you walk from one part of the spa to the other, you weave inside and outside, so you get natural sunlight and fresh air as well as the comfort and coziness of the indoors.
– Kate Faricy, Colorado Springs, Colorado.

During my eight years living in London, I've discovered some fabulous finds for getting gorgeous and simply getting time away to relax and recharge. One of my favorites is Nougat Spa, in Notting Hill, London. This sweet gem of a salon/day spa is a new addition to Westbourne Grove's already happening string of boutiques and restaurants. It's very ‘girly' and sweet.
­– Suzanne Aaronson, London

As for the travelgirl staff – Associate Publisher Robyn Werbin loves THE Hotel at Mandalay in Vegas, and the spa at The Bellagio, if she is getting a couples treatment. My fantasy favorite in Atlanta is 29 Spa at The Mansion, and when I'm in Asheville, I make sure to visit The Grove Park Inn spa.

 

- Compiled by Jan Butsch Schroder