Scottsdale, Arizona offers some of the country’s best resort spas. A peaceful hideaway from the fast paced city life, the intimacy of the desert-mountains scenery and understated elegance of the Sanctuary Spa at Sanctuary Camelback Mountain was hard for me to resist. With the lure of Paradise Valley and the tranquil Meditation Garden, the spa offers a range of Asian-inspired treatments in fourteen outdoor and indoor rooms. Specialty full-body treatments are focused on intense moisture replenishment targeting detoxification, the metabolism, or the lymphatic system. Even a basic facial focuses on the whole body experience. With the Asian-inspired treatments, one can choose between a Thai foot reflexology massage, acupuncture, reiki (a gentle, yet powerful holistic healing technique focusing on mental, emotional, spiritual, and physical aspects of well-being), shiatsu, or luk pra kope (which literally translates to “to massage with medicinal herbs” and is aimed at soothing sore and aching muscles, enhancing circulation, reducing joint stiffness and refreshing the skin). Possibly the only downside of Sanctuary Spa is the difficulty of selecting from the wide variety of massages, body and facial treatments and aquatic experiences. Whether a relaxing and soothing Swedish body massage, a re-energizing interactive table Thai massage, a longevity treatment with thermal-water firming gel, or revitalizing tangerine scrub. You might choose a bamboo lemongrass scrub followed by a full-body massage with Thai lemongrass body lotion. The skin feels very soft and regained a youthful appearance from this treatment, and the massage experience is incredibly relaxing. When combined with hiking in the shadows of Camelback Mountains, you will find a true energizer!
July 5, 2007 No Comments
Vacations bring the long awaited escape from everyday stress. To ensure a stress-free vacation, check off these before-you-go task to set your vacationing mind at peace:
1. Check batteries in smoke detectors
Replace the old batteries in all the smoke detectors and make sure that they are working properly. Also, turn off devices such as toasters, microwaves, TV sets, and computers. Not just a safety concern, you will also save energy.
2. Review your home insurance plan
Review your home insurance plan and update it to reflect current needs. Consider how your situation changed or what new property you acquired since purchasing your current insurance. Valuables such as jewelry or fine art are often insurable.
3. Check prescription medication
Ensure that the family has enough prescription medications for the entire period plus a few extra days. If traveling by air, remember to keep the prescriptions and refills in a plastic bag in your carry-on baggage. Have a sufficient supply of over-the-counter drugs to alleviate a headache or upset stomach. Also take sunscreens, repellents and after-sun lotion.
4. Inform your security system provider of the dates you depart and return
Make sure that your security provider knows that you will be away and that they have a number at which you could be reached in an emergency. Also, have a relative or a friend designated as an emergency contact in your hometown.
5. Have land line calls forwarded to your cell phone
Check if your coverage area extends to your destination. If so, your service providers may also forward your landline phone calls to your cell phone at no additional charge.
6. Don’t forget batteries and power adapters
Make sure you have all the connectors, batteries and power adapters for your camera, cell phone and other devices. You may end up paying more for batteries in hotels and resorts or not finding the type that you need. Remember that in some countries you may need a specific power adapter or voltage converters.
8. Pay bills
To avoid late fees, check what bills will be due while you are on vacation. A quick phone call to set up payments ahead of time can save you vacation worries and a post-vacation hassle.
9. Put mail on hold
You can easily arrange putting your mail and newspaper delivery on hold online. Otherwise, a pile of newspaper sitting on your front step or a stuffed mail box may send an unwanted signal that the house in empty.
10. Take care of home and garden
Another way how to avoid leaving your house with an abandoned look is to have the garden taken care of shortly before you go. With a nice exterior, your home will keep its lived-in feel. Last but not least, keep your regular housekeeping service on the job. It will keep your home fresh, and you will feel better coming back to a clean and tidy house.
June 28, 2007 No Comments
If an exotic massage is what you are looking for, consider visiting Israel. The place renowned for its Dead Sea salts and celebrated therapeutic resorts has a new delicacy on = list, and if you take currency exchange rates into consideration, now might just be good time to go. The Israeli shekel has dropped in value in relation to the U.S. dollar in the past 2 months. So by choosing Israel as your travel destination, you could also benefit from better exchange rates. There are many things to see in Israel – be it the grandiose Bahai Gardens in Haifa, therapeutic spas in the Dead Sea area or gorgeous Eilat’s Red Sea beaches in the south. But if bizarre peculiarities are what give flavor to your travels, you shouldn’t miss the communal village of Talmey El’Azar in Northern Israel. It is here where you can receive a quite bizarre yet reportedly re-energizing snake massage. Although not unambiguously stress-relieving, clients of the therapist Ada Barak, who performs this unconventional treatment, claim the massage to be an effective way to soothe aching muscles and stiff joints. Barak makes use of California and Florida king snakes, corn snakes and milk snakes. For about 70 bucks (300 shekels), you can have six of the non-venomous reptiles slither your pain away. With six lively serpents hissing into their ears, not many people mange to enjoy the exotic massage fear-free. But with the success rate paralleled to that of Dead Sea salts and exotic oils, the treatment is becoming a popular exotic massage among locals and tourists. What might remind of a modern version of some ancient torture practice might soon be added to Israel’s most successful treatment methods and show up at a day spa near you one day.
June 27, 2007 No Comments
A weak US Dollar does not have to stand between you and your best scuba dive vacations! If corals, fish, and ship wrecks are your summer must-see, you probably already know about some of the best diving spots out there. But which ones are the best and the most affordable with the current exchange rates?
With the US dollar a lot weaker than this time last year, choosing a location with a poor currency exchange rates may pull quite a few extra bucks from your wallet. When looking for your scuba vacation, consider traveling to a country with a currency that weaker than United States dollar can considerably cut down your travel expenses. While Heron Island in Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, just as the Vanuatu scuba dive in South East Asia, lures the divers with thousands of species of fish and remarkable natural treasures, these destinations are not necessarily the cheapest.
To turn your scuba diving vacations into the best deal possible, watch out for the exchange rates. Here are the world’s 8 best scuba diving destinations where a weaker US dollar will not affect your budget plans:
1. Belize
The warm Caribbean waters of Belize are one of the most acclaimed scuba diving destinations. Here, you can swim alongside nurse sharks and stingrays in Shark Ray Alley, take a look at the fascinatingly diverse marine life while gliding through the Barrier Reef, or explore Belize’s famous Blue Hole, a perfectly circular limestone sinkhole more than 400 feet deep. Belize Dollar is fixed to the US dollar, the average USD to BZD exchange rate being 1:1.96.
2. Grand Turk, Turks & Caicos
The islands of Turk’s and Caicos are a true divers’ paradise. Thanks to the government determination to protect its valuable natural environment, untouched reefs, dunes and drop-offs are awaiting under the water.
Although the US dollar being the Turks and Caicos currency saves you money on exchange rates, the cost of the diving tours skyrockets when the tourist season hits peak (mid-December to mid-April). Therefore, it’s best to plan your trip between April and July as the water gets unbearably hot afterwards.
3. Cayman Islands
Mid-December through mid-April is the peak tourist time in the Caymans, too. This spot often referred to as the best Caribbean diving site, is an ideal US-dollar destination thanks to its clear and warm waters.
4. Mozambique
Islands of Mozambique are totally undeveloped and a nature-lovers’ dream. Along with the reefs and clear waters, you can experience wonderful night diving and wreck explorations in the Marine National Park. The best months to visit are June, July and August. Mozambique’s currency being fixed to the US dollar, the USD to Mozambique’s Metical rate oscillates around 25544.1:1. Before you head to Mozambique’s irresistible waters though, check government travel advisories. Some places in the country are still affected by a long civil war and may suffer unrest.
5. Yap, Micronesia
Another place where you can benefit from avoiding exchange rate losses while planning your scuba dive vacations is Yap. This little island in Micronesia with the US dollar currency, but is certainly among the world’s brightest diving treasures. It is known for its incredibly diverse marine life, especially the mysterious and largest of all rays, the manta ray. It’s recommended to visit the island during the dry season between December and April.
6. Bonaire
The marine park of the Bonaire waters offers the divers a wonderful sight of an unspoiled underwater ecosystem. The best time to indulge into the diving pleasures in the Caribbean waters of Bonaire is between September and December, as the sea is the calmest at that time. Netherlands Antillean Gulden is fixed to the US dollar. Hence, exchange rate fluctuations will not affect your scuba dive vacations’ budget plans.
7. Hawaii
To avoid downsides of traveling while the US dollar is weak, staying within the country may be a reasonable strategy. Giant sea turtles, whales and sharks are redundant in the fertile volcanic ecosystem of the Hawaiian waters. Although not as clear as those of some sheltered islands, its waters offer a great scuba diving adventure thanks to the richness of Hawaii’s marine life.
8. Florida
Florida is the best scuba diving destination on the North American continent with countless scuba diving shops along the entire Gulf coast and Atlantic coast. While the Gulf coast usually outperforms the Atlantic Coast in visibility, the latter offers a wealth of reefs and shipwrecks. The convenience of and economy of Florida travel, alongside with the abundance of tropical fish, manatees, giant turtles and dolphins account for one of the best scuba diving vacations.
June 12, 2007 No Comments
Our monthly reports tell you what countries and currencies offer the best deals. Travel and buy smart!