10 Ways to Save on a Spa Vacation

Book a Package

Let's face it: Sometimes, one treatment is not enough. Luckily, spas often package together multiple treatments, knocking off a bit of the price of each individual service. So while you're paying more overall, you're spared the a la carte premium.

For instance, at Maui's Grand Wailea Spa Grande, the Makani package includes a facial, clay cocoon, hair and scalp treatment, and shampoo and blow-dry. Booked individually, the treatments would cost about $480, but as a package, they cost $370. While packages won't always save you money, if you're interested in multiple treatments, it's worth comparing prices before booking a la carte.

Take a Day Trip

Spending a weekend or week at a destination spa might be out of your price range, but many offer day rates for spa-goers who want just a taste of bliss. When you're looking at pricing, remember that destination spas offer more than just individual treatments; they also usually provide healthy meals, organized activities, and amenities geared toward rest, rejuvenation, and relaxation.

At Rancho La Puerta in Mexico, a week's stay in a single room starts at $3,750 in spring. However, its Saturdays at the Ranch program, which includes round-trip transportation from nearby San Diego plus fitness and cooking classes, meals, and access to the luxe facilities, will run you $235 per person (or $300 if you want to add a spa treatment).

Shop Around

If you think all spas offer similar rates, think again. Expect to pay more in popular destinations and central locations. You generally won't have to sacrifice quality or experience if you choose a hotel slightly off the beaten path, but you can expect better prices. For instance, at Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace on the Las Vegas Strip, a 50-minute hot-stone massage costs $170. But if you're willing to make the 17-mile trip from the Strip to Lake Las Vegas, a 50-minute hot-stone and aromatherapy massage costs just $120 at Spa Moulay at The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa.

Consider a Fitness or Activity Spa

If you're willing to work for it, you can often find cheaper treatment rates at spas geared less toward luxury or relaxation and more toward fitness. Case in point: At many destination spas, you'll spend upwards of $400 per night, but at the New Life Hiking Spa in Killington, Vermont, nightly rates start at around $240 per night, including accommodations, meals, hiking and exercise classes, and spa treatments.

Book During Spa Week

Spa Week is that one special week each April when pricey spa treatments across the country magically cost only $50. Decadent treatments include coconut-pineapple body-balm wraps and stress-melting massages. To find $50 treatments, sign in to the Spa Week website, then search by state.

Check Local Deal and Private-Sale Sites

If you get emails from any local deal or private-sale sites, you're likely used to deals offering 80 percent off facials, 75 percent off keratin treatments, two-for-one waxing, and the like. You may ignore most of these offers in your home city, but if you're looking for an affordable spa experience on your travels, such a deal might be the ticket to an affordable and luxurious vacation treatment. And on such sites that offer hotel stays (including our sister site SniqueAway), you can sometimes find deals at destination spas.

Go During Slower Times

Like most leisure venues, spas tend to be busier on weekends and busiest during high-season tourism periods like summer and holidays. Game the system by going on quieter midweek days and give holiday weekends and popular vacation times a wide berth. For example, the Red Mountain Resort near Zion National Park in Utah is currently offering a Midweek Savings special that offers discounts on stays Sunday through Wednesday through the end of April.

Sign Up for Last-Minute and Limited-Time Specials

Spas rely on a steady stream of relaxation seekers, and when they're underbooked, many facilities offer short-window specials or last-minute offers to keep customers coming. If you've got the flexibility and the motivation to take advantage of these sorts of deals, it's definitely worth signing up for spas' email newsletters. Another similar trick is to look for holiday specials; for instance, this past December, The Cloister at Sea Island resort in Georgia, home to The Cloister Spa, offered an extra $100 for every $500 purchased in gift cards.

Look for Discounts

When you make initial contact with a spa, it never hurts to ask if it's offering any interesting specials or discounts on treatments. Maybe they're introducing a new treatment or boosting the popularity of a lesser-known one. For instance, the Salish Lodge & Spa outside Seattle is offering a limited-time price of $60 to promote its new Spa-Jet treatment add-on. If you're on a spa's email list, you'll often be among the first to know of new discounts and limited-time specials.

Get A Treatment With Your Day Pass

At the Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn's Willow Stream Spa, you'll pay $29 as a hotel guest or $89 as a non-guest to gain all-day access to its outdoor thermal mineral pools, bathhouse lounge, signature bathing ritual, fitness center, and fitness classes. But at the Inn and many other spas, facility access is complimentary when you book a spa treatment. So treating yourself to, at the very least, a manicure or pedicure (usually among the least expensive spa treatments) is a fantastic way to boost your relaxation quotient for only slightly more money.

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