Affordable Spa Getaways

I’ve been thinking a lot about spas lately. Partly, the interest stems from the sunshine out my window, a harbinger of the swimsuit days ahead. But the other inspiration is professional, and has to do with all the spa deals I’ve come across in recent weeks.

There’s no doubt destination spas tend to be very pricey. For instance, at the celebrated Rancho La Puerta, rates start at about $2,800 per person for a week. But the offers I’ve come across offer an alternative for people who can’t spend that much. So just in case you’re thinking about spas too, but can’t budget for a splurge, I thought I’d pass along some of the most affordable spa packages I’ve seen lately.

• Spa Week: Can’t spring for a destination spa but still want a bit of pampering? Good news: It’s nearly time for the annual Spa Week, that time when participating spas around the U.S. and Canada offer signature treatments for $50. That includes facials, scrubs, massages, and more. Spa Week runs from April 13 to 19.
• Ixtapan Spa Hotel and Golf Resort: This destination spa, located about an hour and a half from Mexico City, has a four-night spa package for $770 per person. Included are all meals, three massages, two facials, and eight other treatments. You also get tennis or golf lessons and various other fitness classes. Over at our sister site TripAdvisor, reviewers give the hotel 3.5 out of five, with one reader citing it as “a great bargain.”
• Ceiba Del Mar: I wrote about Ceiba Del Mar in Puerto Morelos on Mexico’s Riviera Maya in my recent roundup of providers offering to foot at least part of the airfare cost. I also noticed the spa has a four-day Rest and Relax package that includes ocean-front accommodations, a fourth night free, two massages, a dinner and wine, and daily breakfast. There are also fitness classes, use of bicycles and kayaks, and daily afternoon tea. The package starts at $621 per person.
• Spa Eastman: Spa Eastman, about an hour from Montreal in Canada, is offering a Free Stay for Mom package. Reserve a four-night stay between May 3 and May 10, and the spa will give your mom a free Relaxation a la Carte package, which includes lodging (you’ll share a room), meals, workshops, classes, gym, and more. Treatments are extra, but it’s a pretty affordable way to make a grand gesture.

Know of another good deal at a spa? Share it with other readers in the comments section below!