I don’t know about you, but I really can’t stand January. All those depressing “has-been” Christmas trees littering the sidewalks, that pervasive feeling of guilt that comes from having already broken most, if not all, of your New Year’s resolutions, and the only thing left from all that holiday cheer is an unwelcome extra ten pounds. Which leads us into the one good thing January has to offer, and that is … spa specials!
This is the perfect time to get all buffed and pampered and get down for some serious TLC. Remember that state-of-bliss feeling after a good old-fashioned Swedish massage, that rush of energy after a session of reflexology has unblocked your chi, or the unbelievably baby-butt soft new skin that’s revealed after a rejuvenating body scrub?
No one delivers the goods like the holy trinity of spas: Canyon Ranch, Golden Door, or Rancho La Puerta, but OHMYGAWD are they expensive! With basic vanilla-shell massages starting around $150-plus, my muscles would knot up again the second I saw the bill.
But if you’re willing to go off the beaten track … okay, waaaay off the beaten track, there are some incredibly affordable far-out destination spas that are just begging to be explored. Think Bali! Some of my favorite spa getaway spots here have an added bonus: chances are you won’t bump into another American the whole time!
Ubud, Bali
Granted it’s a long flight, but once you get there, “whadda deal!” You can stay in one of the ritzy spa hotels there such as the Four Seasons Resorts or the Amandari for far less than in the States, but it still won’t be cheap.
Or with a little creativity, picking from Column A and Column B, you can put together your own incredible spa package and still have enough money left to pay off some of those Christmas bills.
Here’s how I did it. Can you keep a secret?
Taman Rahasia means “secret garden,” and their tag line, “A little jewel of a hotel where we do everything with an extra measure of care and personal attention,” is right on the mark. This boutique resort and spa is a steal at $60-plus a night including breakfast, (which can be brought to your bed at a designated wake-up time) and one of eight elegantly appointed rooms hidden is a lush tropical garden with cascading rock waterfalls, towering coconut palms, and a kaleidoscope of Balinese flowers—true paradise.
