Destination spa

A destination spa is a business establishment which people visit for personal health, life enhancement, fitness, personal care treatments such as massages, facials, in a resort setting. Destination spas offer an all-inclusive program that includes facilitated fitness classes, healthy cuisine, educational classes and seminars as well as similar services to a beauty salon or a day spa. Guests reside and participate in the program at a destination spa instead of just visiting for a treatment or pure vacation. Destination spas are often in exotic locations or in spa towns.

Resort spas are generally located in resorts and offer similar services via rooms with services, meals, and fitness a la carte.

Other types of spas include day spas, club spas, cruise ship spas, medical spas, and mineral spring spas.

Definitions
According to the International SPA Association, "A destination spa is a facility with the primary purpose of guiding individual spa-goers to develop healthy habits. Historically a seven-day stay, this lifestyle transformation can be accomplished by providing a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthful cuisine and special interest programming."

According to the Destination Spa Group, "Only a select group of Destination Spas follow the tradition of the true Destination Spa – where the total environment is dedicated to health and life enhancement. The experience is transforming – a full immersion into healthy and joyous living. Guests come for the structured and personalized programs that blend fitness activities, healthy cuisine, wellness education, discovery classes, relaxation and renewal. Guests leave enriched for life."

Types of services
Typical services include:


 * nutrition counseling
 * weight loss
 * medical treatment
 * fitness consultation
 * cooking lessons
 * massage
 * reflexology
 * facials — facial cleansing with a variety of products
 * nail care
 * waxing — the removal of body hair with hot wax
 * body treatments such as body wraps, aromatherapy
 * skin exfoliation — including chemical peels and microdermabrasion

Destination spas in literature
Various novels involve such spas as either settings, or parts of the plot. St. Ronan's Well (1824) is an example of this.

Destination spas

 * Champneys
 * Hilton Head Health Institute
 * Haldimand Hills Spa Village