Reasons to treat yourself to a hotel spa

The best spas offer a luxurious escape from day-to-day life and allow you to relax in a beautiful and tranquil environment. The great thing about a spa within a hotel or resort is that after your treatment, you still don't have to go home. Instead you can flop onto a big, cushy hotel bed only minutes away from your spa.

In 2006, there were over 2,300 spa locations in Canada and hotel spas were the second most popular type of spa (stand alone day spas were number one). Now that resort and hotel spas are a major player in the spa industry, spas have become a popular tourist destination. That doesn't mean you have to be a tourist to visit a resort or hotel spa, however. With incredible treatments, health-focused meals, and rejuvenating hotel rooms, hotel spas allow you check-in and be a tourist right in your own hometown or region.

One of the main reasons hotel and resort spas have become so popular is because they offer innovative spa treatments. Want to experience a Turkish bath? A chocolate scrub? Natural springs? The choices stretch as wide as your imagination. Hotel spas are not just about indulgences anymore. Their primary focus has shifted to your health and wellness. Now at a hotel spa you can detox, practice your downward dog at a yoga class, try some chef-inspired healthy meals, and even explore some fabulous nature trails.

Here are some questions to help you find the perfect spa hotel or resort:

• Do you want to get pampered or focus more on your health?
• Do you want to travel or stay close to home?
• Do you want to go alone, with a partner or with friends?
• Do you want to take any classes such as yoga and meditation? Or mostly just relax in your hotel room?
• Do you want to have access to therapeutic waters or a pool? Or stay dry on land?
• Do you want to do anything else during your stay? Play golf, go swimming or horseback riding? Or is getting your spa on your one and only priority.

Lastly, it is important to think about your budget. Remember the purpose of a spa vacation is to relax and de-stress. So decide on a budget, and then stick to it. That way you won't undo all your hard earned relaxation as soon as the hotel hands you a bill at the end of your stay.