2008 Spa Reviews by Julie Register at Discover Spas with Julie Register - Discover Spa Reviews by Julie Register, The Spa Register - a US and Global Spa Directory, The Best Spas, Romantic Spas, Weight Loss Spas, Spa News, Spa Deals, Spa Contests, and more

2008 Spa Reviews by Julie Register

The following are reviews of some of the spas Julie Register visited in 2008

Mtn. Laurel Spa at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia We stayed at Stonewall Resort in Roanoke, West Virginia over the Thanksgiving holiday. It's beautifully situated on the shores of Stonewall Jackson Lake in the 1,900-acre Stonewall Jackson State Park. Don't look for the town of Roanoke, though. I was told that it sits at the bottom of the lake, the outcome of the river being dammed. The resulting lake, however, is lovely and the resort takes full advantage of it by offering a marina, boat launch and rentals, water sports and fishing in season. The lake was quiet during our visit - just the way I like it. I visited the Mtn. Laurel Spa and had a Signature Facial and Aroma Essence Massage while I was there. Read about my experience. See the photo gallery.

~Julie

Roman Baths at Qua Baths and Spa Caesars Palace Las Vegas

I toured the Qua Baths & Spa facilities at Caesars Palace Las Vegas a week or so before it officially opened in November 2006. It blew me away, and I couldn't wait to actually expereince the spa. It took two years, but I finally made it back to Las Vegas, and spa priority #1 was Qua. I won't keep you in suspense. It was worth the wait. Despite a few small hiccups, I love, love, love the baths!

Read about my experience.

~Julie

It had been a busy, hectic day in Las Vegas, and we had a few free hours between our last meeting and the night's activities. We decided to pass them at The Bathhouse at TheHotel at Mandalay Bay. For a reasonable fee, you can use the baths, steam, sauna and showers and just hang out for a while. It was a wonderful time to chat, relax, and get waterlogged. We left The Bathhouse completely mellow and ready for the rest of the evening.

Read about my experience.

~Julie

The Cliff House Resort and Spa is perched on the magnificent Bald Head Cliff near Ogunquit, Maine. It is the picture that comes to my mind when I hear someone talking about the rocky coast of Maine. 28 years after we first saw this property, my husband and I returned to enjoy the resort, spa and fabulous location. Read about my experience. See the photo gallery.

~Julie

I vacationed in Maine every summer from when I was about 10 until just a few years ago. I've driven past Kennebunkport many times and knew its fame as the Bush summer home, but this year was the first time I stopped for a visit. My husband and I stayed in one of the most historic Kennebunkport hotels and inns, The Breakwater Inn & Spa (built in the 1880’s), which is located right on the Kennebunk River waterfront. It's open year-round and offers a variety accommodations - chic water view inn rooms, cottages, and apartments as well as waterside dining at Stripers Waterside Restaurant. It also offers a separate spa building that houses spa guest rooms and The Breakwater Spa where I experienced the spa's signature Relaxation Massage.
Read about my experience. See the photo gallery.

~Julie

Treatment Room in The Regency Health Spa at The Portland Regency Hotel & Spa in Portland, Maine

I vacationed in Maine every summer from when I was about 10 until just a few years ago. I've driven past Portland many times, but this year was the first time I stopped for a visit. We stayed at the Portland Regency Hotel and Spa. It's the only hotel in downtown Portland to have its own fitness center and full day spa (the reason I decided to stay there!). I experienced the Regency Spa and had a seasonal Pomegranate & Cranberry Saltmousse followed by a Pomegranate & Cranberry Aromatherapy Massage.
Read about my experience. See the photo gallery.

~Julie

Treatment Room in The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg

The Spa of Colonial Williamsburg offers "A Continuum of Wellness" - a full range of relaxing and rejuvenating therapies inspired by five centuries of wellness. I loved touring the Historic Area of Colonial Williamsburg and the 18th Century Colonial Herbal Experience that followed. However, the spa experience before and after the treatment could have been better. Read about my experience. See the Photo Gallery.

~Julie

The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island on Kiawah Island, South Carolina Jeff and I were headed to Paris Island, SC to attend the graduation of our friends' son from US Marine Corps boot camp. We left early to enjoy a couple of days at The Sanctuary at Kiawah Island (pronounced Kee-a-Wah). I was looking forward to experiencing this Mobil Five Star spa - one of only three in the US. Read about my experience.

~Julie

Entrance to the Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort in Farmington, Pennsylvania

On a trip to Pittsburgh, my friend Lea and I stopped by one of my long-time favorites - the Woodlands Spa at Nemacolin Woodlands Resort. My first visit was in 2000 with my daughter. I enjoyed it so much, I returned the following year with my husband for a couples' adventure weekend. Now, seven years later, I return to find some things remain and some have changed. Read about my most recent experience. See the Photo Gallery.

~Julie

In 2007, my husband and I used Starwood Starpoints to stay at the Sheraton at 3376 Peachtree Road in Atlanta. The property was worn and tired, and our visit was on one of the last weeks before it closed for renovations and transformation into a W Hotel.

This year we used Starwood Starpoints to stay at the W Hotel - Midtown at the same address. Wow! What a difference a year makes! The property went from dumpy and frumpy to edgy and cool. And it added a spa... a Bliss® Spa. Read about my "blissful" experience there. See the photos.

~Julie

Treatment Room in 29 spa at The Mansion on Peachtree in Atlanta, Georgia

I had a number of fabulous surprises during my visit to The Mansion on Peachtree and 29 Spa in Atlanta, Georgia. Both the facilities and services were flawless - something I don't often see in well-established properties no less one that has only been open for a month. I was also impressed with the grape seed-based products Lydia Mondavi (of the famous wine family) developed for this spa and hotel bath amenities. My friend Linda Bankoski says integrity is when all parts touch - as in seamless integration. 29 Spa and The Mansion on Peachtree have integrity. Read the article. See the photos.
~Julie

I last visited the Don CeSar Beach Resort in St. Pete's Beach, Florida in 2001. At that time, they had plans for a new spa to replace the 1994 original. This year, the Don finally unveiled the $11 million, 11,000 square-foot, 16 treatment-room, Spa Oceana - the largest spa on the Gulf of Mexico. Back in 2001, I offered my own "wish list" of things I would like to see in The Don's new spa. Just for fun, let's see if I got my wish ...Read the Review. See the Photo Gallery.
~Julie

This spring, my husband and I spent some time exploring the Eastern Shore of the Chesapeake Bay and ran across The Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay Golf Resort, Spa and Marina in Cambridge, Maryland. This four-diamond resort sits on 342 acres along the Choptank River and features the 18,000 square-foot Stillwater Spa. Unfortunately, it poured throughout our stay so we didn't do any outdoor activities. We did, however, enjoy the spa. Read the Review. See the Photo Gallery.
~Julie

Linden Spa at The Inn at Perry Cabin in St. Michaels, Maryland St. Michaels, a Victorian resort town on Maryland's scenic Eastern Shore, has been one of my favorite shoulder season destinations since my first visit six years ago. This April my husband and I spent a couple of days in this sleepy little town right before the annual Food and Wine Festival, the unofficial start of "the season" (and the crowds). We enjoyed the almost empty streets and uncrowded shops and restaurants. We enjoyed visiting the quiet Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum which, once again, inspired me to read James A. Michener's Chesapeake. The highlight of this visit, however, was our stay at The Inn at Perry Cabin and our experience at the Linden Spa. Read the Review. See the Photo Gallery.
~Julie

It's a spa owner's worst nightmare. You're at Cosmoprof in Europe. The first day at the expo is tremendously successful. You've found a new massage table from Italy and placed an order to refit all of your massage treatment rooms. Before the expo starts on the second day, you get a phone call. There's been a devastating fire... This sad event happened to Luda Conti, owner of Avanti Day Resort in Manalapan, New Jersey in March 2007. Read how Luda turned disaster into opportunity, and read about my experience at Avanti Day Resort. See the Photo Gallery.
~Julie

I visited AquaMedica Salon and Day Spa in Long Branch this spring. Even though I grew up in New Jersey, a relatively small state, I had never been to Long Branch before. It's located on the ocean about an hour from NYC. I walked up and down the boardwalk, and it was apparent that the area had undergone a recent revitalization. One of the most notable new structures was Pier Village, which features oceanfront residences, over 30 boutiques and restaurants, a large gym and the 5,000 square-foot, 11-treatment room Aquamedica Spa. I had three great treatments there - a facial, body scrub and Thai Herbal Ball Massage. Read about my experience.
~Julie

Canyon Ranch SpaClub at the Gaylord Palms™ Resort & Convention Center

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times. The Women's Wellness Weekend at Bedford Springs Resort in Bedford Pennsylvania far exceeded my expectations. The event was well-organized, the speakers excellent and the resort beautiful. This article includes wonderful stress reducing techniques and guided imagery audio files offered by the speakers, as well as extensive photo galleries. The event included a two-night stay at Bedford Springs Resort, yoga and tai chi classes, use of the fitness center and pool, admittance to all presentations, delicious meals (2 breakfasts, 1 lunch, and a fabulous 7-course interactive Chef’s Table dinner with wine pairings), workshops and activities, and a spa amenity gift. Unfortunately, things completely unraveled after the event was officially over. Read the article for details.
~Julie

Janice Gronvold Interviews Julie Register for University of California, Irvine Spa Class

Janice Gronvold, M.S. is the founder of Spectrec, provider of business and marketing development services for the spa, health and resort industries. She teaches the Introduction to the Spa Industry class at UC Irvine, a required course in the Certificate Program in Spa and Hospitality Management. She requires her class to read my article, Spa Evolution, A Brief History of Spas. She also includes an interview with an industry professional each week. Janice Gronvold interviewed me on March 5, 2008. Topics included:

my background and how I got into the spa industry,
how I got the idea for DiscoverSpas.com,
the contents of DiscoverSpas.com,
niche markets in the spa industry,
the criteria for best spa recognition,
the 10 domains of spa,
spa ritual,
The International Standards of SpaExcellenceSM2008,
my observations of the spa industry and
my recommendations for her students.

Click here to read my answers to Janice's questions.

~Julie

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