How to Get the Most Out of a Luxury Resort Spa

Written by Susan Lanier-Graham

July 20, 2009

Wellness Travel & Spas | Arizona | Destinations | North America | Travel | United States

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People visit spas to relax and de-stress, but they also seek out ways to develop and maintain a healthy lifestyle. At most luxury resort spas, you can book one treatment, such as a basic massage, and spend the entire day at the spa. This makes luxury services more accessible for everyone.

Inner Quest at mii amo, a destination spa in Sedona, Arizona. Photo courtesy mii amo

At the spa, you’ll find such things as a private pool (often with cabanas), showers, hot tub, steam room, sauna, quiet reading rooms, exercise facilities. For the price of a single treatment, it’s possible to indulge yourself for the entire day.

There is usually a full selection of amenities at the spa. Most luxury resort spas provide you with a robe, slippers, shampoos, conditioners, hair gels, razors, mouthwash, hair dryers, curling irons, brushes, and combs.

If you decide to spend the entire day at the spa, you can often enjoy lunch at a spa cafe, sip hot and cold tea or flavored waters, and munch on fruits and nuts. Make sure you leave plenty of time for relaxing by the pool, usually exclusive to spa patrons.

To get your day at the spa started, arrive early and start your experience in one of the hot facilities – the sauna, steam room, whirlpool – to help open up your breathing. This helps cleanse and detoxify your body. Immediately follow the hot treatments with cold therapy – a cold shower, cold plunge, or a cold drink. Many professionals suggest a cold treatment in between each hot treatment.

Continue to your chosen treatment, and then follow that with a shower (depending on the type of treatment you have – follow your therapist’s advice), some extra time to relax, and plenty of water.

Some of my favorite Arizona spas

Aji Spa Lounge at Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa. Photo courtesy Sheraton Wild Horse Pass Resort & Spa

Written by Susan Lanier-Graham

Founder and publisher Susan Lanier-Graham is an award-winning travel writer and author of more than 75 books. For more than three decades, she has explored the world in search of unforgettable “wow moments,” from the jungles of Thailand and the temples of Egypt to wine regions, coastlines, and hidden gems closer to home. Her work blends immersive storytelling with practical insight, helping readers experience destinations more deeply. Based in Spearfish, South Dakota, Susan covers travel, food, and wine with a focus on meaningful experiences. She is a member of the Society of American Travel Writers (SATW) and the International Food, Wine & Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA), and is a Certified California Wine Appellation Specialist (CWAS).