In recent years, the Philippines has rapidly become a premier honeymoon destination. In April 2009, the Philippines was awarded the “Most Popular Destination in Asia” award by professional jurors at the 2009 World Travel Fair in Shanghai, China. Foreigners booking their marriage ceremonies and honeymoons in the Philippines have been at record growth rates the past several years.

What are the Most Romantic Places to Visit?

Insiders, people who live in the Philippines, or those Expats who travel to the Philippines frequently have found many special romantic “getaways” to bask in equal doses of passion, solitude and creature comforts. Frankly, there are so many beautiful and romantic locations in the Philippines, it is extremely difficult to identify the Top 5, Top 10 or even the Top 20. Certain places are more romantic to some than others for very personal reasons.

Nevertheless, based on my over 20 years of travelling to and living in the Philippines with my Filipina spouse, I have come up with a comprehensive list of locations which I continuously find other Expats confirming with me as also being their favorite romantic getaway locations.

The Luxury Locations

1. Amanpulo on Pamalican Island: Rated - 5 Star

This has to be at the top of the list, with rooms starting at $550 per night. This place is the Ultimate beach resort in the Philippines and the Ultimate Getaway for those with the funds to afford it. If you choose to visit Amanpulo, you will be hobnobbing with the rich and famous of the world - jetsetters and celebrities from around the world. This is one of the best known secret locations in the Philippines.

2. Manila Makati Peninsula Hotel: Rated - 5 Star

This is the perfect getaway for those looking for a romantic upscale, city location, with city light views and culture similar to New York City. There are numerous room choices, from superior rooms ranging from $200 to $300 per night, up to suites ranging from $400 to $500 per night. The views in the lobby of the hotel are absolutely stunning, and the room is perfectly decorated.

3. Shangri La Mactan Island Resort (Cebu): Rated 5 Star

This luxurious resort is nestled on 14 hectares of beautifully landscaped coastal land. All the rooms open to excellent view of the ocean. Being on the coast, the resort offers all the normal water sports. You get a lot of space when you stay here. It has been named as one of the “Top Ten Best Resorts in the Asia-Pacific” by Business Traveler Magazine

4. Badian Island Resort and Spa (Cebu): Rated 5 Star

This resort is on the top of the list of Top 10 Island Spas, as featured in a recent issue of Asia Spa magazine. It is situated just off the coast on the far Southwest end of Cebu island, away from the cities and the noise, in a perfectly beautiful romantic destination spot. It is about a 2.5 hour drive from the Cebu airport, but you can request for a helicopter to whisk you to the resort in 30 minutes.

5. Shangri La Boracay Island: Rated: 5 Star

Another plush property from the Shangri-La’s group, this resort is located in a northern part of Boracay island. It is in a location secluded from all the hustle and bustle congestion of Boracay, and has its own secluded 350 meters of unspoiled beach and well-preserved nature. This luxury resort features 219 rooms and villas decked out in ethnic Filipino d



The emergence of spas is not recent. Earlier spas were located near a natural spring offering holistic wellness treatment to the visiting public. The term is more than often referred in conjunction with healing and curing than wellness. Spas got a make over from the Roman royals. They developed spas with a touch of class and a feel of luxury. In fact, they started using spas more or less like wellness centres, soaking in spring water, taking steam or hot air bath in a marble clad chamber, giving the body the luxury of soft massage, taking a cool dip in spring water and finishing with a relaxing drink.

Present day hectic pace of life, a busy social lifestyle of the lap top carrying corporate executives has created a profitable business opportunity for the hospitality industry - wellness travel. The concept of wellness is quite different than curative or medical travel. Wellness is for healthy people wanting to live healthier, whereas medical travel is for patients wanting to get well. This fine distinction makes wellness travel or spa tourism an interesting marketing proposition.

The term spa is derived from its Latin origin - salus per aquam, literally translating as water gifted health. No wonder then that the earlier wellness spots were located near natural springs as aqua therapy is considered mother of all detox therapies. The German health destinations like Baden Baden and Bad Neunehar, to name a few, have the prefix Bad, meaning spa or literally bath. Spa hotels and resorts today offer holistic wellness, physical, mental, emotional and spiritual in luxurious surroundings and atmosphere.

According to the first ever spa report published by Christine Tetreault at the 2008 Global Spa Summit in New York, the global spa economy stood at US$ 250 billion. This confirms the fact that the economic slow down had no impact on wellness business.

Spa business has come of age generating employment opportunities by millions. It has become very focused, specialised and professional. Spas can be classified into three categories - the day spa, offering a specific therapy, destination spa- as the name suggests, these are spas where guests stay, get healthier, have an entertaining time as the spa offers a whole range of body pampering treatments and therapies, and finally the medical spas which are more on clinical and medicine based treatments. The industry thrives on day spas in the city hotels and destination spas in resort hotels.

Spa planning for a luxury city hotel and a spa resort is a very complex exercise. Since wellness is the main marketing tool, the planning and implementing team must be fully aware of various processes and procedures, the flow of activity, space planning, knowledge of latest spa, gym and therapy equipments, technology, lay outs etc. The spa planning and executing team normally consists of a technical resource, interior decorator and the facility planner.

Staff in a spa plays an important role. They are educated and well trained in various therapies, processes and operations. These include massages - Swedish, Thai, deep tissue etc, water therapies like flotation, water dance, Jacuzzi etc. Most spas offer yoga sessions and various alternate therapies like Chinese, Egyptian and many more.

Wellness being the focus of the entire concept, beauty therapies become an integral part of a spa. These are available for both men and women. The beauty segment includes areas like hair, facial and body treatments. Food and nutrition counselling is part of spa management for the resident and day spa users.

A well-planned spa hotel or a spa resort has all the essentials of a luxury city hotel or a luxury resort hotel. Wellness becomes the core activity for the guests as well as the management. Well appointed guest rooms, state of the art fitted bath rooms, a wow lobby, gourmet restaurants, bars, discotheque, lounges, business centre, swimming pool and sports complex etc make the product complete.

As we look ahead, we must remember that enjoying good health and well being is the most desired wish of humans, the demand for a luxury, upscale spa hotel or spa resort will always remain high, it is an evergreen business niche. Forget get well! Keep well! is the mantra for a beautiful and enjoyable life.
You have permission to publish this article without any change what so ever electronically, in print, in your e-book, or on your web site, free of charge, as long as the author by-lines are included.

By: Ram Gupta

About the Author:
Ram Gupta is a professional hotel and resort consultant with over four decades of experience in Asia, Far East, Middle East and Europe. He has been associated with over two dozen hotel projects. His web site can be viewed at http://www.bcgglobal.com and can be contacted at ramgupta@bcgglobal.com





During the winter, many tourists visit Desert spa resorts in Arizona to relax their senses and nerves from their tiring hectic schedules. During colder months, visitors can also take advantage of the warm Arizona sun and enjoy one of many outdoor activities that go on year round in Arizona. There are also several first class spa vacation resorts in Phoenix, Scottsdale and Tucson.

Destination spas are basically proclaimed as wellness centers with the main purpose of enhancing your physical and mental well-being. Some of the resorts have many different exercise and wellness classes that are offered as part of a complete spa package to tourists.

The most popular time to visit a spa in Arizona is during the winter and spring. One of the famous, Canyon Ranch Spa offers creative, healthy cuisine and a number of lifestyle improvement programs. Guests are allowed to choose from over 50 fitness classes with numerous spa treatments. Another center famous for spa services in Arizona is the Miraval. The resort is located in Southern Arizona near Tucson. It offers over 100 facial and body treatment options.

The Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix offers facials, body treatments, hydrotherapy, and indoor and outdoor massages, indoor whirlpools, steam rooms, dry saunas, a fitness center and weekly 60+ fitness classes. The Boulders is another resort at Carefree - 33,000 — Golden Door



How would you like a vacation where you come back with more money than when you started and experience pampering like you’ve never had before? Well, we can’t promise you’ll strike it rich at the tables, but we can promise that these fine casino spas are some of the best of the best.

1. Radisson Aruba Resort and Casino’s Larimar Spa is award-winning and includes a cold plunge pool, beach yoga, a fitness center, an outdoor relaxation center, and women’s only spas. The guest rooms, complete with marble bathrooms, offer garden or ocean views.

2. The Venetian Canyon Ranch SpaClub is currently the largest spa in the world. Just for starters, the poker room is 112,000 square feet. The SpaClub has more options than you can imagine for exactly the kind of sauna you want to lounge in-and in what company. Enjoy the spa, the private barbershop, the fitness center, and the caf



Finding holidays to keep everyone happy is never easy but one Scottish resort is certainly trying.

The Old Course Hotel in St Andrews combines some of the best golf breaks in the country with a luxurious spa. When it comes to relaxation, you’ll probably have trouble deciding between the many spa hotels Scotland has to offer.

But if you want to spend a weekend at a spa with other activities on offer too, then the Old Course Hotel is the ideal place. Its Kohler Waters Spa has the distinction of being the first one in the luxury chain to be located outside of the US.

Whether you want an entire weekend of pampering, a day or even just a couple of hours, the spa at the hotel will be able to cater for you. A wide range of treatments, massages and therapies are on offer for both men and women so you can relax and unwind in opulent surroundings.

While staying at the Old Course Hotel you should certainly make use of its spa facilities, which include a 20m swimming pool, a rooftop hot tub and a Japanese steam room. And if you want to combine something a little more active with your spa break then why not consider a spot of golf?

St Andrews is widely considered to be the home of the sport and the area around the Old Course Hotel boasts some fantastic courses. In fact, if you are looking for golf resorts in Scotland you will be hard pushed to find one that has access to a better selection of greens.

The Old Course Hotel takes its name from the famous golf course, the 17th hole of which is located opposite its grounds. If you are not lucky enough to be successful in the daily ballot for tee-times at the green, then do not worry.

There are ten other golf courses in the area, including The Duke’s which is run by the hotel and as a championship green, it will offer a challenging round for any golf enthusiast. But if you don’t feel quite ready to take on a full game then you can always book in for a session with the golf academy that is based at the Old Course Hotel and progress to the neighboring greens when you’ve had time to perfect your swing.

By: Dipika Patel

About the Author:
If you’re looking for golf resorts in Scotland or somewhere for a relaxing break, visit Luxury Scotland to find one of the spa hotels Scotland boasts with golf courses nearby.

Visit Luxury Scotland for luxury hotels, golf resorts, luxury spa hotels, country house hotels and other destinations that we believe reflect Luxury Scotland and experience the very best of Scotland.



Fat Burning



Mothers and daughters can strengthen their relationship by taking a luxury trip to the Caribbean islands. Getting a tan on a white sandy beach, rejuvenating in a world-class spa, and enjoying a luxury all-inclusive resort experience is a great way to both relax and bond. A lot of fond memories can be created by taking a mother-daughter luxury trip in the Caribbean.

Luxury hotels
Luxury resorts in the Caribbean leave no stone unturned when it comes to providing a luxurious and comfortable stay. Many of these resorts have private beaches, butler services, gourmet dining, and other exclusive services that can easily be tailored for mothers and daughters. The elite Parrot Cay in the Turks and Caicos is famous for playing host to celebrities such as Paul McCartney, Bruce Willis, and Ben Affleck. Some other options include the Reefs in Bermuda, Caneel Bay in the US Virgin Islands, Richard Branson’s Necker Island in the British Virgin Islands, and Jamaica Inn.

Spa resorts
Most women love a day at the spa. Mothers and daughters need a wide range of options in body treatments and massages to find a perfect balance to satisfy their individual needs. Many Caribbean resorts have spas which offer Swedish massages, aromatherapy, yoga, Tai Chi, and Pilates among other therapies. The Spa at Four Seasons in the Bahamas, Six Senses Spa at Puntacana Resort & Club in the Dominican Republic, COMO Shambhala Retreat at Parrot Cay in the Turks & Caicos Islands and the Golden Door Spa at El Conquistador Resort in Puerto Rico are some great options. There are a few hotels that may not allow outsiders to avail the services of their spa so check before booking at an outside spa.

All-inclusive Packages
Mothers and daughters that enjoy adventure, fine dining, and a whole lot of entertainment will not be disappointed in the Caribbean. Many resorts offer all-inclusive options combining accommodation, meals, daytime activities, and nightly entertainment for a pre-determined price. Islands such as Jamaica, Bahamas, Dominican Republic, and Aruba are best suited for an all-inclusive holiday.

By: Alex Briganza

About the Author:
Alex Briganza is a professional traveler who uses his travel experience to introduce people to the joys of traveling. Alex is especially adept at luxury travel, and his favorite destination include Caribbean. for more information visit: http://www.voyage.tv/Pages/home.aspx



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When choosing a spa resort, there are almost endless options to choose from. Whether you are looking for something simple and low cost, or if you want a pampered and extravagant experience, there is a spa resort that offers what you are looking for. Spa resorts can be found all over the world too. To find one, you can check with AAA, or a very good option would be to search the internet for exactly what you want. Many online sites specialize in vacation planning, including spa resort information. Below are just a few of the many options you have to choose from when picking a spa resort.

Some spa resorts are very simple. They will often offer physical therapy services, volcanic clay “mud” baths and massages. Facials and body treatments will also be included. Of course, they will have spa facilities as well. These spa packages can be enjoyed anywhere from 4 to 30 days, depending on how long you can stay, and what your budget allows.

When you move up to the mid-level spa resorts, they tend to offer a little more. An exercise facility is one of the extras. Depending on where the spa is located, they may offer hiking or other outdoor activities. Often gourmet food is on the menu and included in the package. Of course, the mid-level spas also offer everything you would find in an economy package.

Things become more exciting when you opt for a luxury spa resort. This is where the services offered become almost endless. At some luxury spa resorts, you are afforded a beautiful view of the surrounding landscape. Others offer health improvement, fine dining, yoga and meditation, and low-fat cuisine. Horseback riding and other outdoor activities will often be available. Golfing facilities are common at luxury spa resorts. Watersports and skiing are offered sometimes, too. Regardless of the spa you choose, the goal will normally be stress reduction, relaxation, and health improvement.

You will also find that there are many types of specialty spas available. An example of this would be a Connoisseur spa. These spas are more “upper class”, and give more attention to each guest. They usually have more staff available per guest than a conventional spa would have. Wonderful ambiance and cuisine are always offered at a Connoisseur spa. Don’t forget your checkbook, though, as these are at the top of the list of spas.

Mobile spas are a novel idea. With a mobile spa, the professionals bring the spa to you. Well, they don’t bring an actual spa, but they will offer massages, facials, manicures, and other health treatments right to your house. They can even come to small parties.

Your spa resort vacation will only be limited to your imagination and your budget. If what you are looking for is health related, you can normally find a spa resort that caters to it, regardless of how much you have available to spend. All it takes is a little research on your part, and you can have a spa vacation that you will always remember.

By: Ian W Anderson

About the Author:
Credit: Ian W Anderson of The Spa Resort, the spa information site. For more spa information and articles like this one visit: Spas [http://www.spas.bz/].



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The beautiful region of Palm Cove in North Queensland, Australia has an extensive array of fine accommodation choices with which to cater to its tourists. From five star luxury hotels to beachfront resorts and urban city apartments you will be able to find something that meets your requirements to the fullest.

The best thing about Palm Cove accommodation choices is that the majority of the hotels, resorts and apartments are coming up with intriguing deals every season. This is done in order to attract tourists to their property. Following is an overview of two of the most popular Palm Cove Resorts that will give you an idea of the kind of luxury and indulgence they have to offer.

Mango Lagoon Resort & Wellness Spa

This is the ultimate place to relax and revitalize your mind, body and spirit in Palm Cove. The property features 100 appointed rooms that comprise of 1 and 2 bedroom suites all of which have been luxuriously furnished. You will find each room to be equipped with a gourmet kitchen, a dedicated dining area and a spacious living zone. The suites and the ground floor also feature courtyard areas.

Included amongst the amenities that you will be able to find in the 2 bedroom suite are individual air conditioning in each room, cable TV, DVD player in the lounge, each bedroom with its own TV, oven, iron board, iron, dishwasher, refrigerator and much more. The 2 bedroom suite has the capacity to accommodate up to 5 guests.

The one bedroom spa on the other hand features dedicated living and dining areas. It also has the complete range of above mentioned amenities but enough to accommodate three people only. The hotel rooms on the property have 1 king bed and can accommodate 2 people. Guests at the resort will have the opportunity to enjoy community amenities such as a 50 meter lap pool, lush tropical gardens, Aurora Cafe, Wellness Spa, Internet Cafe as well as easy access to the beach.

Sea Temple Resort and Spa Palm Cove

This wonderful Palm Cove resort is excellent for those travelers looking to enjoy a nice private time in the city. It has been especially designed to offer a personal and private experience to its guests. To its credit is the fact that it has won several awards for its interior decoration whereas the architecture of the place itself is spell bounding. Add to that the beauty of the natural environment amidst which this resort has been erected and you have one of the most fascinating places to stay in the region.

You will find this resort to be sleek and offering you a contemporary yet calm living experience. The property features hotel rooms that are furnished with all kinds of modern amenities and an attached balcony with a capacity to host 2 guests. 1 bedroom apartments are also available and have a capacity to host 2 guests as well. If you want to enjoy even more luxury then opt for the penthouses on this property.

Above mentioned are just some of the fine Palm Cove resorts that offer hot deals every season. Make sure to check out with them at the time of your travel in order to get best value for your money.

By: Shehryaar Shaukat

About the Author:
Immerse yourself in the luxury of palm cove resorts through http://www.palmcovequeensland.net. This website brings you the latest offers on all kinds of Palm Cove accommodation.



Children’s Bedroom Paint deas



Most of us are fortunate enough to know from personal experience just how wonderful it is to receive a gift that someone has obviously put a lot of thought into. But let’s not forget that it’s also equally rewarding to choose and give a present that you know is going to bring happiness to the person receiving it.

That’s why we all tend to keep our fingers firmly crossed that the gifts we choose for family and friends at Christmas, or for birthdays and other special occasions, will go down well. We look forward to seeing the genuine pleasure and surprise on their face when they open the envelope or wrapping paper. This being the case, why not stop leaving things to chance and instead get a gift that is sure to please: a spa voucher.

“But what if the person doesn’t happen to like spas?” you may ask. Well, the truth is that they’d genuinely be hard-pushed not to! Modern-day spas are so versatile, offering an all-encompassing range of treatments and activities, so there really is “something for everyone” who is lucky enough to receive a spa voucher - whether they’re partial to pampering or have a driving desire to get down to the gym before the sun is too high in the sky.

And pampering has taken on a whole new meaning these days, as you’ll quickly find out if you set foot in one of the UK’s state-of-the-art spas. The ambiance is a mix of pleasant anticipation and overwhelming absence of urgency, with soft music and carefully chosen colour schemes creating a place where it is simply good to spend time and recharge your batteries.

Spa beauty treatments and alternative therapies have evolved dramatically over the past decade. The treatment menu of any leading health resort is now likely to feature a host of fascinating names - such as Chakra Silks, Sole to Soul, Li’Tya ‘The Dreaming’ and Age Away - all of them hinting at the wonderfully soothing experiences which lie ahead of lucky spa guests.

At any top spa or health resort, a team of professional therapists and health experts will be on hand to ensure that your spa voucher recipient makes the most of your generous gift. As well as allowing them the flexibility to choose when they wish to use their spa gift, vouchers offer recipients the added bonus of time to research what’s available and sign up for the treatment or activity of their choice two weeks before their planned visit.

Purchasing spa vouchers has yet another benefit too: it’s quick and easy. All you have to do is visit the website of any of the country’s superb spa destinations and you’ll find user-friendly instructions about how to purchase an original and thoughtful gift that’s guaranteed to please. It really is that simple.

Moreover, a voucher doesn’t require layers of protective packaging when you post it - you can just slip it in an envelope together with the appropriate card to mark the special occasion, whether that be a birthday, Christmas, Mother’s Day, Easter or graduation day. It’s also a lovely way to send a new mum-to-be congratulations. Indeed, whatever the occasion, spa vouchers make a fabulous gift.

By: Robert Yates

About the Author:
If you are searching high and low for an original gift that will be remembered for all the right reasons, look no further: a spa voucher is the perfect present for people who deserve a real treat.



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