Evaluate how well a Spa Resort Vacation meets your needs and compares to competing products
If you've completed step one you've identified what you need in a spa resort vacation and you've learned about the different features available. While you were doing your research, you probably started the process of determining which features - and thus which type of spa resort vacation - will best meet your needs. Now you are going to continue that process, but in greater detail.
In this step you will
evaluate the spa resort vacations available on the market to determine how well they meet your personal needs and establish, by a process of elimination, an initial short-list of contenders. Then you will compare these short-listed choices to find out which ones stand out from the competition.
Evaluate how well a Spa Resort Vacation meets your needs
Your priority at this point in your evaluation is to find the available spa resort vacations in the market that best meet your needs. You can save a lot of time during this activity by quickly eliminating any options that are unsuitable because they don't meet your key requirements. For example, if you have a limited budget for this purchase then you can ignore any vacations that clearly exceed your price limit.
Many spa or health spa vacations are spent staying in the resort for an overall spa experience. However, if it is not in your budget to stay at a resort, you can still get the relaxing benefits of a spa by staying in a hotel that offers spa facilities or taking a day trip to the spa for treatments.
If location is your top priority, you may have limited choices as far as amenities, facilities and treatments are concerned. Urban spa resorts may have many options for activities and excursions outside of the resort, but they are less likely to be medically focused with specialized programs designed to meet your personal health goals. Location can also affect price, in that some spa resorts are in remote locations, which may require expensive modes of transportation, and/or daylong journeys to your destination.
If you choose to turn your entire vacation into a spa vacation, you will have to choose the type of spa that you prefer. If your goal is to lose weight and start a healthier lifestyle, choose a resort that specializes in this area. These spas will have tailor made food and exercise plans to help you meet your goals.
Tip: To get the most benefit out of a weight loss or fitness spa vacation, try to devote an entire week or two weeks to your stay.
If your goal is simply to relax and de-stress, choosing a spa that specializes in pampering and comfort is ideal. Choose a spa resort that has private rooms, where you can unwind in solitude.
No spa vacation is complete without a wide variety of treatments to choose from. It is important to be sure and see what spa treatments are included in your package, if any. Some resorts include a dollar amount to apply towards treatments every day; other resorts will customize your treatments depending on your specific needs.
Some of the treatments that you can expect at the spa include different types of massage, including hot stone, Swedish, and deep tissue. Body wraps and scrubs are also quite popular for refreshing your skin and body overall. Some wraps that you can expect include therapeutic mud, and coffee. Salt and sugar scrubs are both used for exfoliation. Find out where in the resort you will wait for your spa treatments, as you are often dressed only in a robe and may not be comfortable in a crowded room. Is there a restful, private place for you to wait for your massage? Does the spa resort provide you with an escort from your room to your treatment room at the appointed time?
Tip: If you are unsure about what treatments to select, simply ask the spa staff about the different treatments, and about what would be best for you specifically.
There will be other activities available at the spa resort as well, and depending on what your interests are, you can select activities that are suited for you. Some of the other activities that you can expect are golfing, hiking, swimming, yoga, fitness classes and more.
Some spas are medically supervised and will have a doctor or nurses on staff. It is important to check to see what type of training the personal has. Are they required to have certifications in their disciplines? Are they professional and discreet? It is also important to know if tipping is included in the overall resort fees, or if you are expected to tip each practitioner directly.
Other facilities and resources that you will be able to choose from may include: a dietician, personal trainer, laser hair removal, hair salon and cosmetician. Most spa resorts have a swimming pool on site, with steam rooms and saunas, an exercise room, and meditation areas.
If budget is a major concern, consider purchasing a spa package. Nearly all spa resorts offer discounts for comprehensive packages including lodging, two to four treatments per day, and even meals. There may be restrictions, but you will pay less than you would if you paid for each item separately. Also, you may find special promotions when you visit a spa resort's website, especially during their low season.
Tip: Be sure that the spa you choose is well suited to your personal needs. If you are looking for a very relaxing environment, cell phones and laptops may be prohibited.
When you were considering your requirements in a spa resort vacation it's likely that you singled out certain factors such as treatments offered, location, activities and cost as being of major significance. As with so many other products, the more features offered, the higher the price.
Buyz123 has created a checklist containing examples of major features; you can work from this checklist when evaluating how well various spa resort vacations meet your personal needs:
Features Checklist
Style
- Modern - Sleek, trendy
- Home style - Comfortable, homey
- Posh - Ultra pampering
- Adventure - Active
Type
- Day spa - separate accommodation
- Resort - entire facility
- Hotel - located in facility
Treatments
- Massage - Thai, hot stone, therapeutic, Swedish, Ayurveda
- Body Wraps - hot mud, green coffee,
- Manicure - gel nails, natural, full service
- Pedicure - polish, full service
- Facial
- Hair removal - waxing, laser
- Skin Care - facial peels, acid exfoliation
- Hair Care - style, cut, color
Services
- Dietary Consultation - specific programs
- Personal Trainer - programs
- Make up Application - tips and techniques
- Fitness Classes - yoga, spinning, aerobics, cycling
- Treatments - massage, wraps, facials, manicures
Facilities
- Restaurants
- Treatment rooms
- Pool
- Hot Tub or spa
- Sauna or Steam Room
- Exercise room
- Fitness rooms
- Meditation rooms or areas
Personal
- Medically supervised
- Licensed
- Training and certification
- Nurse
- Professionalism - discreet
Spa Focus
- Relaxation
- Weight loss
- Overall health
- Detox
- Yoga
- Fitness
- Medical treatments
Weight Loss Spas
- Restricted calories
- Prepared menus or meals
- Specific fitness programs
- Medical supervision
Length of Stay
- Day spa
- Week long
- Two weeks
- Month or longer
Sexes/ages
- Women Only
- Co-ed
- Men Only
- Specific weeks - women only, men only, couples
- Child friendly/tolerant
There are a lot of features listed here, and some of them may not be relevant to your particular requirements. So, work your way through the list and assess how each of these features impact on your needs. You can then create a personalized checklist of the features you really require in a spa resort vacation.
Once you have finished evaluating your options in the light of your personal needs and arrived at a short-list of 'possibles' you are ready to progress to the next stage. This involves comparing the spa resort vacations one-on-one in order to find those that really stand out.
Evaluate how well a Spa Resort Vacation compares with competing Spa Resort Vacations
Comparing the items on your interim short-list, one to another, is an important part of the purchasing process - we all want to buy the best vacation we possibly can. So once you have established a short-list of choices that meet your needs it is time to evaluate how well they compare in fine detail. This way you can assemble a select list of options that stand out from the crowd.
Questions to ask yourself:
Which spa resort vacation on my short-list can offer the treatments I want?
Which of these has the best packages?
Which has the most spacious rooms?
Which is the easiest to get to?
Which appears of the highest quality?
Which spa resort vacation has the best activities to suit my needs?
Which is the most fun?
Which spa resort vacation do I like the best?
By answering these simple questions, you are actually eliminating spa resort vacations that aren't absolutely right for you. This is an excellent time - if you haven't done so already - to evaluate how well your short-listed vacations measure up in the following areas: Quality and Extras.
Quality
Regardless of the method you use when purchasing the spa resort vacation, it is a good idea to find an opportunity to examine the vacation accommodation and facilities to evaluate that it is truly suitable for you and your purpose. This is the time to examine the quality of the accommodation, and how well the activities are put together. Are the activities value for money and are they the types of things you'd actually like to do? Use the internet, referrals, travel agents, family and friends to find out if the rooms are spacious and clean. Some spa resort vacations look great on paper, but unexpected problems will show up when you finally get there.
- Accommodation - quality, appearance
- Activities - value, suitability
Extras
When evaluating similar vacations, it is a good idea to include extras in your assessment. You need to be clear about exactly what extras are really necessary have a great vacation, and whether these can be included in the price.
Extras Checklist:
- Meals - included or extra cost?
- Upgrades - what are the costs?
- What else will you need to get the most out of your spa resort vacation?
Once you've worked through the Evaluation step you will have a final short-list of spa resort vacations that meet your needs and stand out from competing products on the market. It's time then to move on to the third and final step: Purchase.
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