Go Visit Hawaii

 Hawaii has many top rated spa and it is a great place to get some much deserved pampering.  If you do just a little bit of homework before you book your spa treatment, you can make sure to make the most out of it.  Here are seven tips for optimizing your pampering time.

1.  Know which spas are the best.  Since Hawaii has some top notch spas, you should really try to see what makes them special.  If you are going to go to a spa, you might as well go to the best.  Here are the 2007 top spas in Hawaii as rated by Mobil Travel Guide:

Maui

• The Spa at Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea - 4-Star
• Spa Grande at Grand Wailea Resort - 4-Star
• Spa Kea Lani at The Fairmont Kea Lani at Wailea - 3-Star
• Spa Moana, Hyatt Resort Maui at Kaanapali - 3-Star

Lanai

• The Spa at Four Seasons Manele Bay - 4-Star

Big Island

• Hualalai Sports Club and Spa at Four Seasons Resort Hualalai in Kailua-Kona - 4-Star

Oahu

• SpaHalekulani at the Halekulani Resort on Waikiki Beach - 4-Star
• Spa Suites at Kahala Hotel & Resort in Honolulu - 4-Star

2.  Review the spa menu online and book your treatment in advance.  At about one or two weeks before you are due to go to Hawaii, take a look through the spa menu online.  You will likely find some new types of massages and treatments that you’ve not seen before.  Some special treatments book up quickly.  So, if you are dreaming of having a seaside massage, you should book it in advance so that you’ll be sure to get it  Sometimes you can find deals by combining treatments.  So review the packages that the spa offers in their online menu.

3.  Prepare for sticker shock.  A spa treatment in Hawaii is not going to be cheap.  Forbes Magazine reports that the average cost of a massage at a day spa is $88 as compared to $138 at a resort spa.   I recently had a 50-minute massage at the Turtle Bay Resort spa on Oahu and it cost $115 plus 18% gratuity. 

4. Know what is included in your treatment.  Sometimes the spa menu will detail any extras, but it is always a good idea to ask what is included in your treatment when you book it.  For example, the last time I booked a treatment at the Spa Grande at the Grand Wailea Resort, the treatment included the use of their state of the art fitness center and their indulgent Terme Hydrotherapy area along with a complimentary body scrub.  Since I knew about these amenities, I arrived at the spa two hours before my appointment so that I could work out and enjoy the fantastic hydrotherapy pools.  (By the way, I highly recommend the Spa Grande.)   

5.  Know what isn’t included in your treatment.  Be sure and ask if there are any additional fees or add-ons that you should know about when you book your treatment.  Ask how gratuities are normally processed.  If you know before you go, you won’t be caught out and left in a awkward situation.

6. Know what you should wear.  This suggestion may sound silly, but if you know what to expect before you go, you’ll be better prepared.  For example, in the hydrotherapy area of the Spa Grande, it was perfectly normal for people to walk around in the buff or in a swimsuit.  If you are a modest person, you might be more comfortable wearing your swimsuit.  So, it is always a good idea to ask what you should wear so that you will be prepared for the spa’s policy on attire and etiquette.  

7.  Allow plenty of time for getting to your spa appointment.  If you get to your appointment ahead of time, you will be able to relax, sip some water or tea, and prepare to enjoy your treatment.  The last thing you would want to do is to be rushed or late for your appointment.

I hope these tips will help you to truly enjoy a spa treatment on your next vacation to Hawaii. 

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