Adventures in spa world…the quest for the best loo
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by: Spas
SPA REPORT: Unknown to most Californians, the largest state park in the contiguous United States lies between Palm Springs and San Diego, the Anza-Borrego Desert…and adrift in the center of this sea of sand is a spa resort, Borrego Ranch.
Formerly called La Casa del Zorro, the resort was recently taken over by spa industry innovator Joseph DeNucci, former COO of the famed Miraval resort in Arizona. Under the new ownership the resort has undergone a makeover from quirky dessert retreat to sleek modern meets Spanish spa enclave…definitely a move in the right direction since their goal is to make this the ultimate high-end desert getaway.
At Borrego Ranch their philosophy is “So-B-It,” where guests are encouraged to vacation as they choose, whether it is going to dinner in your bathrobe or falling asleep on a couch while reading in the lobby library.
Although Borrego offers many of the amenities top health spas like Miraval offer, such as a full work-out facility and lighter options on the menu, they also let you indulge with a full bar and delectably un-healthy offerings on the menu…so dieters beware and hedonist come have fun. A word of caution though…the menu is very gourmet and eccentric, although most dishes are delicious, those that are not culinary-adventurers will find it hard to find something simple to eat.
Since I could easily go stir crazy lying by a pool all day in the middle of a desert, my favorite part of the resort was the activities menu. With choices for the mind, body and spirit…there is a class for every type of personality. For the mind, digital photography classes, stargazing and aqua Tai Chi…for the body, yoga, archery and rock climbing…and for the spirit, a walk through a labyrinth to broaden your understanding of who you are, to the equine encounter, an exercise in communicating with horses. Of all activities the most memorable was the Walk the Walk…a walk across a 35-foot high beam…and by high we are talking 30 feet in the air!
For the less adventurous vacationers, Borrego Ranch is home to Morado Spa, a beautifully appointed two-story retreat where guests can spend their days indulging in an array of pampering and holistic therapeutic treatments. From massages, soaks and scrubs, to acupuncture and herbal medicine, Morado offers a wide variety of options, ranging from the traditional to the unexpected.
Since the resort is still in the transition process I would recommend giving them a few months to get everything inline. Locals say that the best time to visit the area is in the spring, when the desert flowers are in full bloom. With rates starting at $300 for a poolside room and $400 for a one bedroom casita with private spa…the rates are up there, but on the lower end compared to most high-end spa resorts. For more info visit BorregoRanch.com
TECH ON THE GO: Renewable energy is where the future is, so why not take some with you while traveling…in the form of the Solio Hybrid 1000. This five-inch long by two and half inch wide portable solar panel can be used to charge most mobile phones, PDAs, MP3 players, digital cameras and handheld games. When fully charged, the Solio will charge a typical mobile phone once or give 10 hours of MP3 music…just 1 hour of sunshine equals 14 minutes talk time or 40 minutes of MP3 music.
The Solio features a built-in-carabineer, which makes it easy to clip to a backpack and catch rays on the go…and only weighing 5.6 ounces; it is a light-weight travel companion. The charger comes with three adapter tips that work with most gadgets, but if your phone does not play nice with the included tips, Solio sells many other adapters through their website.
Harnessing the power of the sun on the go will cost $79.95 and is available at Solio.com.
TRAVEL WEB: The web is so infinite with websites on every subject known to man…but just when I thought I had seen everything I discovered www.MizPee.com, a website dedicated to finding a clean place to do your business.
Just type in the address where you are at and a list of nearby restrooms appear, with cleanliness ratings, hours of operation and a list of available facilities…along with reviews from fellow toilet-seekers.
If you are traveling to Europe, check out their sister site MizPee.eu to locate the nearest loo when on the road. In the US, not all cities are listed but the website is fairly new, so their coverage is constantly growing.
BUDGET TRAVEL: Ever wondered what happens to retired airplanes…well in Sweden they are turned into budget accommodations, The Jumbo Hostel to be exact.
Located at Stockholm’s Arlanda airport, Jumbo Hostel is housed in a retired Boeing 747 that was built circa 1976. The plane was gutted and turned into a 25-room boutique hotel…with room configurations ranging from dormitory style ($45) to the private Cockpit Suite ($170).
Jumbo Hostel opens for guests on January 15, 2009 and bookings can be made through their website JumboHostel.com.
TIP OF THE WEEK: Confirm your flight the day before! It is cheaper for airlines to have a few angry customers than to have a half empty flight and waste jet fuel…and now with the ever-fluctuating price of fuel, expect cancellations to happen more. Save yourself the misery of arriving at the airport and finding out your flight has been nixed
