Destination spas offer a full-immersion spa experience in which all guests participate. All-inclusive programs provide fitness activities, nutritious spa cuisine, various therapeutic spa and body treatments, educational classes, and often mind/body/spirit offerings to help you jump-start a new, more healthful lifestyle.

How To Choose A Destination Spa:

• Think about what you want from the experience.

• Do you want a restricted calorie experience or all you can eat? Find out their food philosophy before you go.

• Do you have a medical issue you want to address? Canyon Ranch in Lenox, Mass. or Tucson are unparallel in their medical staff.

• Do you want an outdoors experience, with hiking and rock climbing? Try The Red Mountain Spa in Ivins, Utah.

• Do you want to be in town or in the country? Photos can be deceiving. Find out exactly where the facility is located. To make the most of your spa vacation, read these spa travel tips.

BEST DESTINATION SPAS:

• Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona.
  Canyon Ranch is the ultimate “wellness spa” where people jumpstart a healthy new lifestyle. The staff and programming is unparallel, with medical doctors, exercise physiologists, movement therapists, etc. It also has fabulous facilities and outdoor programs. The Tucson property accommodates 240 guests in adobe cottages on 150 acres in the foothills of the Santa Catalina Mountains.

• Canyon Ranch in the Berkshires, Lenox, Massachusetts.
  The Lenox Canyon Ranch serves the East Coast with the same commitment to wellness and healthy living as the Tucson property. Set on 120 woodland acres in Western Massachusetts, Canyon Ranch Lenox accommodates 200 guests in 126 newly remodeled guest rooms and suites.

• The Golden Door, Escondido, California.
  The Golden Door in Escondido is a woman-only spa that serves no more than 40 guests. Wooden walkways link a series of serene garden courtyards inspired by the ancient inns of Japan. It has 377 acres of Japanese gardens, orchards and waterfalls and a Japanese bathhouse. This spa emphasizes individualized service and guiding guests toward a life balance of mind, body and spirit. Men are welcome during men-only weeks.

• Miraval Life in Balance, Catalina, Arizona.
  Set on 135 acres at the foot of the Santa Catalina Mountains, Miraval has 106 adobe-style casitas, most with private patios. buildings and great views. While it offers spa cuisine, it also serves alcohol and wine. Its signature programs is the “Equine Experience,” where working with a horse gives you insight into how you deal with people -- and life.

• Mii Amo, Sedona, Arizona.
  Bordering a national forest two hours from Phoenix, Mii Amo is a village of six adobe casitas near the Spa, within walking distance of the larger Enchantment Resort. The hottest service here is an “Aura-Soma” reading of your life based on the colored bottles you choose from more than 100.

• Lake Austin Spa Resort, Austin, Texas.
  The food is so good here you'll have a hard time believing the calorie counts. With just 40 rooms it's easy to meet people, but the spa is lavish. Outdoor treatment spaces with screened porches, garden tents, poolside cabanas and a private couple's suite. Separate men's and women's wet areas, two swimming pools, native gardens, cascading streams and fountains, and more than 100 spa treatments.

• Red Mountain Spa, Ivins (St. George), Utah.
  If you love adventure and are inspired by Southwestern scenery, then the Red Mountain Spa for you. Try rock climbing, go kayaking or mountain bike through rugged terrain. The heart of the spa is its hiking program and outstanding outdoors guides. It’s also a beautifully designed resort, with unusually good spa cuisine and a wine list.

• Green Valley Spa, St. George, Utah.
  This spa is just a few miles from Red Mountain Spa and has a reputation of being a little more luxurious and pampering. Right on the edge of both town and public lands, it has an extensive hiking program. It also offers Tennis College on its 15 outdoor and four indoor courts, and has a Golf Learning Center. You can play on any of six nearby courses.

• Cal-a-Vie, Vista, California.
  This elegant weight-loss spa is set on 200 rolling acres north of San Diego. Its 24 guest cottages are decorated in elegant European style. Most people come to stay for an entire week and eat spa cuisine and follow a highly programmed exercise agenda, but shorter stays are possible It has both co-ed and women-only weeks throughout the year.

• The Greenhouse, Arlington, Texas.
  This women-only spa has been around since the sixties and has a loyal following. It serves only 39 guests at a time. It is a weight-loss spa with programmed activities and 1,200 calories per day . It also periodically offers a special “Fat Flush” program.