Apr 28 2018

5 Mother’s Day Travel Deals for A Dose of Self-Care Travel

Mother’s Day Travel should be all year-round

We moms today are often faced with chronic exhaustion and overwhelming circumstances because of everything that we’re juggling.

Let’s be clear – we have a lot on our plates.

So what do we need to do? Take care of ourselves and prioritize our self-care.

One of the best forms of self-care, in order to refresh and revive ourselves, is to take a travel break. I like to call it self-care travel or taking a personal retreat.

I not only take retreats often but I plan retreats for other moms who need me-time and transformation.

And these five Mother’s Day travel deals make justifying a personal retreat easy.

Whether you’re looking for a day, overnight, or weekend getaway, here is a list of destinations that are offering wonderful getaway specials just for mom.

Mother’s Day in Hagerstown, Maryland

Getaway for the Day to Hagerstown. Tea Time at the Inn at Boonsboro on May 12th from 1:00-3:00 pm.

Sample a variety of tea flavors with light refreshments in keepsake teacups and saucers, play parlor games, and if you dress up with a fabulous hat you can enter The Hats Off contest where the “most” unique hat will be selected.

Tickets available on the Inn Boonsboro Facebook page.

Digital Detox for Mother’s Day in Pittsburgh, PA

The Renaissance Pittsburgh Hotel offers a Digital Detox Package for all guests.

This isn’t necessarily Mother’s Day specific but it’s definitely appropriate for a Mother’s Day self-care getaway.

Mom can check in and tune out. Package includes an upgraded room, breakfast for two, no electronics in the room. In exchange for surrendering your electronics at check-in, you can choose between a 30-min kayak rental or 30-minute bike rental.

Mother-Daughter Getaway Package in the Poconos

Woodloch spa — The pool at the Spa at Woodloch

The Lodge at Woodloch, PA: A destination spa resort is offering a Mother-Daughter Getaway Package where mom enjoys 30% off resort rates for a stay of 2 nights or more.

The package includes 3 gourmet meals per night of stay, speakers, and workshops, group fitness classes, chef’s cooking demonstrations, guided group excursions, spa and fitness amenities.

All-Inclusive Mother’s Day Getaway in Paradise

The Warwick Paradise Island, in Paradise Island, Bahamas is an adults-only, all-inclusive resort offering a very affordable room rate in honor of Mother’s Day.

Starting May 6 until May 14th, rates are $145 per person, per night, based on double occupancy in an Island View room. The rate, booked exclusively through the resort, includes all meals and snacks available at five on-property restaurants, alcoholic and non-alcoholic beverages, private beach access, nightly entertainment and an array of activities.

Mother’s Day in Mexico

In Puerto Vallarta, MX “mommy and me” can enjoy discounted spa services at the Hyatt Ziva Puerto Vallarta.

Having just returned from Puerto Vallarta for my couples’ retreat I can vouch for the weather being absolutely wonderful and this being a perfect time for a quick weekend retreat in Mexico.

The Hyatt Ziva’s packages range from $90-$170, a perfect range for mom’s travel budget.

So, which of these destinations interest you? Or do you have somewhere else in mind? Leave a comment below. I’d love to hear where you are planning to hang your cape for a day or two.

Me? I’m heading to the Caribbean. Mama needs it!

Sep 28 2015

Where To Go For Fall Getaways

Fall getaways_Pumpkins — Signaling Fall with pumpkins at Great Frogs Vineyard – Annapolis, MD

Apples, squash, pumpkin, corn mazes and the smell of spice all drum up images of Fall. This time of year is perfect for travel because prices for hotels and flights are lower, crowds are smaller, and the weather has cooled off a bit. So check your kids’ school schedule and enjoy the season with a few Fall getaways.

Find a few ideas below for family trips, girlfriend getaways, and guy trips to get you started. For a more complete roundup of Fall family travel ideas around the country, check out this guide by Family Travel Consulting.

Family Day Trips

Depending where you live you can hop in the car for a scenic drive to see the colors of the changing leaves. If you have extra time, you can jump on a plane and enjoy some relaxation before the holidays.

Quick Tip: Check your local Convention and Visitors Bureau’s (CVB) website to find areas close to you that they highlight for Fall day trips. You can find information on Harvest festivals and events that feature hay rides, pumpkin patches, craft corners, food vendors and activities for the whole family to enjoy.

Live in driving distance to Harford County, MD? Visit a haunted house, attend an apple festival, enjoy pumpkin picking, take a historic walking tour or journey through a Maize Quest. Events start this week and run through October. Check out their site here for more details and information.

Have time, will travel

If you have a little more time to spare and can catch their flash sales, consider all-inclusive Club Med resorts. They’re currently running a “Fun in the Winter Sun” promotion (sale price ends October 1). Prices start at $115 per person with children under 4 staying free and kids age 4-12 at 50% off adult prices. Children 13-15 stay at 40% off the adult rate.

I stayed at Club Med Sandpiper Bay and had an incredibly relaxing time at the L’Occitane spa. Including the Sandpiper Bay property, other Club Meds that are participating in a include:

Club Med Cancun
Club Med Ixtapa
Club Med Columbus Isle
Club Med Punta Cana
Club Med Turkoise

Even if you don’t catch the “Fun in the Winter Sun” sale, you’ll find value in taking a 4-day Fall getaway with the family to an all-inclusive resort (Note that there’s also a “Press Pause” sale that runs until October 27 for select dates through April 27,2016).

Educational Getaway

You may not feel as bad taking that extra day off from school or work if you combine your Fall getaways with education. Harbour Village Beach Resort in Bonaire, Dutch Antilles might be the perfect option if your family is into conservation and coral reefs.

The resort has installed underwater cameras that allow visitors to view the marine life just off the resort’s sandy shore. The video and data monitoring system provides students of all ages with a deeper understanding of how important coral reefs are to healthy coastal and underwater ecosystems. Families can even take a Conservation Dive training course together.

Spa Getaways

FallGetaways_WineSign — A visit to a vineyard is the perfect way for a mom to enjoy Fall.

Fall getaways aren’t just for the family. Anyone that knows me well, knows that retreating to a spa during the Fall is my M.O. And there’s no shortage of spa retreats around the world. Where you decide to go depends on your time and your money. Check out a resource like Spafinder.com or you can take a peak at a few of the places that I’ve been.

A property that I’ve recently discovered through Spafinder is the Capella Marigot Bay Resort and Marina in St. Lucia. This property is “cocooned by flourishing tropical forest” with a spa that debuted in December 2014. Aside from offering spa services, guests can enjoy personal training, pilates, yoga, and nutrition classes. This resort is on my short list.

Guy Getaways

FallGetaways_Vineyard — The vineyards at Great Frogs winery in Annapolis, MD

Bromance is real and guys love traveling together just as much as gals so in honor of the men in your house, here are some activities and spots in the Mid-Atlantic Region (Maryland, Delaware, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia) for them to enjoy a Fall getaway.

Golfing: Howard County, MD; Valley Forge, PA; Prince William & Manassas; Roanoke, VA
Breweries/Oktoberfest: Frederick, MD; Pennsylvania
Zip Lining: Lancaster County, PA
Kayaking: Northeastern, PA
Mountain Biking: Indiana County, PA
Fishing: Calvert County, MD; St. Mary’s County, MD
Ale Trails: Bucks County, PA; Central Pennsylvania; Lehigh Valley, PA; Charlottesville, PA
General outdoor adventures: Pocono Mountains, PA; Pennsylvania Grand Canyon; Harrisonburg, VA; Shenandoah County, VA; Lexington and Rockbridge, VA

Whatever experience you decide for the Fall, know that now is a good time to enjoy cheaper pricing before the holiday travel rush. If you need help planning, I’m just an email away.

Jan 13 2014

The Lodge at Woodloch: A Top 10 Destination Spa

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If you came across a spa whose literature read, “ranked #2 Destination Spa in the World by Travel and Leisure magazine”, wouldn’t you be intrigued to investigate for yourself?

Well, this spa-lover is no different. I’ve been to my fair share of getaways and I had to check out the spa at the Lodge at Woodloch to see for myself.

Atmosphere

Woodloch spa thermal pool — Outdoor thermal pool

You may want to move in to the Spa at the Lodge at Woodloch when you go. It’s that good. Three words for this top-rated spa: Gorgeous, Serene, Relaxing. I don’t think anything else needs to be said.

When you book your appointment, the reservation specialist will be kind enough to inform you that you have 2 hours before your service to enjoy the facilities at the spa. This courteous mention may only be applicable to visiting spa guests and not overnight guests. In other words, they know how dope their facilities are so they need to put a time limit on it, otherwise some people will book a 50-minute treatment but spend the whole day there.

It’s a relaxing atmosphere where one can easily get lost.

Trip Planning Advice

I’ve often found it challenging to travel to spa resorts with the entire family. I’m one of those spa junkies that wants to spend 5-6 hours at the spa, detoxifying, relaxing, thinking and just sitting in stillness.

When you travel with your husband and kids, that’s not a reality. It feels downright selfish, even if he tells me to stay and enjoy since I’m working. I feel guilty and I almost never completely relax. The best advice I can give for this mom-guilt is to either leave the family home or book your husband some spa time as well.

That’s exactly what I did.

My husband enjoyed his spa time as much as I did. We made sure that we allowed the kids to do what they wanted, even if it meant just playing around the room.

Highlights of the Spa

lodge at woodloch — Waterfall pool with waterfall off.

One of the most exciting surprises for me when I visited the spa was that it was pretty empty. Now, this won’t be the case every time but it was a fluke that I welcomed. It could’ve been the early appointment time, I’m not sure. However, an empty spa is a peaceful spa.

I’m not a big fan of co-ed spa facilities. I’ve ran into a couple of them before like the one at the Corinthia hotel london spa. I want men to have their own pools and waterfall facilities but because I was there at a quiet time, I only bumped into one man. And since there are so many areas to relax, if you feel uncomfortable (because you know you don’t have much on under your robe), you can always find another quiet, relaxing spot.

The waterfall and the outdoor thermal pool are tied for first place as far as the best part of this spa. Both take a little gutsiness before getting into. Both are beautiful amenities and what make this spa facility really stand out.

The waterfall pool is a romantic spot for couples, one that you wouldn’t want to share with too many other people. The outdoor pool you won’t mind so much. In December, as you look at the snow just before disrobing and getting in, you’re happy that there are other warm bodies around.

Overall, if I had to do anything differently, I would either go up to Woodloch with either my girlfriends or my husband. I would’ve liked to have enjoyed the spa with him instead of having to split up like we always do. The other alternative is to pay for a sitter to accompany us for the getaway so that we can get that much-needed alone time.

Having experienced the Spa at the Lodge at Woodloch, I can understand its rating.

Disclosure: The Lodge at Woodloch hosted my stay and a treatment at its spa facility. All opinions expressed are my own. I was not compensated for this post.

Jan 08 2013

Welcome to Penn State’s Other Secret: The Carnegie Inn and Spa

The Carnegie Inn and Spa is a perfect retreat for couples, adult family members, and girlfriends. This bed and breakfast-style Inn is designed after Scottish country inns and breathes relaxation, and romance.

Although my children accompanied me to the Carnegie Inn and Spa, understand that there are other hotel choices in the State College area that are better suited for traveling with kids. I couldn’t help but laugh when my son remarked, “ooh, fancy.” I translated it as “this is great, but where’s the pool?” Unfortunately, for his sake, there wasn’t one but that was quite alright by me. It meant that mommy and daddy were actually going to get a chance to sit down and take a load off. He and his brother had to entertain themselves another way.

Carnegie Inn & Spa — My Little One Just Before Settling In

Our double-queen room was spacious, a decent size if you insist on having kids in tow. After our three-hour drive from Maryland, the plantation-style rice beds welcomed us with fresh in-house baked cookies and rich, comfortable bedding, as well as end-of-bed benches, perfect for sitting. An armoire with a tube television stood against a parallel wall – a good location for watching TV in bed, on the couch, or from the writing desk, set back in an alcove with a window. Another recessed area, adjacent to the sitting desk, housed the room’s heating and cooling unit. After my eyes finished their dance on paisley linen wall paper, checkered throw pillows and other old country style patterns in the room, I notice all the archways and angles that make the space even more interesting.

Breakfast at the spa is complimentary for guests and it’s not just some continental breakfast. It’s a full breakfast, made to order. My boys tried the french toast topped with fresh whip cream and strawberries. I have to admit that I probably enjoyed it more than they did while my husband was very happy with his garden omelette. I think the best part of breakfast at the Carnegie Inn is the view. The dining room overlooks the adjoining golf course, which, at this time of year, is vacant and fresh with cold morning dew.

There are all these different nooks and crannies worth exploring around the Inn, even with your kids. My son had a good time walking with me to the West Wing to discover an elevator on that side and a third floor. Our wing was the smaller of the two with just six of the twenty rooms that make up the Carnegie Inn. We also had the spa on our side.

There are a number of things to do in the State College area, outside of Penn State. If you decide to do something off the beaten path from the more popular Pennsylvania cities and attractions, visit State College and stay at the Carnegie Inn. Kids in tow, or traveling solo, you will not be disappointed.

Disclaimer: The Carnegie Inn and Spa hosted my family for the weekend during our visit to State College. All opinions expressed in this post are entirely my own.

Oct 30 2012

Club Med Sandpiper Bay’s L’Occitane Spa: More than Facials

Club Med Sandpiper Bay’s L’Occitane Spa delivers on more than just massages and facials. It delivers on an experience. The all-inclusive resort is a short hop from West Palm Beach, approximately a thirty minute drive. If you’re coming from Miami, it will take you two hours but an afternoon at this one-of-a-kind spa is well worth the trip. This location marks L’Occitane’s first and only spa in the United States.

The boutique is a spa-lover’s paradise. Filled with dozens of L’Occitane products for all skin types and both genders. Jewelry, branded clothing, and other accessories fill the shelves that line the walls at L’Occitane Spa. If you can withstand the temptation to shop before your treatment, you’ll probably succumb afterwards while still on your euphoric-spa high.

Listen, it’s perfectly okay to splurge and treat yourself considering you’re not going into your pocket for anything else at Club Med. That’s one of the wonderful things about all-inclusives – your basic necessities like room and board are already paid. Anything else is just icing on your vacation cake.

The spa’s soothing music, lavender scents, calming colors, and iced green tea all do wonders on the sensors, easily putting you in a shopping mood.

The locker room is intimate and quiet, not really where you’d hang out. However, the shower is another story. Besides being an absolutely roomy space, the cleansing products invite you to take all the time in the world to freshen up. Be mindful – there’s only one shower so you’ll have to get to it as soon as you can and if the spa is crowded at that time, you might have to be wait.

My massage therapist, Rachel, is knowledgeable and patient. She does an amazing job of regulating deep pressure and light pressure as needed. After a short get-to-know-you conversation, her goal is to get me to relax. It took me a few minutes but eventually I relax and am able to “let go.” It’s impossible not to with expert hands, calming French music, L’Occitane Spa’s Lavender Tea tree geranium pillow mist, diffusers, a basket of lavender beneath the face pillow, and a warm scented sheet to cover me.

My morning at Club Med’s L’Occitane Spa was memorable and just what I needed. The standout moments were the warm foot bath to begin and the cooling foot wipe to end. And of course, the amazing Rachel. I spent an hour or more in the outdoor relaxation area enjoying the warm Florida sun and the moment. I couldn’t resist taking my sweet ol’ time coming back to reality.