Spavalous
Whether you're planning a local day visit or a health and wellness vacation, I'm here to help you by sharing my personal experiences. If you enjoy hot-air balloon rides over Calistoga vineyards, taking in the waters of Vichy, France, lounging at the Monte Carlo Beach Club, or snowmobiling in the wilderness of Montana, you can read all about it to gather tips for your next wellness vacation.
#1 - Vichy, France
What do Napoléon III, Gabrielle Chanel, Catherine Deneuve, Sarah Bernhardt, John Davison Rockefeller, the baroness of Rothschild and Prince Rainier III of Monaco all have in common?
They all “took to the waters” during summer visits to the private society of Compagnie de Vichy in France. Vichy Spa Hotel Les Célestins, a 7,500 square meter space, is where the biggest spa in Europe awaits, and a train from Paris will get you there shy of three hours.
#2 - monte carlo, Monaco
Anytime is a good time to visit Monaco. At the Hermitage Monte-Carlo, I was fortunate to receive the royal treatment at a property Conde Nast Traveler magazine ranked as one of the top 10 best hotels in France.
My interest, however, was focused on the elevator of the hotel's regal hallway that led down to the 7,500 square-foot spa: Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo. This enchanted space became my much needed sanctuary and will forever remain to be my defining water moment.
#3 - Rome, Italy
Almost three million residents and double the amount of tourists fill the streets of Rome during peak tourist season in late spring, mainly along landmark stops such as the Sistine Chapel and St. Peter’s Basilica, as well as the Roman Forum and the Colloseo.
Patience becomes a virtue when standing in lines that equal the circumference of Vatican City; be prepared to edge your way through the streets just to grab a table at a nearby pizzeria for a bottle of Chianti and a pizza margherita.
To head out of the crowds to the hilltop resort of Rome Cavalieri is a welcome reprieve.
It is here where the indulgence of Roman art and architecture continues in its theme of Baroque and Romanticism eras. Rome Cavalieri is a place of indulgence, decadence and, dare I say, hedonism.