Spa Experiences in Mexico

Experience the feeling of balance and rejuvenation a Mexican Spa Experience can give you

Modern Spas in Mexico offer a wealth and variety of services that will help you to re-establish a sense of balance and well-being, helping you to feel refreshed and revived…

Spas in Mexico

A spa is place to go when you want to get away from your normal life routine and experience an environment and treatments that will help your body and mind to unwind and feel revitalized.

There are different types of spa, which will be discussed in more detail later in this guide. Whichever kind of spa you choose, they will all have a common goal: to help you re-balance yourself, revitalize your mind and body and to give you a sense of wellness.

Consider a spa experience if you want a different kind of vacation in Mexico, or if you want part of your vacation to include a time for relaxing, reflection or revitalization.

A vacation that focuses exclusively on engaging with spa services is different from a traditional one: the usual excesses which accompany a “fancy free” get-away are often put aside, especially at Destination Spas, which are dedicated to providing a positive health experience for guests.

At spas which are part of a fine hotel or resort, you may combine a traditional vacation with some spa experiences and treatments. This arrangement may be ideal if you are traveling with your family or members in a group who want to enjoy different activities as part of their vacation.

Mexican spas offer a wealth and variety of services that can help you to regain a sense of calm and wellness and re-establish a sense of balance in your life.

For example, you may want a total relaxation experience, or you may want the exhilaration of participating in sports to get or stay fit. The type of spa you choose will depend on what kind of experience you are looking for: the next section will help you to better understand the different types of spas, and the possibilities they offer…

Destination and Resort-Hotel Spas

There are two kinds of spa in Mexico: Destination Spas and Resort-Hotel Spas. This section explains the difference between the two types:

Destination Spas

These are spas which have been created to provide spa services and nothing else. They are often located in quiet, serene areas. Some accept children, others have minimum age limits, e.g. 13 years, 18 years, etc. Destination Spas sometimes specialize in a particular area; for example:

Holistic – Focus on an experience that will harmonize the mind, body and spirit. Activities such as meditation, yoga and acupuncture will be common.

Weight Loss – Some centers focus on exercise, aerobics, diet and nutrition

Sports – Some spas will provide facilities to play particular sports (e.g. Golf course, Tennis courts) and focus on services that facilitate the development of your skills and body muscles to enable you to participate in these better.

Some centers provide a choice, and you can elect one, or none of these and just choose to relax and be pampered for your stay or visit.

Destination Spas are residential – They provide all of your accommodation and food, which can be prepared by top chefs whose aim is to provide a well-balanced diet for your needs.

Some destination spas are quiet and relaxed; others have parties at night and are quite energetic places; you can choose what kind you’d like to go to; there’s something to suit everyone!

Advantages – Enables you to get away from it all; all your needs are catered for, and its hassle-free. You don’t have to worry about anything: your accommodation is provided, three meals a day are prepared and served to you, and you will get to experience a complete change from your normal routine. The best practitioners are often based at these centers, and you will receive a more focused approach to the health spa concept.

Disadvantages – The main disadvantage, perhaps, is that you or your partner or family may not want an all-engaging spa experience and want to just sit on a beach, or take part in some other vacation activity some of time as well. In these cases, a Resort Spa will be a better option for you.

Resort-Hotel Spas

Resort Spas are based at vacation resorts, or fine hotels. Instead of being an all-encompassing spa experience of the type offered by Destination Spas, the Resort-Hotel spas are just one segment of the facilities the resort or the hotel offers: in effect, the spa is a walk-in center that you choose to engage with as part of your stay, or avoid altogether.

The services and facilities offered at resort spas will vary depending on the individual location.

In recent years, good quality hotels have invested millions of dollars creating spa-centers inside their resorts and fine hotels. The quality of many of these centers is extremely high, offering a wide range of spa services (including many of the services traditionally offered only by destination spas) diligently delivered by professional staffed, trained to take proper care of spa guests.

The resort spas advertise the services they offer, so you’ll know beforehand what to expect. Universally, all tend to offer pools, steam and sauna rooms, massage, beauty treatments, facials and a gym. More specialist services, in particular those around holistic therapies (yoga, meditation, acupuncture, aromatherapy, etc.) may only be available at more up-scale resorts, or those which have these services included as a unique service proposition for clients.

Advantages – Because they are part of a resort, the services they offer may be bought on a “per use” basis, so you only pay for what you’ll use (although most Destination Spas offer this a-la-carte option, too, in addition to fixed-price packages).

Resort Spas tend to work out less expensive than Destination Spas. Your accommodation will have already been provided as part of your hotel or resort accommodation, and your food will be provided by the hotel/resort hotels, or elsewhere locally if you choose.

You may also elect to have a “Spa Experience” for a couple of days, a whole week, or not at all. If your partner and/or family don’t want to participate, they don’t have to and can still enjoy a great vacation using the the resort’s other services and facilities. If you don’t want a spa experience, they can participate— it’s flexible.

Disadvantages – You are unlikely to get a totally focused Spa Experience at a Resort Spa; although as mentioned earlier, in recent years the range and quality of services being delivered at resort spas has increased exponentially, as a direct result of significant new investments by the resort-hotels.

The practitioners at some of the lower budget resort spas may not be as experienced as those working in the Destination Spas, and some Spas may lack some the more specialist services such as yoga, meditation and alternative therapies.

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Types of Resort-Hotel Spa in Mexico

Spas situated at resorts and hotels can be sub-divided into different types, depending on the type of hotel and the hotel’s location.

We’ve categorized Resort Spas into four different types, to help you browse and choose a spa experience to suit your needs and personal preferences:

Oceanside Resort-Hotel Spas

Oceanside resort spas are located at hotel resorts situated in Mexican towns and cities alongside the ocean; usually the Pacific or the Mexican Caribbean. These spas offer ocean views, some offer water sports and, where practical, these spas offer services on the beach (e.g. massage).

Colonial Spas

Colonial Spas are those situated at fine hotels located in or on the outskirts of one of Mexico’s beautiful colonial cities. These hotels offer their spa services amidst grand historic settings—the old properties these hotels now inhabit. Some colonial spas are situated in colonial-style hotels out in the country, a few miles from the closest town, surrounded by nature.

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Services Provided by Spas in Mexico

Different spas will provide different selections of services. Some are more comprehensive than others.

Most spas offer a ‘universal’ basic set of services that will include a pool, whirlpool, steam and sauna rooms, gym, massage and beauty care—much alike a good quality health or country club.

Listed below, are the types of services you can expect to find at spas in Mexico. The Mexperience Directory will indicate which of these services are provided for the spas that have elected to have their detailed descriptions listed on Mexperience.

Universal Services Offered at Most Spas

• Swimming Pool
• Gymnasium
• Whirlpool
• Sauna
• Steam Room
• Basic Massage
• Basic Beauty Care (e.g. Hairdressing, Manicure)

Additional Facilities

• Resistance Swimming Pool
• Aerobic Exercise Machines
• Multiple Massage Techniques
• Comprehensive Beauty Care
• Natural Hot Springs
• Mud Baths / Mud Wraps
• Seaweed Wraps

Holistic Spa Services

• Meditation
• Yoga
• Stress Release / Management
• Tai Chi

Alternative Therapies at Spas

• Aromatherapy
• Reflexology
• Herbal Therapies
• Acupuncture
• Acupressure
• Water Therapies

Specialist Spa Services

• Lifestyle Counseling (Note: You may need to speak Spanish for this kind of service!)
• Nutritional Programs

Professional Staff Working at Spas

• Very well trained Masseurs
• Experienced Practitioners of Alternative Therapies
• Chiropractors (very limited No. offer these)
• Nutritionists (limited No. offer these)

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How to Choose a Spa in Mexico

When considering what kind of spa to choose in Mexico, it will help you to keep in mind the following four factors:

1. Focus

How focused do you want your spa experience to be? Do you want to to focus solely on spa-based activities, perhaps linked with a sport (e.g. Golf, Hiking) or do you want to see other things, and enjoy a resort holiday as well? If you want focus, choose a Destination Spa, if you want a mix (or your partner and family want to do other things), choose a Resort-type Spa.

2. Environment

What kind of environment do you want? Do you want to achieve a specific goal (e.g. lose weight, undertake a specific activity like yoga or golf, get fit, improve your diet, relax, de-stress, etc), or are you looking for a mix of things? Will children be traveling with you, and if they are, what age restrictions apply (if any)? Do you want a relaxed and serene experience, or do you you want a center that is more lively, vibrant and energetic? Choose a spa that will provide you with the type of environment you’re seeking.

3. Activities

Do you have specific treatments in mind, or a specific sport or activity you want to take part in? Spiritual spas that offer healing, meditation, Yoga and Tai-Chi are extremely popular, and are some of the most sought after spas by clients. Perhaps you feel you want to experience the benefits of acupuncture after a friend of yours told you about it. You may need to choose your spa based on your specific requirements, if they are not part of the services generally commonly provided.

4. Cost

How much can you afford to spend? Most spas offer all-inclusive package prices that provide specific activities or schedules for a set price over a number of nights and provide you with great value for money; some charge extra for niche services, should you want them. Prices for budget destination spas can be very low—as low as a moderate hotel room. Luxury spas can cost considerably more. Generally speaking, the more you pay, the more you get in terms of facilities provided, level of service (ratio of guests to staff will be lower at more expensive spas) and more experienced staff. If your budget is very tight, you may get better value from a Resort spa, although see “Focus”, above.

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Benefits of a Spa Experience in Mexico

The benefits offered by spas may be grouped into four main areas which are summarized below.

Although benefits may be more strongly felt at the more focused Destination Spas than at the Resort Spas, in recent years some Resort Spas have really raised their game and the best ones can be nearly as focused as a Destination Spa.

1. Mind

Spas are great mind stimulants and mind relaxants. People who walk away from a spa experience feel more at ease in their own mind, less stressed, and better prepared intellectually and emotionally for the return to their daily lives.

2. Body

A spa experience will help to cleanse your body, and if its at a comprehensive center, it will include a healthy, balanced diet as well. Sports, fitness exercise, hot natural spa mineral waters, massage, alternative therapies, saunas, steam rooms, whirlpools and a range of other services and facilities are all designed to help your body recover from the stresses and wear that our everyday lives put upon it.

3. Spirit

By combining the services and ambience of the spa, to stimulate the mind and cleanse the body, people who take part in a spa experience report that they feel they experience a stronger spiritual sense than they had when they first arrived.

4. Balance and Rejuvenation

A spa experience is about leaving your daily grind behind you and making a choice to create a positive impact on your whole self. The spa facilities, services and staff will help you to unwind, relieve any anxieties and stress you may be carrying, help you to cleanse your body, stimulate your mind and provide balance and equilibrium to your lifestyle. When the time comes to leave the spa, you should feel rejuvenated and carry with you a sense of relaxation and confidence that will help you to approach your daily life back home in a more assertive and progressive way.

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Length of Stay at a Mexican Spa

The length of your stay at a spa will depend on your personal goals, the time available to you, and your budget.

People who know spas and return regularly to enjoy the benefits of attending a spa in Mexico, tend to reserve a ‘block’ of time to spend there—even if it’s at a Resort Spa—to ensure focus and continuity and to get the maximum benefit from the services and facilities on offer.

If you’re going to go to a Destination Spa, it’s probably best to stay a minimum of three nights.

Three and four-night packages are usually the shortest time available, although six-nights and longer are also available. With a three-night spa package, you could sandwich in a Mexican spa experience between other activities while you’re in Mexico—even perhaps, if you’re traveling to Mexico for business.

If you’re attending a Resort Spa, you may want to commit a set number of days to your spa experience as part of your vacation.

Some people choose to take two or three weeks out at a Destination Spa, if they want to become totally immersed, or perhaps after a particularly busy and/or stressful period in their life situation.

Most Destination Spas offer worthwhile discounts for those staying a month or more. Spa fanatics, who have the resources and time, may stay for between six and eight weeks, but they are usually people who know the spa, have been there before, and who are working to accomplish specific goals.

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Price of Spas in Mexico

Prices for spas vary, and they are usually in direct proportion to the facilities on offer, the level of service and the experience of the staff.

See Also: Tipping Etiquette at Spas

Budget Price Spas

Budget Spas cost from around US$90 per person, per night (may include breakfast). This will include basic (but clean and comfortable) accommodation.   Facilities are likely to be limited in some areas, and staff may not be as experienced as those in the more expensive spas.

Moderate Price Spas

Moderate Spas cost from around US$150 per person per night (including some meals) and is likely to include comfortable accommodation, good facilities (some specialist facilities may be lacking) and experienced staff.

Luxury Spas

Luxury Spas cost from US$200 per person, per night, and will have top accommodation, high levels of service (the ratio of guests to staff will be low) excellent facilities, specialist services and the most experienced staff. This price level may not include meals, which is often prepared on site by gourmet chef, although some package deals are available where food is included. Luxury Spas which are most likely to provide specialist services not available elsewhere, although some moderately priced Spas may offer these too—check if you’re looking for something in particular.

A Note About Specialized Services at Spas

Specialized or unique services are usually charged as extras to the prices quoted above. The staff at the more expensive spas are oftentimes more highly experienced.

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