Shelley Seale is a freelance journalist and author.
Website: http://www.shelleyseale.com
Blog: http://tradingplacesglobal.wordpress.com/
Book: http://www.howtotravelforfree.net
Twitter: @shelleyseale
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shelleyseale
Hope you find the reviews you want, if not, contact us to get more help
Shelley Seale is a freelance journalist and author.
Website: http://www.shelleyseale.com
Blog: http://tradingplacesglobal.wordpress.com/
Book: http://www.howtotravelforfree.net
Twitter: @shelleyseale
Facebook: www.facebook.com/shelleyseale
Some travelers are beach people, wanting the sand-and-water experience under palm trees. Others are city travelers, preferring the excitement and diversity of entertainment that a metropolitan vacation offers.
Westin Playa Bonita in Panama City is one place where you can have both – in style. The gorgeous property is just at the outskirts of the city, across the bridge from Panama City’s lively downtown and the Panama Canal. On this peaceful stretch of Pacific Ocean beach, with its golden sand and blue waters, the Westin Playa Bonita has all the makings of a hidden-away tropical resort; yet is only minutes away from the sightseeing, restaurants and nightlife that thriving Panama City has to offer.
Guest Rooms
The rooms have an elegant, understated modern décor, with fantastic bathrooms and views that either look over the Pacific Ocean or the tropical rainforest that surrounds Playa Bonita. The beds are seriously comfortable; in fact Westin has trademarked it as its Heavenly Bed, and that it is. All rooms feature a 40-inch LCD television, iPod docking station, refreshment center, separate shower and deep soaking tub, wood Panamanian furnishings and some have private patios.
The 18th floor is home to the Westin Executive Club Rooms, all with stunning views from private balconies and access to the Executive Club Lounge, serving food and drinks throughout the day. Suites are also available, from the Revival and Renewal Suites meant for a relaxing stay to the Presidential Suites of 1,600 square feet, with ample living space, kitchen and dining table for six.
Onsite Facilities
This is the kind of place where you can do as much or as little as you like. Four beachfront pools provide an escape overlooking the ocean, with several bars and the ability to have snack foods and light meals served. Take a stroll along the beach, or participate in some of the fun daily activities ranging from salsa lessons to beach volleyball and kayaking. There is also a fully equipped fitness center onsite. If you really want to experience total relaxation, check yourself into the Sensory Spa by Clarins, which specializes in holistic remedies and hydrothermal healing with their many choices in body and facial treatments.
When it comes to dining and nighttime fun, there are plenty of choices here. Depending on the level of package you have booked, three large dining rooms serve sumptuous buffet meals three times a day. These are not your typical buffets; on my stay we were highly impressed by the quality and diversity of the food offered. There are also several other restaurants onsite. The chic Soléo offers Mediterranean tapas by day and cocktails and karaoke by night, while Asiana is a sophisticated dining experience specializing in sushi, curries and other Asian dishes. Finally, Tierra Y Fuego is an upscale steakhouse with a Latin flair.
For after-dinner drinking or dancing, the Oasis Bar & Lounge has a great vibe, personable bartenders and live music most nights.
Neighborhood/Nearby Attractions
All the sites and attractions of Panama City are a short drive away, five to 25 minutes. Check out the history of Casco Viejos, the old town that is both falling apart and up-and-coming at the same time, and the newest hot spot for the hip and creative. Don’t miss the nearby seafood market, a taste of local culture and where you can get some amazing, fresh ceviche for three to four dollars.
Of course, the Panama Canal is a huge draw. Take a tour of the canal and its lakes and byways; or visit the famous Miraflores Locks for a birds-eye view of ships passing through the locks.
Highlights
Location – on the beach yet minutes from the exciting, lively city and the Panama Canal.
Food – an excellent variety of all sorts of food using fresh ingredients and chefs who are serious about what they are putting out.
Atmosphere – this can be a fun party place, with good times by the pool and evenings listing to live music while sipping delectable cocktail creations; or you can simply relax by the beachside pools or in the spa.
Staff – the people who work here are generally a friendly and helpful bunch, who will make you feel at home.
Good to Know
If you’re traveling as a family, you’ve come to the right place. The Westin Kids Club for children 4-12 offers supervised activities, completely free of charge. Attentive staff will lead the kids in crafts, music, playground and beach activities and much more.
Weddings and events are big here. With 20 multi-purpose event spaces that compromise 65,000 total square feet, and a professional events team, having the perfect wedding, renewal ceremony, party or corporate event is a breeze.
The Westin Playa Bonita is pet-friendly; they’ll even provide your four-legged friend with its own Heavenly Bed!
Details:
The Westin Playa Bonita
Km 6 Camino a Veracruz
Panama City, Panama
Phone: (507)(3) 04 6600
Email:This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
Rates: $170-1,500
It was a short walk to the lotus pond, which had become my morning spot. After waking early from a restful night’s sleep, I would walk out my door into the gentle Arizona sunshine moving over the nearby mountaintops of the Sonoran Desert, along the pathway that wound between cactus plants studded with flowers, blooming lantana and succulents. Lizards darted out of the way, while the occasional rabbit would hop across the path or ground squirrels shyly race back to their holes.
Then I arrived at the lotus pond. It was small, just in front of the Health and Healing center in the back section of the property. This was a peaceful spot I discovered on my first morning at Canyon Ranch, and became my favorite spot to start the day. I would bring a cup of coffee and sit and watch the koi and the turtles splash in the water, the colorful dragonflies buzz around the vegetation, and wait for the pink, purple and white lotus flowers to slowly open up on their lily pads to greet the day. It was almost like a meditation, the perfect beginning to my day.
This sort of peaceful, restorative feeling is one that accompanied me just about every moment and in most locations around the 150-plus acres of Canyon Ranch. The entire resort is lush and lovely, meandering and quiet, almost zen-like in the ambience that it exudes. Even with many other guests in attendance at nearly-peak occupancy, the grounds are so large and spread out that you rarely run across more than a few people at a time outside the classes and main gathering areas. Often, I would have a spot to myself for walking, sitting, reading or just enjoying the peace and quiet.
I had decided to give myself a completely unplugged experience while at Canyon Ranch – no internet or phone calls, to fully embrace and enjoy the restorative, healing powers of the place. It was nice that most of the resort is a “cell-free zone” – there are a few spots here and there that are designated phone spots, and of course guests are free to use their phones in their rooms, where wi-fi internet access is also provided for those who wish to stay connected.
But for me, the very essence of Canyon Ranch was about escaping from everyday life, to rebalance and perhaps discover some components of life and wellbeing that would enhance my life moving forward from this special place. The many activities and amenities at this resort 40 minutes outside Tucson make it easy to do so. I found that many of the guests were repeat visitors, many of them having come back over years and even decades. Canyon Ranch is one of the original health resorts of Arizona, celebrating 35 years this year, and although I had just discovered it I could tell it held a special place for many to rejuvenate or even rediscover themselves.
Health & Wellness Programs
One of the first things you can do upon checking into Canyon Ranch, if you wish, is to meet with a program advisor to discuss the many opportunities available during your stay. At registration you are given a bag with a personal, reusable water bottle and a listing of the week’s programs, which can be overwhelming as the choices are plentiful. An orientation tour around the property really helps, as well.
The goal of the Canyon Ranch programs is to help guests feel their best at every age. Holistic, integrative medical care integrates Western and non-Western practices with top physicians on staff and a range of diagnostic services, making it the perfect place for a comprehensive whole-body check-up and consultation for treatment programs. Food and nutrition programs, weight loss, lifestyle management, and Eastern healing medicines round out the offerings.
In addition to meeting with physicians for a medical consultation, including in every stay is a range of wellness workshops and programs that might include the following:
There are also daily 12-step meetings, and the entire resort including dining areas is alcohol-free. Some people come to Canyon Ranch due to crisis and are choosing recovery, while many others are looking for maintenance, cleansing and restoration.
Spa & Aquatic Center
The spa complex at Canyon Ranch is very large, incredibly equipped and a delight to spend time in. With more than 80,000 square feet, the complex includes gyms and workout rooms, yoga studio, hair and nail salon and of course, the spa treatment areas. In the spa guests can receive classic bodywork massages and Asian therapies, Ayurvedic treatments, body scrubs and wraps, and facials. There are many beautiful, relaxing common areas with numerous soaking pools of varying temperatures, from hot to a cold plunge pool; a steam room, aromatic Eucalyptus room and sauna.
The complex also houses a Healthy Feet clinic, with gait and footwear analyses, reflexology and touch therapies. The salon is full service, offering hair, nail and makeup services. There are also special maternity offerings for special attention to moms-to-be.
The gym portion of the complex has nine gyms, a yoga dome, courts for squash, racquetball and wallyball, a strength and cardio training room that is outfitted with all the latest computerized fitness equipment, and personal training. Just behind the spa complex are tennis courts, and the Aquatic Center that houses two heated indoor pools for free swimming, aquatics classes, Watsu water massage and underwater treadmills. Three other outdoor pools are located around Canyon Ranch, so no matter where your guest room is, you are sure to be near a pool.
Fitness & Activities
This is definitely a highlight of a stay at Canyon Ranch. The beauty of the environment and programming is that you can do as much or as little as you like. The program advisors do warn against not getting so excited about all the offerings that you are too over-zealous and leave exhausted. That was my temptation. I definitely wanted to take advantage of the dozens of exercise and fitness classes offered each day, and I enjoyed hiking, yoga, pilates, aqua fitness and many others. Classes on the weekly schedule typically include many of these classes as well as:
There are golf and tennis clinics and private lessons also available, as well as high ropes adventures and obstacle courses.
Besides the physical fitness aspect, Canyon Ranch programming also puts just as much emphasis on internal, emotional health. Many workshops are offered on topics such as meditation, cultivating inner peace, creating sacred space, harnessing your intuition and many more. Also offered are art and creative classes, bingo, live music, bingo, cooking demonstrations and hands-on classes. Food here, in fact, is something of an art form. Guests can dine in the dining room (by reservation for dinner) or at the more casual, order at the counter Double U Café. All dishes are described with their ingredients, calories, fat content, etc. The aim is to provide delicious and healthy gourmet cuisine, with snacks and drinks available all day long.
Guest Rooms
Accommodations are clustered in different groupings throughout the resort, all with stunning views of the mountains and surrounding desert landscape. The original art and décor is inspired by the natural surroundings, and plentiful outdoor areas provide more comfortable lounging outside the room. All guest rooms include the following amenities:
In short, if you are looking for the ultimate, all-inclusive and holistic way to immerse yourself in health and wellness, the beauty and expertise of Canyon Ranch is the way to go. It was named a Conde Nast Top 10 Best Destination Spa for 2014 (having been recognized by the veteran travel publication numerous times). There’s a very good reason Canyon Ranch has been around for more than three decades…in fact, hundreds of them.
Details
Canyon Ranch
8600 E. Rockcliff Road, Tucson AZ 85750
Telephone: 520-749-9000 or 888-239-5149
Rates: From $2,140 per person for 3 nights, $4,495 for 7 nights. 4 and 10 night stays also available. Rates are all-inclusive of meals, programs and activities, use of all facilities, resort fees, a daily spa allowance and taxes. Canyon Ranch is a no-tipping resort.
The laid-back, hippie-chick mountain town of Telluride is known as a fabulous ski resort; but it also plays host to everything from wine and food events to major music acts and, of course, outdoor and fitness adventures in both winter and summer. The picture-postcard setting provides the perfect backdrop for the historic main streets filled with boutiques and coffee shops, and a top-notch foodie scene.
Hotel Madeline is a luxurious yet comfortable hotel that is completely at one with its setting in Mountain Village. Part of the Leading Hotels of the World, Madeline is majestically situated on the peaks above the town of Telluride, the hotel is easily accessible via the free public gondola system — and you get amazing views to boot.
Overview
Hotel Madeline is Telluride’s only Four Star ski-in, ski-out hotel. It is part of Mountain Village, where you can step outside the hotel directly to the gondola and ski slopes; as well as a multitude of charming shops, restaurants, coffee houses, night life, the ice skating rink and more. Ski valets are available to help guests with their ski equipment and the lifts, a nice little touch.
Rooms
96 rooms, 11 suites and 17 condominiums each offer elegant décor and full amenities. The suites offer kitchenettes, and the condos feature full gourmet kitchens along with washer/dryer units.
Rooms are spacious, with 42-inch flat-screen cable TVs, complimentary wi-fi, luxurious bathrooms with deep soaking tubs and separate shower, and beds that feel like you are sinking into a cloud. There are nice extra touches befitting the mountain environment, such as humidifiers to remedy the dry altitude air.
Spa & Fitness
Enter a world of unmatched serenity and succumb to the restoring therapies of The Spa at the Hotel Madeline. Select from a variety of alpine inspired massages, altitude adjustment oxygen therapy, hydrotherapy, facials and body care treatments – all designed to enhance your day in the refreshing mountain air.
The indoor heated pool is surrounded by glass doors that look upon the dramatic mountain views. The pool, jacuzzi and steam room are open 24 hours a day with guest room key. A fully equipped fitness room with free weight equipment and Technogym cardio is also available.
Food & Dining
Don’t miss a highlight of the hotel – its amazing food at Rev Restaurant and Smak Bar, often sourced straight from the downtown farmer’s market by Chef de Cuisine Bud Thomas. Thomas and Executive Chef Cory Sargent share a passion for local ingredients foraged from the market and ranches, farms and fisheries across southwest Colorado, putting the taste of the Rockies right on the plate for their guests.
Thomas and Sargent also delight in special culinary events and festivals that are plentiful in Telluride. For example, the August Mushroom Festival brings together mushroom connoisseurs along with general enthusiasts for guided hikes to identify and hunt mushrooms, lectures and cooking demonstrations.
Sargent says that harvesting the mushrooms by hand makes this festival a very rewarding one as a chef. “Being able to be in the wilderness and hunt for chanterelles, oyster, and porcini mushrooms is just magical,” he says. “We hire the best local mushroom hunter in town, ‘Sir Jesse,’ to take the clientele out into the woods to hunt for everything from wild onions, edible flowers, & all the different varieties of mushrooms.”
While they are hunting, Sargent and his sous chefs create a four course mushroom dinner in a tent with views of the mountains. Through each course of the amazing meal, Sir Jesses explains the different mushrooms as a sommelier pairs the meal with a selection of wines.
Extras
Hotel Madeline is pet friendly, welcoming guests’ four-legged friends with a small additional charge. The hotel also offers dog walking, pet sitting and grooming services.
The Leaders Club offers special member benefits, and the Madeline also has an ownership program.
Right now the Hotel Madeline is offering a special where you can get the third night free when you book two nights.
For more planning information: check out the comprehensive guide to Telluride.
Shelley Seale is a freelance journalist and author based out of "weird and creative" Austin, Texas; but she can often be found vagabonding all over the world. She has written for National Geographic, The Guardian, USA Today, Texas Monthly, Andrew Harper Traveler and CNN, among others. She also enjoys yoga, movies, wine, and books, though not necessarily in that order. She has performed a catch on the flying trapeze, boarded down a live volcano, and was once robbed by a monkey in Nepal.
More on Shelley..
Book: http://www.howtotravelforfree.net
Twitter: @shelleyseale