Basking at Baden-Baden

Winter was getting old. True, the weather in Germany has been unseasonably mild, but certainly not balmy. And then theres the rain.
I began daydreaming of warm beaches, but neither my girlfriend nor I had the vacation time or cash for that. Then I remembered there was an easier escape nearby: the elegant spa town of Baden-Baden.
Since Roman times, people have gone to Baden-Baden to soak in the thermal water gushing from springs beneath the surrounding hills. Emperor Caracalla eased his rheumatism there in private baths, and soldiers enjoyed the spas public baths, the remains of which you can still see, at the renowned Roman-Irish Friedrichsbad.
When the Friedrichsbad opened in 1877, it was Europes most modern and stylish bathhouse. Thats according to its brochure, at least, which had me sold with its quote from Mark Twain: Here at the Friedrichsbad, you lose track of time within 10 minutes and track of the world within 20.

Mall medical spas cater to need for speed

A trip to the mall used to mean shopping and maybe a bite to eat. Now, a mall customer can stop to have some minor surgery or a laser treatment at a medical spa."We have lots of walk-in business," says William Nelson, medical director of Skinovative Laser Center at a fashion center mall in Chandler, Ariz.Eager customers don't get a beauty fix right away, not only because the clinic requires a consultation before treatment, but also because it's usually booked.Medical spas - especially those in shopping malls - have bridged the gap between the doctor's office and the cosmetics counter. There are more than 2,000 medical spas in the country, and though they accounted for 3 percent of all spas in 2004, that grew to 7 percent in 2006, according to the International Spa Association.Ease of use is keyNelson says people seek out mall spas because they are more convenient and luxurious than a doctor's office.Although some of the clinic's business is walk-in, most people know what they want and have done research before they arrive, Nelson says."People are not coming in here ignorant," he says.

Marley Resort & Spa debuts in the Bahamas

On 1st June 2007, the Marley family will open the new, 16-suite Marley Resort & Spa in Nassau. The resort will be an experience of art, history and spiritual sensibility. A discerning traveller will be drawn to this hideaway for its blend of exquisite natural beauty, romantic heritage and rustic luxury. "So many people celebrate my father's music and see that his message is prolific and still relevant today," daughter Stephanie Marley explained. "They keep his spirit alive. In return, we are inspired to share our piece of paradise here in a place we once called home." Inspiration comes easy at this Nassau hideaway, once a governor's mansion. Rita Marley purchased the property after falling in love with it at first sight and the family used it as a summer getaway for many years.