Spa Girl checks out Spas in British Columbia, CANADA

A friend recently asked me if I could recommend good spa's in British Columbia that are not over-the-top expensive. Since I have been known to spend a mortgage payment in a spa, I’m not sure I’m the right person to ask, and British Columbia like the rest of Canada is a really big place with many fabulous day and stay spas. While I wish I could say I have enjoyed them all, I do have some good advice for locating that special spa just right for you.

For those who have never traveled to British Columbia I highly recommend that you put this on your travel “to do” list. BC will host the world this winter as the 2010Winter Olympics comes to Vancouver and Whistler so you are bound to see some incredible TV footage as the world media descends on this remarkable Canadian province.

BC is the westernmost province in Canada. It is about four times the size of Great Britain with less than one tenth of the population. It is a very mountainous region with a number of major ranges running mostly north-south from the coast to the border between BC and Alberta.

As with most places worth visiting, there is a little something for everyone here. You will definitely want to spend at least some time outside of the main cities of Vancouver and Victoria and if you enjoy an adventurous vacation, the province offers many opportunities. Ecotourism plays an important role in British Columbia.

There are eight different regions within the province which include: Vancouver Island, home of BC’s capital, offering all sorts of marine adventures; the Lower Mainland where over half of BC’s population lives, Vancouver being the central metropolitan area; Okanagan-Similkameen (say that fast!) wineries and beaches and known for it’s sun and fun; the Kootenays where lakes, deep valleys and hot springs entice visitors, also known for it’s world famous cat skiing; Thompson-Shuswap an outdoor paradise with ranches, lakes and mountains, world fly fishing, skiing, mountain biking and the list goes on; Cariboo-Chilcoton with stunning canyons, vast planes, cattle drives and hiking adventures; Peace River with its limitless vistas and the Alaska Highway; and the North Coast, pristine untouched wilderness and native culture, famous for its fishing.

I would be remiss if I didn’t suggest you check out BC’s cultural scene, museums, art galleries, theatres, symphonies, festivals and so much more are abundant in this remarkable province.

A few very good sources for both day and stay spas in British Columbia are located at: http://www.spaindex.com/resort/canada/britishcolumbia.htm
http://wikitravel.org/en/British_Columbia
http://www.bc.worldweb.com/BusinessIndex/Spas/

As someone who loves a weekly spa experience—did I just say that out loud—I am always on the lookout for a good deal. Most spas offer weekly or monthly specials, so I highly recommend adding your name to the email list of your favourite spas in your area, or those you really want to visit and receive their regular updates and spa specials. In addition there are a number of training facilities, schools for estheticians and massage therapists who need bodies to practice on and who offer fabulous deals. Check out your local phone book and give them a call or do a little web surfing.

In Vancouver there are a number of opportunities to work with students including Utopia Academy http://www.utopiaacademy.com/massage/index.html where depending on whether you work with a first or second year student a 60 minute massage will cost $38 to $41. Utopia like most schools also offers a number of hydrotherapy sessions including underwater massage, Vichy showers, and hydro jet baths. To Book an appointment call 604.681.4450 or toll free 1.888.681.4450. In Kamloops, the heart of the Thompson-Shuswap I highly recommend the award winning Interior Academy of Hair, Esthetics and Nails which offers an array of body treatments and polishes from full European facial for $35 to an hour long hot stone massage for $38 and a Sumishi Micro-current package of 12 for only $350.00, now that’s a great deal! More information can be found at their website www.interioracademy.com or by calling 250-374-5565.

Please tell them Spa Girl recommended you! www.spagirl007.blogspot.com

I hope I have offered some good suggestions for locating a great day or stay Spa in British Columbia and that you visit sometime soon.