BUTT TUCK OR BUST                                   Posted:  1/01/07

Dear Nan:

Gosh, hitting the 50 mark, I've noticed the loss of muscle tone (a.k.a. flab) and have even considered getting a butt tuck and liposuction.  Realizing how drastic surgery could be, I thought that perhaps a spa may be a healthier alternative.  My girlfriends and I want to go for a week to a spa where we will lose weight, firm up and experience the spa totally.  There are so many spas out there and we don't know which ones would be the right fit for us.  Could you suggest a few spas and web sites we can go to and get more info?

Alise P.                   Saddle River, NJ

Dear Alise:

Short of getting a "boomer butt tuck”, a week or so at a "destination spa" will probably get you all back on track!  I absolutely love "Destination Spas" as opposed to Day Spas and Resort Spas.  However, for a destination spa experience, you really need a significant time commitment to the program for maximum benefits. 

You should pick up Destination Spa Magazine and SpaFinders at the newsstand which will offer spa packages and spa tips, from packing to fitness programs at destination spas.  Hiking gurus, nutritionists and chefs write interesting columns monthly.  Only a fraction of the spas out there conform to what I consider to be a destination spa, where the total environment is dedicated to health and life enhancement.  The experience is often transforming with a full immersion into a healthy lifestyle for a week or more.  I recommend 10 days to 2 weeks for the perfect stay.  Guests flock to spas like these for structure and personalized programs that can be programmed for the entire stay and hopefully will be continued when one checks-out and checks back into to everyday life in the suburbs. 

I personally have experienced and loved Canyon Ranch in both The Berkshires at Lenox, MA, and in Tucson, AZ.  They have a comprehensive program, but it comes with a hefty price tag.... worth every penny.  Cal a Vie and Golden Door in Southern CA are other excellent choices if money is not a factor.  Green Valley Spa in St. George, Utah and Lake Austin Spa in Austin, TX cost less and are also excellent programs.  Rancho La Puerta in Tecate, Mexico, just over the border from San Diego is a "best value" choice.  Before you opt for the Butt Tuck, check out the many destination spas at www.destinationspavacations.com and also at www.spafinders.com 

© 2007 Nansee Enterprises, Inc.   

 

DISNEY ON A DIME GUIDE                                Posted:  10/04/06

Dear Nan:

Our 2 grandkids are begging for a visit to Disney again.  We stayed at the Contemporary and it was excellent.  Now, we are a one income couple; money is tight and we are not sure how to do it economically.   Do you have any suggestions?

Bill T        Old Bridge, NJ

Dear Bill:

There are plenty of tricks and tips to save big bucks on tickets, souvenirs, hotels, food and drink if you plan ahead.  I suggest you stay on property if you can manage it; the convenience is more than worth it if you are staying just a few nights.  The Disney All-Star Resorts are a good value choice.  I recommend a great guide written by a couple "in tune" with budgeting.  Authors of "Disney on a Dime", Chris and Kristal Carlson took 4 kids along to Disney implementing maximum cost saving strategies.  Something as simple as packing soft drinks will mount up to a big savings when you consider the cost of drinks at the park and the time wasted standing in a line for them!  In their fabulous "how to" book, you will find a side by side comparison of a Disney World vacation priced at $3546 and their version of the same trip costing just $1312!  There are lots of free Mickey things to do including riding the boats, ferries, monorails throughout WDW, hunting for "hidden Mickey’s" in Downtown Disney, fireworks and hiking through Fort Wilderness Campground to the nightly campfire.  Disney on a Dime (around $13) will pay for itself from the get-go. www.theotherorlando.com

© 2006 Nancy Zimmerman

 

FINDING DOCTORS IN FOREIGN LANDS               Posted:  09/03/06   

Dear Nan:

I am a recently diagnosed insulin-dependent diabetic who loves to travel.  I am planning a trip to Portugal.  How do I find qualified doctors in case of a medical emergency?

Carolyn W                             Birmingham, AL

Dear Carolyn:

Take a copy of your medical records with you and plenty of your prescribed medication in your carry-on bag.  Get prepared before you leave by getting a list of physicians available at your destinations.  "The International Association of Medical Assistance to Travelers" is an excellent resource for you.  IAMAT is a non-profit organization started in 1960.  Their aim is to advise travelers about health risks, the geographical distribution of diseases worldwide, immunization requirements for all countries, and to make competent medical care available to travelers by "western-trained" doctors who speak English.  Go to http://www.iamat.org and bookmark it.

© 2006 Nancy Zimmerman