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I Have Become a Spa Candle Snob

I have Become a Spa Candle Snob
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

I have become a spa candle snob…and to a large degree I have only myself to blame. I noticed it last week as I was touring the new Amrita Spa at the Swiss Hotel in Istanbul. Their spa is quite large and has a lovely ambiance. I was especially impressed with the long corridors, which featured rich-colored wooden floors lined with candles. Gorgeous. I noticed the candles because they were beautifully spaced, occasionally branched into an artfully designed cluster of candles, and mostly because they were real! I remember thinking how great it was to see genuine candles again.

(Althought I couldn’t find a photo of the actual corridor at the Amrita Spa in Istanbul, this photo gives you an idea of what it looked like.)

candlespa 796111 I Have Become a Spa Candle SnobYou see I have been noticing that more and more spas are using fake (flameless) candles. I must admit I was really enthused about these flameless candles when I first discovered them years ago. In fact I remembered writing about them in one of my SpaFinder Insiders. candlesflamevisible 798088 I Have Become a Spa Candle Snob

Checking my blog archives I was amazed to see that I had written about flameless candles (like those pictured here on the right) in 2003! Well, the word spread like wildfire (pun intended) and voilà, they are now everywhere – including the foyer of our SpaFinder offices to my chagrin. I still think they are clever, avoid a fire hazard, and give a pretty nice ambiance. However… I am afraid the novelty has worn off for me. I miss my real candles.

My aversion seems to be escalating. Lately I have noticed that I am actually “judging” a spa based on their candles! The spas with “real” candles get higher marks in my mind than the spas with “faux” candles. I know that isn’t fair, but I am beginning to see fake candles like artificial plants – I much prefer the real thing. Perhaps all the emphasis on authenticity in spas has now spilled over into my preference for candles with a natural smell, sound, and look.

I think I liked the fake candles more when most people didn’t know they were fake. Nowadays many spa guests have had the chance to peer into the top of one of those flameless candles (often they are placed on the floor or in a low position where people can easily look down into them) and seen the surprise fake “wick” which goes on and off via a battery. The jig is up.

So…what to do?

Well, I think it is unreasonable to assume that all spas will go back to real candles because some places don’t allow thecandlesbranches 772447 I Have Become a Spa Candle Snobm and for others, it just isn’t worth the fire risk. So I think the best thing we as an industry can do is make more of an effort to use these little darlings in a better way.

Here are some suggestions and I welcome yours!

1. Place flameless candles in a higher position (not on the floor) so guests cannot peer into them

2. Get creative in disguising the battery operated “wicks”

3. Mix it up. Use some of the newer fake candle varieties (example shown) that are available so we don’t see the standard fake ones over and over again.

4. Try some candle arrangements, which use a few fakes and a few real candles together.

Perhaps together we can spark interest in putting this rabbit back in the hat.

And spa-goers…do let us know how you feel. Are you aware of the fake candles? Do you like them? Any suggestions on how we can make the ambiance just right for you in terms of candles?
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Joan Lunden’s Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!

Joan Lunden 763794 Joan Lundens Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!Joan Lunden’s Spa Camp is a Dream Come True for Her and for Us!
By Susie Ellis, SpaFinder Insider

A few months ago Joan Lunden, of Good Morning America fame, visited us here at our SpaFinder offices with some of her staff. We were to learn about her summer “spa camp” for women and she would be learning a bit more about SpaFinder. It turned out to be a great match with a lot of synergy. In particular I thought her yearly “spa camp,” that she herself holds for four days and three nights each August in Maine, was a great opportunity for the women of our large spa enthusiast audience.

While I thought most people know of Joan Lunden (she was on ABC TV hosting Good Morning America for 17 years), a friend of mine suggested that there is an entire generation who wouldn’t necessarily know her and that not everyone watched ABC in the mornings. So I decided that at the end of this blog post, I will include some of her bio information. It certainly is impressive.

But most importantly – I wanted to communicate a bit about her spa camp called “Camp Reveille” and let people know that it is actually still possible to make a reservation. Joan herself joins all the women campers for a variety of experiences, which all contribute to people going home looking and feeling fabulous! This is the third year she is running Camp Reveille.

It is very reasonably priced which makes me think it will probably be sold out pretty soon. The entire experience includes luxury camp style lodging (and it is luxury), all meals, and all activities you would like to participate in. You can join fitness classes, sporting events, hikes, craft sessions, or just choose to relax and read a book. And who could resist the Murad Facial treatments and scrumptious s’mores around the campfire? The whole experience is about $899 for all four days.

Joan is a real health advocate; she has written numerous books on healthy cooking and balanced living, has starred in her own workout video, and has raised seven kids. Yes, you did read that number correctly, she has seven (two sets of twins)! And as you can see from the photo above, she is still as attractive as ever – and she turns 60 next year!

This is what she says on the camp’s website, “take a break from your busy schedule and come away with us for a chance to be energized, be inspired, and enjoy some guilt-free “me time.”

It might be one of the best spa experiences out there because it was designed by someone who loves spas herself and who really understands a woman’s role – Joan Lunden.

Now, as promised….some Joan Lunden bio information:

  • Born September, 1950 and became an American television personality

  • Co-hosted ABC’s Good Morning America (1980 – 1997) with David Harman and then later with Charlie Gibson.

  • Named by Entertainment Weekly national viewer poll “television’s favorite morning anchor”

  • She reported from 26 countries, covered four presidents, five Olympic Games, and two royal weddings.

  • Hosted DirectTV’s series Hometown Heroes and the Emmy-winning special America’s Invisible Children.

  • She is the face of Murad’s skincare line, Resurgence.

  • Is on the board of PassportMD, an online personal health record system

  • Had three daughters with first husband, Michael A. Krauss

  • Had four children (2 sets of boy/girl twins) with second husband Jeff Konigsberg

  • Books she has written:

Wake-Up Calls: Making The Most Out Of Every Day (Regardless Of What Life Throws You)

Joan Lunden’s a Bend in the Road Is Not the End of the Road: 10 Positive Principles For Dealing With Change

Joan Lunden’s Healthy Cooking

Joan Lunden’s Healthy Living: A Practical, Inspirational Guide to Creating Balance in Your Life

Growing Up Healthy: A Complete Guide to Childhood Nutrition, Birth Through Adolescence

Good Morning/Joan
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