The stress of working and living under tough economic conditions is enough to trigger the urge for a trip to the spa. Unfortunately, there just isn't enough cash around to lay out for that perfect facial or relaxing massage. Rather than give up, however, most Americans are compromising. Shorter treatments are becoming more common, as many realize that something is better than nothing.

In June this year, the International SPA Association found that treatments lasting 30 minutes or less grew in popularity. Forty-six percent of the ISPA's 3,200 members reported an increase in these shorter services ... and close to have saw the amount spent per visit fall year-over-year.

Interestingly, there is a changing of the guard afoot among spa visitors. In the past, Baby Boomers were the most frequent spa-goers, but Generations X and Y are starting to see the benefits of relaxation, according to a study by SpaFinder. For many spas, this may require a change in design and treatment menus, as younger guests may not be soothed in the same ways their parents were.

The Radisson Blu Resort and Spa Dubrovnik just became the largest resort on Croatia's Dalmatian coast. The new property, which is only 11 miles from Dubrovnik International Airport, boasts more than 100,000 square feet of spa, sports and wellness facilities with treatments such as hydrotherapy and salt saunas. This is the first Anne Semonin spa to open in Croatia, and to celebrate the milestone, several exclusive treatments have bee developed.

The spa itself occupies 37,000 square feet along the Croatian coastline, with seven individual treatment rooms and two more for couples. An outdoor hot tub sits at the center of this layout. The Thalassotherapy Therma Stone Experience, 100% Active Ice Therapy Facial and Black Sand Scrub & Ocean Massage Ritual were developed specifically for the Radisson Blu – I guess giving three more damned good reasons to get on a plane for Dubrovnik.

Another 75,000 square feet is dedicated to a sports and wellness center. The 60-foot lagoon pool, waterfall and underwater vitality jet lounges sound simply seductive, and there are additional treatments built around these decadent aquatic amenities.

Pass on the cliche European destinations this year, and head out to the Dalmatian coast. The spa experience will be a far cry from the usual.

The Ritz-Carlton Golf Resort – and its sister property, the Beach Resort – are making it easy to hide from the world for a few days this summer. And, I can tell you from experience, the twin Ritz properties are great places to hide. With the Spa Escape Package, you can be treated as you deserve (or, in my case, better), for a mere $259 a night ($299 at the Beach Resort).

The spa at the Ritz-Carlton Beach Resort services both Naples, FL properties. As part o this program, a stay at either hotel will get you a $200 spa credit, which includes both services and retail. You'll also pick up a $50 gift card for the properties' on-site stores.

The Ritz-Carlton Spa integrates organic and eco-friendly options to mitigate environmental impact without degrading the quality of the treatments provided. The Eco-Luxe Facial and Eco-Luxe Cocoon are conducted in the Eco-Room, which features soft materials made from organic cotton and bamboo and washed in a separate machine with fragrance-free and sulfate-free cleansers. The floor and chair are made from bamboo, and the massage table was crafted entirely from sustainable materials.

With domestic flights cheaper than ever (except when I'm flying, it seems), getting to Naples won't be painful, and JetBlue has countless flights into the area. And, the perks that come with the Spa Escape Package basically make the room free. I hit this spa last summer and might just make it an annual experience.

If you are in need of Napa Valley getaway, the Silverado Resort has a couple of trips that combine the Napa standards of wine and spa treatments. The Napa Valley Wine Experience includes two nights in a one-bedroom fireplace suite, a wine tasting at William Hill Winery, one spa treatment per person, a picnic lunch at V. Sattui Winery, entrance to COPIA: the American Center for Wine, Food and the Arts and a dinner at the Silverado's Grill. The package starts at $1,090 per couple.

They are also offering a Deluxe Spa Package which includes one night in a one-bedroom, a choice of a body scrub or body wrap, a 50-minute spa treatment of your choice, an 80-minute spa treatment of our choice and use of the Spa at Silverado's facilities such as a heated lap pool, sauna and steam room and whirlpool and exercise classes. The package costs $459 per person based on double occupancy.

[via LA Times Daily Travel Deal Blog]

Spas in Las Vegas are really trying to capture visitors with more new and lavish features. First, Caesar's Palace recently unveiled the Arctic Ice Room at Qua which offers a cooling snow experience. Now WET, the Spa at Treasure Island offers new water-themed treatments. The spa is decorated in various shades of blue with glass panels that evoke the ripples of water. Signature treatments include he WET Signature Wrap that uses warm seawater to restore key minerals and reduce fatigue, stress and low energy and the WET Aromatic Seaweed Bath with three types of seaweed vitamins and minerals to eliminate toxicity, nourish the skin and smooth cellulite. WET is the only spa on the Las Vegas Strip to offer specialized evening treatments, they are open until 8pm Sunday through Wednesday and until 10pm on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. The menu of evening treatments tempts with treatments such as The Heiress, a rich golden scrub, wrap and massage followed by a sprinkling of real gold dust and the Sleepy Town Massage, using calming scents of chamomile, marjoram, rose and geranium, and the Bedtime Bath, a relaxing soak in a special creation of lavender and mandarin.

We've seen more and more spas that focus on wine recently as well as grape extracts popping up in skin care by companies like Caudalie and Davi, the new Mondavi skin care line. The most recent and lavish wine spa is the Frank Gehry-designed Marqués de Riscal in Spain. Forbes Traveler has rounded up a list of ten spas that offer vinotherapy treatments for your body as well as delicious wines to nourish your interior. Most of the spas listed are located outside the U.S. spanning the globe from Argentina to Australia to South Africa to France. The Kenwood Inn and Spa in Sonoma, California is a villa-style hotel with a Caudalie spa that offers treatments such as a Sauvignon massage, a Merlot wrap and a crushed Cabernet scrub. Two-night winter spa packages start at $955 double occupancy.

The latest skin care treatment uses water and electricity to create better skin. The new trend in facials is the ultrasonic wet dermabrasion treatment using the Dermasound machine. The treatment is a three-stage system that uses low frequency sound waves to perform aesthetic services. The skin is cleansed with antioxidant-rich Glymed products, exfoliated and then moisturized. Dead skin cells are removed with ultrasonic water then ultrasound is used to push anti-aging and anti-inflammatory vitamins deep into the skin and then microcurrent therapy is applied to recharge and balance skin. Facials using Dermasound are available in spas around North America and generally cost around $100 for a one-hour treatment. The treatment is supposed to help with both acne and aging.

[via The Vancouver Sun]

The Mayflower Inn, a five-star getaway in  Washington, Connecticut is opening a new spa in May. The posh 20,000-square-foot facility includes a Pilates studio, yoga garden, steam rooms, thermal sanctuary and an indoor pool. Treatments include mud wraps, scrubs, massages and soul-reviving rituals such as the Japan ritual which includes being  purified with yuzu mimosa sea algae, scrubbed with ohana ginger grass, polished with cherry blossom rice, and hydrated with rose, camellia and plum followed by a shiatsu massage using kinmoxei wild lime silk oil. Upcoming specialty programs include weeks for triathletes, couples, yoga enthusiasts and aspiring memoir writers. Spa weekend packages cost $1,850 to $2,310.

[via The Hartford Courant]

As we mentioned earlier, the Mandarin Oriental recently opened a new hotel  in Tokyo. Now guests at the hotel can experience a massage with a view. The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo is on the top two floors of the hotel and offerers everything from hydro- and heat-based treatments to ice fountains for skin toning.  There are nine treatment rooms including five spa suites, Mandarin Oriental Spas offer the “Time Ritual,” which lets guests book time rather than treatments. On the day of the appointment the treatments are determined. Treatments specific to the new spa include the Adzuki Ritual which uses adzuki beans in a scrub, Absolute Pearl body wrap with pearl powder and the Oriental Harmony with Mandarin Oriental’s own frangipani and jasmine infused signature body oil and salt scrub. The 38th floor of the hotel also includes a fitness center.

[via Asia Travel Tips]

Chocolate baths? Done. Mud. Check. Wine, seaweed, milk have all been used in spa treatments. And so it was only a matter of time before the beer bath made its way into the spa world. But this is no Budweiser in a bath experience, the Chodovar Family Brewery in Chdova Plana in the Czech Republic has turned their basement into a beer spa. The newly-opened facility offers beer baths, beer massages beer wraps and beer cosmetics. There is a bathside bar so you can sip beer while floating in beer. A beer rinse has long been known to add shine to hair so it makes sense that it might be beneficial for the body.

[via IOL]

Sure everyone has had a hot stone massage but how about a hot shell massage? That's the latest offering from the Cliff House in Ogunquit, Maine. They offer a wide variety of spa treatments including a facial that uses wild Maine blueberries and a hot stone massage that uses basalt stones gathered from the cliff that the hotel sits on. Their newest treatment is SeaShell Therapy which starts with a dry brush exfoliation and an application of seaweed and mud. Then comes the massage using warmed cone, scallop and fan shaped seashells  followed by a full body hydration with shea butter. The treatment costs $245 for hotel guests and $255 for non-guests.

[via Travel Video Television News]

Sun Village-Cofresi, a Canadian-owned resort in the Dominican Republic has created a new spa with indoor-outdoor treatment rooms, tropical gardens, and a spa-only pool and sundeck. There are also 25 Oasis Spa rooms that offer private Jacuzzis and views into the Spa gardens, pool or ocean. The spa offers the usual collection of massages, wraps, scrubs, facials and hand and foot treatments.  Their Island of the Sun Package includes a caviar facial, body scrub, wrap, body massage including a lavender scalp massage, pedicure, manicure and a spa lunch. The total pampering experience takes over four hours and costs $299. The resort offers multi-bedroom villas, standard hotel rooms and they recently opened special Oasis spa suites which include a private Jacuzzis and a more tranquil location near the spa pool and gardens.

Want to take your beloved to a spa for Valentine's Day? Tru Spa in San Francisco offers a hands-on treatment for couples. The Pair's Polish takes place in the spa's tropical rainforest room. Couples rub each other down with a sugar-based exfoliating scrub that contains fresh strawberries, almonds and honey. You then use the hand shower to rinse and then slather on a strawberry cream and honey mixture. After that there is a rinse in a tropical shower. The 55-minute treatment costs $200 per couple. If you'd like someone else to do the rubbing, there are also massages available.