February 1, 2007
Out of Africa comes...the spa guru
When The Three Tomatoes mentioned in our first email of the
New
Year that we wanted to finally take that African safari we've long talked about, we heard from a few tomatoes who had wonderful suggestions
about travel agents to contact. And then we heard from one of our very own tomato subscribers, Jenni Lipa Kayyali, who as it
happens, is President of Spa Trek Travel. Aside from being
a
tomato, two other things got our attention. Jenni is a native of South Africa and she has personally visited over 900
spas. And that number is not one of our infamous typos. Now that qualifies her as a guru in our book and
maybe
even Guinness. So shortly after hearing from her, we headed to her office on Park Avenue South to meet her in
person.
Meet the Spa Guru
Jenni is a delightful, charming, very attractive woman with a lovely English
influenced accent. And she looks like you would image one would look who pampers herself often at luxurious destination
spas -- relaxed, glowing, healthy and of an "indeterminate" age.
She started going to spas when she was very young and lived in South Africa and
Europe. She always had facials and daily exercise, and started adding massages and other pampering later on.
She would go to places like Montecatini in Tuscany (world
famous
for their spas, springs, and thermal baths) twice a year and really came to understand the mind, body, and soul benefits of recharging your body with
rest, relaxation, cleansing, and detox. Well it was a natural of course, that she would gravitate towards the spa vacation
business which she has now been in for 23 years. Her company Spa Trek offers a wonderful selection of luxury spa vacations around
the world, all of which have been personally visited and hand picked by Jenni. (Now why didn't we think
of that as a career choice?)
Not your mother's spa
In our poll
last week, several of you said you have been to destination spas, or would love to go. The Three
Tomatoes are in the "would love to go" category because we have only
experienced resort spas, and their
ala carte packages, a massage here, a facial there. As Jenni explained to us destination spas include nutrition, exercise, and pampering of the mind, body, and soul
included in the
package. And the more you pay, the more you're pampered. And you can pay quite
a lot of dinero for a three to four day stay which is what Jenni recommends for the ultimate recharge. But even 48 hours at a destination spa where you learn how to pamper yourself in a guilt and
stress free manner will give you a true attitude change and add years to your life.
And according to Jenni spas have changed a lot over the years and are no
longer the cucumber salad, one carrot stick a day, and no alcohol kind of places some of us still envision. In fact many spas have
full bars and pride themselves are their outstanding cuisine -- which has started to make destination spas a favorite with
couples.
The Vanilla and Lavender Cocoon
No it's not a new vodka drink, but one of Jenni's all time
favorite spa treatments which is a "house special" at the Sonoma
Mission Inn. It's a two hour treatment
that combines a body scrub and then a body wrap of vanilla and lavender scents and then you're somehow suspended in a soft pack system that
Jenni said is like a return to the womb. Twenty minutes is like having eight hours of sleep!
Jenni's favorite U.S. Spas
A two hour drive into the heart of Connecticut will get you to the Mayflower Inn & Spa, which Jenni says is the
ultimate in
destination spas. You can get a package ($$$$) with unlimited spa treatments, and exquisite food. And an added
plus? Cell phones don't work there. Most weeks are dedicated to women only with occasional co-ed
packages.
Another Jenni favorite which just opened last July, is the Lodge at Woodloch, nestled in Pennsylvania's
lake region,
and only about a two hour drive from NYC. Set on 75 pristine wooded acres, The Lodge at Woodloch is an "extraordinary
respite for mind, body and spirit." Jenni rated this a "very husband friendly spa" with spectacular food and a
very extensive wine list too. And right now they're offering some terrific mid-week packages. Talk to
Jenni.
Onto Africa
Our desire to go to on a safari goes back for years, but it surely was peaked
by those great romantic scenes in the movie Out of Africa with
Robert
Redford and Meryl Streep dining on china dishes served on white linen clothed tables, in the middle of the
bush. So, Jenni is in the process of planning our wonderful South African trip which will culminate in a safari where we
will stay at the Royal Malewane, which serves you wine
and
cheeses and other goodies on white linens and china dishes in the middle of the bush
after an afternoon of viewing lions, rhinos, and giraffes ! The Royal Malewane is a favorite safari stop for the likes of Oprah,
Elton John, and good friends of ours who were there last summer. (And no, their names are neither Oprah or
Elton.)
Ready to rejuvenate?
Go to www.spatrek.com and checkout some of Jenni's amazing vacation
or quick retreat ideas. You can book directly through her web site, or by calling her, or through her affiliated travel
agents.
Cocoons, massages, and martinis. Who could ask for anything
more.
'til next week,
The Three
Tomatoes
Copyright©2007. The Three Tomatoes. All rights reserved.
