Spa to Rejuvenate

[StillHere]

Hey All, I just read Donna's suggestion to meet at a SPA to relax and socialize. It sounds wonderful to me! Is anyone else interested in taking over a spa? Does anyone have any recommendations for us to meet this fall or winter? My husband and I are going on a golf vacation to CA 11/2-11/9, but other than that I am open and excited at the prospect of meeting some of you in person and getting pampered at the same time. We may even get a discounted rate if we can get enough of us together and maybe play on their sympathies just a little. Heeeheee

[Audrey]

Hi StillHere, I love the idea of meeting up at a spa, too! I googled spas for breast cancer patients and found a few that offer special services and discounts for breast cancer patients/survivors. One was in Massachussetts near Cape Cod and another one was in Sante Fe called "Absolute Nirvana"-which sounded wonderful. So many to choose from--check out a few of their websites and see what you think-

[Shell]

I just had a birthday, and was DELIGHTED to receive a massage coupon - spa here I come!!

Regards,

[StillHere]

I did look at the Absolute Nirvana site. I think it just has a 3 room B & B. I would think we would need a place that had a hotel attached. Love the idea of going somewhere warm. Does anyone else have some suggestions for the Southwest? It would be great to get some first hand referrals. Karen

[Melinda]

As I read your suggestion about a spa I immediately thought of an Oprah show that she did at Miraval. Here is the link -
http://www.miravalresort.com/about_resort.php
Of course price could absolutely be an issue but considering what they offer...... its hard to resist. And talk about warm weather!
Maybe you could get a group discount nothing ventured nothing gained.
Check it out.
Melinda

[Believe51]

Keep us posted girls because I would love to go for a spa-day as long as it is in the northeast. Cannot travel too far right now but fall is my time of year. I live for the fall months....and as for the spas, anytime is great. Good idea, keep it rolling and let us get something going on here. We could all use a spa day but most of all, I would love to meet some of you fine family members!!

Keep Believing>>Believe51

[StillHere]

Hello everyone, just wanted to let you all know that I sent off an email request for discounted/ best pricing for non-profit organizations to the Miraveil Resort. I will keep you posted. I am working full time now while someone is out on leave, so I can only respond in the evening.

Marie, I have driven the sea coast from Mass. to Maine in the fall many moons ago and it was gorgeous! I do think the fall might be too soon for people to get off of work, but will certainly consider it if the Miraveil cannot accomodate us. Maybe we could make this an annual event. The Southwest this winter, the East the following fall, etc. Just thinking out loud.

[anne2]

Hi Ladies,
My mom went to Miraval Spa in Arizona 2 years ago and loved it. They had a special week for Cancer Survivors sometime in Nov. It is a great idea but costly. I don't know if they would offer some special package as a group though.
Anne

[Esther]

Sounds wonderful! We are going to Cancun the first week of Sept, and staying at a spa resort, one of the things I look forward to the most are the spa and it's services, they are absolutely heavenly.

I would sure be interested in a spa outing.

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

There are so many spas in California you can't count them all! I will check those out - but - I just got back recently from Las Vegas and they have amazing spas there and wonderful shows to go see at night. Great food, and deals on hotels and travel pop up all the time.

I'm away from home this week taking a class, so I will check out spas in CA - and let you know. Glad this idea got noticed and picked up


Donna

[Mary Anne in TX]

Sounds so good.....maybe a year's tour of great spas is in order!
I really would love to go! I'd love the spa, but I'd really appreciate the visits! I'd love to go where lots of us could show up for a few days and pamper ourselves and visit! ma

[Emelie]

Sounds wonderful! I would love to really relax and visit with other warriors. Hopefully, we can find something that won't break the bank.
I will be on the lookout for the post!
Emelie

[Becky]

Depending on where and when, I might go too.

[Jean]

count me in..

Jean

[StillHere]

Update on Miraval Resort - sent repeat email tonight, no response yet. Will try to call on Wed. 8/15. :) Karen

[hutchibk]

I would be really interested! It will depend on the affordability, but I think it's a great idea. One of my dearest friends is the reservations manager for a major luxury hotel group. I can ask her if she can help us get to someone in her company who can maybe cut us a deal. They have resorts and spas in several different states.... Miravel sounds great too.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Maybe if we know who all wants to go and their locations, we can pick one that has the best price, easiest to get to, and can pamper us silly!
I think being together and getting pampered would be divine! I'd come!
ma

[StillHere]

Miravel answered by email, but just asked for my state so they could have a district sales rep contact me.

Do we want to shoot for Jan/Feb 2008 or something sooner?

Brenda, hope your friend has some hot deals, Miravel does not seem to be chomping at the bit to get our business.

I prefer not to do Las Vegas for this outing, but of course will do whatever is most cost effective for all. If it turns out to be Las Vegas - so be it.

[Becky]

Jan/Feb is good timing for me. It gives me time to plan on vacation days from work etc.

[Vanessa]

Ooh, sounds wonderful. Keep me posted. Early January is best for me, but I can be flexible. Cost will also be a factor for me.

[Melinda]

Miraval sounds great.... am very interested in seeing what the cost would be..... it would geive me a chance to use my capital one flyer miles ;)... and even add to them with the cost of the spa. PAMPER US... we owe it to ourselves!
Melinda

[StillHere]

Todays response from Miraval
Karen,

We appreciate your interest in Miraval Life in Balance. I have forwarded your request to our Midwest sales representative, Chang Sim. He will be responding to you as soon as possible.

I will let you all know as soon as I hear something from Mr. Sim

[Sherryg683]

I'd love to go somewhere, i need a girls trip..sherry

[StillHere]

Hey Gals, just want to bring this back up so everyone gets a chance to see it. Mr. Chang Sim left a voice mail w/ his phone #. I will try him Monday. So far the list I have that may be interested in a SPA outing in Jan or Feb 2008 are as follows:

Audrey
Shell
Melinda
Esther
Donna
Mary Ann
Emelie
Becky
Jean
Brenda
Venessa
and maybe Marie

Brenda, any word from your friend in the travel agency business?

Donna, any luck w/ discounts at SPA's in CA?

Can I assume we are looking at a 3 or 4 day trip? Does it have to be a long weekend, or if midweek rates are more reasonable, would that be an option?

I am getting more and more excited about the opportunity to meet you all. I picture us in a lounge sipping long tall drinks and engaging in lively banter - Or maybe just getting tipsy and having a blast!

[Mary Anne in TX]

I can go weekend or weekdays, but would prefer to go when it fits for most people. I would think that a 3 day weekend or so would fit best for most. I am so excited about spending time with everyone and getting to know all of you! ma

[Becky]

I will go whenever it fits for most people.

[chrisy]

Don't know how I missed this thread, but if we're talking somewhere on the West Coast, I'd love to be pampered!

[Cheryl44]

I would be interested in going too!

Cheryl

[Melinda]

ITs a perfect time of year.... and it makes no difference if is weekday or end. What ever is the best for all of us!.
Melinda

[hutchibk]

I have occasional plans on occasional weekends planned, but I can travel almost whenever, If i'm not otherwise booked up. I will check in with my Starwood friend too. I am pretty open to anytime otherwise.

[VaMoonRise]

I would love to go too. It sounds like heaven and I can't wait to meet you all. I am pretty flexible as far as time and place. I especially love the idea of AZ as I have in-laws there that I don't get to see that often. http://her2support.org/vbulletin/images/icons/icon12.gif

There are many, many wonderful spas in the Phoenix and Scottsdale area of AZ. If you would like me to check into some I would be more than happy to.

Keep me posted.

Hugs,
Nicola

[Emelie]

I will go when its best for everyone else. I would think that a 3 day weekend would be good for most. Hope this works out. I would love to meet all you great ladies!
Emelie

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

I have contacted a spa that looks wonderful located in San Francisco - I will contact more, but this is an easy one to get to for airports.

This will be fun!

Love to you all!

Donna

[Believe51]

Let me know when, my boss is great. Haven't missed a chemo or appointment yet!! Keep us updated girls, I am getting excited!!>>Believe51

[StillHere]

Hi all, just wanted to let you know that Mr. Sim (Midwest sales director for Miraval resort/SPA) was out of the office until Wed. I left a message for his administrative assistant to email rates to me but have not received anything. I have off tomorrow & will try him again (thank heavens for day off - I am not used to working more than 4 hrs a day for the last 9 mos. I am now working 8-10 hr days because the full time person is out on emerg sick leave) I just keep thinking that I am making extra dough for the SPA! Will keep you posted. Peace Karen
PS: Brenda, I guess my joy for today is that I am healthy enough to work 10 hour days.

[sassy]

I would really love to go if time and finances can make a go of it! I would love to meet all of you and doing that while being pampered seems like a wonderful treat!
________
Desire4you (http://www.girlcamfriend.com/cam/Desire4you/)

[StillHere]

I was getting very frustrated that Mr. Sim (Miraval SPA Rep) has not returned my phone calls until it dawned on me that he would be out of the office until Wed 8/29, NOT Wed 8/22. I just heard Wed. and my brain stopped working after that. I know a lot of you are waiting to find out how much it will cost before jumping on the band wagon. Also I know it is hard to make any kind of future plans with the posibility of having to be in some sort of treatment 5 mos. from know. As soon as I hear something I will let you know. Peace. Karen

[sherri]

Count me in too! I love to see you all, except October, anytime before and after would be fine with me.

[harrie]

They have some wonderful spas here in Hawaii.
Maryanne

[Sherryg683]

Let me know when and where and how much, I need a trip away somewhere far away..hhe...sherryg

[Sherryg683]

Ohhhh yea..Hawaii..sounds wonderful on this end..sherry

[Sherryg683]

Checked out the rates at Miravel and they are pretty prices, most rooms over a thousand a night., some are 1,600 to 1,700 a night...that's a little over my budget considering I'd also need airfare. Unless they were to give a big group rate discount. Heck we could fly to hawaii and stay in some beachside bungalow for less than that...Or maybe we should think about booking a cruise, those can be pretty cheap and we should be able to get special reates with numbers....sherry

[Sheila]

Don't know how I missed this...but count me in..and Jan/Feb sounds great...but coming from Illinois I hope its somewhere warm!

[harrie]

My favorite spa (actually the only one I have been to) is on the Big Island where I live. It is at the Mauna Lani Resort and it is a fabulous spa.
If you go to: maunalani.com
you read about the resort and spa.

When I was last there I had a massage and pedicure. There are quite a selection of treatments available there.

Maryanne

[Melinda]

HARRIE
I see your picture on your posts, I was wondering the same thing.... I do not see my picture on my posts. How does the computer know when to use the picture? ;) Is it that we do not see our own picture?
Melinda

[tousled1]

Melinda,

For your picture to show up on all your posts you have to put it on your avatar in addition to your profile picture. Go to UserCP and click edit avatar it will prompt to you add your picture.

[StillHere]

Administration: I know there have been responses to this thread because I have received notices in my email, but the last post I show on this thread is from Vanessa on 8/16. Can you try to refresh this so I have a complete historical thread? I have been taking note of everyone's name that shows up in my email. Hope everyone got my message that the Miraval sales rep is out of the office until 8/29. Karen

[StephN]

Hi Karen -
There are 46 replies prior to this one.

Maybe go to:
http://her2support.org/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=29548&page=3

and you can go back to the other pages from there and see everyone's response.

I would love to join in - was just waiting for more info on place, time and cost. Miraval sounds a bit steep to me unless there are two or three to a room and that is also including meals and other things that might be separate elsewhere.

Maybe some comparison shopping is in order?

The only spa I have ever been to was Nance's Hot Springs in Calistoga, CA. I went for the mud baths, massage and don't forget the WINE! Oh, and the Sonoma Mission Inn.

[tousled1]

Depending on when and where you can count me in.

[StillHere]

OK, I'm just plain stupid! I forgot to go to next page on this long thread to read all the posts.

Questions:
Anybody object to a cruise? Get seasick, etc
Anybody object to going to Mexico or DR?

harrie(Maryann). Could we afford Hawaii?
Brenda & Donna - Any news?

I will continue to check into Miraval, but does not look promising.

[harrie]

Hawaii would be pricey.....no doubt about that.

[Melinda]

I am open to any and all suggestions. I did a cruise on Royal Carr. last Jan. and I must say I got a lot of bang for my buck. Left out of Galveston to Mexico (5 days.) With the shopping and the "extras" on board my bill was more than my fare! ANd they included airfare as well!. Of course I dont know what shape Mexico is in right now. There are a lot of all inclusives in Punta Cana and the DR. The only thing I ask is maybe we could find a resort that is not too child friendly. I hope that does not sound horrible, but on vacation I like to relax and not have babies wailing, and small children splashing poolside.
Melinda

[Donna]

HI Amazing Group,

No word yet from the amazing spa in San Francisco. You would think that a promise of 20+ people would get a response!

I am all for a cruise - I will cruise anywhere anytime!

I will keep you posted on more spas - I am so busy right now that I don't have the time to devote to this search that I wish I did.

Love to you all!

Donna

[VaMoonRise]

I hate to be the first one to object to a cruise but I am not comfortable at all about the thought of going on one. I worry to much about the illnesses that can be caught, especially for some of us with low blood counts and the crime. Call me a woosie if you want but I can't help it, lol. I would much prefer a spa resort. If I turn out to be the only one in objection of a cruise I would want all of you to go anyway and enjoy.

Thanks ladies,
Nicola

[sherri]

I can't for Cruise like Nicola. I went once and after the first day I knew that would be the last. I took medication but I was sick the whole time, lost 12lbs in 7 days, it was good for WL!

[StillHere]

Miraval update- Mr. Sim called me and said that he would talk to his Vice-Pres and try to get us the best rates possible for Wed/Thurs/Fri, Jan 2/3/4. Jan and Feb are of course High Season, but he felt he could give deeper discounts on the dates listed above. He will email me quotes for both single and double occupancy by Wed. 9/5. He will also let me know how many rooms would be available for those dates. He knows we have approximately 20 women who are interested if we can afford the trip.

[Mary Anne in TX]

Thanks for working to make this happen for us! ma

[Cheryl44]

Yes, thank you for working on this. I hope that I can go if it all works out.

Cheryl

[Melinda]

Thank you for spearheading this. I too am anxious to hear what Miraval can do for us.... I look forward to a hot stone massage or even a yoga class.... and lets not forget the many toasts we can make, celebrating our get together. I look forward to meeting some sisters from this board!
Melinda

[hutchibk]

No news yet from here, but I will put out more feelers tomorrow....

I won't be available until after Jan 10... Oh well. Don't hold anything up because of me. And I don't know how I feel about a cruise. Hmmmm.

[StillHere]

Mr. Sim has not emailed me. Roadrunner was down for a period yesterday, but seems fine today and I have not received an email w/ rates yet. I will leave a voice mail on his phone tonight and will try to call him from work tomorrow if it does not get too crazy there.

I think we should rule out the cruise due to a few this would exclude.

I never thought it would take this long just to get rates for the SPA's. I'll keep at it on my end. Donna and Brenda please keep trying your contacts also. Thanks Everyone!

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

I just emailed every spa in Las Vegas - let's see if any of them come up with something for us!

I'll start hitting spas in California this weekend.

Love to you all,

Donna

[Donna]

Hi Amazing Group,

I received replies from 3 spas already - but what they are asking for are what dates we want and how many are we. They are all saying they will give us discounts on spa rates and rooms. We need to take a head count with a calendar so we can have more clout in negotiating rates.

Can you email me with when you CAN'T GO in Jan-Mar of 2008 - probably easier to list when you cannot attend, then we can pick the optimum time.

Thanks!

Donna
email is milliron@innercite.com

[madubois63]

I'd love to join in, but finances are just not available. If it were East coast, I could drive...

Just a suggestion for those in desperate need of a massage: Many schools offer free or very low cost massages and services to cancer patients. I have a spa that closes it's doors once a month and only opens up for cancer patients. Last month I got a hair cut (yup!) and a facial. This month I am sheduled for a massage and pedicure. The 2 sister's that own the place lost thier mom to lung cancer. Before my friend Maryann died this past spring, they even went to her house to massage and groom her. I found the place by word of mouth, but some places put flyers out at cancer centers or run adds in those little holistic newspapers. I found art, yoga, ti chi, reiki and other classes all free to cancer patients. Oh, I also found a local group that paid to have my house cleaned 10 times during treatments. You can contact CancerCare or The American Cancer Society too. They may be able to help find things, but I mostly read the little local papers and search on line.

[StillHere]

OK Gals,
Who could make it Jan 2,3,4
Who could make it Jan 16, 17, 18
Who could make it Jan 23,24, 25

Who could make it on any of these dates?
Let's hear from you so we can get some firm dates and numbers. WE ARE GOING TO DO THIS! :) !
Can't Wait. Feel like a little kid going to Disneyland

[sherri]

I'm OK with all these 3 dates. And I'll be there. Can I come with my sister?

[Donna]

Hi Sherri,

Bring your whole family!

Donna

[StillHere]

Where ever we go, I'm leaving hubby home for this outing. See separate thread named Miravel rates and info for details on this resort. I can make it on any of the listed dates.

[Donna]

Hi Karen and all,

this is the package at the Orleans ( a hotel we stay at frequently) without negotiating price breaks for the group - and we could see shows at night.

Off Peak Season (January, June, July, August, September):
$275 Single
$430 Double

Each Package Includes:
3 Days/2 Nights accommodations, including taxes
50 Minute Traditional Massage at Spa Orleans (http://www.orleanscasino.com/spa/index.html)
25 Minute Custom Facial at Spa Orleans (http://www.orleanscasino.com/spa/index.html)
Complimentary use of Fitness Center, Jacuzzi, Steamroom
$250 Value Added Fun Book (50% Off show discounts, drinks, food and more)

Still working on it - Donna

[sherri]

I think we must setup a fund for Maryann as well, we can't go there without her.

[hutchibk]

I am open Jan 10-16 (and possibly until Jan 21). But as of Jan 16th or 21st, I will be heading to Phoenix anyway to work on a project for 2 weeks... hmmmmm. I will check and see what my actual start date is, I may be able to make something work out if it is Jan 16, 17, 18 timeframe... since I will already be heading to the neighborhood.

[StillHere]

Sherri, could you set up the fund for MaryAnn. I don't seem to elicit a very possitive response in the philanthropy dept. Thank you. Karen