Tag Archives: Spa

Take a Spontaneous Vacation (or Staycation) with HotelTonight

HotelTonight app

Life is always better when it’s lived spontaneously and HotelTonight, an app that features hand-selected hotels at low prices to book a stay for tonight or up to seven days in advance, is the secret sauce to making life a bit more exciting. Plus, it will save you tons of money when booking your next vacation or much-needed staycation.

I live in New York City and my mom lives 2 hours away in Delaware. When she comes to visit me, we always use HotelTonight to book her stay and turn what started as a day trip into a weekend getaway. I love the element of surprise it brings when she doesn’t know where she’s staying until she gets here. So many times, she’s ended up staying in a beautiful room walking distance from my apartment in Midtown for less than $200 a night.

Get the App

HotelTonight is available for free on iPhone, Android and Windows Phones. Get it today to see what hotels you can check into at some of the lowest prices you’ve ever seem. Trendy boutique hotels usually cost a fortune just for a night, but you’ll find them in your price range on this mobile app.

Hotel travel

Book a Staycation or Weekend Trip

HotelTonight is a must if you’re looking to take a last minute staycation in NYC or a weekend trip to the surrounding areas. Booking your stay on the app makes a night in one of Manhattan’s chicest hotels more affordable than you ever thought it could be. Should you decide to venture outside the city for a weekend adventure in New Jersey, Long Island, Westchester or Connecticut, booking your stay with HotelTonight will leave you with plenty of extra cash to spend at cute shops and stylish restaurants outside the city.

I always look forward to weekend trips. Next fall I hope to take one to Long Island to go apple picking and visit a winery. This summer I want to do a poolside stay in New Jersey. But, what I could really use now is a staycation. What I love most about “staycationing” is that you can get all the adventure and excitement of a vacation without the hassle that comes with having to travel there and back. Therefore, I prefer to escape the stress that comes with living in New York City within the confines of the city. I love the thrill of escaping my tiny NYC apartment for a relaxing hotel room with room service and hopefully a spa. I don’t know what it is, but hotel beds are always the softest. There’s something about them that makes me feel totally rested and my usually tight back completely rejuvenated even before ever entering the spa.

Extra Goodies

Need a weekend to relax? Download HotelTonight on your iPhone, Android or Windows phone and get $25 off your first booking with the exclusive coupon code BOOKNYC10.

Disclaimer: This is a sponsored post, but the opinions are all my own.

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How To Throw A Stylish and Memorable Backyard Spa Party

stylish spa party

Close your eyes and picture trees swaying in the breeze, steam rising up from the bubbling hot tub, scented candles glowing, margaritas and champagne flowing. After a long week at the office, why not throw a party filled with relaxation and TLC that no guest could turn down an invitation to. Transforming your backyard into a stylish spa oasis for the night will be an experience for guests to remember.

Hot Tub Illumination

The hot tub will no doubt be a popular focal point for your spa-themed evening. Draw guests into the water with alternating colored lights from beneath the water. Guests will flock as the steam above the water blends from one color to the next. Be sure to give these new hot tub parts a test run before the big night.

Relaxation Station

Some guests will come to soothe themselves after being on their feet all week. Create an area that acts as a natural extension for guests leaving the hot tub:Set up comfy bean bag chairs or throw over-stuffed pillows on deck chairs with fluffy fleece blankets.

  • Place a small nesting table beside each chair with lavender and mint eye-masks.
  • Offer a centralized area among this grouped seating with fruit and herbal water to rehydrate after the long soak in the hot tub.
  • Place a speaker behind this area that still allows guests to enjoy music, but at a more muted level.

Overstock is a great place to select unique furniture to create this look without breaking the bank.

Stylish Servingware

There are two things that don’t mix in the spa: glass and ice. We’ve got the solution for that:

  • Fancy glassware: Just because it isn’t glass doesn’t mean it can’t be attractive. Choose white melamine stemware that can be frozen beforehand to create a frosted touch to keep bubbles crisp.
  • Light up ice cubes: The morning of your party, place trays of light-up cubes in the freezer. When it’s time to party, display cubes on an ice block or large bowl of shaved ice.
  • Illuminated ice buckets: Nobody likes warm champagne. To keep guests happily imbibing, place illuminated buckets with champagne around the seating areas so guests may help themselves throughout the night.

Conversation Plates for Easy Mingling

Guests love to eat, drink and chat, but juggling a plate and drink between each hand makes it hard to relax. Offer guests stylish acrylic plates designed with a cut out area to balance stemware. Now they’ll have a hand free to shake and converse with. The Gifted Grape offers this style of dinnerware in several sizes and finishes.

Croquet

A little game of croquet goes a long way to help strangers become friends. A fun way to break the ice, croquet is a sleek and stylish game that’s great for guys and gals. For guests looking to enliven their night, a colorful classic croquet set from the Relaxation Station set up in your yard can be an inviting sight. Be sure to place one of your illuminated champagne buckets near the station for thirsty guests to get a refill as they play. Anthropology boasts a beautiful set your guests will love.

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My NYC Spa Xperience

xperience-days-day-spa

In the magical land of madness also known as Manhattan, everyone is looking for a socialite status experience. So when I discovered XperienceDays.com, a website where you can book unique experiences and adventures such as helicopter tours, spa treatments, wine tastings, and even trapeze classes, I was immediately hooked.  Having been incredibly stressed lately, I recently booked a spa experience through Xperience Days at the Dorit Baxter New York Day Spa in Midtown and it was just what I needed. As soon as I arrived, the relaxation began when I changed into a comfortable robe and slippers. I left my cell phone behind in the dressing room to disconnect from the world for a while. Then I sat by the window sipping lemon infused water and reading a magazine as I waited for my Super De-Lagging Massage to begin.

When it was time for my much-needed spa treatment, I was more than prepared for the next stage of relaxation. My hour of De-Lagging was perfect, but of course massages never last long enough. However, when I left the spa and walked down 57th St. toward 5th Ave, I felt somehow more prepared the take on the world. With over 2,000 experiences available in cities across the country, Xperience Days has some of the most unique experience gifts for men, women, couples, and kids. If you’re stumped on what to get Dad for Father’s Day, an Xperience Day or gift certificate could easily top last year’s tie or #1 Dad coffee mug.

Disclaimer: I received the Super De-Lagging Massage compliments of Xperience Days.

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