Travel To Wellness Inc.

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What readers say about Travel to Wellness

"Giselle's Spa, Winnipeg.....lovely" November 14, 2009

Tobago, one of my favourite islands September 6, 2009

"I found something authentic on a different
level in Hawaii and it helped heal my heart."

Favourite foodie getaways

My first full spa Day

"Best spa I've been to in my life...."


Giselle's Spa, Winnipeg.....lovely November 14, 2009

Giselle's Spa is lovely and right here in Winnipeg on Meadowood Dr. They've been in business for 25 years and offer wonderful European products. My daughter bought me a gift certificate consisting of mani/pedi, facial, and massage and it was just so wonderfully relaxing. The staff is terrific and they cater to men as well...

Toby Hirsch
Winnipeg, Manitoba


Tobago, one of my favourite islands September 6, 2009

One destination with everything that tourists could want is Tobago in the southern Caribbean, one of my favourite islands. The people there are friendly and willing to help, and the scenery is lush and tropical. You can find many types of accommodation from guest houses, B and B’s, medium priced hotels to luxury resorts. Beaches are many, and each one is more beautiful than the last. I’m sure you’ll find a favourite where you can simply relax with a good book. Pigeon Point beach was voted Best All-Day-Long beach by Island’s Magazine in /09.

To see more of this lovely island, there are many opportunities for touring. One of the best tour operators I found was Hew Hazel who operates Hews Tours. You can ask for him through your hotel or contact him by email before you leave home. His glass bottom boat tour to the reef, Nylon Pool and for a barbeque is a must.

Tobago - it’s a vacation spot not to be missed.

Enid Edwards,
Port Stanley, ON, Canada.


Healing in Hawaii August 1, 2009

Dear Ms. Dimon -
A friend recommended that I write to you, she reads a lot of travel things and said I should write to you and tell you about an experience I had in Hawaii. I am not what you would call an "avid traveler" myself, in fact I can rarely afford it and had never been to Hawaii before. But my son, who had cystic fibrosis for thirty years, passed away recently and and it turned my world upside down.

I desperately needed to do something to turn it right side up again, if there was ever a time to splurge this was it.

I wanted to take some of his ashes someplace special, I knew it was Hawaii and all I knew is I didn't want something "touristy" if that's a word. I found this place on line called Wellness With Aloha (.com) and something just clicked when I talked to them. It turns out the guy on the phone was the owner, this totally amazing guy named David, but I didn't know that then. So they were on the Big Island, I had never been to any of them before and it seemed fine to me, there was a flight from Seattle near where I live to Kona. It's all black lava and really dry, right away I felt drawn to the other side of the island. I really don't know if these details matter to you, I don't know why I'm writing them! Somehow it matters to me, though. Anyway it turned out that the place I was staying was sort of over that way, near a place called Waipi'o Valley.

So I go to the rental and it's in the side of the cliff! I've never seen anything like it, looking down on the ocean and the valley and the black sand beach. And the energy of Waipi'o Valley is amazing, I just sort of cried when I sat there with it. It turns out that this is an apartment in a house on private property, not even advertised as a rental, all hooked up by this guy David. I never saw the owner, it was totally private. I don't know what Hawaii is supposed to be like, but I felt like I was already in it. It's all so beautiful and green and so alive and so quiet all at the same time.

For the week David had set me up appointments with some energy and massage healers and even with some kahuna. The next day he gave me directions to a park by the ocean and I met one of the kahuna, Keahi. We moved to a private area and he started to chant. I felt like it reached right down into my bones! I started crying again, I don't know why, it felt good! When the chant was done, he stood behind me and put his hands on my head and gave me a blessing. It felt like light was coming into my soul. He told me so many things about myself. I've had a few psychics do readings and this is way beyond that, I don't know how to put it into words exactly. I just felt loved. The feeling never went away, even today.

The next day I had another appointment with more kahuna, but this time right at the caldera of a volcano. This is the one I was really looking forward to, I wanted to put my son's ashes in the volcano, I'm not sure why. Anyway I don't know how David does this or knows all these people because he isn't Hawaiian, but he set up this time TWO kahuna, Nohoku and Kalei, to meet me at Volcanoes National Park and channel Pele. Really! They do. The first thing they told me from Pele was how happy my son was to be free of his body now, and they didn't even know about his cystic fibrosis! I felt so much joy and peace with them and with my son. (and they actually told me to spread his ashes at the ocean, so I did and it was wonderful. (I have video of it).

I spent five more days there connecting with the island, I had a wonderful massage and more, but I think this letter is already too long. I just wanted to say that all of these amazing feelings are still with me. If there ever was such a thing as Hawaiian Healing, I think this is it because I got some! People offer some free Hula shows and lei-making in a few places around the island and I went to one or two of those too but after what I had experienced it just couldn't compare.

But most of all it's what people like my sister said to me after I got back, how I looked like I had found peace. I think I found something authentic on a different level in Hawaii and it helped heal my heart. Perhaps it could do the same for other people as well, for me it was priceless.
Aloha!
Rebecca Lane, WA

Editor's note: Thank you Rebecca for sharing this lovely story with the readers of Travel to Wellness. It touched my heart.


Favourite foodie getaways

I love the breakfast buffet at the Fairmont Chateau Laurier in Ottawa. Wonderful selection! It's easy to choose items for a healthy, delicious breakfast from this huge spread.

Rose Hately, June 11, 2009
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My favourite food get away is the Briar’s Resort and Spa. The food was delicious! There was an excellent variety and the presentation and atmosphere was grand! Fresh fruit and an assortment of cheeses were available with all meals. The desserts, which were homemade, were elegant as was as scrumptious! We’ve been to several spas and resort but this spa by far was #1 for food, variety, freshness and excellent service! Each meal was not only delectable but visually appealing! The staff is professional, attentive and pleasant which will enhance anyone’s dining experience.

Toni Oprici, June 11, 2009
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I love the Niagara region in Ontario at all times of the spring, summer and fall because there is always something different to indulge in depending upon the time of year. A trip down Highway 8 from Stoney Creek to St. Catharines will bring you past all kinds of fresh fruit and vegetable stands to grab some just picked Ontario goodies like asparagus, strawberries, cherries, corn, peaches, tomatoes, etc. You can also pop into one of the many local wineries for some great homemade treats as well as a bottle of wine or two. It is an amazing area with lots to see and do and definitely a great getaway from Toronto that is close by and yet feels like miles away from the city.

Melanie Anne Howe, June 11, 2009
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My favorite foodie getaway is taking a trip to San Francisco. Their Dungeness crab is delectable along with their sour dough bread, clam chowder and their wine selection!

Debbie Fournier, June 11, 2009
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My favorite place to travel is Buenos Aires where you can get the best beef especially at El Establo restaurant, served with great vegetables and wine you won't ever forget it.

Michelle Bradley, June 11, 2009
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My favourite foodie getaway is heading to the Niagara region to participate in the Wineries of Niagara-on-the-Lake food and wine pairing events.

Kaitlin Martin, June 11, 2009
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Definately P.E.I.

Jason Sheps, June 11, 2009
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Elkhorn Ranch ClearLake Manitoba is my favorite spa and culinary getaway. Best Plank Salmon I have tasted, and the spa is reasonable and amazing.

Jani Cour, June 11, 2009
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My First Full Spa Day by Lisa Jacques of Toronto...May 2, 2009

So I walk into the Elmwood Spa in downtown Toronto with no makeup, sweatpants and freshly shaven legs. I present my gift card, feeling rather like a V.I.P.. They send me on my merry way.

I was early so I was able to use the water therapies. I noticed the hot tub and pool first, so naturally (as I love hot water), I eased my way into the hot tub. I was in there for a good half hour. Eventually I started to feel like boiled potatoes. Then I noticed colourful noodles dangling beside me. That was enough to convince me to hop into the 83 ºF pool. It was just me and a middle-age couple, which was slightly awkward, but I broke the ice by asking them if they wanted a noodle. After my back started getting numb from the water jets (that I deliberately parked myself in front of), I noticed the steam room! I couldn’t believe I almost missed the steam room. I sat in there until my fingers started to look like a 90-year-old woman’s.

It was almost time for my 50-minute Swedish massage so I thought I’d go a little early in hopes of squeezing in a couple extra minutes. The excitement must have been written all over my face when she called my name.

I eagerly jumped up, got naked, and climbed on the bed- no hesitations. I noticed heat warmers on the sheets covering my feet…lovely. The masseuse began rubbing my back and I was in bliss. She moved her hands in a pattern: a circular motion, added pressure, fingers sliding down, repeat. It was fabulous!

She noticed my upper shoulders were tense and knotted. I blamed them on exams. I thought, “Damn those exams. But now they’re over! Woo! Ok enough thinking. Quiet now, Lisa. ….Ahh, ya right there.” When she proceeded to ask me another question about school I realized there’s no polite way to tell a masseuse to stop talking. I gave short-answers as hints instead. The pressure was perfect; hard, but not too hard. I realized I should be dating a masseuse.

I went into my facial with low expectations because I hated my last one. That was also many moons ago, so I kept an open-mind. I got into the mini-bed and she started to wash my face with something thick. After, it was a cream that smelled like vodka. Then, one that smelled like my grade five crush’s hair gel. Then, a citrus one. After, something lemon-y was placed over my eyes. Then a foamy serum on my face, with a hot cloth (I mistakenly thought the hot cloth symbolized the beginning of the end but boy, was I wrong!). I had no idea what was going on up there. My eyes were covered, but even if they weren’t, I wouldn’t have been able to see a damned thing since it was all going on on my face.

By this point, more than ten masks, gels, toners, creams and serums had been smeared across my face. She asked me if I ever had high-frequency before (I said “high what?”). She laughed and told me I would feel a slight tingle. All of a sudden it sounded like bees were in mating-season above my face. I had no idea what was going on but I stayed still (I found out later it checked oil levels and helped close my pores… or something).

Then the chaotic buzzing stopped, and she warned me a bright light was going to come on. What an understatement! It was like looking directly into the sunlight of death. As my eyes adjusted to this ridiculousness, she started squeezing my pimples! As she was hacking away at my blackheads and whiteheads with her rather sharp nails, I was thinking “Ouch – this is bull!"

Relaxation at the spa? Ha!” She wouldn’t give up on this one non-pimple right above my upper-lip, and needless to say, it hurt. I tried to give her fairly straightforward hints that I wanted her to stop. But apparently they’re trained to ignore all our complaints (“Ouch. That’s enough. OK let’s stop on that one” No response).

All of a sudden she was giving me a foot rub (she must have known this was the way to receive my forgiveness). Afterwards though, my lower legs started to burn from the cream. Apparently my legs were sensitive because I had just shaved that morning. Damn! They were really red and felt like they were on fire. Apparently, the whole facial thing still isn’t my cup of tea.

My manicure and pedicure were pretty standard. I chose the nail colour “Perky Peach.” I dreaded the sanding on the bottom of my feet because I’m extremely ticklish. She whipped out the sander from her tool belt like it was some sort of medieval weapon and began sanding my feet vigourously. I was going insane. I couldn’t take it anymore and pulled back my feet. I was giggling like a mad woman. Everyone around me was staring, and I apologized for disturbing the peace (in between giggles).

I’m not sure how people do the “spa thing” bi-weekly. I’ll need at least a month to recover from the buzzing bees on my face or the intense tickle-fest under my toes. But massages? Those I can handle. Any time. Any place.

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