SpaFinder Announces 2009 Readers’ Choice Winners

SpaFinder announced the winners of its 2009 Readers’ Choice Awards, revealing spa-goers’ favorite spas around the world. The 2009 awards were based on more than 360,000 votes submitted worldwide by SpaFinder.com visitors and readers of SpaFinder publications. Winners include:

SpaFinder Crystal Award Winners (Top spa on each of the six continents)

• Africa: Pezula Spa at Pezula Resort Hotel and Spa (Kynsa, South Africa)
• Asia: Kamalaya Koh Samui Wellness Sanctuary and Holistic Spa (Suratthani, Thailand)
• Australia: Spa Sanctuary at Gwinganna Lifestyle Retreat (Queensland, Australia)
• Europe: The Spa at Mandarin Oriental, Prague (Czech Republic)
• North America: Canyon Ranch Tucson (Arizona)
• South America: Kurotel Longevity Center and Spa (Gramado, Brazil)

For the Country/Region Winners for 2009 and more information on the awards, visit www.spafinder.com/spaguide/readerschoice/2009.jsp.

Hotel du Palais Encourages Golfers to Get into the Swing of Things with Pilates

The closest I’ve come to taking up golf was during one summer in college when I worked as the beer cart driver at a local course. In addition to great tips, as an employee I was allowed to play golf for free. Unfortunately, no matter how many pointers the pros gave me, I was too uncoordinated to even get the ball off the ground, and I quickly gave up. But, according to the therapists at Imperial Spa Guerlain at Hotel du Palais in the legendary golf destination Biarritz, France, a few Pilates sessions could have been just what I needed to improve my game. With this in mind, the spa offers visitors the Golf Pilates Program (starting at $585), which includes three Pilates sessions concentrating on the swing, the back, and postural stretching. In addition, guests will receive an osteopathy session, foot reflexology, and a physical evaluation. Players also get special discounts on green fees (there are 11 championship courses in the areas) and can choose to take a lesson. “We’ve created a very special program with coaching tailor-made for each guest by the professionals at our spa,” says Jean-Louis Leimbacher, general manager of Hotel du Palais. “This goes far beyond mere pro lessons by integrating Pilates practices helping golfers make adequate corrections to the body, resulting in a definite improvement in their swing.”