You've heard the expression: "You'll never meet the man of your dreams when you're looking for him." And if you're tired of futile first dates and barhopping, maybe some time off from the scene is in order. We're talking about a real vacation, far from the pressure of endless routines and the responsibilities of daily life ‑- not to mention the pressure of meeting a man. "On vacation, if all goes well, you fulfill fantasies and get to be the person you would like to be at all times," says Tina Tessina, PhD, a psychotherapist and author of The Ten Smartest Decisions a Woman Can Make after Forty. "It's an opportunity to be pampered or to be challenged, depending on whether you like cruises or cross-county hikes. Either way, it takes you away from your daily stressors." So call your friends, start planning and get ready for the girls-only getaway of a lifetime ‑- no boys allowed. (Of course, inadvertently meeting someone special while you're there will not be frowned upon.)
City Spas Are Like Lay's Potato Chips
Once you try one, you just have to have more and more. They offer a chance to be far away from your cell, email, PDA, TV and all other technological tools that keep you hooked into the world 24-7 (including the men, or lack thereof, in your current social circle) ‑- while still living it up with all the modern amenities. Plus, it would be hard not to bond with your girlfriends (or with other spa-goers if you're traveling on your own) when you're all blissed out from fabulous body treatments.
For the true urban oasis experience, head to Spa Mandalay at the Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino in Las Vegas. Their 30,000-square-foot facility has a wide selection of luxurious treatments, such as an Ayurvedic treatment that they justifiably call Nirvana. If you're alert enough to work out afterward, a turn at the state-of-the-art fitness center will justify a post-cardio pig-out at Mix restaurant. Created by world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse and located on the hotel's 64th floor, Mix offers both food and a view of the Vegas strip that are unsurpassed.
Another option is Berkeley's Claremont Resort & Spa, a hilltop resort in the San Francisco Bay Area. (It's also a mere hour from wine country.) Once you're tucked into this world-class sanctuary, enjoying innovative treatments such as their Mayan Temple Journey, a combination herbal bath, invigorating scrub and avocado stone massage, you'll forget about all your dating woes.
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