Anyone who is interested in a luxury holiday to Italy will inevitably be drawn to the best spas and thermal baths the country has to offer. Since Roman times, spas have been one of the most popular forms of relaxation and socialising in Italy, and today its thermal baths and spas have become so popular that many holiday goers make them the centrepiece of their trip.

The best destinations for spa holidays in Italy are on the coast or the small islands that surround the mainland, and Sicily has some of the best thermal spa hotels in the region. Most of the top luxury hotels in Sicily have some kind of spa facility, and there are many that specialize in thermal treatments. Sicily and the Aeolian islands have numerous active and dormant volcanoes, and many spas take their spa water from natural hot springs. This volcanic spring water has a particularly high salt and mineral content, giving many health benefits to those who bathe in it.

Just as important as the quality of a luxury spa hotel in Sicily is its location. Some people want peace, quiet and natural beauty after a spa session, others want vibrant city life and an authentic taste of Sicilian culture as part of their holiday. Here are five of the best spa towns in Sicily, from bustling cities and towns to secluded island retreats.

Catania

Located on the east coast of Sicily, Catania is the island’s second largest city after Palermo. The source of Catania’s hot springs isn’t hard to locate – the city sits at the foot of the largest active volcano in Europe, Mount Etna.

The proximity of the volcano has made the surrounding land extremely fertile, and the spring water is of excellent quality. Though earthquakes and volcanic eruptions have damaged the city at several points in its history, many of the ancient buildings remain intact. The city is also famed for its popular music scene, and so offers both handsome architecture and a vibrant nightlife. For people who want the bustle of an exciting city as part of their spa holiday in Sicily, Catania is an outstanding choice.

Vulcano

If you want a little more seclusion while on your luxury holiday in Sicily, some of the best places to go are on the Aeolian Islands, a small archipelago just off the north coast of Sicily. Each island has some superb spa resorts, but perhaps the best of them can be found on Vulcano.

As the name of the island suggests, several volcanoes are at the centre of the island, giving rise to the hot springs that are used by the spa hotels on Vulcano. The island is sparsely populated, leaving plenty of untouched natural beauty to enjoy between spa sessions. And for those who are looking for unusual health and beauty treatments, sulphur mud baths are a particular speciality offered by the spas of Vulcano.

Taormina

Taormina is small town on the east coast of Sicily, popular with tourists and famed for its superb beaches. The town itself is a great place to relax during spa holidays in Sicily, with picturesque architecture and a rich history. It’s an especially good place for culture vultures – Taormina features one of the most popular archaeological sites in Sicily, the ‘Greek Theatre’, a superbly preserved amphitheatre which is the venue for numerous live music and theatre events. For a luxury holiday in Sicily, Taormina is a great middle ground between a busy city like Catania and the more isolated Aeolian island resorts.

Mazara Del Vallo

Located in the southwest of Sicily, Mazara Del Vallo is a busy port town that is home to the largest fishing fleet in Italy. The area immediately around Mazara Del Vallo, where many of the best spa hotels are to be found, is rich with numerous olive groves and vineyards, providing a handsome backdrop to some of the best luxury resorts for holidays in Sicily. This part of the island is visited by fewer tourists than the north and east, which makes Mazara Del Vallo the ideal place to get away from the crowds for relaxing spa holidays in Sicily.

Termini Imerese

The very name of Termini Imerese is inseparable from its history as a spa town. Derived from the Latin “Thermae Himerenses” or “Hot springs of Himera”, the town has been a significant spa town since it was found over two and half thousand years ago. It has a history associated with the Hercules and the armies of Hannibal, and was once praised by Cicero as one of the finest towns in Sicily. Today, those on spa holidays in Sicily can still see the ancient Roman aqueducts and enjoy a superb view across the sea to nearby Palermo. Pretty architecture and good views aside, the town works hard to uphold its traditional role as a premier spa town. It has some of the best luxury hotels in Sicily, and most offer an extensive range of health and beauty treatments.

About the Author

Antonio Cresce is the Italy Specialist for Key2Holidays, a travel company that can help each individual customer plan their own perfect Sicily luxury holiday. They also offer luxury holidays to Italy, Dubai, Mauritius, the Maldives, Cuba, Egypt, the Far East and many other popular destinations.

 

Costa Rica land has so many exotic and alluring locales that it can be hard to decide which is the ideal spot for a vacation. The easiest way, however, is to know which are the most popular regions of the country. After that, all you have to do is decide what sort of Costa Rica vacation you want to have. Here’s a look at some hottest Costa Rica vacation destinations:

Arenal

Arenal, which is located in inland Costa Rica, is a hotspot…literally. It’s where the very active Arenal volcano is located as well as Lake Arenal and Arenal National Park. You can boat, canoe, horseback ride or even windsurf in Arenal but most people visiting this particular piece of Costa Rica land are looking for the adventure that the volcano brings. If that’s you, you’re in luck because there are plenty of hotels nearby that provide great views of Arenal Volcano. Those who want to get even closer to the volcano can simply visit Arenal National Park.

Guanacaste

If it’s an easygoing vacation filled with sunbathing on Costa Rica beaches, is what you’re looking for, then Guanacaste is where you want to be. The waters are a vibrant blue, the beaches filled with soft, golden sand and with Guanacaste being one of the drier areas of Costa Rica, it’s ideal for all sorts of beach activities. Most people enjoy staying by the water and spending the day scuba diving, snorkeling, surfing and fishing but if you do decide you want to take a break from all of that, Santa Rosa National Park isn’t too far away.

Puntarenas

Tourists who want the best of both worlds—relaxation at “home” and the “party” outside their door—will love Puntarenas! For the beach and a good party, you’ll want to choose a hotel near Jaco Beach. If it’s a touch of nature you’re looking to soak up though, then consider visiting the Osa Peninsula, Tambor, one of the nearby national parks. Both Corcovado National Park and Manuel Antonio National Park are great places for nature lovers.

San Jose

Visit San Jose, Costa Rica and you’ll be a little further from the sand and surf but you’ll be much more immersed in Costa Rican culture than any other region. The city, being the nation’s capitol, is busting with all that you would expect from a major city…and many things that you wouldn’t. There are, of course, great stores for shopping, restaurants for eating, and unique museums to visit like the Jade and Gold Museums but those are just the things you can do on your relaxing days. If you want to spice things up, you can always take a day trip. There are regular horseback riding, biking, hiking, and white water rafting tours that originate from San Jose. And what would a trip to San Jose be without a visit to one of the coffee plantations? It would be downright un-tourist like, that’s what it’d be! So if you have time, put that on the agenda as well.

Tortuguero

While many tourist locales are located on Costa Rica’s Pacific coast, Costa Rica real estate on the Caribbean side isn’t too shabby either. In fact, it’s a great option if you want the Costa Rica experience without all the other tourists. In Tortuguero, you’ll be in a prime location for relaxing at a beautiful Costa Rica beach and you won’t be too far away from Tortuguero National Park, which is one of the nation’s most exotic, all-encompassing nature reserves.

The bottom line: If it’s beautiful land you’re looking forward to on your next vacation, there’s none quite like Costa Rica land. When it comes down to it, all of the tourist locales are have something for every tourist, insuring that you enjoy your Costa Rica vacation wherever you are!

About the Author

About Paradise Brokers Paradise Brokers http://www.paradisebrokers.com is developing paradise in Costa Rica as a full service, turnkey real estate, development and property management company. For more information, contact 1-877 CRLand1, (1 877 275-2631) or in Dominical, Costa Rica call 506 787-0181. Grab your FREE 12-page report Now by visiting http://www.developingparadise.com