A Pampering Date
A romantic spa date may be just the cure your relationship needs.
BY SARAH PIERCE

BigStockPhoto You don't have to get all worked up when out on a date. Sometimes it can be just the opposite.

Feeling tired, stressed out and all-around crummy? Chances are if you’re feeling that way, so is your spouse. As tempting as it may be to get away by yourself, the tension between you and your spouse will still be there when you return. Why not attack that knot in your relationship with a deep-tissue massage for two? Not only will you leave feeling more relaxed, but you’ll leave feeling closer than ever.

"The number-one thing a girl looks for in a guy is to spend time together," says Erwin Dass, marketing director of Newport Beach, California-based Spa Gregories (www.spagregories.com). "The beautiful thing about a spa date is that she gets to share the experience with her significant other while they both get world-class treatment."

That’s exactly what made the experience so special for Erica*, 27, during a recent spa date with her husband, Stan, 30, at a resort on the island of Roatan. "We were outside beneath a palm tree canopy getting side-by-side massages right on the beach," she says. "I remember lying there, listening to the waves crash, and thinking there was no one else in the world I wanted to share that moment with. All I had to do was look over and see he was right there with me."

Whether you’re getting massages beachside or relaxing indoors at a world-class spa, spa dates are a great way to spend time together as you melt away the day-to-day tensions every couple faces. Make the most of your time together with these tips on enhancing your spa experience:

Don’t rush. "Allocate enough time before and after your appointment to marinate in the spa experience," says Dass. “Take advantage of the complimentary amenities the spa provides its guests with things like a tranquil quiet room, a soothing eucalyptus steam bath, relaxing whirl pool, etc. The last thing you want to do is cut your experience short because you made dinner plans an hour after your spa date. "Going in rushed is the wrong way to approach it."

Be open minded. This is especially true for men. "It sounds cliché, but there’s still a stigma attached to going to a spa that leaves many men guarded," says Dass, who urges men to keep their mind and their options open as far as what they’re willing to participate in during a spa date. "Guys like to relax and get massages as much as girls do; it’s just a matter of breaking down the 'chickiness' of it. But once they do, they’re fine." Don’t be afraid to indulge in everything the spa has to offer, even if that means receiving a facial or manicure. There are no gender rules when it comes to indulging yourself.

Shop around. Day spas have become so popular that it’s easier than ever to find one that perfectly suits your needs—and your budget. Every spa offers their own versions of couple’s packages. Spa Gregories, for example, offers a package that includes a 4-course gourmet meal, prepared by a master chef while you indulge in your massages, complete with candles, wine and rose petals to take with you for a romantic dinner for two in your own home. Take time to research the different spa packages offered in your area in order to find the best one.

* Last names have been omitted by request for privacy

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