Scottsdale's Spa Wars - your pampering gain

By Chris Baldwin

West Coast Bureau Chief, Golf Publisher Syndications

updated 7:14 p.m. ET June 20, 2006

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. - Mai Nguyen lingered in the lobby of the Willow Stream Spa, pondering a pedicure for the road. Nguyen's appointment began at 10 a.m. and the clock already read well past 2 p.m., but with everything to do in the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess' shrine to relaxation (or at least zany-named lotions), time wasn't on her side.

Nguyen started with the Havasupai Body Oasis Experience (two hours for $309), which begins with a swim under warm waterfalls, reaches a Zen moment with some desert tea (yes, desert tea's still wet) and continues along with an aromatherapy wrap. All before the actual massage. After that, Nguyen needed time to take a few leisurely laps in the spa's private rooftop pool and get in some sauna time.

How's one supposed to find the time for a pedicure with a schedule like that?

"I should have worked a pedicure in," Nguyen said with a groan, which seemed to startle her inordinately relaxed muscles.

No one ever said being this pampered is easy.

"Why did I agree to meet my dumb husband for lunch?" Nguyen asked, smiling sweetly.

Nguyen's husband was out golfing. In the old days, Nguyen would have been pestering him about what time he'd get back, so they could get on with their vacation. Then, she discovered the spas. And not her mother's spas either. These are full-blown, state-of-the-art, Architectural Digest-worthy, theatrical palaces.

Soon, Nguyen started dropping more cash in her days inside than her husband did in his days outdoors (consider Scottsdale trophy track Troon North maxes out at $295 weekends high season, while the Havasupai Body Oasis Experience runs $309 year round).

Soon, Nguyen began planning their trips around great "spa destinations" as her husband wondered if she'd lost her mind. Soon, he was the one wondering when she'd be done.

Resorts quickly caught up on to this new army of dedicated relaxation consumers. They built lavish spas with no pamper perk or cozy detail spared to attract the most zealous spa devotees like Nguyen. But perhaps no where has this trend been embraced with more fervor than the Scottsdale-Phoenix resort corridor. Hawaii might have more well-known spas, worldwide, but they are spread out in the islands.

YOUR PHOTOS Sports Mountains Sunrises & sunsets Submit your photo Powered by WeatherBug

Nowhere has a higher concentration of spas than Phoenix-Scottsdale. It turns out that America's high-end golf capital may also be its spa capital.

And that's no coincidence.

"The golf lifestyle really lends itself to the spa lifestyle," said Edward Reynolds, a frequent Arizona golfer and sometime spa connoisseur. "Let's face it: they're both pretty much having a lot of free time to do whatever you want.

"It's sort of thumbing your nose at the rat race. At least for a few weeks."

Unless you're in the relaxation business. For the Scottsdale corridor is in the middle of its own Spa Wars. They seem to be going up faster than Starbucks and if you're a golf resort that doesn't have one — make that a good one — you might as well be stuck in 1952.

"To be considered a top-end hotel these days, you need a spa that seasoned vacationers are going to be impressed by," said Lance Burton, the marketing director at Wigwam Resort. "People are going all out on their vacations these days. They want that relaxation experience they're going to remember."

MORE FROM GOLF TRAVEL

Golf Travel Section Front

PGA Tour-host courses for the traveling golfer Tee it up at these top casino golf courses Top 10 golf cities in America Making up for lousy Christmas gifts Now’s the time to hit the links in Sin City Best value golf in uncertain times Tee up and land the big one in British Columbia A St. Andrews golf vacation on three budgets Tee up for bachelor parties and golf Lowcountry golf comes to life near Myrtle Beach Golf Travel Section Front   Add Golf Travel headlines to your news reader: