# Destination spa

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This article is about the health resort. For other uses, see [Spa (disambiguation)](/source/Spa_(disambiguation)).

A **destination spa** or **health resort** is a [resort](/source/Resort) centered on a [spa](/source/Spa), such as a [mineral spa](/source/Mineral_spa). Historically, many such spas were developed at the location of natural [hot springs](/source/Hot_spring) or [mineral springs](/source/Mineral_spring). In the era before modern [biochemistry](/source/Biochemistry) and [pharmacotherapy](/source/Pharmacotherapy), "taking the waters" was often believed to have great medicinal powers. Even without such mystic powers, the [stress relief](/source/Stress_relief) and [health education](/source/Health_education) of spas also often has some degree of positive effect on [health](/source/Health). Destination spas offer [day spa](/source/Day_spa) facilities, but what sets them apart is that they also offer hotel facilities so that people can stay multiple nights.

Typically, over a seven-day stay, they provide a comprehensive program that includes spa services, physical fitness activities, wellness education, healthy cuisine, and special interest programming.

A special subgroup are the medical spas who offer treatments that are paid back by the national health insurance program.

## All-inclusive program

Some destination spas offer an all-inclusive program that includes facilitated fitness classes, healthy cuisine, educational classes and seminars, as well as similar to a [beauty salon](/source/Beauty_salon) or a [day spa](/source/Day_spa). Guests reside and participate in the program at a destination spa instead of just visiting for a treatment or pure vacation. Some destination spas are in tropical locations or in [spa towns](/source/Spa_town).

Destination spas have been in use for a considerable time, and some are no longer used but are rather preserved as elements of earlier history; for example, [Gilroy Yamato Hot Springs](/source/Gilroy_Yamato_Hot_Springs) in [California](/source/California) is such a historically used spa whose peak patronage occurred in the late 19th and early 20th century.

Resort spas are generally located in [resorts](/source/Resort), and offer similar services via rooms with services, meals, body treatments, and fitness a la carte.

## Types of medical services

Typical medical services offered at destination spas include:

- [Balneotherapy](/source/Balneotherapy)
- [Electrology](/source/Electrology)
- [Facial](/source/Facial)
- [Physical fitness](/source/Physical_fitness)
- [Ionithermie](/source/Ionithermie)
- [Massage](/source/Massage)
- [Manicure](/source/Manicure)
- [Pedicure](/source/Pedicure)

## Medical spas

Medical spas provide treatments and revalidation therapies paid back by the national health insurance, have to comply to the ISO 21426:2018 standard on tourism and related service requirements for medical spas[1] and have a medical doctor on site who supervises all the treatments.

The European Spas Association represents medical spas, health resorts, and regional spa associations in 19 European countries.[2]

It is common for elderly people to take every year a one-week treatment in medical public spas, which offer treatments for patients with syndrome diseases such as [fibromyalgia](/source/Fibromyalgia), [multiple sclerosis](/source/Multiple_sclerosis_signs_and_symptoms), [rheumatism](/source/Rheumatism), and [arthritis](/source/Arthritis).

Treatment is also offered in [Ministry of Ayush](/source/Ministry_of_Ayush) hospital revalidation centers, in the Middle Eastern Hammam steam bath facilities, as well as Asian or "Traditional Chinese Hot Spring" centers, and Japanese [shinrin-yoku](/source/Shinrin-yoku_(forest_bathing)) centres.

## External links

- [International Spa Association](http://www.experienceispa.com/)
- [The European Federation of Medical Spas](https://europeanspas.eu/about/)

## References

1. [ISO 21426:2018 Tourism and related services — Medical spas — Service requirements](https://www.iso.org/standard/70912.html)

1. ["About - European Spas Association"](https://europeanspas.eu/about). 16 May 2023.

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Destination spa](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destination_spa) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Destination_spa?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.