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The dirty truth about writing spa reviews
A lot of my time as a travel writer is spent at spas. But before you go all let’s-hate-Gwyneth-Paltrow-because-her-life-is-perfect on me, let me just say being a spa reviewer is not all jet-set chic and whale-music bliss. If you think writing spa reviews is glamorous or aspire to be a spa reviewer yourself (and who doesn’t?), read on.

Spa writing is the best job in the world
What? You don’t believe it’s not all essential rose oil and hushed elegance? Okay, fine. I was just trying to be humble. I DO spend all my time looking polished and spa perfect. Writing about spasย is the best job in the world. And here are the photos of my glam perfect spa life to prove it. Or not.
Better yet? You’ll get a privileged peek behindย the closed door of writing spa reviews.

Playing theย grand lady: Writing spa reviews at Lucknam Park near Bath, UK
Why yes, I do write reviews ofย grand manor houses – especially thoseย with 5-star spas, and when I do I simply must put on my Downton Abbey best forย some fine dinners and glamorous swanning around. Aren’t you just green with envy?

Speaking of green: my Crushed Sea Salt and Seaweed Body Envelopment at Lucknam Park
Possibly, just possibly, this may not be my best look, butย thisย is the Seaweedย Body Envelopmentย I did at Lucknam Park, aย 17th century Palladian mansion set amidst listed parkland and Englishย gardens outside Bath, UK. See how elegant and slimy, I mean, slim the treatment makes me look?

Some Saskatchewan spa loving: Sahara Spa, Moose Jaw
Iย adore a niceย spa lobby, itย makes me feel so pampered as I sit with a cup of herbal tea waiting for THEย treatment thatย will make me radiant. I was positively brimming with anticipation at Sahara Spa in Moose Jaw.

The writing-spa-reviews reality: Could I look more divine?
It’s all fine and pretty until you go into a treatment room. Then your true colours start to show. Personally, I think my outfit in the picture aboveย is one ofย the best spa looks for 2015. It’s not aboutย co-ordinating accessories, you see, it’s about finding your independent spa style. Note how the booties, the mitten and headband above are all different hues! That’s just me, being fashionable.

My idyllic life writing spa reviews: Monart Spa in southeast Ireland
This is one of my all time favourite spas (of which I have many). Monart Spa is a destination spa in Ireland where you can wander a labyrinth of poplar trees, stop forย free foot massages in the thermal area and have wonderfully reviving treatments.

Like aย bucket of ice water on your head. Yes! That’s what I’m talking about! This isย the peak of a spa reviewer’s life.

Spa reviews in exoticย Asia
When it comes to spas it’s hard to top Thailand for soothing treatments, wellness and detox spas, especially on the island of Koh Samui. Visiting tropicalย spas and wellness retreats really puts a new perspective on your outlook – turns it right upside down, in fact ย – and gives your face a to-die-forย rosy glow.

Have I mentioned I hate yoga?

The adventurous spa reviewer goes to Poprad, Slovakia
The town of Poprad at the base of the Tatras Mountains has steaming hot thermal water and a wonderful mix of warm pools at AquaCity wellness complex. So why then, did I feel the need to enter a minus 120 degree chamber to try cryptotherapy?

To write a spa review of course. And I really hit the height of spa chic here, with a femme fatal look (above) that takes you right from theย cryotherapy chamber to a romantic dinner in a 5-star hotel. What really makes ties this outfit togetherย is the funย face mask withย knee socks pairing – just the thing to wear forย pairing wine and cheese.

The sophisticated spa reviewer: La Mirador Kempinski above Lake Geneva
A job writingย spa reviews doesn’t get any better than when touring Lake Geneva. Montreux Palace, Clinique la Prairie … I could go on and on but I’ll stop with the Mirador Kempinski near Vevy, Switzerland, where theย wellness-focusedย La Mirador Medical Centre sits side by side with Switzerlandโs only Givenchy Spa.

When writing spa reviews one must consider the all-important spa accessories angle
I’ve never been a big one for bling (kidding!) but I do find traditional ornamentation such as earringsย passรฉ. At La Mirador Medical Centre I became interested inย a new jewelry trend I like to callย Bio-Photonย Chips On The Face. Not only willย it make you the centre of attention at any posh gathering, it regenerates your cells!

Scenic spa reviews: Auberge de la Montagne Coupรฉe in Quebec
It’s hard to get a better setting for a spa, andย the spa in the Auberge de la Montagne Coupรฉe (Cut Mountain) is a place to ground yourself and connectย with the spectacular natural setting of theย Lanaudiere and la Mauricie region of Quebec.

I wanted to connect with the crimsonย fall foliage so badly that I concentrated very hard and willed myself to turn the colour of a maple leaf! The fact that I ended up looking like Lucifer’s mistress is irrelevant; I was connecting with nature.ย When writing spa reviews it’s hard to go wrong with mud wraps, seaweed wraps, chocolate and/or honey masks if you don’t mind hot looks like this. one I affectionately call Radioactive Bombshell. Don’t I just glow?

And so my friends, and future spa reviewers.ย Writing spa reviews mayย seem glamorous. It may seem like the easiest job in the world. Butย now youย know spa writing’sย dirty secrets: The only job that involves more mineral-rich mud is pig wrestling, and the only place you’ll be draped in more slimy green stuff is a swamp.
You’ll never have a good hair day, and you’ll be forced to get in touch with your chakras more often than you’re in touch withย your mother. That said, I agree. Writing spa reviews really is the best job in the world.
Want more spa blog posts? Read The Spa and Spa Travel
What is the facial treatment that really makes a difference after just one application?
Hi Sarah, You need to be honest when writing a spa or hotel review. But think before you write. Did you dislike something because it’s something you personally don’t like, but that other people might enjoy? Then it’s not exactly objective to focus on the negatives. I try to deal with negatives through humour, or focus a review on my experience without making judgement calls. If something is bad, I don’t want to write about it in the first place.
Hi, when a company asks you for a review does that mean it has to be a nice one or you can be honest and mention the negatives?
Sounds great carol :). Do you have any tips on how to start a blog?
Have a great day ๐
Thank you
Kelly
Hi Rangi, I used to sell them to newspapers or write for magazines, but now I’m blogging pretty much full time.
Heya Carol, who do you sell the stories to? thanks
My pleasure, Kelly. Enjoy spa writing.
Thanks for your advice Carol :). Will start reading and learning the style ๐
Hi Kelly, Your best bet if you want to be a spa writer is to simply read other spa reviews and note the language and style they are using, especially in the magazines you are trying to break into with travel writing. You don’t need a particular course. I hope that helps.
Hi Carol, Iโd love to write spa reviews and travel. Would I need to do a course to word things in a particular way or are magazines etc more giving
? Thanks, Kelly
Hi Fred,
I started going to spas because I liked them, then wrote about them and tried to sell the stories. I choose spas usually just because I want to go to them, although I sometimes go because I’ve been invited or because a newspaper or magazine has asked me to review one. Good luck with your new career.
How do you do to work as a spa rewiewer? What kind of studies have you made? Because I am interested to also be one. By the way how do you choose your spa?