I have been coming to Guatemala since 1997. Originally in Antigua there were a few Spas doing primarily massages and some basic treatments, like facials. In these days I always thought of them a good value because they were so inexpensive (100-150 quetzales). With the arrival of day spas the number of spas in Antigua has grown to where there are now 10 or more spas. They are the Mayan Spa at two locations (Alameda Santa Lucia Norte) and Petite Mayan Spa (6a Avenida Norte), Bella Spa (4 Calle Oriente), Healing Hands (3a Avenida Norte), El Reposo Spa (1 Calle Poniente), Minoshka’s Spa (7a Avenida Norte & 5a Calle Poniente), Skin Deep (1a Avenida Sur), Casa Madeleine (Calle de Espírita Santo), Hotel Healthy (Body & Face Medical Spa) (Carr. a Cd. Vieja km. 1.5) and Reginadawn Spa Bed & Breakfast (5a Avenida Sur).
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| Skin Deep Day Spa © Spaswinefood |
While Antigua spas now offer a greater variety of treatments the overall level of service is still basic or inconsistent at most. Maybe the downturn in the economy coupled with the need to keep the price at a level to attract costumers has not helped. Typically a 60-minute massage ranges from 150-300 quetzales (at rate of 8.2 quetzales for $1US) Antigua prices for massages are excellent.
Mayan Spa
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| Mayan Spa © Spaswinefood |
Very few of the spas in Antigua are stand-alone spas in fact most are actually beauty parlors with some spa service. This unfortunately often results in some of the employees being cross-trained on everything from hair styling to massage therapy. The result is your day at the spa may result in a person with long nails giving you a massage. From a spa users point of view this is scary! In the past I have tried Bella Spa (it has now down sized and moved to a new location on 4 Calle Oriente), Mayan Spa at both locations, and Skin Deep. During my most recent visit I had 60-minute massage at Minoshka’s Spa (200 quetzales), Reginadawn’s Spa (200 quetzales) and a private massage therapist (300 quetzales). Both Reginadawn and the private therapist were good however Minoshka’s was excellent. My husband also had a 60-minute massage with a different therapist and he also felt that the massage at Minoshka’s was excellent. Overall, we both felt that their staff was better trained compared to our prior spa experiences in Antigua.
Reginadawn’s Spa
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| ReginaDawn Spa © Spaswinefood |
Minoshka’s Spa
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| Minoshka's Spa © Spaswinefood |
There are some online sources that you can use to check out spas in Antigua. One excellent source is TripAdvisor that posts spa reviews. Two excellent local online magazines in English are the Revue and Que Pasa. Check these websites for advertisements for spa services in Antigua. The online sources provide the most recent info since new spas arrive on the scene frequently while others close, or change location.
Sharon,
Antigua, Guatemala
August 2010
It would be great to visit this spa during Antigua Holidays.
ReplyDeleteThanks Luxury Traveler -- isn't your recommendation is for Antigua Island not Antigua, Guatemala. The Spaswinefood post is on Antigua, Guatemala.
ReplyDelete