Spa Gift Certificates

Spa gift certificates are perfect for those individuals who love to pamper themselves. Even if you consider a seaweed wrap a waste of money, that doesn't change the fact that there are millions of people--predominantly women--who would relish the chance to be spoiled. Add to that a manicure and pedicure, a massage, and a facial, and you're talking ultimate rejuvenation and bliss.

Why are spa gift certificates so popular? One reason is that, in our increasingly chaotic lives, we take fewer and fewer moments to remove ourselves from the bedlam and completely relax. Moreover, it seems more people have forgotten how (or simply never learned) to relax in the first place. These are the poor souls you see and hear glued to their cell phones, laptops, and PDAs, even while they're walking around a cruise ship or a gym locker room.

Take a Time Out

Time outs aren't just for misbehaving toddlers. A full spa treatment relaxes both the body and mind by sealing off the outside world and putting the focus on you. Oftentimes it's not until we're completely isolated from our work environments that we notice where (and to what degree) we're carrying enormous tension. For some people this stress resides in the neck and shoulders; for others it's the chest and stomach; still others carry their worry and anxiety in their fingers and toes.

One caveat about spa treatments, however, is that their costs can add up fast. A simple hour-long massage may run as high as 70 or 80 dollars depending on the salon in question. An entire half-day treatment may cost as much as a few hundred bucks. Double that and you've got the rate for an all-day regimen. So, when selecting a dollar amount for your spa certificate's recipient, be sure to watch the right-hand margin before agreeing to anything.