Maximize a Spa Trip

Catherine Devine, Allure Magazine

In case you haven't heard, the East Coast just got hit with a little snow storm. Naturally, I spent Friday night holed up in my apartment catching up on episodes of Nashville (Really, Teddy? And with the girl from Father of the Bride?!) and scheming up vacation ideas that would get me as far from Nemo as possible. You guys, on the other hand, have far less scheming to do: We've already planned your next trip for you, all in the name of our Readers' Choice Awards. Tell us the products you just can't live without and you'll be entered for the chance to win a trip for two to Lake Austin Spa Resort in Austin. Oh, and if you fill out our Readers' Choice Breakthroughs ballot, you'll be entered for the chance to win another trip to Red Mountain Resort in St. George, Utah. Yup, that's TWO free spa trips up for grabs!

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There's seriously nothing like a relaxing, yoga-class-and-massage-filled weekend away. But believe it or not, there's a right way to do it, and a wrong way. Here, a few insider tricks we've picked up over the years-follow them, and you'll make the most out of your getaway.

• You'll likely be sweating through multiple exercise classes per day, so make sure to pack extra sports bras, socks, and underwear.

• And don't forget a pair of flip flops-you won't want to walk around barefoot or in a pair of one-size-fits-all freebies.

• If you're booked for a single treatment, show up 45 minutes early, says Denise Vitiello, the director of the Spa at the Mandarin Oriental in New York City. Many spas have saunas, color-therapy showers, pools with massage jets, or private lounges that you'll want to enjoy before your treatment begins.

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• Don't binge on junk food in the days leading up to your visit. "It makes you feel sluggish," says Wendy Bazilian, a nutritionist at the Golden Door Spa in Escondido, California. "You'll actually enhance the benefits of your spa visit if you begin eating healthfully in advance."

• "Try to avoid making plans for that night; it's best to go home and let all the products-and that feeling of relaxation-really sink in," says Cornelia Zicu, global chief creative officer for Red Door Spas. "If you are going out, ask your massage therapist to use a cream instead of an oil so you won't feel greasy; likewise, your aesthetician can work around your hair."

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