This is an update of a previous review on Canyon Ranch.  1-18-11

Canyon Ranch is located on sprawling beautiful grounds nestled in Lenox, Mass & is the place to be if you want to be pampered. While you can enjoy walking outdoors in nice weather, the buildings are all connected in case of bad weather & you never have to go outside if you don't want to. Warning: if you go in prime allergy season, bring your medication. I sneezed my head off in November.

ROOMS
Basic, nothing fancy but just what you need. You can take a single or share with one to two other people. You can certainly go alone, but I love going with a good friend.

ATTIRE
Casual shorts and t-shirts all day; a little nicer for dinner but you shouldn't feel like you need to be at a fashion show. If you see someone dressed to the nines, they are missing the whole point. Don't forget your bathing suit or your sneakers.

ACTIVITIES
You name it. You can take all sorts of fitness classes: aerobics, jazzercize, dancercize, spin, yoga, meditation, Tai Chi, etc.  You can take a group tennis lesson for no charge or pay for a private lesson. I believe they have golf and horseback riding there, but I didn't do that. They have hiking trails for both the experienced and couch potatoes like me, and many people like to start the day with a morning walk. (I prefer the spa!)

BEAUTY CENTER
You can get your hair cut, colored, etc. or choose from different types of manicures & pedicures, or get a make up lesson. Warning: they will try to sell you their make up, and trust me the brands they use are not drug store brands. You can ring up quite a bill there.

THE SPA (Yum!)
Every imaginable type of massage - swedish, shiatsu, reflexology, Parisian Body Polish, Exfoliating, aroma therapy, hydrojet baths, and many others - it's just heaven. I could live in the Spa. There is a steam room, a sauna and 2 jacuzzis (one is hot and pleasant, and the other is for masochists who like it burning hot. I never understood that.) plus a cold water plunge pool (I think not.) I think there was both an indoor and outdoor pool, I don't remember - I was busy in the jacuzzi.

When you are getting a massage, there are lounge chairs by the jacuzzis and they call your name out. They separate the areas for men and women so you can enjoy the jacuzzi au naturale -- most women do. You can have either a male or female do your massage, whatever you like, and don't be shy if they pressure is too light or too hard. Tell them -- it's your massage!!

I believe in the jacuzzi to massage to jacuzzi to massage philosophy till your mind is jello.

VERY IMPORTANT - PRE SIGN UP FOR TREATMENTS
A few weeks before you go, make sure you call up and book times for the massages, and all treatments from the Beauty Center and Spa. These get filled up and the first time I went, I couldn't get the Parisian Body Polish because it was already full before I got there. (Ok, life doesn't end without a Parisian Body Polish, but I was disappointed.) So pre-book. You can always make some changes when you get there and they'll explain cancellation policies. Make sure to meet one on one with one of their advisors in the very beginning. They are very helpful arranging schedules for you.

And speaking of schedules, you get a list of activities to choose from that makes your head spin. Naturally you will be excited to try it all and book something every hour, and then after a day, you realize you will die if you don't have some down time. You'll see.

HEALTH & HEALING SERVICES
Here you can get all kinds of consultations -- how to work out properly, nutritional info, treat special injuries or conditions you may have, etc. Not as good as a massage, but some very helpful stuff.

FOOD
(How have I held out this long without telling you about food, my favorite topic?)

Food is all healthy, but it is not rabbit food like I have had at other spas. Try their Chocolate Fudge Sauce. Yummy. You can buy it at their store, too. Warning: they are big on fiber there and put a ton of it in your meals so your stomach has to adjust. Don't eat something with tons of fiber right before a massage!

You eat in a main dining area, and it's very nice. Try a Lunch and Learn for a change of pace where you watch the chef prepare the food - the ceiling has a big mirror. Then you sit at tables for 4 and eat what was prepared.

Note: If you are a vegetarian, make sure to ask if something is vegetarian. I ate mushrooms at their salad bar and found out only afterward it was cooked in chicken stock.

ALCOHOL
None permitted on the premises. If you can't live without wine for a few days, discretely keep it hidden in your room for consumption in the evening. Not that I did that. Ok, I admit it, we did it - we're weak, but don't tell anyone.

CLIENTELE
Largely caters to women, though there are men there. People range the gamut but I'd say late 30s to mid 60s is the bulk of it. (That's because the 20 somethings are still in the perfect shape we are all striving to recapture - not that I'm bitter.)

PRICES
Nasty. I was lucky and was taken there through business two times, but I did go on my own by finding this woman in NJ who offers group discounts. To be part of the group, you just have to show up at a half hour orientation meeting to qualify for an extra massage. I will listen to anyone on any topic for an extra massage. You don't have to see the people in the group again if you don't want to.

Her group rates are usually based on 3-4 day trips and assume double or triple occupancy per room. The dates as of this moment (1-18-11) are:

LENOX, MASS DATES & RATES
 
1/23/11 - 1/26/11 Sun-Wed 3 nites
Single $1890
Double or Triple $1410 per person
with $260 service allowance
 
2/4/11 - 2/7/11 Fri-Mon 3 nites
Single $2260
Double or Triple $1740 per person
With $260 service allowance
 
2/14/11 - 2/17/11 Mon-Thu 3 nites
Single $1890
Double or Triple $1410 per person
With $260 service allowance

3/21/11 -3/24/11 Mon-Thu 3 nites
Single $1890
Double or Triple $1410 per person
With $260 service allowance
 
4/7/11 -4/10/11 Thu-Sun 3 nites
Single $2220
Double or Triple $1750 per person
With $260 Service allowance

4/11/11 - 4/14/11 Mon-Thu 3 nites
Single $1980
Double or Triple $1560 per person
With $260 service allowance

4/25/11 - 4/28/11 Mon-Thu 3 nites
Single $1840
Double or Triple $1360 per person
With $220 service allowance

5/5/11 - 5/8/11 Thu-Sun 3 nites Mother's Day wkd
Single $2130
Double or Triple $1620 per person
With $220 service allowance

5/29/11 - 6/1/11 Sun-Wed 3 nites Memorial Day 5/30
Single $1840
Double or Triple $1360 per person

 June 5-8, 2011 Sun-Wed 3 nites
June 27-30, 2011 Mon-Thu 3 nites
Single $1980
Double or Triple $1560 per person
With $260 service allowance
June 16-19, 2011 Thu-Sun 3 nites
Single $2190
Double or Triple $1670 per person
With $220 service allowance

She has not yet posted Jul - Dec 2011 rates.

NOTE: THERE ARE 2 AND 4 NITE RATES AVAIL ON ALL TRIPS.

Extending your stay for 5 days or longer is also available.

Also note that the rate is higher for weekend arrivals (Wed, Thu, Fri, Sat).

TUCSON, ARIZONA (The other Canyon Ranch location)

Feb 3, 11, 17, 18, Mar 3 & 10
3 nites
Double $2415 per person
With $260 service allowance

4 nites
Double $3055 per person 
With $520 service allowance

OTHER DATES AVAILABLE

Let her know if you need the single rates.
 
MIAMI BEACH, FL  (I didn't even know there was one there)
Call her for special rates.

If none of these dates work for you, let her know and she'll be happy to get discounted rates for the date you want / need.

FOR RES. AND INFO
PHYLLIS MERANUS
E-mail: SNGNDANZ @ AOL.COM
Phone: 973 994-0102

*Certain restrictions Apply / Minimum Participation
All rates include: Deluxe Accom, 3 Meals Daily, Full Use of Spa Facilities, Fitness Classes, Sports Activities, Tennis, TAXES, SERVICE & GRATUITIES, etc.

As you can see, prices are per person, for a double or triple room, and vary by time of year. The above prices mean spending much less than going direct to Canyon Ranch on your own. Some activities are extra, like private tennis lessons.

She does fill up, so if you know you want to go, contact her now. But don't take my spot. I'm feeling the need for a little pampering, too.

Also, while you can enjoy The Ranch anytime, if you go when the leaves are turning, it is quite beautiful.  Or, Canyon Ranch gave us a free Lawn Seat to Tanglewood, and there are all sorts of other wonderful summer stuff like Jacob's Pillow (a performance place) so consider summer, too. I have not gone to the other CR locations.


Recommended: Yes