I hope you enjoyed my review of the Lodge at Woodloch, a destination spa in Pennsylvania. I highly recommend it for a weekend getaway, and wanted to share a few special rates they have going on. Remember that one night stay includes three meals, and all the classes and activities. You will have to pay extra for alcoholic drinks and spa treatments (unless you get a package with spa treatments). Make sure to use these amazing offers – $299 a night is a steal!

- Mid-week Magic You can stay mid-week in the Veranda Deluxe accommodations through July 9, 2009 with rates starting from $299 (normally $475) per person, double occupancy or $399 (normally $585) per person, single occupancy.

- Weekend Renewal Weekend rates now start at $380 per person, double occupancy and $480 per person, single occupancy.

- Credit Bonus On top of these exceptional mid-week and weekend rates, now through June 30, 2009, The Lodge is offering a booking bonus of $50 per person per night for mid-week stays, to be used for spa treatments, alcoholic beverages, boutique purchases, personal training sessions and more.

- Free for the Holiday Stay three or more consecutive nights on select holidays in 2009 and the holiday night is complimentary, think Independence Day (Jul 4), Labor Day (Sep 7), Columbus Day (Oct 12), Halloween (Oct 31), Thanksgiving (Nov 26), and Christmas (Dec 25). Complimentary night does not include spa treatment allowance.

Book now.

The Dashing Diva girls’ night out was just a little warm up for enjoying spas, the Girlfriends Spa Getaway was my recent trip to The Lodge at Woodloch luxury destination spa in Pennsylvania. The Lodge at Woodloch is in the perfect driving distance of NYC (or Philadelphia) and I had a Girlfriend Getaway there with some of my blogging friends: Amy of Long Island Parent Source, Kim, the Traveling Mom and Amy, the Selfish Mom. A special thanks to Maria Bailey for telling us about the spa.

Read the review after the pictures.

Destination Spa

The Lodge at Woodloch is a destination spa. Destination spas are a bit different than resort spas – in resort spas you can enjoy spa treatments, and take classes and pay as you go and according to your wishes, but at destination spa your meals, the use of spa and fitness center and taking the classes are all included in the price. You can also get packages that include the spa treatments in the price, or you can take additional treatments that are not included. I like the destination spa approach better, because you are more likely to try new things like drumming or kayaking when it is included in your price.

Best For Girlfriend Getaway

The Lodge at Woodloch destination spa is a perfect for a girlfriend getaway, a mother-daughter bonding trip or a relaxing getaway with your spouse. Half of the visitors there are couples, but since you can not enjoy the sauna or steam room with your husband, part of the experience can not be shared together, thus the Woodloch is the best for girlfriend getaways in my opinion. Children under 18 are not allowed, this is an adult only retreat.

Easy Drive & Easy to Find

The Lodge at Woodloch destination spa was easy to find (with a help of a GPS navigator, but there were also signs on the side of the roads), even thought it is in the middle of “nowhere” in the beautiful Pocono mountains of Pennsylvania. The drive alone is relaxing once you get out of the city and it takes a little over 2 hours from New York City. I recommend driving yourself, and not depending on public transportation. The best of course, if you can drive with your girlfriends and start having fun already on the way there!

Luxury Starts with Hello

Once you arrive to your destination, the spa hotel is behind a security gate and the security guard lets you drive in the front of the beautiful resort building, where a friendly valet is waiting and welcoming you. You can just step out and check in to the luxury spa resort and start enjoying your vacation immediately. Three large crystal drums welcome you in the foyer like a sculpture – the crystal drums are called “Chakra bowls” and once you tap the side of one, the melodies and vibrations fill the air. According to the Eastern philosophies the combination of the sound and vibration balances your body’s energies. The stunning 34 foot cathedral ceiling in the foyer and the architecture of the building is giving me an instant rejuvenation.

The Rooms & Surroundings

The rooms are generously sized and the whole resort building is build around nature and you can not escape the feeling of nature. There view is amazing – you have the lake on the other side and the beautiful water sculpture on the other side of the building, and the forest surrounding it all. There are enough trails to run or go for a power walk, and the lake is perfect for kayaking or fishing. There is a relaxing cool room off the steam room and sauna to enjoy the scenery while staying cool even on the hottest days of the summer. The architecture of the building is a perfect marriage of a luxury resort and a mountain side or waterfront lodge with natural elements like black river rocks on the shower floors and natural wood casings, mixed with high ceilings, large windows and marble flooring. Little details like luxurious soaps (I absolutely loved the rosemary shampoo), flowers and a pitcher of tea and a tray of gourmet cookies make the experience even better.

Spa Treatments, Pool & Ultimate Relaxation

The first 30 minutes of my stay I’m carrying my iPhone and trying to get a signal – no such luck. Amy (from Long Island) brought the Verizon network with her and had no problem connecting while, but even Amy couldn’t change the Woodloch spa rule- no cell phones allowed in public areas. At first the rule seems cruel for social media addicts like moi, but after an hour I am really liking this rule, the missing AT&T network feels like a blessing and I feel happy to leave the phone in my room and truly start relaxing. We are taken for a tour around the spa and once I see the pool, the waterfalls, the jacuzzis (indoor and outdoor), the sauna and the steam room I am feeling relaxed just from the thought of dipping into the pool or enjoying the eucalyptus steam room.

Every guest receives a water bottle and a canvas bag when checking in, and a white bath robe waits me in my room. I swear not to get out in public wearing the robe like the other guests, whom I saw even eating lunch wearing their robes. Little did I know that once you truly let go and start relaxing, walking around in your bath robe is no biggie.

I had one spa treatment, the awakening the senses facial , a mixture of aromatherapy, chromatherapy (color therapy), healing sound, choreographed two disc stone massage and a deep facial. The 75-minute-long treatment left me looking red as a cooked lobster, and my skin singing everything but hallelujah, and I probably wouldn’t do it again, but my skin is over sensitive, and I was assured that most guests like it.

Programs & Activities

There are so many different programs and activities for you to choose from! Plenty of relaxation programs from different type of yogas and Pilates to high tempo activities from different type of dance classes to kayaking and trail biking. I recommend trying something new you normally wouldn’t try, like we did. We wanted to try Drums Alive, and I imagined it being peaceful drumming with musical instruments, but little did I know – it was a high tempo aerobic experience with fitness balls and drum sticks, and it was so much fun – and a great workout! We also learned some cooking tips and recipes at a cooking class with the spa chef, and spent an evening class with a medium to learn how to connect better with our intuition.

Over all I think one day trip was too short, next time I will stay for two nights! But even one day at The Lodge at Woodloch felt so relaxing and I felt like a whole another woman when driving back home. Make sure to see the little video (on the top) of The Lodge at Woodloch for more pictures and Skimbaco Home for interior pictures of the Lodge.

I had an opportunity for two fun spa events recently and they were totally different but equally fun. Both were with some of my best blogging friends, and what could be better than spending some girl time just among your best friends, right?

Thanks to Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner I was able to host a pampering spa night at a NYC day spa Dashing Diva. All the fabulous bloggers got their dashing nails done while our laptops got the same pampering with Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner (yes, it works for electronics!).

I rarely go to spas, and I usually do my own nails, so it was nice to have this little bit of luxury. But what really made the night was the company, the girl talk, the biz talk, the giggling and the brainstorming with fellow bloggers. Thank you friends for making it a memorable night!

The Dashing Divas – me luves you all.

Esti of Prime Time Parenting – one of a kind mensch, whom I could listen to talk for hours.
Isabel, the One and Only Alpha Mom – thanks for always making me smile with your colorful personality, can’t wait to hang out more with you!
Renee of the Cutie Booty Cakes surprised me by coming to the party and by being in the city – and that’s why I love her – she is always thinking others. Thank you for such a great surprise!
Wendy of Babies Gotta Have It – the vlogging goddess of NYC, thanks for being such a friend and making me feel like home in NY ever since we moved here.
Kim, the Mom in the City – who knows everything about the city and I absolutely admire what kind of mother she is.
Amy the Selfish Mom – my Dr Pepper-loving Brooklyn friend & traveling buddy that I’d go to moon with.
Carol, the NY City Mama, who always makes me laugh and who has the most adorable kids. Thanks for being such a great friend and keeping me in the loop with everything cool in the city.

Now… what do you do for fun with your girlfriends? If it’s a good one, I might send you a bottle of Pledge Multi Surface Cleaner, which is like a spa day for your living room.