10 Best Spa Resorts in the USA to Rest and Relax At, According to AAA
Updated: October 17, 2023
AAA Travel Editor Laurie Sterbens
Table of Contents
The United States has no shortage of fantastic spa resorts that suit different needs. Multiple studies suggest that regular trips to the spa can positively impact mood, blood pressure and other aspects of a person’s health. Here, we’ll discuss 10 of the best spa resorts in the USA — and share how AAA Travel can help book your stay at one of these great locations.
1. Best Western Plus Intercourse Village Inn & Suites
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 3610 E. Newport Rd., Intercourse, PA
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond
- Best Features: Fitness center, free breakfast at the Olde Mill Restaurant, hot tub
- Activities: Indoor swimming pool
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families, seniors and those seeking Amish experiences.
3-star hotels offer great amenities at reasonable prices. The Best Western Plus Intercourse Village Inn & Suites is a great example of this, with nightly rates averaging around $127. The Serenity Day Spa is a full-service facility that offers hot stone therapies, waxing and more. This entire facility takes a page from the neighboring Amish community by featuring rustic architecture. Travelers looking for an old-fashioned experience will appreciate this venue.
2. Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 82 Bradford St., Provincetown, Massachusetts
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond Hotel
- Best Features: Refrigerators, coffee makers, wireless Internet, safes, sauna, hot tub, steam room, spa
- Activities: Hiking, golfing, rollerblading, biking, fishing, whale watching, swimming
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Adults who enjoy aquatic activities
The Crowne Pointe Historic Inn & Spa has everything you need for a rejuvenating, adults-only getaway. The restored Cape Cod sea captain’s estate is within walking distance of the beach and the shops and galleries of Provincetown, Massachusetts, a quaint, historic seaside town. There are fun things to do, like whale watching or sailing. If you just want to relax, spend the afternoon lounging in a tranquil garden and book a treatment at Shui Spa, a full-service, unisex spa offering massages, skin and body treatments, a nail salon and reflexology. While the spa’s mineral soaking tub, steam room and Himalayan salt sauna are closed at press time, all other spa services are available with enhanced sanitation protocols.
3. Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 3600 Village Harbor Dr., Petoskey, MI
- AAA Rating: Three Diamond
- Best Features: Complementary and valet laundry service, child care, seasonal recreation programs, heated outdoor pool
- Activities: Biking, golfing, lawn sports, exercise room, swimming
- Ages: All
- Best For: Business travelers, couples and families
If you’re craving a spa getaway while planning a family vacation, the Inn at Bay Harbor, Autograph Collection covers all the bases. Built in the style of Michigan’s grand turn-of-the-century lake resorts, the Inn offers views of Lake Michigan, a private beach and a heated outdoor pool, as well as kids’ activities and free child care. The Spa at Inn at Bay Harbor offers a complete menu of treatments and services for both men and women, with enhanced sanitation procedures between appointments along with other safety measures. AAA members save 5 percent or more when booking AAA rates.
4. The Westin Nashville
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 807 Clark Pl., Nashville, TN
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: Close to the Music City Center, 28,240 square foot meeting/event space, two restaurants and a night bar
- Activities: Indoor and outdoor swimming pools, rooftop yoga, five-mile guided run
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Business travelers, weddings, conferences
Nashville, Tennessee is a vibrant, warm and lively city. The Westin Nashville lies in the heart of the “Music City” and offers a peaceful retreat from Nashville's fast pace. Enter the Rhapsody Spa, which bills itself as an “urban oasis.” This 6,000-square-foot facility specializes in sensory immersion experiences, including a flourishing wall of lush plants.
5. Mirbeau Inn & Spa Plymouth
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 35 Landmark Dr., Plymouth, MA
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: 3 restaurants, health club, valet laundry, high-speed internet, recreation programs, cabanas
- Activities: Regulation golf, trails, yoga
- Ages: 18+
- Best For: Adults and couples seeking a getaway
You’ll feel like you’ve escaped to a French country estate at Mirbeau Inn & Spa Plymouth, with its graceful, Old World-style architecture set on a wooded landscape featuring ponds and gardens inspired by Claude Monet’s gardens at Giverny. In fact, you’re just a short distance away from the attractions and activities of historic Plymouth, Massachusetts and the beach. With a claw-foot tub and fireplace in every room, French-inspired fare at The Bistro & Wine Bar, and of course, the spa and other wellness amenities, you may find it hard to tear yourself away. Though the steam room is temporarily closed, a full menu of spa treatments is available, as well as wellness amenities, including outdoor and virtual fitness classes.
6. Caribe Royale Orlando
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 8101 World Center Dr., Orlando, FL
- AAA Rating: Four Diamond
- Best Features: An arcade, two-story fitness center, kids pool and playground, catch and release fishing, resort shuttle bus
- Activities: Cabanas, fishing, biking, jogging and running trail
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families and couples on honeymoon
Orlando, Florida is practically synonymous with the Walt Disney World Resort. One of the many great things about the Caribe Royale Orlando is its proximity to Disney World. This AAA Four Diamond hotel is also lauded for the Island Spa, which offers 60-minute and 90-minute custom massage packages. The Caribe Royale Orlando also has many family-friendly features, such as movie nights and a shuttle that leads to Disney World.
7. Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: One Monarch Beach Resort, Dana Point, CA
- AAA Rating: Five Diamond
- Best Features: Private beach club, six dining locations, luxury spa
- Activities: E-bikes, water sports rentals, whale watching, tennis, yoga
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families and couples
If you’re looking forward to a change of scenery, how about a luxurious Tuscan-style resort surrounded by beautifully manicured gardens overlooking the Pacific Ocean? With a private beach, destination restaurants with ocean views and a wealth of planned activities, Waldorf Astoria Monarch Beach Resort & Club has all you need for a relaxing and fun beach getaway.
The resort has revamped its fitness offerings for social distancing and now offers more than 40 fitness, yoga and meditation classes outdoors. Learn to surf, boogie-board or stand-up paddleboard on the private beach or download the RunGo app for running routes designed by the Monarch fitness staff.
The Miraval Life in Balance Spa will reopen soon with adjusted safety protocols according to the resort’s state-certified StaySafe Program. AAA members receive a 5 to 15 percent discount when booking AAA rates.
8. The Ritz-Carlton, Naples
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 280 Vanderbilt Beach Rd., Naples, FL
- AAA Rating: Five Diamond
- Best Features: Unique children’s program, seven acclaimed restaurants, 42,000+ square feet of event space
- Activities: Hiking, golfing, two swimming pools, bird watching
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families, business travelers and couples on honeymoon
You may be looking for serious spa pampering, but your kids will think you're the coolest parent ever when they see the fun things to do at The Ritz-Carlton, Naples. Kids ages 5 to 12 can learn about Florida’s natural beauty in Nature’s Wonders in a facility that includes 11 aquariums with crabs, eels, turtles and sharks.
The entire family can enjoy beach activities such as kayaking, stand-up paddleboarding and body boarding. When it’s time for that pampering, head to the spa for treatments using local herbs and stones from the Gulf, as well as aqua lounges, and an outdoor mineral pool. Other wellness offerings include a fitness center, water aerobics classes and nutrition programs. The resort offers special savings for AAA members when booking AAA rates.
9. Montage Laguna Beach
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 30801 S Coast Highway, Laguna Beach, CA
- AAA Rating: Five Diamond
- Best Features: Gourmet dining options, eucalyptus steam room, fireplace lounges
- Activities: Surfing, kayak tours, paddle boarding, sailing, golfing, whale and dolphin watching
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families, watersport lovers and romantic getaways
California draws in visitors due to its sunny beaches and diverse culture. The Montage Laguna Beach hosts the Spa Montage and is close to some of Southern California's most popular venues. The California Wildflower Massage is one of this center's biggest draws—and another reason why Montage Laguna Beach is essential to any luxurious beach vacation. The Montage Laguna Beach is also famous for its enthralling Craftsman-style aesthetic and its oceanside views. Visitors can marvel at the sea from dry land, or grab a paddleboard and actively immerse themselves.
10. Fairmont Scottsdale Princess
Spa-at-a-Glance:
- Location: 7575 E Princess Dr., Scottsdale, AZ
- AAA Rating: Five Diamond
- Best Features: Child care center, transportation services, game room, health club
- Activities: Cycling, fishing, golfing, hiking and walking trails, swimming pools and water slides
- Ages: All
- Best For: Families, couples and active lifestyle enthusiasts
The Sonoran Desert is one of Arizona's most notable landmarks—just like the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess Hotel. This 5-star hotel takes great inspiration from the Sonoran Desert's visual and sensory elements, and this applies to the Fairmont Scottsdale Princess' Well and Being Spa. This facility's spa packages rotate throughout the year, so there's always something new to experience.
Visit the Best Spas in the USA with AAA Travel
AAA Travel provides peace of mind when you travel — before, during and after your vacation! AAA Travel has teamed up with some of the industry's best spa resorts to provide added amenities, AAA Vacations® 24/7 Member Care and Best Price Guarantee. Your next resort visit starts with AAA — your complete travel solution. Visit your local AAA Travel Agent or at https://www.aaa.com/tripcanvas/category/hotels.
AAA Travel Editor Laurie Sterbens
Laurie Sterbens is a AAA Travel Expert.