6 Luxe Spas You Can Actually Afford to Visit

Editor Shannon McMahon is always planning her next trip and often writing in her travel journal. Follow her on Twitter @shanmcmahon_ and on Instagram @shanmcmahon.

Shannon joined SmarterTravel in 2015. A former news reporter, she's lived in the south of Spain, spotted elephants in Sri Lanka, gone spelunking in the Caribbean, hiked Jordan's Petra Basin, interviewed Sao Paulo's Michelin-Star chefs, and explored China via bullet train. Travel trends, news oddities, and her visits to up-and-coming destinations are some of her favorite things to write about.

Her stories have also appeared online on USA Today, The Sun, Huffington Post, Business Insider, blog.TripAdvisor.com, Boston.com, and more. Her educational background is in journalism, art history, gender studies, Spanish, and film. She's been quoted as an expert travel source by CNBC, People.com, MarketWatch, The Washington Post, USA Today, and more.

The Handy Item I Always Pack: "Plenty of extra thick hair elastics. They tame my frizzy curls and come in handy in a surprising number of packing and hotel dilemmas."

Ultimate Bucket List Experience: "Climbing (yes, climbing, it's steep!) the Great Wall of China before it's gone."

Travel Motto: "Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness." - Mark Twain

Aisle, Window, or Middle Seat: "Window, of course."

Email Shannon at smcmahon@smartertravel.com.

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Want a relaxing getaway you don’t even need to splurge on? Destinations with a favorable exchange rate and abundance of wellness options are rife with luxe spas that won’t cost you a fortune to book.

Luxe Spas You Can Actually Afford

Whether you’re hoping for an all-inclusive retreat or an a la carte treatment between travel days, consider these affordable-yet-luxe spas in bucket-list destinations.

Alphais Spa: Marrakech, Morocco

A visit to Morocco isn’t complete without a visit to a traditional hammam, or Turkish bath, for cleansing, massaging, and hot stone techniques. Some of the most luxe spas in cities like Marrakech are surprisingly affordable thanks to the exchange rate.

Alphais Spa is a top-rated option for its cleanliness and classic Moorish decor. The spa offers hammam experiences from $20, massages from $42, and packages from $50, so you can pick and choose what parts of the experience you’d like to try. It’s an ideal option if you’re too sensitive-skinned for a scrub, but still want to relax with a massage in a traditional hammam setting.

Book it: Get prices for Alphais Spa

Parador Resort & Spa Manuel Antonio: Costa Rica

Pair wildlife with relaxation in eco-friendly Costa Rica by visiting the jungle-nestled El Parador Resort and Spa, where treatments incorporate unique local ingredients and natural materials like volcanic mud, aloe vera, and coffee for body wraps and scrubs priced from $40 to $75 each. Aromatherapy baths and herbal steams are even less, and kids can join for a mini facial, manicure, or massage for between $25 and $55.

Book it: Get prices for Costa Rica hotels

So Thai Spa: Bangkok, Thailand

Relaxation is easy to find in busy Bangkok thanks to ultra-affordable spas like So Thai. Packages range from $40 foot and body massages to $200 three-hour couples package that includes a facial and gold body scrub (that’s just $100 each). So Thai also has a location in Phuket, perfect for post-beach rejuvenation.

Book it: Get prices for So Thai Spa

Nahrawess Hotel & Spa Resort: Hammamet, Tunisia

Seaside Tunisia is packed with Turkish baths and luxe spas that carry surprisingly low price tags. Nahrawess Hotel & Spa Resort features its own Turkish bath, a hydrotherapy pool, and saunas that are all close to the beach. Average rates are under $100 per night.

Book it: Get prices for Tunisia hotels

Lasko Thermal Spa: Lasko, Slovenia

A trip to Eastern Europe has to include some hot spring action. Slovenia’s Lasko Thermal Spa Resort is a family-friendly option that sits on a thermal spring feeding the hotel spa’s pools and saunas. Rates of around $65 per night, per person include access to the massive thermal pools.

Book it: Get prices for Slovenia hotels

Manitou Springs Mineral Spa: Saskatchewan, Canada

Did you know Canada has its own “Dead Sea” in Saskatchewan? Lake Manitou is known for its buoyant, mineral-rich water that makes it easy to float, and makes spa offerings a must-do.

Manitou Springs Resort and Mineral Spa is an affordable hotel that’s wheelchair accessible and has designated kids’ areas for families to enjoy the thermal pools. Add-on services like massages, facials, and salt scrubs are all under $100 each.

Book it: Get prices for Manitou Springs Mineral Spa

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SmarterTravel Editor Shannon McMahon writes about all things travel. Follow her on Twitter and Instagram.

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