By Guest Blogger Stephanie Diehl

In the midst of all this family fun at Dreams Huatulco Resort & Spa, my husband Terry and I were able to sneak away for some alone time at the Dreams Spa by Pevonia. I took a tour of the spa (which was my FAVORITE part of the hotel inspection) in the morning and insisted Terry come with me to at least partake in the hydrotherapy circuit.

The hydrotherapy circuit is like a water park for adults. First you will change into your swimsuits after removing all of your jewelry; you will find robes and slippers to use in your locker.  Ulysses, our spa attendant, led us to the sauna for 15 minutes of dry heat followed by the steam room. In between we rinsed off in a tepid shower. We were given ice chilled washcloths and our choice of infused water to keep hydrated. Hydration is an extremely important factor to a successful spa experience. The next step was to slowly walk through 2 pools of stones, one with warm water and one with cool water. This is the reflexology pool, the treatment helps with circulation.  I have to admit, it is not easy to walk on the stones but it did make my legs and feet feel good. After the reflexology pool we were escorted into the hydrotherapy circuit pool. This is where the fun begins!

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There are several fountains with various levels of water pressure to massage your body followed by several stations of bubbles like a Jacuzzi to sit, stand and lay in while the bubbles massage your entire body. This area takes a minimum of 30 minutes to complete. The next step is to relax in the whirlpools of warm and cool water. This is followed by a series of showers. There is a bucket shower which dumps cold water which is followed by a rainfall shower, ending with a pulsating shower. Now it is time to dry off, take a snack of dried fruit and nuts with your choice of bottled or infused water and relax in the relaxation area until your treatment. If you are having a treatment the hydrotherapy circuit is included in your package, otherwise daily or weekly passes can be purchased. I would recommend at least 45-90 minutes to experience this unique relaxing therapy.

Terry went to play with the kids at the pool while I indulged in a chocolate scrub and Swedish massage. This was my first chocolate exfoliation, something I had been dreaming of trying for a long time and now my dream has come true! I was scrubbed from the neck down with ground cocoa beans in a moisturizing exfoliation cream. This was followed by a shower and a Swedish massage. I felt sorry for my massage therapist as I was REALLY tight. I was having trouble keeping my mind free and clear- my thoughts kept going to the children and what was scheduled for the day. But she worked her magic and by the end of the session, I was completely relaxed! I managed to steal a few more minutes for myself in the relaxation area prior to cleaning up in the locker room, which was completely stocked with shower gel, shampoo, and all the toiletries I needed to pull myself together.

I highly recommend time in the spa whether traveling with children or not! It is important to indulge yourself with quiet time and the spa is the perfect place for this. A la carte treatments and packages are available. Be sure to check the Sundial newsletter for the daily spa specials. Couples massages and packages are also offered. The spa is a wonderful place to reconnect and relax together. At the very least, take time to try the hydrotherapy circuit. The spa at Dreams Huatulco is an oasis for relaxation that should not be missed!

About the blogger: Stephanie Diehl is a professional travel consultant with over 15 years of experience in this travel industry. She has developed a thorough understanding of what constitutes as quality travel planning and has expertise in planning many types of travel, specializing in destination weddings and honeymoons. Visit her website for more information: http://traveldesigned.com/.