Miami Tops Scottsdale For Best Spa City

Miami noses out Scottsdale, Arizona, as the U.S. city with the best spa locations, a new study finds.

Miami ranks No. 1, because, among other things, it has the most luxury spas, a major airport near the spas and medium-priced hotels, according to the study by travel insurance company InsureMyTrip. Cities in the study were based on six criteria: number of luxury spas, average quality ratings of spas and hotels, hotel prices, distance of spas to an airport and air quality.

Scottsdale’s spa ratings are equal to those for Miami, and the Arizona city’s hotel ratings are slightly higher. Hotel prices, though, are more expensive than in Miami.

Finishing No. 3 in the study is Hawaii’s capital city, Honolulu, which has the third-highest number of luxury spas. Honolulu’s hotels are rated slightly lower than those in Maimi and Scottsdale.

Vail in Colorado ranks No. 4, and Bonita Springs, Florida, is No. 5 of best spa cities.

“Many couples take vacations to relax, and what better way to unwind than at a spa?” asks Sarah Webber, InsureMyTrip’s marketing director. “However, finding a spa that fits your needs, wants and budget can be overwhelming. This list is meant to narrow down the options for couples, so they’re not stressing out while looking to take a trip to relax.”

Two other Florida cities — Fort Lauderdale and Key West — and the small Maui town of Makawao are in the Top 10. Besides Vail, the only non-Florida and non-Hawaii places in the Top 10 are Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Calistoga, California.

Though it didn’t finish in the Top 10, California’s Rancho Santa Fe, located in San Diego County, has the best average spa quality ratings, according to the study.

The highest-rated hotels for overnight spa guests are in Victor, Idaho. At about $119 per night, hotels in Maryville, Tennessee, have the best average hotel room prices for spa guests.