A lakeside pier promises tranquility.

Centre de Santé d'Eastman

ust a pleasant hour's drive from Montreal, we were warmly welcomed at the Centre de Santé d'Eastman situated in Québec's Eastern Townships. What a delight! Large airy, well-appointed rooms complete with a king-size bed topped with a fluffy duvet and crisp sheets. In our bathroom, a huge Jacuzzi. Walking out to our private terrace and a view of Mount Orford, with no telephone or TV to distract us from a good book, we wondered if we really wanted to leave our room. Of course we did.

Jocelyna Dubuc, owner of the spa, had a dream and worked hard to make it a reality. After a stay in India where she pursued studies in meditation and yoga, she returned in 1977 to create a haven that focused on well-being. Her efforts paid off. Twenty years later in 1997, she was honoured as "Female Entrepreneur of the Year" by the Canadian Embassy in Washington.

In January, the Centre de Santé opened a new magnificent pavillion to house all the treatments and relaxation rooms, pool and therapeutic baths, a new dining room, 13 bedrooms including one for disabled guests, and conference rooms under one roof. Other accommodations surround an outdoor pool. Early morning walks are organized to take advantage of a 19-kilometre trail. For the mind, seminars on the topic of your choice are scheduled regularly.

We had heard glowing reports about the Centre's treatments and its holistic approach to health, so we made appointments for our personal spa program. For my first treatment, I chose an algae wrap which made my body purr as I was painted with seaweed, then wrapped in clear plastic and an electric blanket for 20 minutes. That was followed by a hydromassage bath with algae and skin cream application. The following day, I enjoyed both a Swedish massage and, my personal favourite, a reflexology (feet) treatment after which I felt 'on top of the world'.

Manoir Des Sables
Twenty minutes from the Eastman Centre, in Magog, Québec, the Manoir Des Sables, a family hotel, offers very good value with rates from as low as $59 per person for a standard room. Higher rates on the executive floor, called "The Privilege Wing", include continental breakfast and late-afternoon hors d'oeuvres in a private lounge. Some rooms feature a fireplace and a private balcony with a view of Mount Orford.

Steps away from the hotel entrance, an 18-hole championship golf course tempts guests to test the links; there is also a nine-hole executive golf course. Other activities include cycling, hiking trails, tennis as well as outdoor and indoor pools. Equipment rentals are available. Then, to soothe away those aches and pains, there's always the 'Clinique Algothérapie'.

Club Tremblant

A multitude of holistic treatments are available at each spa.

Next, our spa-trek took us 90 minutes north of Montreal to Club Tremblant. Located on Lac Tremblant, all of Club Tremblant's condominium accommodations feature lake and mountain views. If the view doesn't inspire you, the accommodations certainly will. One- and two-bedroom condos provide all of the conveniences of home – a living room with fireplace, private bath, a full kitchen, TV, washer and dryer.

There are four tennis courts, a heated pool, a sandy beach and a marina. Special activities, supervised by experienced counsellors, are available for children aged three and up.

Our primary purpose for visiting Hotel Club Tremblant is the Spa-sur-le-lac, an 8,200-square-foot facility decorated in a mix of warm wood and natural colours. Floor-to-ceiling windows in the relaxation room display a spectacular view of the lake and Mont Tremblant.

While there wasn't time to experience the full range of body, aesthetic and beauty services, I did have a very relaxing body massage. I had hoped to experience their new Body Polish, which incorporates a mix of sea salts, almond and essential oils. The process takes place in a hydrotherapy room, where manual water jets enhance the exfoliation. Oh well, maybe next time.

VIA offers daily rail service between Windsor/ Toronto and Montreal while Air Canada, Royal Airlines and CanJet provide regular air service from various Canadian gateways to Montreal. All of the above-mentioned spas are members of Spa Association Relais Santé and all adhere to specific criteria regarding ther-apist qualifications. A multitude of services are available at each spa and all are four-season properties. For brochures or reservations, call (800) 567-8341 for Club Tremblant; (800) 567-3514 for Manoir Des Sables; (800) 665 5272 for Centre de Santé d’Eastman; and for Spa Association Relais Santé (800) 788 7594. Packages are available.

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