Beauty's Spa Travel: Heavenly Haven of Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

Passing through Hatch, New Mexico in September means being enveloped by cool air perfumed with the sweet peppery scent of roasting chilies. Hatch is the center of all things green chili in New Mexico and, if coming from the west, the gateway to New Mexico's best kept secret, the sleepy town of Truth or Consequences. Named "Hot Springs" until 1950, the town concealed it's most valuable tourist boast in order to win the honor of becoming the home-at-large to the then popular Truth or Consequences radio show with Ralph Edwards. Though frequented by locals and New Mexicans alike, the 10 naturally heated mineral springs and the facilities which house them remain largely ignored by the Santa Fe-Aspen crowd. The town itself, although slightly less O'Keeffe painting friendly in architecture than its northern neighbors of Taos or Santa Fe, is compelling enough that I considered permanently relocating to the absolutely lovely 10 square blocks that make up it's downtown area.

After stopping in Black Cat Books and Coffee for the best cup of organic, home-roasted decaff coffee I have ever had, I grabbed a councilman-baked pecan coffee roll, an Easy Rider commemorative map of Taos signed by Peter Fonda, and headed over to the farmers' market on the banks of the Rio Grande. Organically-grown local pomegranates (sold for 75 cents a piece) and home made soaps laid like lounging cabana ladies on every table. Fruit, coffee, and pastry in hand I walked past the outdoor massage chairs and inflated gas price weary farmers taking solace in the constant flow of the river and set out to tour every available hot spring facility in one day. This is an extremely manageable task as the ten facilities housing the natural hot springs are within a four block stretch along the banks of that Grande river. (My top three picks are listed in the posts below.)

In these depressing financial times, Truth or Consequences is a haven of affordable rejuvenation and healing. Indeed, Apache Indians revered the town's springs as a center of spiritual healing and physical health long before the words short selling and money market account were sources of national exhaustion. In their own desperate (if now seemingly simple) times of crisis the Apache had the wisdom to declare these hot springs neutral ground among waring tribes who all converged there for healing rituals and transference of information. In this time of severe Truth and Consequences, can't we all use a little inexpensive, neutral ground?

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Beauty's Spa Travel: Blackstone Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

If the W Hotel were bite-sized and located in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico with private natural hot springs in every room, it would be the Blackstone Hot Springs Lodging and Baths. Refurbished in April of 2008 the retro rooms boast flat screen TVs, high end appliances, and bathrooms only slightly smaller than the Taj-Mahal. Adobe tubs meant to hold a hot tub sized amount of 110 degree mineral bath water paint themselves into each bathroom corner and feature a mini rock waterfall spout and separate hand-held spigot. In case a tub isn't how you take your mineral water, separate standing showers also occupy each bathroom as does a private mountain view porch, artwork, and memorabilia from your classic television show of choice. While the TV show theme dominates the artwork, the furniture and wall colors remain true to their Southwestern heritage (thank god.) Each room also has a front patio facing the communal courtyard with a sprawling, finely-tended garden. Room themes include, I love Lucy, The Jetsons, As the World Turns, and Roy Rogers. While I loved each place I am posting about, Blackstone is my top overnight location of choice.

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Beauty's Spa Travel: Riverbend Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

I almost didn't bother stopping here because one guidebook said the rooms were dormitory style. Why would you go all the way to New Mexico and stay in a dorm? It was however directly next to the Farmers Market and directly on the shores of the Rio Grande and had an oddly welcoming Tee-pee out front. I am so thrilled I stopped by.

First, the trailer houses are only one option for budget travellers and the guest rooms are adorable. Secondly, I will never go to Truth or Consequences again with out a spare $15 to gain entrance to the private riverside baths at Riverbend Hot Springs and a boyfriend in tow to make said visit suitably utopian. For the mere trouble of bringing $15 and a boyfriend to New Mexico, you can have the most romantic, secluded, river front hot spring bath beneath the watchful eye of the robust Mimbres Mountains. The larger pools are also stunning and exceptionally clean. A must visit.

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Beauty's Spa Travel: Hay-Yo-Kay Hot Springs in Truth or Consequences, New Mexico

The oldest and purest strain of Hot Spring-ism available in this the hot bed of hot springs is Hay-Yo-Kay Hot Springs. Unlike some other facilities, which shall remain nameless, this humble host brings you to the thermal waters. The entire facility is at water level so that each bath's water flows naturally into the pool created to contain it. When the water drains it flows into an irrigation ditch and will, later that day, irrigate the green chilies which top your Sopapilla-based burrito. This is Hot Springs, Whole Foods style complete with austere mineral ingredient listings posted in the lobby and a monastery like sincerity approach by visitors hoping to gain some healing in these historic waters. The owners will remind you that this spring, the oldest in town, is where the Apache came to heal their war wounds.

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Guest Blog from Intrepid Travel's Chotie Moloney

I have been dying for a Spa vacation lately. The past month has been an emotional roller coaster and I can picture nothing better than soaking myself in thermal mineral water that has been percolating below the earth's surface for a few hundred years. In fact the one phrase that has been running through my mind this week has been "SPA: Salud Per Aqua" So when Chotie's Japanese Onsen article arrived in my inbox I immediately got permission from Intrepid Travel to share it with you, my lovely, presumably overworked Beauty's Spot readers so we can all have a little virtual hadaka no tsukiai.

In Japan there is a centuries-old tradition that washes away the worries of your world and leaves you feeling completely relaxed. If you follow local etiquette your experience will be very soothing, but as Intrepid's Chotie Moloney explains, if you don't do your homework, bathing in a Japanese onsen could leave you in hot water...

In Hot Water In Japan

"Bathing in Japan is a unique experience. The popular onsen is a public bath filled with water from a natural hot spring and these indoor or outdoor facilities are scattered all over the country. Japanese people have bathed in mineral-rich hot springs for centuries, aspousing the health benefits of this national pastime.

Here are some steps to ensure etiquette is respected and bath time is enjoyed by all, but before we start, make sure you take notice of the signage to be sure if it's single or mixed-gender bathing!...

1. Bring a small towel to use as a wash cloth (yes, this is only a bit longer than your average face cloth), as well as a bath towel with you. Most onsen have free soaps and shampoos, but bring some just in case.

2. Undress yourself at the Datsuijyo (changing room). Leave your bath towel with your clothes here in the lockers or baskets provided. Embrace the naked you (swim suits are not allowed) and taking only the small towel, enter the Yokujyo (bathroom).

3. Tattoos are often associated with the Yakuza (Japanese Mafia). If you have tattoos, prepare to cover them up as a tattooed person is sometimes not allowed in public baths in Japan. And you want to blend in as much as possible.

4. Wash yourself at the Araiba. Sit on the small chairs (kindergarten size) and thoroughly wash from head to toe. The small towel is to scrub your body with soap. You must be clean and soap free to enter an onsen.

5. Walk into the bath and relax. Don't put the small towel into the water, this is placed on the head. At a constant 37 degrees Celsius (98 degrees Fahrenheit), you soak for about 15-20 minutes (if you can stand the heat), then have a quick rinse with cold water and back in for more. The average Japanese bather spends up to an hour at an onsen.

6. Before you leave, take a shower again. You are so relaxed by this stage, be careful not to fall off your pint sized washing chair!

7. Wipe your body with the small towel before returning to Datsuijyo.

8. Back in the Datsuijyo wipe yourself well with your bath towel. Put your clothes on and depart.

You are guaranteed a good night's slumber. The expression "hadaka no tsukiai" or in English "the naked relationship" is used in Japan to express a sense of deep friendship. If you take a bath with someone, that means you are already friends. It certainly helps to break down hierarchy at work, a great way to unwind from a stressful day and a fantastic social gathering for friends and family.There was an onsen in Kyoto not far from our Intrepid ryokan where the Datsuijyo and Yokujyo are located one floor apart; so you all enter the elevator in your birthday suit, with only a small towel for comfort. I didn't quite work up the nerve to visit that one!"

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