If a spa vacation is on your wish list but you're not sure you can afford it, think again. There are a number of inspirational, transformational, and — yes — affordable spa options out there. One of the easiest ways to book a spa escape on a budget is to check into a local hotel or resort spa for a long weekend (or longer). Many offer special spa-themed packages and last-minute deals that in-the-know locals can cash in on. But if getting away from it all is more your style, you can find lower-cost options for that, too.

"Affordable," of course, is a relative term. So in this list you'll find 10 weeklong spa experiences — from soaking in hot springs to fitness retreats offering ultra-healthy cuisine to all-inclusive stays at destin ation spas — chosen to fit almost any budget.

While cost was definitely a driving factor, ambience and the quality of the spa treatments, activities, and food were also considered in compiling this selection. They're arranged according to price, from least to most expensive — with a cap of $3,000 for a weeklong stay. (And just in case you can't quite carve out a full week away, the nightly rates are listed, as well.) Read on to find out where to get the most bang for your buck.

OJO CALIENTE MINERAL SPRINGS RESORT & SPA, OJO CALIENTE, NEW MEXICO
I found this hot springs spa years ago when a friend of mine, living in Taos at the time, insisted I visit. We spent the afternoon (a day pass is $16) lounging in mineral pools containing arsenic (good for skin conditions and arthritis) and lithium (aids digestion and eases depression), sipping spring water, and spreading mud on our bodies then drying in the sun. It was blissful. In addition to 10 mineral pools, the 1,100-acre property has a historic hotel, a restaurant, and a full-fl edged spa. (Massages begin at $80 for 50 minutes and must be booked in advance.)
PRICE: From $109 per night; seven-night stays from $783.

GLEN IVY HOT SPRINGS SPA, CORONA, CALIFORNIA
The Native Americans were the fi rst to enjoy these sacred waters, followed by the Spaniards, and by the 1890s the place had mushroomed into a health haven. Today, guests book into local hotels (accommodations are not available on-site) and then head to Glen Ivy's spa playground (day admission is $35 on weekdays, $48 on weekends). A selection of soak-supplementing options are available: the legendary Club Mud, where you can cover yourself in red clay (great for drawing impurities out of the pores and tightening the skin); a grotto for slathering on a hydrating body masque ($25); a wide variety of massages and facials (from $125); and a café serving tasty, healthy dishes made with local ingredients.
PRICE: Area hotels from $124 per night; packages that include seven days admission to Glen Ivy Hot Springs Spa and seven nights accommodations from $892.

KRIPALU CENTER, STOCKBRIDGE, MASSACHUSETTS
When it comes to yoga, there are few, if any, retreat centers in the U.S. that can boast more offerings and renowned instructors than the Kripalu Center. (Each year, Kripalu's 700 yogacentric programs attract more than 28,000 participants.) Its location — 150 wooded acres with a private lake and miles of trails — provides the ultimate setting for peaceful walks and meditative contemplation between yoga sessions, which are held three times a day: early morning, midday, and late afternoon. In between, there's hiking and canoeing as well as workshops on topics like nutrition and creative writing. Ayurveda, India's ancient science of holistic medicine, is practiced here and incorporated into everything from daily rituals (awaken before sunrise and give thanks before bed, for example) to therapeutic treatments like massage, nasal cleansing, and herbal detoxification sessions (spa treatments from $35).
PRICE: Dormitory accommodations from $155 per night (twonight minimum); seven-night stays from $1,106.

THE OAKS AT OJAI, OJAI, CALIFORNIA
Founded by legendary fitness buff Sheila Cluff, who still personally leads some of the activities and classes, The Oaks at Ojai celebrated its 30th birthday in 2007. Not surprisingly, there's a cornucopia of get-in-shape classes, from aqua aerobics to core conditioning with hula hoops to belly dancing. New mission-style spa suites featuring hand-carved headboards and spacious jet tubs in the bathrooms add a feeling of luxury, and select spa treatments benefi t from local ingredients, such as the Ojai Olive Oil Body Souffl é ($125, 75 minutes) that uses oil pressed from olives gathered in nearby groves. But it's the 1,000-calorie-a-day spa cuisine that attracts the majority of guests — many who come with a holy grail weight-loss focus. Hikes and walks are popular, too — not to mention gorgeous — amid fl owering citrus trees, lavender, and aloe.
PRICE: From $185 per night; seven-night stays from $1,295.

SPA EASTMAN, EASTMAN, QUEBEC
For a European vibe without crossing the Atlantic, this oh-so-French spa is the perfect immersion. Canada's first destination spa, Spa Eastman's organic gardens, six guesthouses (encompassing 30 rooms), and main lodge (home to the spa, dining room, fitness areas, and 13 luxury rooms) are set on 315 sprawling acres. While most of the staff is bilingual, a few of the fitness and mindbody classes are conducted entirely in French. Spa treatments, too, take on a French flair. Lymphatic Drainage ($80, 60 minutes), popular in Europe and gaining recognition in the United States, is a must here. And if you've been searching for the secret to French-girl-svelteness, book Pressotherapy ($40, 30 minutes) — a treatment in which inflatable boots are pumped with air to reduce swelling in the legs.
PRICE: From $205 per night; seven-night stays from $1,435.

NEW AGE HEALTH SPA, NEVERSINK, NEW YORK
Just two hours from Manhattan in the Catskill Mountains, New Age Health Spa sits on 280 wooded acres combining lovely nature trails with spiritual, New Agey offerings like tarot card readings and a plethora of yoga, tai chi, and meditation classes. Native American rituals are the highlight of the spa menu: Try the Native Sun Purification ($95, 50 minutes), a hair treatment using traditional herbs grown in the spa's greenhouse, or the complimentary Sweat Lodge Ceremony that is offered from April to November on the Saturday evening closest to the full moon.
PRICE: From $209 per night (two-night minimum); sevennight stays from $1,589.

THE HILLS HEALTH RANCH, 108 MILE HOUSE, BRITISH COLUMBIA
Canada's Hills Health Ranch is best known for its six-, 10-, and 30-day weight-loss programs — although more than one guest has checked in for 90 days. While calories are controlled, education (on proper nutrition, exercise, and an overall healthy lifestyle) is the emphasis. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, the spa recently debuted the seven-day, six-night, all-inclusive Detox Program designed to rid the body of toxins and excess waste. The experience includes specially designed meals, herbal drinks (for internal cleansing), a private nutritional consultation, a body composition assessment, detoxifying wraps, hydrotherapy, daily hikes, and wellness workshops.
PRICE: From $130 per night; six-night Detox Program from $1,699.

HOTEL ADLER THERMAE, BAGNO VIGNONI, ITALY
Even with the euro wreaking havoc on American purse strings, this spa gem set in the heart of Tuscany proves a bargain. The cuisine, as expected, is beyond tantalizing (this is Italy, after all). Expect plump, ripe tomatoes and basil drizzled with local olive oil, aged sheep's milk cheese, and wine galore. Bathing — first enjoyed here by the Etruscans and, later, the Romans — is a popular pastime at Adler Thermae. Unlike in the region's other traditional spa towns (Saturnia, Chianciano Terme), the crowd here is younger (30ish), hip, and chic — and the male-to-female ratio is even. The room rate includes access to the aqua circuit, where you can literally spend days moving from thermal pools to salt caves to the olive-wood sauna then chilling out in the all-glass relaxation room on a warm flotation bed. Spa treatments are extra (from $19) but highly recommended — especially when booked with maestro Graziano, a 20-year-veteran massage therapist.
PRICE: From $300 per night; seven-night stays from $1,774.

COPPERHOOD INN & SPA, SHANDAKEN, NEW YORK This intimate destination spa — just 17 rooms — offers an old-Europe feel. Think gilded frames, marble, and wingback chairs. Hiking is the big draw, particularly in autumn's glorious foliage, but yoga, meditation, and spa treatments (from $60) are popular, as well. Rooms are cozy, and afternoon tea is served daily in front of a fireplace — or on a wraparound deck with Adirondack chairs during the warmer months. The cuisine excludes red meat and instead features local ingredients like free-range chicken, cheese, and seasonal produce.
PRICE: From $325 per night (two-night minimum); seven-night stays from $2,240.

RANCHO LA PUERTA, TECATE, MEXICO This perennial favorite started as a health camp in 1940 when visitors (paying less than $18 per week to sleep in tents they brought themselves) came to hear professor Edmond Szekely's health theories, eat fresh food, and exercise. Although the price has dramatically increased, "the ranch" (as its loyal fan club calls it) remains one of the best destination spa bargains around. While there are no expensive Italian linens on the beds, rooms are spacious and charming — many with kiva fi replaces, Mexican folk art, and tiled patios overlooking sacred Mount Kuchumaa. Early morning hikes are a religion here, much of the food is gathered from the spa's own organic garden, and 11 gyms accommodate the many fitness, yoga, and meditation offerings. Spa treatments, delivered by locals with exceptionally strong hands and expansive hearts, are cheap — a 35-minute massage starts at $50.
PRICE: From $2,795 (seven-night minimum).