It worked. I managed to keep my phone in Airplane Mode (so I could only use the clock and camera functions) for nearly two days. (I checked for messages in my comfy room each night). And I didn't open my laptop until the morning of departure.

Just a two-night visit was my scheduled stay, and enough time for resetting my personal goals. Miraval serves up classes in exercise, fitness, nutrition, creative endeavors (painting, pottery) or calming the soul through vibrational sound chamber, communing with donkeys (yes - it's a thing) or an escape to the spa for a heavenly full body massage or ultra pampered organic facial. The class offerings are part of a 65-page booklet!

Miraval Berkshires is one of three Hyatt-owned adult-only spa resorts in the Miraval collection. The other two are in Tucson, Arizona and Austin, Texas. The New England property sits on 380 protected acres in Lenox, Massachusetts, complete with miles of hiking trails, an in-the-trees challenge course, golf course, and horse and aviarian discovery experiences.
Most of the premises are device-free to support a digital detox. There are a few areas, such as the main lobby and in all guest rooms , where phones are allowed and Wi-Fi is provided.
All meals are included, along with a nightly credit that can be applied to spa services, fee-based programs and alcoholic beverages. Wine and cocktails are served, which is something that many other spa resorts don't provide.

There's also a juice and smoothie bar with a variety of coffees and teas and specialty dining options, open only on weekends depending on the season. At Miraval, several of the programs and classes are complimentary, and some are fee-based. I opted to use my nightly credits toward spa services and filled in a schedule of complimentary classes. For me, I wanted to get more motivation for keeping up an exercise routine. So, I chose Functional Strength Training, Abs and Glutes, various types of yoga and TRX that uses body weight for resistance. I find that as my body (more so than my mind) ages, staying toned isn't as easy as it used to be. So, there I was on the yoga mat lowering myself from a plank, watching my left arm quiver, and letting my mind drift as I tried to focus on my breathing instead of my thoughts,

For those who want something other than challenging their physical prowess, there are programs called Wheel & Wine, Hatchet Throwing, Forge a Fire (in case you're ever lost in the forest without matches or a lighter), Operatic Breathwork, the Beauty of Imperfection, Journaling Without Judgement, Brewing Kombucha, and various types of Pilates, hikes and meditations, among a long list of other classes that tempted you to overfill your schedule.
Part of this experience is to set aside time to embrace the person you choose to be. When we stay busy day after day it's too easy to lose perspective. As we get older, we realize that time is too precious for us to be anything or anyone other than the one we choose. Where do you want to land? Who do you want to be? What course are you on to get there? Sometimes we veer off the path that takes us there.

It may take a day at Miraval to realize that it's okay to walk around in the plush bathrobes they provide. Even for dinner. it's not about how you look or what you're wearing.
The food at Miraval was fabulous - with more healthy choices than you could pack in, with room for a splurge on a burger, grilled cheese or short ribs if that's your thing. From mini mango-cream-filled brioche buns to a grilled apple and fennel salad, artisanal breads with gluten-free and vegan options, as well as warm crispy sourdough rolls served at the table with soft whipped butter. Nightly there was a different type of grilled fish (branzino, halibut and Faroe Island salmon the nights I was there) with fresh vegetables and perfectly seasoned quinoa, a choice of salads, and seasonal soups. Beautiful desserts included cobblers, pavlova, apple cider sorbet and assorted ice cream flavors. Wines and cocktails are served with meals as requested and charged to your room.

At the end of the day, the down pillows and oversized comforter (with alternatives for people with allergies), added the perfect amount of pampered luxury to unwind for a beautifully restful night's sleep.
 
Marcia Simon is a Connecticut-based writer and travel advisor with special interests in wellness and susttainability.  www.friendlygrouptravel.com  www.facebook.com/friendlygrouptravel  www.instagram.com/friendlygrouptravel

Hotel review by Marcia Simon

Autumn is the best season for hiking in New England, in my opinion anyway. The air is crisp, the temperatures are comfortable, and the leaves turn magic colors before their graceful fall to nourish the earth.

Amherst, known as the five-college town (Amherst College, Hampshire College, Mount Holyoke College, Smith College, and the University of Massachusetts Amherst), is a buzz of intellectual events and arts, with an appreciation of multicultural cuisine and the optimism of youth. Surrounded by organic farms, "farm-to-table" is an unspoken mantra at several local restaurants and at the UMass Amherst dining facilities. An extensive trail network covers 80 miles of paths for hiking and cycling in Amherst alone, making this is a wonderful anchor for exploring the Pioneer Valley area in western Massachusetts.
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One major factor to consider, if you want to get a hotel deal in Amherst or neighboring Northampton, is the calendar of major events taking place at any of the five colleges. This means forget about start and end of semesters when parents drop off or scoop up their kids, forget homecoming weekend and big sporting events (UMass is a Division 1 university), the predictable long weekend fall foliage leaf peepers on Columbus Day Weekend, and graduation weekends in late spring.

I lucked out with a midweek online rate at the Inn on Boltwood, designated a Historic Hotel of America and formerly known as the Lord Jeffrey Inn. This Inn, in the heart of Amherst's small but vibrant center, has 49 historic-yet-modern guestrooms, lots of nooks and crannies where you can comfortably read or enjoy quiet conversation with a friend. A classic New England inn experience remains intact along with modern technology upgrades and renovations.

The inn's restaurant, 30 Boltwood, serves tempting breakfasts and lunch as well as a dinner menu that offers everything from baked Vermont brie with rosemary lavender honey  and butternut burrata dip with a cider reduction for starters or small bites, to classic steak, seafood and salad options. Wanting to explore more of the town, we checked in, and walked a couple of blocks to choose a restaurant that suited our mood. We settled in at the casual Amherst Oyster Bar (formerly Judie's) and enjoyed a vegetarian bowl of "burnt end style" mushrooms and crispy fish and chips.

After dinner we stopped in at the bar area at 30 Boltwood. The service was friendly and attentive. We brought our glasses of wine outside and sat by one of the ambience-designed fire pits. Additionally, the overhead heaters kept us plenty warm in the crisp autumn air. This seems to be a go-to place for locals as well as hotel guests.

A couple of small amenities that I especially appreciated were the in-room coffee pods by Tayst, the first that I've seen that are 100% compostable; and the bathroom collection by Lather, made with all-natural fragrances. Complimentary coffee is available in the lobby starting at 6am; by 6:30 my companion and I were sipping our morning fuel in one of the rooms, tucked away off the lobby, easing into the day on a comfortable couch next to the fireplace. A reading area includes an assortment of books, a chess and checkers table, and a desktop computer for guests who need to use it.

This local escape was less than 36 hours in total including the drive, and proved again how a one-night escape can have a big impact on rejuvenating a person's energy and spirit.

Marcia Simon is a Connecticut-based writer and travel advisor with special interests in wellness and sustainability.
Reach out via email: [email protected] or facebook.com/friendlygrouptravel or instagram.com/friendlygrouptravel
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