Q and A
Affordable Spas
Q. I would like to go to a spa for a week or so to work on my weight and fitness, but most seem to be very expensive. Are there any that are more affordable? -- C. M. Kulwin, Upper Montclair, N.J.
A. The popularity of spas is based on pampering at least as much as sweating, so prices are going to reflect that. But if you consider less than $1,000 reasonable for a week's accommodations, three meals a day and exercise and relaxation programs, there are a few places in the Northeast that fit the bill, at least outside of peak season. The three here offer shorter stays, too.
At Deerfield Spa, in Marshall's Creek, Pa., near East Stroudsburg, double-occupancy rates range from $799 to $970 a week (plus 6 percent tax and a 15 percent service charge) and include two half-hour massages. Heather McMahon, a spokeswoman, said that the spa features low-fat cuisine and that exercise programs range from a 'boot camp' experience to Pilates to aquatic aerobics.
The spa has a gym for strength training, an outdoor heated pool, hot tub and sauna. A naturalist leads hikes on Pocono trails.
Deerfield accepts up to 33 guests for what Ms. McMahon described as a 'nonchalant, not ostentatious' program. Most guests stay in the three-floor main house in rooms decorated country style, with lots of floral prints. A one-story annex has larger rooms, two with king-size beds. Deerfield is open April to mid-November.
Contact Deerfield at 650 Resica Falls Road, East Stroudsburg, Pa. 18301; (800) 852-4494, fax (570) 223-8270; or www.deerfieldspa.com.
Vatra Mountain Valley Lodge and Spa is on 15 acres at the base of Hunter Mountain in the Catskills. Exercise options include a variety of aerobics, aqua fitness, yoga and dance. There is a fitness room and tennis, volleyball and basketball courts.
The spa has 27 rooms with televisions and phones, some with balconies and skylights. Meals are vegetarian totaling up to 1,200 calories a day. Weekly guests get four 30-minute massages in the $978 to $1,290 rates, which include all fees and taxes. Other treatments, which are extra, include seaweed wraps ($75) and a European facial ($60)
Vatra Mountain, Route 214, Post Office Box F, Hunter, N.Y. 12442; (800) 232-2772, fax (518) 263-4994.
Also in the Catskills is New Age Health Spa, where, says Patricia Fahie, director of marketing, most guests seek stress reduction. But it offers fitness classes and for the seriously overweight a program meant to lead to the loss of 50 pounds or more.
A typical day at the spa might include Zen meditation, an aerobic walk, water aerobics and yoga or tai chi. The spa features a 50-foot Alpine tower for climbing while wearing a harness. There are Trotter strength machines, free weights and cardio equipment, and indoor and outdoor pools. A variety of salon services cost extra.
Weekly double rates are $855 to $1,064 a person, plus 8 percent tax and 17 percent service charges. Here and at Deerfield (but not at Vatra), singles can be assigned a roommate.  New Age, Neversink, N.Y. 12765; (800) 682-4348, fax (914) 985-2467; www.newagehealthspa.com.
Heading to Sardinia
Q. I am planning a trip to Sardinia this fall. What is the best way to get there from Italy and what are some important sites? -- V. M. Palacios, Staten Island, N.Y.
A. Going to Sardinia should be easier in the fall than in summer. The chances are the crystal-clear waters will still be warm enough to swim in and there won't be the crush of tourists that flock to the beautiful beaches, especially on the Emerald Coast in the north, in summer.
Besides the beaches, the island's capital, Cagliari, in the south, is worth a visit for its 13th century cathedral, national archeological museum and a Roman amphitheater. Sassari, the second largest city, has a medieval center, and 11 miles away is the 12th-century Camaldulian abbey.
The inland areas are rural and hold many ruins. Remnants of the nuraghi, cone-shaped fortified tower houses made from massive stones well before the birth of Christ, dot the interior. Some of the most interesting of these are at Barumini, about 35 miles north of Cagliari.
Alitalia, (800) 223-5730, flies to Cagliari from most major Italian cities. There are at least eight daily flights from Rome, for example, costing about $210 round trip, at 1,868 lira to $1. A regional airline, Meridiana, (800) 275-5566, flies to Olbia as well as Cagliari from Rome, Milan and other cities, for about $100 each way.
Another option is to take a ferry. Among the major lines is Tirrenia Navigazione, which has an overnight ferry from Civitavecchia, near Rome, to Cagliari each evening at 6:30. It also has a three-and-a-half-hour hydrofoil crossing at 8:30 A.M.; a round-trip ticket is about $85. According to the Italian Government Tourist Board, it's best to call the Naples office for reservations: (39-081) 720-1111, fax (39-081) 720-1441.
The Italian State Railway runs ferries to Olbia, a board spokeswoman said, for about half Tirrenia's prices. Tickets must be bought at railroad stations, though.
Puerto Rico Summer Events
Q. Could you tell me what cultural events are on the schedule in Puerto Rico in July and August? -- Phyllis Mate, Brooklyn, N.Y.
A. A couple of summer highlights on the island involve lively music and dance. From July 26 to 31, the World Salsa Congress will spice up El San Juan Hotel and Casino in Isla Verde. Richard Goenaga, general manager of the congress, said that the event focuses on the dancers, coming from 32 countries to show off different styles. Each night at least three top bands will play, as well. Nightly tickets are $40, a four-night pass $150. For more information, call (787) 274-1601.
The Loiza Carnival, July 23 to Aug. 1, is an annual celebration of the African heritage of the northeastern town of Loiza. Besides parades, it features performances of the bomba, the lively Afro-Caribbean dance form. Free; (787) 876-3570.
Traditional music and dance is also part of the Tourism Artisans Fair, July 30 to Aug. 1 at Plaza de la Darsena and Paseo de la Princesa in Old San Juan. This free event will include several folk dance and singing performances, and will bring together more than 200 artisans showing and selling their crafts.
To learn more about these and other events on the island, including the many town patron-saint festivals, contact the New York office of the Puerto Rico Tourism Company at (800) 233-6530, or see www.prtourism .com.
RAY CORMIER