Quick guide to pampering yourself in the Windy City

For a mere $20, you can spend three hours here, luxuriating in a quiet room or soaking away your cares in a bubbly hot tub. There's also a dry sauna and a eucalyptus steam bath -- perfect for banishing burgeoning colds before they take hold in your sinuses. Massages are affordable, too.

A beauty school for nails? Why, thank you. Yes, they're students, but if you're counting pennies then it's more than good enough.

While I no longer live in Chicago, I love Daniela. She eased me into regular Brazilian waxes after I'd resisted them for years. And her prices are super reasonable.

The manicures here are reasonable ($20), given that it's a full-service Aveda salon. The nail technicians are friendly and don't push services on you that you don't need.

For years, I went here for color and permanent waves -- excellent results for a fraction of the cost.