Spa Report From UK Contributing Editor Catherine Beattie
The Spa at Sofitel Heathrow Terminal 5 London
Spa selections from the UK, Ireland, Abu Dhabi and Spain
Chic, sleek and with direct links to Terminal 5, the Spa at this spanking new five-star hotel is designed especially for travellers. Located on the quiet lower ground floor, it ass five treatment rooms, a relaxation lounge, and a super hydro suite with a large vitality pool. Specialty treatments are designed to restore vitality and energy to jet lagged guests coping with fatigue and adjusting to different time zones.
The Spa employs holistic ESPA products and trained therapists, who provide a totally caring experience with before and after air travel using blends of products to meet individual needs. You can have a single treatment or indulge in a three-hour rejuvenating Sofitel Signature Ritual, that begins with a foot bath and includes body exfoliation and a massage with personally selected oils and hot stones. The treatment finishes with a nourishing and hydrating Marine mud envelopment and head massage.
The spa is open to everyone (not just hotel guests); a £25 entry charge is refunded when taking a treatment or staying in one of the hotel suites.
www.sofitel.com.
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Samas at Park Hotel Kenmare
Emirates Palace Hammam
Emirates Palace
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The Park Hotel and SÁMAS Spa, Kenmare, County Kerry, Ireland
The Park Hotel Kenmare enjoys a stunning location on the scenic Bay of Kerry in Southern Ireland. SÁMAS, the hotel's indulgent destination spa has won countless accolades, and for the last four years has been voted Best Spa in Ireland by readers of Spa Finder magazine. Any visit to this idyllic destination is a joy. There are 46 individually designed guest rooms and suites offering five-star comfort, with genuine Irish hospitality and an unparalleled range of guest activities, including an 18-hole golf course, local walks, indoor pool, spa programs and treatments. It seems that everyone, from the friendly owners (brothers John and Francis Brennan) to the skilled spa professionals, wants your stay to be as enjoyable as possible.
The hotel's SÁMAS spa (SÁMAS is Gaelic for ‘indulgence of the senses') is designed to soothe and revive the tension and stress of everyday life. Unlike most spas, where you book a particular treatment, at SÁMAS you book some spa time, then choose what you feel like having when you arrive. An indulgent three-hour SÁMAS experience costs €140 and includes use of the thermal suite and outdoor vitality pool, your choice of holistic treatment, and Pure Relaxation afterwards. Additional treatment hours cost €120 each.
Given the stress free ambience, fine Irish cuisine, effective SÁMAS treatments and amenities (thermal suite, sparkling new lap pool and exercise pavilion), your pleasure at the Park Hotel Kenmare is all but guaranteed.
www.parkkenmare.com.
The Emirates Palace, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates (UAE)
Not only is Abu Dhabi – capital of the UAE - the world richest city (the net worth of each citizen is about $17 million US), but it is also the location of one of the world's most extraordinary hotels.
Situated on an exclusive sandy beach beside the clear warm waters of the Arabian Gulf, the magnificent Emirates Palace (managed by Kempinski) is the most expensive hotel ever built, costing a reputed £1.5 billion. No expense was spared constructing Abu Dhabi's landmark hotel, and the result is truly awe-inspiring. There is an entrance archway clad in Italian stone that is larger than the Arc du Triomphe in Paris, while the Grand Atrium, the largest of the hotel's 114 domes, is higher than the dome of St. Peter's Basilica in Rome and topped with a 20-carat gold finial. The property is surrounded by 600 acres of exotic parkland and gardens with spacious boulevards, courtyards, stunning landscaped pools and over 200 fountains.
The equally fabulous interior is decorated with gold and marble and 1,000 crystal chandeliers. Every day, 20,000 freshly cut roses are displayed in the rooms and public areas and presented to arriving guests as a welcome gesture. All 394 lavishly equipped rooms and suites have a private balcony or terrace and combine Arabian splendour with state-of-the-art technology and butler service. Dining options range from poolside cafés to fine international specialty restaurants.
Such an iconic hotel needs amazing spa facilities, and the Moroccan/Thai-inspired Anantara Spa lives up to the highest expectations. Located in the West Wing, it echoes the hotel's lavish opulence with a magnificent Moroccan hammam with double heated marble beds, Jacuzzis, steam rooms, water fountains, ice shower and cave, and a restful relaxation area. While locally sourced elixirs and oils are used in many of the rejuvenating treatments and individually designed Spa Journeys (therapy packages drawn from ancient and modern cultures), you can also opt to have a single treatment and have a choice of brands including Elemis, Dead Sea C,.and Charme d'Orient. The Diamond Experience is the latest addition to the menu; derived from an ancient healing ritual, it combines cutting-edge science with pure natural ingredients to deliver spectacular results. Using real diamond dust (from ethical sources) the treatment includes a body exfoliation to purify and cleanse followed by a luxury facial from the Natura Bissé Diamond Collection to smooth the skin and reduce fine lines and wrinkles.
Gracious Thai therapists carry out therapies and treatments in fabulous spa suites equipped with showers, double treatment beds and oversized baths. I enjoyed an indulgent body massage with essential oils, quickly falling asleep as my therapist expertly massaged away my jet lag and tensions. The cool darkened treatment room was a welcome respite from the scorching midday temperatures outside. There is also has a dedicated Thai massage room and a Vichy treatment room with a heated marble bed. Selected treatments can also be taken in your room, beside the pool or at the beach – where swimming in the warm and buoyant sea is utterly blissful!
www.emiratespalace.com.
Barceló Asia Gardens & Spa, Alicante, Southern Spain
Barceló Asia Gardens is the Costa Blanca's shiniest new star: a magnificent Balinese-inspired retreat set in acres of gardens overlooking the sparkling waters of the Mediterranean. The authentic Asian architecture maximizes space and light, combining use of natural materials and artifacts from Indian and Thai palaces with the latest green technology. The luxurious rooms and suites come in various styles, echoing the contemporary Balinese theme, with state-of-the-art amenities, supremely comfortable beds, and access to the tropical gardens. Five restaurants, four bars, and seven outdoor pools (three heated) are other attributes of this remarkable resort, but pièce de résistance is the heavenly Thai spa.
Evoking authentic Asian healing cultures with natural resources and ancient therapies carried out amid tropical surroundings, this serene oasis has ultra spacious treatment rooms, quiet candle-lit relaxation areas, saunas, Turkish bath, and a Zen-inspired in/outdoor pool.
Kind, sweet and smiling Thai therapists (graduates of the renowned National School of Thai Massage in Wat Pho, Bangkok ) balance your charkas with treatments and specialty massages, including traditional Thai, Four Hands, Sport Massage, and Aroma Massage. Traditional Thai Massage uses gentle acupressure and stretching techniques to give the entire body a passive yet exhilarating workout.
After I changed into the loose top and trousers provided, my treatment started with a traditional footbath. Then I lay face down on a huge padded floor mat, while Orawan, my therapist, used her fingers, thumbs, elbows, arms and feet to pull, push and coax my body into the most amazing stretches and positions. Despite the odd twinge when knots of painful tension in my shoulders were eased, I loved every minute of this energising, feel-good massage. Thai Massage is a perfect treatment for those who dislike disrobing for a treatment – or who want a good workout – albeit a passive one.
www.asiagardens.es
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