Darphin anti-ageing facial at selected spas across the UK

Darphin’s Stimulskin Lifting Facial began with a welcome ritual — a signature foot cleanse and massage, followed by a deep tissue neck and shoulder massage, and of course a facial, all within the course of an hour. The informative therapist took me through — step-by-step — how to apply the serum (figure of eight pattern) and how to exfoliate, cleanse, tone and apply moisturiser in the correct order within a regular skin beauty routine. I’m told I have soft yet sensitive skin — which stung a little after the exfoliation. But this wasn’t a lasting sensation and my skin did feel both hydrated and nourished.
£60 for 60 minutes.


www.darphin.co.uk

Warm bamboo massage, Mandara Spa Westminster Bridge Park Plaza, London, UK

Always willing to try something new, I excitedly headed to the Mandara Spa to test its latest treatment, the Warm Bamboo Massage. It’s billed as a deep-pressure, full body and face massage to aid circulation and relieve sore and tired muscles using warmed bamboo rods anointed with essential oils. Unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. Yes, it was relaxing, but I didn’t feel the bamboo got to the places it needed to, in order to unlock the tension in my back but I would have preferred my therapist to use her hands when she sensed there was something more that needed to be done.
£95 for 75 minutes.

www.mandaraspa.com/london

Intonga Amasatchi, Africolgoy Spa Bloww Hair & Urban Spa, London, UK

The new Africology Spa, underneath the Bloww hair salon, is a real find. Tucked away off Regents Street, dark woods and delicious smells transport you to another world, immediately relaxing you. I was booked in for the intriguing-sounding Intonga Amasatchi massage, which uses different-sized wooden sticks to stretch tight muscles and ease toxic overload from daily stress. My therapist began by explaining the treatment and its African origins. The massage itself was sublime. Using a mixture of deep-tissue massage techniques and the sticks, she managed to undo a lot of the tension and stress in my body.
£125 for 90 minutes.

www.bloww.com

Conrad Rangali, Maldives

When the only way to get to a resort is by seaplane, you can’t help but be wowed. Even the waiting room for the 30-minute hop across the turquoise-blue water was impressive, with free neck and shoulder massages and food and drink to enjoy on large couches. Then there’s the destination itself with its flour-soft, powder-white beaches; gin-clear water; and the kind of tranquility you only usually experience in your dreams. The Conrad Rangali is its own island resort with wooden walkways connecting villas, restaurants, bars and spa huts. Shoes are surplus to requirements here and, although some guests still insist on walking across the sand in stilettos, my flip-flops remained in the suitcase all week long.

The spa:The dedicated spa area - accessible by a wooden walkway - consists of 40 beautifully appointed spa villas, each with private massage rooms where treatments can take place. There are whirlpool baths on the deck and steps down to the water where guests can paddle among the fish. Then there’s the main spa resort: several beautiful rooms with outdoor toilets and indoor baths, plus a spa restaurant where food is calorie-counted and themed either fire, earth, wind and water.

The treatments: After much deliberation over the extensive menu of traditional treatments I opted for an aromatherapy massage working arms, legs, shoulders and back with a great head massage at the end. I followed this with a glass of bubbles and a lunch of Asian-style salmon. The spa also runs yoga and meditation classes and I rose early the following day to attempt yoga in the outdoors with the sun rising over a still ocean. Beautiful.

The hotel: With 10 room categories - ranging from beach villas to twin water villas - and 10 restaurants, including a luxury beach barbecue, and cheese and wine cellar, the Conrad Rangali leaves guests wanting for nothing. Add to this the little touches: super friendly staff that drive around in buggies in case you need a lift, hammocks lovingly hung between palm trees, umbrellas by your door in case it rains...

Don’t miss: The Ithaa Undersea Restaurant, the world’s first all-glass undersea restaurant, built 16ft below sea level and offering immersive, all-round views of marine life through glass walls and a curved, glass ceiling. Eat Maldivian fusion cuisine while watching baby sharks and grouper fish swim by. Booking ahead is essential.

Details: Kuoni offers seven nights on a B&B basis in a beach villa, including flights with British Airways from Gatwick with seaplane transfers in resort, access to the VIP lounge in Male Airport on departure and a lounge in the UK on departure from £4,101 per person based on two sharing in January.

T: 01306 747008
www.kuoni.co.uk
www.conradmaldives.com

By Jo Gardener

Ashdown Park, Kent UK

Every once in a while it’s nice to go to a hotel where comfort and service are at the forefront rather than the design and innovation. Much as I love the clean, crisp lines that seem to define the newer spa resorts I sometimes feel comfort has been overlooked in favour of contemporary flair. Ashdown Park fits perfectly into the traditional, comfy country house mould.

The spa: A new menu uses Kerstin Florian treatments and VitaMan products for men and offers a good range of therapies in addition to a lovely swimming pool, gym and lounge area. Other facilities include tennis courts and an 18-hole golf course.

The treatments: My Kerstin Florian Organic Aromatherapy Massage was deeply relaxing. An advocate of firm pressure, I was a bit unsure at first about the masseuse’s gentle touch but I soon relaxed and was very nearly asleep by the time it finished. Perfect to release tension and forget about everyday worries. My husband tried out the VitaMan Relaxation Massage and manipedi and was impressed.

The hotel:We had a lovely suite with separate living room. The hotel’s main restaurant was great — quite formal but the food was delicious and the service the right side of attentive while the pianist could have been cheesy but instead added to the candlelit ambiance.

Don’t miss:Walking around the hotel’s beautiful grounds.

Details:The Winter Warmer break costs £255 per room (for two people) including dinner, breakfast and afternoon tea (valid until the end of February).

www.prideofbritainhotels.com

By Katie Reich-Storer

Alila Diwa, Goa, India

The spa: Overlooking lush green paddy fields, Spa Alila has nine impressive treatment rooms, a steam room, outdoor chilled showers, private changing rooms, gardens and lounge beds. Highlights include the spectacular infinity pool and a yoga centre offering yoga and meditation sessions, as well as a fitness centre and juice bar. Therapists are all local and trained in anatomical physiology, massage and meditation.

The treatment: Highly recommended by the staff, I opted for the signature Balinese Massage, a fusion of gentle stretching, long therapeutic strokes and skin rolling and blended aromatherapy oils made in Bali. My therapist also applied palm and thumb pressure techniques leaving me totally relaxed, improved blood flow and relieved the muscular pain I’d been experiencing.

The hotel: Located in South Goa along Majorda Beach, the hotel’s setting is stunning. I stayed in the new Diwa Wing, an exclusive part of the hotel with a private entrance. Here, 35 rooms with contemporary decor overlook a lap pool with an open-air whirlpool bath and hot tub. The star attraction is the Bistro, an all-day dining restaurant where the delicious specials of the day feature fresh and delicious interpretations of local seasonal delicacies.

Don’t miss: The personal hosts assigned to the suites — they can tailor-make leisure itineraries and act as your dedicated concierge for the entire stay.

Details: A three-night stay in an Alila Suite with four individual spa treatments and one couples’ treatment costs £865 per couple plus tax.

www.alilahotels.com/diwagoa

By Sinead McManus

Lefay Spa Resort, Lake Garda, Italy

On the winding road up from the lakeside village of Gargnano, the views of Lake Garda kept getting better and better. With the winter sunshine glimmering off the lake, dotted with gently bobbing fishing boats and surrounded by pastel-coloured houses, I could see why Lake Garda is so popular in summer. And then the hotel came in to view — cut into the hillside — Lefay Spa Resort makes a great first impression. The rest of my stay was equally as memorable. From the fantastic spa and excellent food to the stylish rooms and stunning views, it was hard to find fault with this place. I’ll definitely return.

The spa: The whole ethos of this resort is based around wellness, and guests certainly can’t ignore the spa, not least because you have to walk through it to reach your room. The major concept here is the ‘Lefay Spa Method’, combining the principles of classical Chinese medicine with a western, scientific approach. Its extensive menu includes facials, massages, thalassotherapy treatments, east Asian rituals and a whole range of therapies using the latest equipment. I tried two of its Signature treatments.

The treatments: The Energetic Body Massage (sports) and the Energetic Facial Massage. I felt a great sense of calm wash over me after each treatment and could feel the tension in my shoulders and back ebb away. The facial left my skin glowing — even my husband noticed the difference. The spa has an ingenious swimming pool where you can float from indoors to outdoors via an automatic glass doorway, and a salt-water lake, as well as a choice of saunas, gym and plenty of areas to relax and unwind in.

The hotel: The star attraction is the view over Lake Garda and the surrounding hills — simply stunning and especially good from the main restaurant where you eat breakfast and dinner. Our spacious room was beautifully designed with woods and neutral colours, with a separate room for our two-year-old son, sectioned off with a sliding door. Breakfast featured a wide buffet selection, while dinner offered a mix of local dishes and classic Italian fare with a modern twist — all delicious and perfectly cooked.

Don’t miss: Swimming in the heated outdoor pool amid the scenery.

Details: A four-night Lefay Method Spa programme for anti-stress, slimming, anti-ageing, sports or postural correction, costs €1,300 (£1,113) per person for four nights, based on two people sharing on a full-board basis including all treatments.

www.lefayresorts.com

By Katie Reich-Storer

Hotel Lone, Rovinj, Croatia

Brand new Hotel Lone, is a luxury retreat that blends elegance and ingenious modern design. Set amid the stunning Zlatni Rt (Golden Cape) forest park and the Adriatic Sea it’s a 10-minute stroll along the coastline, past boats, yachts and catamarans, to the picturesque town of Rovinj.

The spa: Attached to the spa at Hotel Monte Mulini, the Wellness & Spa Lone spans 18,300sq ft. A long corridor, lit by soothing coloured lights, leads to eight treatment rooms, some facing the outdoor pool area. There’s also an indoor fresh-water pool, a whirlpool room, three sauna/steam rooms, Turkish bath, beauty room, gym, Relax Zone and Vitality Bar.

The treatments: Opting for a traditional full-body massage (around £45 for 60 minutes), my therapist knew exactly how much pressure to apply to a painful area on my leg. Afterwards, my body felt fluid and free of stiffness and strains.

The hotel: The six-storey property has 236 rooms and 12 suites. Deluxe rooms come with their own private infinity pool and massage bathtub overlooking tree-studded surroundings. For dining, feast on a la carte Croatian cuisine at L restaurant; Mediterranean at On restaurant; and seafood at E bar. Or dance the night away at nightclub Lone. Extensive conference facilities are available, with an auditorium, congress hall and meeting rooms.

Don’t miss: The sauna and steam rooms. But be warned, the facilities are unisex and in central and eastern Europe, it’s customary for people to enter saunas or steam rooms naked.

Details: Prices from £90 a night in a Superior room including breakfast.

www.lonehotel.com

By Monica Sarkar

La Residencia, Mallorca, Spain

This hotel and spa is ideally located for those in search of relaxation — overlooking the olive groves, lemon orchards and red stone houses of Deià village, its mountainous backdrop contrasts dramatically with the Mediterranean coastline in front.

The spa: Facilities include six treatment rooms, outdoor massage areas, an indoor pool, plus a steam and sauna area. Best of all is the secluded outdoor whirlpool bath set into the hillside.

The treatments: I tried the lovely signature Olive Activator (€120/£103 for 50 minutes). It began with a body brush, to stimulate the lymphatic system and flush out toxins. My body was then drizzled with olive oil for a colon massage, before the finale: an olive sorbet to cleanse the palate and awaken the senses.

The hotel: Set in 30 landscaped acres with two heated, outdoor pools, this traditional Mallorcan manor house blends informal elegance and romantic sophistication. Art and sculptures dot the rustic, wooden-beamed buildings.

Don’t miss: The five-course tasting menu at the renowned El Olivio Restaurant. Inside, a restored olive press , flickering candelight creates a relaxing and magical ambience.

Details: A Classic room at La Residencia starts at €255 (£218) per room per night, including tax and a daily buffet breakfast.

www.orient-express.com

By Emma Wevill

La Mamounia, Marrakech, Morocco

La Mamounia, a few minutes’ walk from the bustling hub of Jemaa el Fnaa, was once famous for its art deco opulence. Reinvented in 2009 following a complete renovation, the craftsmanship is evident in every detail. Designer Jacques Garcia has managed to create a masterpiece of decor, effortlessly blending traditional Moroccan style with east Asian opulence.

The spa: The superb 26,900sq ft spa offers more than 80 treatments ranging from traditional Moroccan hammam treatments with the native marocMaroc skincare brand, to face and body treatments using Shiseido products.

The treatments: My 60-minute Hammam Evasion treatment was a great introduction to traditional Moroccan pampering and included a steam bath, the application of black soap, a vigorous exfoliation, rinsing with orange blossom water, rhassoul and white clay on the body and face respectively, as well as some argan oil body cream. I left feeling thoroughly cleansed and invigorated. The treatment costs MAD900 (£70).

The hotel: Spacious suites offer all the comfort of a royal palace, with walk-in wardrobes, intimate balconies, and huge, hammam-like bathrooms. Guests can choose from a range of gourmet restaurants, sunbathe by the huge pool, or build up a sweat at the beautiful fitness pavilion.

Don’t miss: Glam up and enjoy late night drinks at the superb, atmospheric Churchill Bar.

Details: The Executive suite costs from MAD11,000 (£857) per night.

www.mamounia.com

By Sonia Soltani