How to choose the best spa break for you
Post-festivities, your body is screaming out for some rest, relaxation and ‘me-time’. A spa trip would be the perfect solution, but choosing one can be a complicated – not to mention expensive – business. Our expert is here to help you navigate the options and find the right one to match your needs
Spa-ing can be an expensive business, but with careful planning and knowing what to book (and when) you can be chilling in the jacuzzi in next to no time.
There are some tricks of the trade that can save you a packet. Booking midweek is the best way to secure great deals, as spas have empty space to fill during this time. Always opt for an all-inclusive package that includes a treatment, spa access, lunch and perhaps a glass of something. Beware of the big voucher deal companies online and instead opt for specialist spa booking sites. Sign up to hotel and spa newsletters as they run regular promotions, and follow your favourites on social media and check regularly for last minute bargains. Booking direct over the phone can also offer some great discounts.
If you are looking for more than a spa day, and want to stay overnight, then follow the same rules as above ensuring that the package also includes dinner, bed and breakfast. “Finding a spa break that fits all expectations requires more than just an online menu review. Do you want your time to be immersive or transactional? Social or peaceful?” says spa consultant Nigel Franklyn. “If the spa promotes social wellness and champagne brunches, then it is likely not your place if you are looking for self-reflection and mindfulness.”
If you want to elevate it to a wellness experience, we have you covered. It’s a growing market and the Global Wellness Institute has just valued the wellness economy at $6.3 trillion. Think gong baths, mindfulness, ice baths, vibroacoustic beds and more.
You want: a treat with friends
Social spa-ing is one of the biggest trends at the moment and luxe wellness clubs are opening up from New York to London. You can embrace this by escaping with a few friends to enjoy a spa treat. Bubbles are an essential part here so head to the Spa at Carden Park in Cheshire with its own Bollinger Beauty Bar. Or indulge in a glass of ‘Sussex’ at the Ridgeview Beauty Bar at The Spa at South Lodge in West Sussex. It’s not all about massages either. Having a chat, manicure/pedicure and a glass of fizz is a first-class experience. You could also book a steam room Rasul treatment where you slather yourself in warm mud and clay. Surprisingly relaxing, it’s great for couples. Taking the social element up a notch is Aufguss – the hot new import from Germany seen at Rudding Park in Yorkshire. Set in a sauna, a ‘sauna meister’ leads the action wafting towels and essential oils around the space, often to music. You can get a bit hot but hang in there. It’s energising and you will feel amazing afterwards.
You want: supreme relaxation
This is where you need to prioritise booking a soothing massage on arrival, easing aches and pains in an instant. You could try a facial that includes neck, shoulder and face massage. The calming, rhythmic pace is hard to beat in the relaxation stakes. Spending time in the sauna and steam room will ease muscle tension and the hot tubs (preferably in the spa garden) will soothe the mind and spirit. Calcot & Spa in the Cotswolds gets it right and they also have an open fire in the garden too. Opting for a smaller spa means you need to book ahead, but you won’t feel like you are on a conveyor belt and remember to check when kids are allowed in the pool. Also consider guided forest bathing sessions, like the ones at Armathwaite Hall in the Lake District, which can calm and quieten the mind in an instant.
You want: time out to reboot
When a total body rest is required, find a spa that’s connected to nature. The Asian-inspired Seaham Hall in County Durham offers long walks by the coast that will blow away the cobwebs. Wild swimming is on-trend and on the menu at many spas – not just in the sea, but also in lakes and rivers. Many have installed reed filtered cold swimming ponds so you can go full Wim Hof. The Scarlet, high on the cliffs overlooking the sea in Cornwall, is one of the best in the UK for this. You can then jump into a barrel sauna or hot tub and enjoy the views feeling warm and cosy. Classes like breathwork, yoga and mindfulness will calm both body and mind. Maybe try a full body scrub or therapeutic massage to sort out any niggling muscular issues and release blocked energy.
You want: intense pampering
We all know January is a tough month, even if you don’t believe the ‘Blue Monday’ hype. Many of us are looking for indulgent treatments like a Four Hands Massage at Four Seasons Hotel London at Park Lane where two therapists work in synergy for the ultimate massage treatment. Book yourself in for a gong bath, the vibrations from the singing bowls will zap away the blues in an instant, switching the brainwaves into the lower alpha and theta states (where the mind is more relaxed). SenSpa at Careys Manor offer these alongside excellent Thai massages. Mid-winter I always choose a spa with an open fire to curl up by. Look out for vibroacoustic relaxation beds too that gently hum and change colour, sending calming vibrations through the body. Kimpton Charlotte Square in Edinburgh offers a bespoke soundscape which transports you to a faraway island with the sound of the sea.
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