Spa breaks

The festive season is always good fun but come January all but the most sanctimonious of us have usually gained a practical layer of blubber and are feeling a little blue. So why not take a little “me” time and give your New Year detox a kick-start by treating yourself to a spa break. Sarah Hanson finds out what’s on offer…

If a mini break is all you have time for then a spa based in the UK is probably your best bet. Just two hours train journey from London is the St David’s Hotel & Spa in Cardiff Bay, which has recently launched a new marine spa concept with treatments based on the best marine thalassotherapy cures. Thalassotherapy, which comes from the Greek word for sea, refers to a variety of treatments that use seawater, algae, mud and sand to help tone, moisturise and revitalise the body and skin. An extensive menu offers specialist treatments from Thalgo, E'SPA and Chantecaille including marine envelopments, mud and algae wraps and aromatherapy massage. Then why not try a walk through the hydrotherapy corridor, with its massage fountains and gentle currents, or relax on the underwater jet beds in the hydrotherapy pool. www.thestdavidshotel.com

Routinely praised as one of the best hotels in the UK, the Grove in Hertfordshire is the perfect near-London retreat. It’s also home to Sequoia, a health centre, spa and fitness centre that can hardly fail to help launch you back into some sort of shape for the new year. A range of ESPA treatments are all preceded by time enjoying “heat experiences” and a relaxation area. The more energetic can enjoy 300 acres of parkland for jogging or cycling. Special treatments include a private treatment suite that features a two-person bath and steam shower, designed with couples in mind. www.thegrove.co.uk

If you’re a bit of a celebrity spotter, The Spa at Pennyhill Park is a favourite among the likes of Jodie Kidd. It also boasts the most advanced thermal sequencing experience in the UK—complete with herbal saunas, aromatic laconium, tepidarium, ice cave, schnapps steam room and massage thrones. If you enjoy swimming, there are no less than eight indoor and outdoor pools to choose from including a ballroom swimming pool with underwater music as well as hot tubs, Jacuzzi and hydrotherapy. For those wanting to improve their fitness, the state of the art fitness suite has a full range of technogym equipment each with its own entertainment system as well as a wide range of classes including pilates, yoga and Tai Chi. But if you just want to relax, head for one of the 21 five-star treatment rooms, where you can choose from exotic sounding treatments such as the Marta Kodo Rythmic body massage or the Champagne and Mandarin Pedicure. Then, with your spirits fully lifted, wrap yourself in an over-sized fluffy gown and wander over to Café Themis, the Spa’s organic restaurant, where you can treat yourself to a healthy lunch and toast the beginning of the new you with a glass of bubbly. www.exclusivehotels.co.uk

If you enjoy the outdoor life then The Cowshed at Babington House in Somerset may be the place for you. In addition to traditional spa facilities—gym, sauna, steam room, indoor and outdoor pools—Babington House has tennis courts, a football pitch, croquet lawn, cricket pitch and bicycles. But above all, Cowshed is famous for its treatments and products. There are nine lakeside treatment cabins offering a whole host of treatments. The ultimate is the Cowgroom, which involves two therapists working in synchronised movements ensuring complete pampering and relaxation. All treatments begin with the feet—a rose petal soak and invigorating exfoliation with peppermint salt scrub. This is followed by a forehead pressure point massage and a de-stressing shoulder massage to prepare you for your chosen treatment. www.babingtonhouse.co.uk/cowshed.php

Monty’s Spa in Somerset is a haven for organic devotees. Part of Charlton House, a country house retreat that farms its own meat and spelt (an alternative to wheat), you can enjoy the whole Monty’s experience from the very best spa treatments and decadent relaxation areas to healthy balanced food and their own hand-made essential oil products. Owned by the founder of luxury design label, Mulberry, Roger Saul and his wife Monty, Monty’s spa is all about therapeutic indulgence and surrendering to relaxation. Treatments range from a manicure, to a thermal therapy massage to a detoxifying lymphatic drainage—great for helping a sluggish post Christmas system. The eclectically decorated treatment rooms offer a cocooning environment in which to enjoy the spa therapies while for the resolutely energetic, there is a small gymnasium and personal trainer available upon request. Other facilities include a heated hydrotherapy pool, Finnish sauna, a mosaic tiled Laconium with warm, dry heat, a crystal adorned steam room and two experience showers infused with sensually stimulating fragrances. Once you have built up a healthy appetite, Monty’s spa menu offers a perfectly balanced, nutritious delicious lunch. www.montyspa.com

For city slickers who have no time for holidays, the spa at the May Fair Hotel is a hidden retreat from the stresses of work and office politics. Exclusive yet friendly and relaxing, there are a number of treatments for both sexes including a number of facials, micro-dermabrasions, scrubs, massages and body wraps. If you’re after something a bit more special try the Crystal Clear Oxygen Therapy, as preferred by the likes of Madonna, Jude Law, and Kate Moss or perhaps the non-surgical facelift of which Demi Moore is a big fan. If you really want to go for it the May Fair Spa’s signature treatments include the Algotherm Soap Massage, designed to leave skin moisturised and glowing and the Algotherm Jetlag Reviver package which combines a full body aroma massage with a May Fair mud bath and a remineralising wrap with Vichy shower. www.mayfairspa.com

If you need to clear your mind as well as your body, Harvey’s Point in Donegal Ireland offers a complete Body and Soul experience with its new adventure spa programme. Both the weekend and week-long programmes are designed to have maximum impact on your fitness and combine exhilarating activities with a nutritionally balanced diet. The early morning yoga will awaken your body for the day’s activities such as hiking, horse riding, or cycling, while afternoon yoga and a soothing massage will ease the pain and rejuvenate tired limbs. www.bodysoulexperience.com

Francophiles will love Le Mas Candille, hidden in the medieval village of Mougins, France, but just kilometres from Cannes and Nice on the popular Cote d’Azur. After a hard morning’s shopping along the Rue d’Antibes in Cannes, relax and re-energise by sampling the hotel’s swimming pool, hot tub Jacuzzis in the Japanese garden and outdoor gym. Then head for the fabulous Zen style spa, which offers a wide variety of Shiseido facials, massages, body wraps and beauty treatments. Then it is up to you whether you want to treat your newly glowing self to a glamorous night on the town or be tucked up in bed early for even more beauty sleep. www.lemascandille.com

If you have a little more time to attain sanctuary of the mind and body then why not discover the luxury of true wellness in the mystical embrace of the Himalayan mountains. Ananda in the Himalayas is a luxury spa located in the 100 acre palace and estate of the Maharaja of Tehri-Garhwal situated at the source of the ancient practices of yoga, meditation and Ayurveda. The personalised therapy and activity programmes are designed to meet individual needs and health goals, give guidance in areas of stress management, deep relaxation, anti-aging, beauty, detoxification and cleansing and to create health, balance, joy and ANANDA (the meaning of which is bliss and contentment) – aaah! www.anandaspa.com

For those who like a bit of privacy as well as some winter sun, the Jiva Grande Spa at the Taj Exotica in the Maldives is located on its own private spa island sanctuary. Holistic Indian therapies and treatments provide complete rejuvenation for body, mind and soul. The perfect romantic getaway, the spa is complete with a VIP spa suite, two luxurious overwater couple spa suites, heat, hydro and relaxation pavilion, Royal Indian mud and bathing pavilion, couple experience showers, and a yoga and meditation pavilion. If you get tired of relaxing there are a number of action-packed activities to choose from including diving with dolphins, and big game fishing. www.tajhotels.com

Others worth checking out include:
Bodysgallen Hall and Spa, Llandudno, www.bodysgallen.com
Middlethorpe Hall and Spa, York, www.middlethorpe.com
Whittlebury Hall, Northamptonshire, www.whittleburyhall.co.uk
The Quay Hotel and Spa, North Wales, www.quayhotel.com
Gleneagles, Scotland, www.gleneagles.com
Frederick’s, Berkshire, www.fredricks-hotel.co.uk
Eden Day Spa, Staffordshire, www.edenspa.co.uk
Whatley Manor, www.whatleymanor.com
The Vineyard at stockcross, Berkshire, www.the-vineyard.co.uk
Champneys, Hertfordshire, Hampshire, Bedfordshire and Leicestershire, www.champneys.com
Spa de Constance, Lemuria Resort of Praslin, Seychelles, www.hotelsconstance.com
Saxon Spa and Studio, South Africa, www.thesaxon.com
Masseria San Domenico, Italy, www.imasseria.com
Brenner’s Park Hotel & Spa, Germany, www.brenners-park.de
Palace Luzern, Switzerland, www.palace-luzern.ch
Fonteverde Spa Resort, Tuscany, Italy, www.fonteverdespa.com
The Oriental Spa Garden, Hotel Botanico, Tenerife, www.hotelbotanico.com