| Spa retreats are now a 'must have' facility for any | | | | sauna and ice rooms, the new spa boasts two |
| purporting lifestyle hotel worth its salt. So, it comes | | | | underwater treatment rooms along with six above |
| as no surprise to learn that the 'hippest hotel in the | | | | water - each with a glass floor. |
| world' - the London Sanderson - boasts one of the | | | | With many cheap flights to Portugal available, |
| most lavish of urban spa oases in the heart of the | | | | spa-break enthusiasts can easily visit the Algarve and |
| London city bustle. Known as The Agua, its billowing | | | | the Vila Vita Parc - one of the most luxurious resorts |
| white cloud-like treatment rooms provide a surreal | | | | in the world. The Vila Vita Vital Spa provides an |
| and dreamy chill-out zone, where full body pampering | | | | extensive menu of treatments, covering everything |
| stretches to light gourmet health lunches from a | | | | from eastern massage techniques, beauty |
| menu prepared by the legendary multi Michelin-star | | | | treatments and botox to medical and physio |
| winning chef, Alain Ducasse. | | | | treatments such as regenerative cellular therapy, |
| Although not usually viewed as the best route to | | | | colon hydro, osteopathy and lymphatic drainage. And, |
| tip-top health, it's the gourmet food that is the | | | | to aid recovery after enduring some of the fiercer |
| lynchpin of Alain Ducasse's latest venture into the | | | | treatments, there are always the lawns, swimming |
| world of the luxury health spa, at the newly opened | | | | pool, beach, sea and sunshine! |
| L'Andana in Tuscany. Exquisite gourmet dessert | | | | However, of all the possible destinations for spa |
| concoctions - chocolate mousse, lavendar tart and | | | | treatments, the Ananda Spa in the Himalayas is |
| others - are specifically matched to individual ESPA | | | | probably the ultimate for those seeking a retreat in |
| treatments, to stimulate all of the body's senses. | | | | the most traditional sense. Using the ancient Indian |
| Furthermore, a tea ceremony also blends treatments | | | | sciences of Ayurveda, meditation and yoga the spa |
| with herbal teas, with all the necessary ingredients | | | | practices relaxing, restorative and rejuvenating |
| freshly picked from the L'Andana gardens. | | | | therapies with the aim of achieving harmony |
| A visit to a day spa is a good idea to snatch a quick | | | | between the physical and the mental being. |
| escape from the rigours of city life. The Elemis Day | | | | The Six Senses Earth Spa at the Evason Hideaway |
| spas in London, rather than being a traditional | | | | on Hua Hin, Thailand holds itself up as one of the |
| water-based spa, consists of a series of luxurious | | | | worlds most eco friendly spas. Using traditional rural |
| treatment rooms themed in various cultural styles - | | | | village construction methods, the spa is built entirely |
| Moroccan, Balinese and Thai for example - and are | | | | from earth - cooling the temperature by up to |
| designed to calm the shredded nerves of fraught city | | | | 15°C and removing the need for air conditioning. |
| souls. Elemis are the products of choice for a number | | | | The earth domes appear to be floating just above |
| of the leading spas around the world; their | | | | the water and are all breeze-cooled by air vents top |
| top-of-the-range beauty, massage and relaxation | | | | and bottom. A skin-food concept maintains that |
| treatments combining an eclectic blend of oils, herbs | | | | nothing is put on the skin that could not be eaten, |
| and spices. | | | | making this a good, albeit distant choice for any |
| These same treatments can also be found in the | | | | environmentally concerned spa enthusiast. |
| considerably more exotic setting of the Maldives, | | | | Whether you're looking for a simple facial treatment |
| where the Huvafen Fushi invites you to immerse | | | | or the full spa experience, you're sure to find the |
| your spirit and drift away in the world's first | | | | perfect spa hideaway, regardless of where in the |
| underwater spa. Alongside the usual flotation, steam, | | | | world you visit. |