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Tag: spas

  • The most luxurious spas in the world

    Hotel Valldemossa

    The vibe: I loathe to write this review because as much as I want to wax lyrical about my incredible stay at Hotel Valldemossa, I’m equally desperate to preserve it as my secret haven.

    Tucked high above the sleepy, pine-scented village of picture-perfect Valldemossa and with just twelve adult-only rooms (a God-send for frazzled parents seeking silence), Hotel Valldemossa is an embodiment of Mallorca’s rural charm. Formerly part of the ancient Carthusian monastery, the serene hideaway is the brainchild of IT Mallorca group that’s been reimagined as a slick yet serene adults-only retreat nestled in the lush Tramuntana mountains.

    As a London dweller, the first thing that strikes you is the tranquility: birdsong, rustling olive trees, the occasional toll of the monastery bell below. With a nod to the intimate feel of a White Lotus hotel, the staff not only know you by name but quickly pick up on exactly what you need from the hotel and offer it with aplomb.

    At the core of the hotel’s philosophy is healing. Enter: the Sanctuary spa, a cave-like haven carved into the hillside, complete with a private pool, sauna, and a treatment menu curated by wellness expert Amor Garzón. Amor’s treatments (from lymphatic drainage and sound therapy to acupuncture) pay homage to the Piroche method. It’s not just the treatments that are restorative, it’s the entire experience. Morning yoga takes place on the open-air deck, surrounded by citrus trees and rosemary hedges, whilst hikes begin right from the hotel’s gate, winding through ancient terraces and wildflower paths. There’s an outdoor gym with vistas of the quiet mountains and hammocks nestled into the orange groves. This is the kind of place where doing less becomes the point.

    The hotel’s foodie offering matches the bucolic vistas the restaurant is set against. De Tokio a Lima takes its name—and culinary spirit—from three corners of the globe: the minimalist elegance of Japan, the bold vibrancy of Peru, and the soulful ingredients of the Mediterranean. The result? Fresh sashimi with citrusy fire, grilled local vegetables elevated with miso and spice, and a delectable red shrimp with cuttlefish and creamy rice.

    Breakfast is a ritual in itself: still-warm breads baked on site and flaky, just-baked pastries are set next to overnight oats and generous platters of local cheeses and artisanal cold cuts. There’s even a DIY pan con tomate station best washed down with a glass of fizz and views of the monastery, mist still clinging to its steeples.

    As you breathe in the crisp, pine-scented mountain air and glance meditatively over the olive tree-adorned hills of the Serra de Tramuntana, it’s not hard to see why Frédéric Chopin was sent to the town of Valldemossa to recover from tuberculosis. This is not just a hotel stay. It’s a full-body exhale.

    Why we love it: The best spa in Mallorca, hands down
    Price per night: From £950 per week 
    Address: Vieja de Valldemossa, 07170 Valldemossa, Mallorca
    Star rating: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

    Bianca London, Sheilla Mamona

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  • I found peace at this otherworldly luxury hotel in Iceland

    I found peace at this otherworldly luxury hotel in Iceland

    There are also submerged treatment options, with in-water massages and ‘float therapy’ providing the opportunity to to soak up all the expertise of ‘bodyworkers’ without having to leave the lagoon.

    If that all sounds far too relaxing, you can call on any member of the infinitely-attentive – yet in no way intrusive – team of hosts to book you on one of the many external excursions, ranging from helicopter tours of the Reykjanes Peninsula to guided photography tours, volcano tours, snowmobiling, snorkelling among the subaquatic hot springs at Kleifarvatn lake and ATV adventures.

    We opted for the latter one morning, and quickly found ourselves motoring across lava fields, black sand beaches and insanely lunar-like mountainscapes before stopping-off to warm our freezing hands in one of those puffs of volcanic steam; the unmistakably eggy sulfur smell being the only thing to bring you back to reality during an otherwise entirely otherworldly experience.

    Whether you spend your days white-knuckling your way around the island’s outdoor activity scene or soaking the day away in the lagoon, your worked-up appetite is in no danger of being left wanting.

    With a cosy, universally dressing gown-clad breakfast served in the sunken lobby seating pre-sunrise (fear not the lie-in was safe – sunrise isn’t until 11am in December) and afternoon tea served daily in the same spot, other mealtimes offer up the impressive choice between the spa restaurant (serving an exceptional burger), Lava restaurant (relaxed dining with stunning views out onto the shores of the Blue Lagoon) or the jewel in the crown: Moss restaurant.

    Having been awarded a Michelin star earlier this summer, Moss, led by Head Chef Aggi Sverrisson, sees 5 and 7-course set menus take you on a diverse tour of the heritage of Icelandic cuisine.

    Switching effortlessly between food from the mountains to the farmlands, via rivers and oceans, dishes are almost Oscar-worthy in their visual theatrics, with dry ice tumbling over salt-fresh prawns and perfectly-seared beef served atop a smoking lump of authentic volcanic rock.

    Iceland's The Retreat At The Blue Lagoon Hotel And Spa Review
    Iceland's The Retreat At The Blue Lagoon Hotel And Spa Review

    After heading back through that vast-yet-cosy lobby to our room on the final night, we received our first much-anticipated ‘wake-up call’ while packing. The Northern Lights had finally appeared.

    Charlie Teather

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  • Review: New WorldSprings Spa in The Colony Was More Social Than Serene

    Review: New WorldSprings Spa in The Colony Was More Social Than Serene

    Audio By Carbonatix

    Mollie Jamison

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  • I’ve discovered a child-free holiday sweet spot – and I can’t gatekeep it any longer

    I’ve discovered a child-free holiday sweet spot – and I can’t gatekeep it any longer

    The first night is always trial and error as you figure out where your favourite spots are, and there are many to choose from here. To remove all indecision, we opted for “Dining Under The Stars”, one of the carefully curated experience meals. With an interesting barbeque-style set menu that included inspired dishes like seafood Souvlaki, grilled Kung Po prawns, Japanese smoked beef and char-grilled pineapple flambé. We were hoping for an exquisite Mediterranean feast with an equally special star-lit setting, and that’s exactly what we got.

    We thought the meal experience might be more sociable, but in fact, the tables were very private, spacious, peacefully lit, and extremely romantic. As with everything at Anassa, the food and service were impeccable. There are different experiences to choose from every night, so don’t leave without trying at least one. Apparently, a guest favourite is the village square, with a traditional Cypriot feast, folk music, and dancing set to the backdrop of the classic dome chapel, a location for weddings that happen most weekends.

    Our personal highlight meal was in the less traditional Basilika, which had an unexpected Mediterranean-Asian-inspired menu. The menu included sushi perfection and the most tender sashimi, a nice change from the rich but wholesome Mediterranean flavours we’d become so accustomed to at Anassa.

    With floor to ceiling creams and whites it has a chic subterranean feel, it’s definitely one for the adults. We didn’t get the chance to try beautiful Helios. Still, the menu is refined French-Mediterranean (as always, there’s a twist!), and the setting is beyond Instagram-worthy, with carefully laid tables scattered amongst ancient olive trees under pretty festoon lighting. Hot tip: make sure you book your dining well ahead of your stay; these unique spots get booked up fast.

    For shady daytime lunches in the shade, there is Pelagos, a casual poolside restaurant with tasty mezze and a daily fresh fish counter, with lots of healthy options for a lighter dining experience if you fancy it. Succulent lamb koftas and tangy Greek salads are a must have and they will be the best you’ve ever had. Or for those who don’t want to venture far, the lounger service is excellent. We were really impressed with the quality of the menu by the pool and on what feels like a completely private beach. Perfect Caesar salads and shoreline chilled rosé were ordered on repeat.

    Grace Barnes

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  • This tiny country is ideal for year-round sun, but often flies under the radar

    This tiny country is ideal for year-round sun, but often flies under the radar

    On the roof of a four-storey carpet shop in Tunis, the pale afternoon sun is sinking behind the jumble of sand-coloured houses. Huge kilim and margoum rugs hang between stone arches, and two small cats tumble and play at my feet, the ground beneath us covered in hundreds of intricate tiles.

    “This is the best view in the old town, you just have to know where to find it,” says my local guide, Fathi. From here, on the large terrace of Palais d’Orient, you can see right across the medina, from the white domed mausoleums to the towering minaret of Zitouna mosque, the oldest in the city. Soon, the call to prayer rings out, ushering in dusk.

    Back down the tiled steps, through rooms piled high with handwoven rugs, and I’m back in the heart of Tunis medina. This ancient maze of labyrinthine streets and alleyways is packed with souks selling everything from leather bags and shoes to lanterns, jewellery and perfume. The air buzzes with the chatter of market vendors and artisans hard at work, as locals flit down the narrow cobbled streets and between the marble columns housing local hammams, mosques and madrasas (schools for the study of Islam).

    usaid_abbasi

    It reminds me of the joyous mayhem of Marrakech and Fez, but the difference here is the lack of other tourists. I’m used to jostling for space with visitors in other souks, lining up to haggle for brightly-coloured pottery and Berber rugs, or for a spot in the rooftop café to order a mint tea. But there are no crowds here, unless you count the bustle of local vendors, and certainly no queues. Although it’s been continuously developed over the centuries – after being founded around 698 AD, the medina as we know it today was formed under the Hafsid rule of the 13th to 16th centuries – this feels like an untouched part of the North African puzzle, a welcome contrast to its popular neighbour.

    “Only 8 or 9% of our visitors are British,” explains Mehdi Belkhodja, manager at The Residence Tunis, my base for this trip and the city’s grand dame hotel. “A majority are of course French – around 40% – and the rest are mostly other Europeans.”

    Ali Pantony

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  • The best UK spas for total rest and relaxation

    The best UK spas for total rest and relaxation

    Name a better feeling than slipping into a soft, white dressing gown, switching your phone to ‘out of office’ and being thoroughly taken care of? Our UK spas are so dreamy, you don’t have to travel far to find exactly this kind of escapism.

    From cosy country retreats that feel like you’ve left the world behind, to a beachside haven, or even a secret oasis in the centre of our biggest cities, there’s so many spas to choose from. Each offer up something different, whether you’re looking for all-organic treatments (hello, Bamford), fine dining to follow your facial (see: Glasgow’s Blythswood Square and London’s 45 Park Lane), pool cabanas with an ocean view (check out The Nici) or a sauna overlooking the forest (thank you, Galgorm).

    We love a solo or group spa sesh, so depending on how your social battery is doing, you can while away a day being preened and pampered by a stranger you don’t have to make small talk with, or you can chill with friends poolside and catch up over a mani and a glass of fizz.

    Of course, if you’ve taken a day out of your schedule and splashed out on some dedicated TLC, you’ll want to know that you’re in for a relaxing ride, with all the expertise on hand to give you exactly what you need, so we’ve carefully selected the best UK spas that will offer you the rest and relaxation you crave. *Inhales*. Ahhhhh, relaxation at its finest…

    Keen to head somewhere abroad? Check out our guides to the best spas in Europe and the best spas in the world.

    Camilla Kay, Elle Turner, Lottie Winter, Charlie Teather, Georgia Trodd

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