However there is another side to this wonderful island and the 300 days of sunshine make it the perfect place for escaping our dreary, wet weather. Stepping off the plane after a short two-hour flight, I was transported to the north side of the island to Cas Pla, a boutique hotel, nestled in the hilltops with lovely sea views from the terraces.

Cas Pla is a boutique country hotel, located at San Miguel de Balanzat only 15 minutes from the city of Ibiza.

Ibiza may be small – measuring approximately 35 kilometres in length at its longest point, and just 20 kilometres in width but it makes an ideal destination for short or long stays on the island as nowhere is very far away.
The boutique hotels come under two categories Agro-tourism, which are situated on rural land where the owners combine agriculture, husbandry, forestry with B&B and Country hotels which provide accommodation, breakfast and a minimum of half board, some also offer spa facilities, yoga classes and trips for diving, biking, horse riding, golf and sailing.

After refreshments, I was shown around the old city of Ibiza by my guide Dominique Lacroix. The historic tour started with the renaissance walls built around 1555, walking through the narrow streets you will find the places like the contemporary art museum, convent church, Monastery of Sant Cristófol, that Cathedral and Puget Museum.

After a paella lunch at one of the nearby beach restaurants, I took a short taxi ride to Atzaró. Standing in its own orange groves, this ancient estate has been converted into a unique place to relax, with beautiful rooms, an haute cuisine restaurant and exclusive Spa.

As I headed for the Spa, walking through the grounds past rows of large day beds for the guests to lounge on, past the long, narrow pool I caught a glimpse of a yoga class taking place outside in the afternoon sun. The spa was beautiful and my own yoga class, personally tailored to my level of fitness, somehow seemed far more relaxing than the cold village hall back home.

After a quick swim, I changed and made my way to one of their restaurants for an amazing seven-course dinner before heading back to my room at Cas Pla.

Day two gave me an opportunity to visit the unspoilt beaches of Ibiza, hidden coves, crystal water and gentle chill-out music playing from the beachside restaurants. After another wonderful lunch of bullit de peix, a local freshly caught fish and potato stew, I made my way to Hotel Hacienda N Xamena, perched dramatically 80 metres above sea level on the edge of a cliff.

Famous for The ‘Cascadas Suspendidas’, combining high-tech thalasso treatments with spectacular views of the ocean, the waterfalls feature a series of relaxing rock pools, to wash away, your stresses, ache and pains while gazing out over the ocean.

Started in 1969 by the architect Daniel Lipszyc, a Belgium architect, Daniel and his wife finally opened the hotel in 1971 and over the years has become the most quoted hotel on the island because of it’s discreet luxury and magical atmosphere.

Now run by his son, Alvar Lipszye, he speaks passionately about the island and the hotel. He explained the philosophy behind the architecture and the choice of natural materials and planting. The result is that you feel safe, surrounded by nature and the natural environment I felt instantly at ease with my surroundings.

After watching the famous sunset of Ibiza from the terrace, I savoured the sensational food in the El Sueno de Estrellas, one of their four restaurants. The five-course meal could only be described as a sensation for the tastebuds, a cuisine without borders designed to give the body energy, vitamins and pleasure all at the same time.

This like many other of the small boutique hotels on the island, left me feeling that I could come here with friends, family or even travelling on my own for peace and relaxation…

Ibiza is packed full of spectacular surprises, all of which reveal themselves as soon as you leave behind the larger towns and head for the woods and beaches. Indeed, the island has around sixty beaches, an abundance of hills, forests, cliffs, small villages, traditional restaurants, exclusive eateries, stunning architecture, breathtaking sunsets.
the perfect destination for anyone looking to improve their health and wellbeing.

Ibiza has now found a place in my heart… and yes I will be returning very soon.

Hotels we visited

Cas Pla
Sant Miquel de Balanzat
www.caspla-ibiza.com

Atzaró
Santa Eulalia
www.atzaro.com

Hotel Hacienda Na Xamena
San Miguel
www.hotelhacienda-ibiza.com

Aguas de Ibiza
Santa Eulalia
www.aguasdeibiza.com

Amante Beach Club & Restaurant
Santa Eularia
www.amanteibiza.com

Es Cucons
Santa Agnes de Corona
www.escucons.com

The post The other side of Ibiza appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

You are made to feel that you own the spa at the hugely popular Le Clos du Colombier in Burgundy’s delightful Cote d’Or village of Pommard, where you can guarantee privacy in the sauna, Jacuzzi, followed by a dip in the outdoor swimming pool. Thanks to the owners’ vision, you can rent the sauna and pool for your own private session. Le Clos, a former wine-grower’s mansion, is the brainchild of Philippe and Veronique Barthelmebs: “We’ve both travelled widely, and always dreamt of owning our hotel. A ‘private’ spa was priority and the house seemed to be just waiting for us,” says Melbourne-born Veronique.  “The TV and telephone are downstairs, not upstairs in the rooms. Peace and relaxation are the aims,” she adds.   We dined at the highly-regarded La Table d’Olivier Leflaive located in a 17th-century building in picturesque Puligny-Montrachet. Classical guitarist Leflaive, whose family have been wine-makers for 18 generations, including a fabulous Puligny-Montrachet, gave us no less than 14 wines to taste-test as we consumed our gazpacho, chicken, cheese and chocolate mousse – a memorable bacchanalia! The next day, we enjoyed a picnic lunch at the invitation of the Scots-born 14th Duchess of Magenta in the vineyards of Abbey de Morgeot.  Planted by Cistercian Burgundy monks in the 12th-century, the 22-acre vineyard produces superlative wines, such as the world-beater Chassagny-Montrachet. The Duchess, who owns the beautiful Chateau de Sully, says that the vineyard practices a sustainable viticulture where grapes are hand-picked and organic enrichments are used. Chemical fertilisers, though, are outlawed.

We were honoured when Wellbeing was invited by Bernard Emie, the French Ambassador to the Court of St James’, to his official residence in London’s Kensington Palace Gardens, ‘Billionaire’s Row’, to meet Philippe Augier, Deauville’s Mayor, widely-known as ‘le JFK des politiques francais’. The dynamic, hands-on Mayor and his team, extolled his city’s virtues (featured Wellbeing, July-August, 2010) issuing a personal invitation to visit. Deauville, founded in 1860 by a consortium led by the Duc de Morny, Napoleon 111’s illegitimate half-brother, displayed his preference when he built the racetrack before the church; again this year, the resort hosts the prestigious World Equestrian Games, held every two years prior to the Olympics, from August 23-September 7, 2014.   The Mayor emphasises that the chic resort also provides hotels, meals, and sports activities year-round at budget prices.  Luxuriate in the thalasso-spa as horses train on the adjacent beach, a slice of joie de vivre!

That triggered memories of another honour I experienced similarly in London yet in stark contrast to Augier’s friendly reception, was Nelson Mandela’s CBI Press Conference 21 years ago at Centrepoint, in which the Nobel Laureate appealed for investment to continue in the new apartheid-free South Africa. Mandela, who spent 18 of his 27 years imprisonment in Robben Island, would be South Africa’s President in six months, and was treated by two BBC reporters with open hostility and scepticism, doubting his ‘Rainbow Nation’ cabinet could succeed – one lady, who is a household name today, led the attack.  If the intention was to provoke the African leader in saying something rash, it did not work, and seemed a far cry from the objective and helpful reporting embodied in Wellbeing’s leitmotif, mens sana in corpore sano. My question received the longest answer yet not one word appeared in the next day’s Press. My timely intervention, received warmly by Mandela, saved it from being the shortest Press conference in history! If only the BBC, oblivious to the sense of occasion, had ‘spared a thought’..

Brittany Ferries Reservations –  0871 244 0744   www.brittanyferries.com

Le Clos du Colombier, 21630 Pommard – +33 (0)3 80 22 00 27  www.closducolombier.com

Olivier Leflaive, 21190 Puligny-Montrachet –  +33 (0)3 80 21 37 65  contact @olivier-leflaive.com

Abbey de Morgeot, 21190 Chassagne-Montrachet+33 (0)3 85820986 abbeydemorgeot @gmail.com

Thalasso & Spa Deauville, 3 rue Sem, 14800 Deauville+33(0)231877200 www.thalasso-deauville.fr

Deauville Airport, 14130 St-Gatien-des-Bois+33(0)2 31656565 information @aeroportdeauville.com

The post Spa a thought appeared first on Wellbeing Magazine.

Q Having worked with Channel 4’s Country House Rescue, if someone was to consider turning their home into a spa or hotel what should they consider before embarking on this project?

The first thing to establish in any conceptual business is ‘its main aim’, this is absolutely crucial. In this situation, would this Spa be a business offering or for the owners own enjoyment – two very different Models. Once the ‘main aim’ is established, the strategy for development and its inclusions can be formulated to ensure every aspect for a perfect Spa delivery.

Q As a spa, wellness and hotel consultant, what’s the most important thing you look for in visiting a Spa?

Organisation, the utmost level of attention to detail, everything done with purpose and reason. If the business and offering hasn’t been executed to the utmost levels of detail and planning, from the correct flow of the building, the correct inclusions, the right offering, perfectly trained staff etc., the guest experience will be under maximised and the business will not return ideal revenues and profits.
If I am visiting a Spa, I want to be able to totally relax and if these elements are missing, my enjoyment would be compromised.

Q What makes a great Spa and Wellness Centre?

All of the above from the businesses first stages of planning through to opening and beyond. When all the correct
elements have been included pre and post opening, the Spa will entirely reflect and deliver the guests needs and wants.
A point of difference and individuality to give the Spa an edge over the next is always ideal.

Q What are the top three Spa’s that you have visited and why were they so special?

I couldn’t name just 3 but if choosing 3 perfect destinations for my Spa visits they would be 1) a City Spa, 2) a Caribbean Spa and 3) a Wilderness Spa
These 3 offer the perfect breaks depending on my mood and needs at the time. The first would be a Spa I would visit with girlfriends, enjoying all the offerings of a large City and coming back to the tranquillity of a Spa for relaxing treatments.
The second would be a chill-out holiday in the sun whilst swimming and enjoying treatments in lovely Spa surroundings, away from the hustle and bustle of the beach.
The third would be up in the mountains somewhere, either a wellbeing/yoga/meditation retreat in the Himalayas or a great Hotel and Spa in the Alps, summer or winter.

Q Many Spa and Wellness centres seem to be thriving in the recession, why are some doing well and what can those that are struggling look to do to make some changes?

Those that are thriving know and understand their target audiences, what they want and the elements required in their offering to achieve the guest numbers required. They operate a great business as well as offering, they consistently evolve and deliver a great service all-round and in turn they have built loyalty in their existing and new customer bases.
Those that are struggling need to re-evaluate every minute detail of their business and operation to identify the weak areas and those requiring change and implement tried and tested aspects of re-development . The only way forward is to evolve the offering to one that is relevant to the markets requirements and standards. I help many businesses turn themselves around – it is always a worthy exercise to re-evaluate your current business, it can generally always do better.

Q Do you have a favourite treatment?

I find it challenging to relax so the best treatment to achieve this for me is top to toe massage, literally from the tips of my hair to the tips of my toes and if that includes a facial, then all the better.
Any treatment has the opportunity to be excellent when the Therapists delivery of it is the same. Vice versa, any treatment can be disappointing if the Therapist is less able with its delivery. It is all in the detail – every time, for everything across the board.

Q Do you have a favourite skincare product?

Brand wise, I go through phases depending what my skin is doing or needing at the time and so change periodically.
Otherwise I would say facial exfoliator and moisturiser – I love it when I know my skin is squeaky clean and the surface of my skin is fresh and bright.

Q Where do you see the future of Spa’s. Are there any trends/ new concepts that we can see coming up in the future?

A. The word ‘Spa’ is used so universally from varying offerings from the high street salon to the Hotel Spa and back again, everyone has a Spa.
For me as a specialist Spa and hospitality developer, the ‘true’ Spa philosophy remains the focus of enjoyable and purposeful wellbeing with its roots dating back many hundreds of years.
The true and ideal ‘Spa’ offering of today focuses on all aspects of wellbeing, including hydro, water and thermal elements combined with all the modern day experiences of excellent treatments, facilities and creature comforts. Many will include a specialist ‘Medi’ spa offering which introduces real results-driven treatments in combination with pure relaxation. All new developments should work hard to identify good points of difference to that of the competition – helps you to stand out in the crowd!

Jennifer Gorman. MD
JGAssociates
Specialist Spa and Hospitality Development Consultancy
Tel: 01795 890952
jennifer@ jgspadevelopment.com
www.jgspadevelopment.com

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Pulling up the drive, it was hard not to be impressed by the solid fortress of Shortflatt Tower. We were greeted by Octavia and Jono, the current owners of Shortflatt Tower, and as we walked through the front door we were surrounded by the sensual scents of candles and the welcome roar of the open fire in the Tower Keep drawing room. With it’s high vaulted ceiling and 6 foot thick walls, this impressive room is simply furnished with elegant, yet comfortable leather sofas and antique furniture.

After a welcome pot of tea we were guided around our accommodation, you could sense the hundreds of years of family history, brought up to date by Octavia and Jono’s labour of love and eye for detail.

Each room has been decorated with beautiful furnishings and quality materials, like the Brazilian marble in one of the bathrooms, while retaining the character of the grade I Pele Tower, which delivers the 5 star Gold accommodation rating they have been awarded.

We settled into the upstairs open plan kitchen / living room. We had decided to arrive by train as we felt that this would be the best way to enjoy a weekend of relaxation. As we didn’t have a car we came well prepared with food for the weekend and planned to stay ensconced in our tower and pampered in their Fullerton Place Spa over the next couple of days.

For those that want a little more luxury Octavia and Jono have connections with local restaurants who can cater for your stay and one party even organised a butler for their stay.

The four of us each picked our room from the 7 individually styled bedrooms, I was drawn to Gallant Foe, the four poster room, the more traditional of the bedrooms with old paintings, furniture and traditional fabrics and a delightful window seat over looking the Rose Quartz fountain.

Although the accommodation normally sleeps 14, we never felt over whelmed by the size of the accommodation, it felt comfortable and welcoming and very quickly we began to unwind.
It is easy to see why families choose to stay here for special occasions and friends join together for celebrations.

The Master bedroom makes a wonderful Bridal suite, I can easily imagine a bride using this room and gliding down the stairs to their licenced room, and this year they will see their first Winter wedding.

Past and present generations of the family have taken great pride in creating and maintaining the wonderful garden and the grounds around the Tower. The flower borders have been planned to produce colour and blooms throughout the year and there is a beautiful rose quartz fountain.

With a variety of areas to stroll or to sit and relax in the garden and parkland, it’s a wonderful space to explore.  With prior permission, it is also possible to walk around in the surrounding fields on the other side of the ancient haha and there are several footpath and bridleway routes that pass through nearby. There are also great views of the house from every direction. The drive is nearly a mile long so there is great privacy, very little traffic noise and uninterrupted views.

Balancing tranquil surroundings with energy and vitality, Shortflatt has an exceptionally calm and relaxing atmosphere making it an ideal place for rest and relaxation.

Fullerton Place Spa built with funding from Defra has a wide range of treatments and therapies available.Their facilities consist of a steam room, outdoor hot tub, hammam and 4 treatment rooms, and offer a range of quality treatment experiences.
The treatment rooms are beautiful especially the specially created Hammam treatment room (pictured right). Octavia and Jono took inspiration from their travels to Morocco.

Retreats at Shortflatt
Octavia and Jono with the help of their Spa Manager Grace, are organising their first retreat in July bringing their luxury accommodation, spa treatments, local practitioners, and caterers together to create a truly unique experience.

Octavia & Jono Hedley-Dent
Shortflatt Tower, Belsay, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne. Northumberland NE20 0HD Tel: 01661 881804 shortflatttower.co.uk To book accommodation premiercottages.co.uk

When it comes to the long awaited trip to the spa I am not normally one to opt for a facial, having always regarded them as the sparkling wine of treatments when really all you want is the glass of bubbly. I tend to be a staunch “free me of all the aches and pains from having a 21month old please and massage me to an inch of my life” kinda gal. But this time I thought I would go for a slightly different approach. The Elemis SOS Purifier treatment was idyllic. Deborah (the masseuse) explained the treatments and oils involved which included two face masks to boost, calm and balance the skin. A heavenly stress relieving massage around the eyes, a mind-balancing neck and head rub and an arms, hands and feet massage. The setting at Fullerton perfectly combines an enchanting mix of Buddhist backdrop tunes, calming oils, soft cotton sheets and faux fur throws to sink into; I soon found my mind drifting off to the foothills of the Himalayas with not a child or thrown toy in sight! An hour or so later and I felt blissfully relaxed and a complete convert to facials – the sparkling wine has upgraded to the ranks of Champagne. However, just how long the feeling of calm would last once back in the kingdom of toddler is another question!! Fenella Wood

There is something very comforting about the use of water in a treatment. The Hammam treatment is a ritual of washing and cleansing, including an exfoliation with ‘Savon Noir’, a nourishing soap made from olives and olive oil. Salts infused with oil and fresh herbs are also used followed by the rinsing and cleansing of the body. Grace poured warm water over my body and head, while sitting on the heated, tiled bench. The feeling was very much the same as a small child being bathed by her mother, something I have recently been doing for my little one, now I know why she loves bath time so much! It is quite an intimate experience, however Grace’s gentle voice with her explanation of the process left me knowing I was in very capable hands. ‘Rhassoul’ is then applied to the body and hair while you soak up the warmth of the Hammam and its heated benches. Rassoul is Lava clay sourced from the Atlas Mountains in Morocco, extremely rich in trace minerals which treat and purify the skin and extract toxins. The final part of the ritual is a wonderful, relaxing full body massage with ‘Argan Oil’, which has rich, healing and restorative properties for skin and hair. After an hour and a half I was left feeling truly pampered and relaxed and enjoyed a blissful night’s sleep. Rachel Branson

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Ever since the first Thalassotherapy centre opened in Roscoff over a hundred years ago, Bretons have exported their beloved brainchild to coastal resorts all over France and beyond. “Coastal” because strict rules govern the provenance of thalassos; they must be no further than half a mile from the sea; seawater used in treatments must be pure and fresh (not stored) and be heated to specified temperatures.  More rules apply to seaweeds and marine wraps used in programmes.

The Miramar Crouesty, a floating palace among thalassos, more than ticked all boxes.  Set in a seawater lake and shaped like a graceful ocean liner it has a panoramic rooftop swimming pool, ground level thalasso centre with luxurious treatment rooms, and, sumptuous balconied suites as “cabins.”  Two restaurants are the domain of Chef Yves Toublanc, where buffets,a la carte and delicious “Dietique”menus (not more than 300 calories) are served. The resort fashionably at the cutting edge of thalasso, is constantly developing advanced facilities, such as its new Hammam, complete with changing lights and cold fountain,  and “airbed” treatment baths, where guests float while enjoying detox seaweed wraps.

<pp_img type=”node” title=”Domaine de Cice-Blossac” align=”right” link=”/image/domaine-de-cice-blossac” nid=”1912″ preset=”medium” teaser=”0″> Equally state-of-the-art and newly opened is the inland Domaine de Cice-Blossac, just 10 miles from Rennes in the village of Bruz.  Part of a glamorous 280 acre on-water golf and Spa complex, it is beautifully developed amid slow moving waterways and magnificent woodlands that recall a New England landscape.  Luxurious suites are housed in wood-clad buildings set on stilts, and even have smart kitchens to add a self-catering option to the resort’s excellent restaurant.  The Cice Blossac’s Spa’s elegant minimalism has an oriental flavour. Treatments include massages, wraps and detox programmes, with revitalising Ayurvedic “modelage”  and “après-golf” relaxing combinations of Hammam and aromatherapy. Special day and weekend packages are available, including use of the golf course, with “Beginners Golf” proving popular. Versatile function rooms are also on offer at the resort.

Rennes, ancient capital of Brittany, was almost entirely rebuilt on Paris lines after a drunken carpenter set fire to almost the whole city in 1720 – only the Palais de Justice an original survivor. Today, this university city offers a chic mix of shopping, restaurants and sightseeing.  Not to be missed is the Food Market and the Rue de Nemours where you can sample local cheeses and the famous “galettes” and biscuits, almost as close to Breton hearts as their world famous Crepes.

Impressions of Brittany’s ancient Celtic heritage abound, from Standing Stone monuments to bi-lingual traffic signs. Nearly 1m speak Breton, a language close to Cornish or Welsh, and each August the Inter-Celtic music Festival at Lorient is an annual highlight. “Welcome to the end of the World” reads the Tourist Office brochure at Pointe de Raz, literally translating the region’s far western corner, “Finistere.” Here spectacular cliffs, jagged coastlines and terrifying currents combine in an iconic Brittany image.

Daily the changing tides reveal and then cover an archipelago of rocky islands, on which, far out to sea and battered by the ocean, perch lighthouses of Breton stone. The first of these took over 12 years to build in conditions of highest danger, back in the 1800s.  It eloquently sums up the courage and gritty determination of Bretons who have kept their culture, language and Celtic traditions in place.  “End of the world?”  I don’t think so.

Mirimar Crouesty Resort Thalasso & Spa, Port du Crouesty
t. (+33)2 97 53 49 00
e. reservations @mirimarcrouesty.com
Rooms (Euros): Single 124E, Suites 252E, Spa/Thalasso Packages from 88-150 Euros
Domaine de Cice-Blossac, Bruz t. (+33)2 99 52 76 76 e. resa @domainedecice.com
Rooms (Euros): Single from 89 E; weekends 75E;
see www.domainedecice.com for exceptional packages
Brittany Tourism www.brittanytourism.com
Agence Departementale du Tourisme du Finistere t. (+33)2 98 76 24 77 www.finisteretourisme.com
Comite Departemental du Tourisme du Morbihan t.(+33)2 97 54 62 97 www.morbihan.com

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The team at Ragdale Hall are serious about health but the atmosphere is far from so, with relaxation very much the order of the day. The most stressful part of our visit probably involved choosing from the endless menu of breakfast delights (which were brought to our room to be devoured in bed!) or deciding whether to play tennis, have a swim or simply to doze off in the relaxation room. There’s gym for your mind as well as your body which is filled with a plethora of puzzles and games to challenge the little grey cells.

The new Thermal Spa, which has been 5 years in the making, is an unforgettable experience and the sort you find yourself telling people about for weeks. The selection of wet and dry heated rooms are unique to the UK, beginning with the Colour Flow Cave, a humid tropical hideaway where a curved glass river of light flows around a crystal mountain. There’s an underground candle pool, where flickering lights guide you towards curved marble beds for ultimate relaxation as well as the gently heated Rose scented sauna where I could have spent all day. There’s also the Thought Zone, with its ever changing imagery, the Scented Room, where fresh herbs fill the air with gentle aromas, and the Volcanic Salt Bath which is designed for deeper breathing, removing toxins and improving circulation. A warm stream runs through the centre of the spa leading into an outdoor area that’s warm enough to enjoy even in the winter.

It’s an experience that can’t be faulted but that can be enjoyed by anyone, regardless of their age or gender. Take your partner, mum, friend or simply take yourself for some much deserved R&R. With its new Thermal Spa you certainly won’t find an experience like it in the country.

www.radgalehall.co.uk

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