NH Wien Belvedere Hotel Vienna Review
On his way from Carinthia Austria to Bratislava in Slovakia, Mark spends a night in Vienna, to review the NH Wien Belvedere hotel, next to the famous Belvedere Palace. A…
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On his way from Carinthia Austria to Bratislava in Slovakia, Mark spends a night in Vienna, to review the NH Wien Belvedere hotel, next to the famous Belvedere Palace. A…
Mark Bibby Jackson travels to Klagenfurt in Carinthia Austria to be re-inspired by the magic of Christmas. Sometimes in the uber-commercialised world we live, it’s easy to forget the magic…
Mark Bibby Jackson stays at the Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House, a beautiful Georgian country house that has been given a fresh spice of life. Sometimes I find myself…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise discover their inner Robinson Crusoe at Gili Lankanfushi resort in the Maldives, a very eco resort. It will read like the most overblown set of…
For the over 40 traveller, wellness travel offers more than just a break from routine—it provides a holistic approach to maintaining health, both mentally and physically. Whether through retreats, meditation…
Roger Hermiston and Eileen Wise review Monkey Island hotel and Estate on the banks of the Thames near the village of Bray. It is just a small, seven-acre island in…
There are hotels you go to for their destination and hotels that become destinations in themselves, Congham Hall Norfolk is both. Set in glorious countryside just outside of the Sandringham…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits Kotor and Budva to stay at the Hyatt Regency Kotor Bay, and discover the charms of this delightful part of coastal Montenegro. There is something about…
Multi award-winning pet grooming expert Kelly Davis has joined forces with Somerset’s most welcoming country house and spa retreat, Montigo Resorts Somerset at Charlton House, to offer an exclusive pet…
Mal Tattersall gets the cold shoulder in Karlovy Vary spa hotel in the Czech Republic (or Czechia), and discovers some old relics. I soon get a bit hot and bothered…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the beautiful German spa town of Baden-Baden and ends up on the tables with Marlene Dietrich. Baden-Baden is bad; really bad – or at least it…
Maria Boyle visits the medieval city of Lucerne and visits one of its most historic thermal spas and also the Bürgenstock Hotel & Alpine Spa, Switzerland’s largest spa. Switzerland has…
Mark Bibby Jackson takes a break at the Gilpin Hotel & Lake House in the Lake District and receives a Michelin Star experience. There is something about the Lake District…
For a seriously passionate and curious traveller, revisiting the same destination is an absolute no go given the world has officially reopened for adventures and there are new places to…
With sauna culture remaining a significant part of Estonian life for hundreds of years, it is unsurprising that the country is ideal for a wellness holiday. Combining ancient traditions with innovative modern…
Fairmont Windsor Park, located on the edge of Windsor Great Park and The Savill Garden, is the UK’s newest luxury spa and wellness hotel officially opening 1 January 2022. Setting an unprecedented standard in the UK…
Eileen Wise checks into Potton Hall Country Spa & Cottages and spends a delightful time being pampered with her sister. The flags of Zambia and St. George flutter in the…
Mark Bibby Jackson checks into the recently opened AIRE Ancient Baths London and emerges two hours later feeling like a completely different man. There will be a time when international…
The coastal resort town of Koarashicho in Atami, the gateway to Shizuoka’s spectacular Izu Peninsula, is home to a new hot spring hotel, SOKI ATAMI. Offering panoramic ocean views and…
The Leeu Spa at Leeu Estates has re-opened post lockdown under the management of the internationally-acclaimed South African spa and wellbeing brand Healing Earth…
Located in Siem Reap’s picturesque former French colonial quarter, FCC Angkor by Avani has expanded its leisure and guestroom offerings with the introduction of Visaya Spa…
Mark Bibby Jackson visits the beautiful medieval city of Kortrijk in Flanders to discover a place rich in history, with a wonderful cuisine and excellent spa. One of the great…
Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Hua Hin has been honoured in this year’s Condé Nast Traveller Spa Awards, winning the top award for Best Destination Spa 2020…
Outrigger Koh Samui Beach Resort has added an impressive list of value-added perks for guests staying in its four one-bedroom spa pool villas, each one with a new spa zone…
Spa resorts and hotels are there to provide the guest with health and beauty treatments in a relaxing atmosphere. They range from the very expensive to the more manageable day sessions.
There are some dramatically located natural spas throughout the world. Pammukale in Western Turkey is an amazing sight, with its therapeutic waters trickling down its luminous white rocks from the hillside above. Another unforgettable experience is Iceland’s Geothermal Spa built on a lava field. Perhaps not as exotic, you could try a touch of Jane Austin and use the Blue Lagoon Thermal Bath Spa in the UK City of Bath. Jane Austin’s heroines probably wouldn’t have ventured into the waters however – too unladylike. For a more esoteric experience, wind down in the radon-infused waters of the Tajik mountain sanatorium Khoja Obi Garm, Soviet style, or cover yourself with mineral-rich Korean mud during the Boryeong Mud Festival and let its healing properties do their work. But for the ultimate spa experience, head to the Belgian town of Spa, famous since the 16th century as a health resort and where the English word spa comes from.
Heviz, a town in Hungary, is known worldwide for its thermal qualities. It is on the edge of Lake Heviz which has 4.5 hectares of thermal waters. This therapeutic lake is fed from mineral springs and swimming is possible throughout the year, as the temperature hardly ever falls below 23C.
There are many hotels offering spa breaks with products to pamper you and massages to get you into shape. They range from the high end secluded luxury boutique hotels to others that offer very reasonably priced weekend or day breaks. There are an increasing number of wellness resorts that allow you to detox and recharge your batteries. If your pocket doesn’t reach to that, contact some of your home town’s spa hotels and see what deals they have.