The Spa, Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Oxford

A beautifully presented spa using luxury Decleor products, complete with thermal suite, hydrotherapy pool and a mini gym

USP

Amongst the stunning architecture of Oxford University college buildings and the renowned Ashmolean Museum stands the landmark Macdonald Randolph 5* Hotel complete with Morse Bar, the watering hole of Colin Dexter’s famous detective – Inspector Morse.

AMBIENCE

The hotel felt like Central Station as I passed through, busy to the point of chaos with reservations, a wedding party checking out and a new wedding party checking in, it was a welcome relief to leave the turbulence above to the tranquility and still of the spa. A warm welcome greeted me as I arrived in the Spa reception and I was sent swiftly down the lantern-lit corridor to the changing room to prepare for my treatment. A tidy space with Molton Brown and Decleor products, the change area felt warm and luxurious, with grey tiled floors and mahogany units. The relaxation room was warmer still, with four leather loungers together with quilts and pillows, reading lights and gentle low-level music. The feeling of relaxation was instant, even if there were two ladies sharing the room with me. The spa has four treatment rooms, a thermal suite that includes a rock and bio sauna, an aroma steam therapy room, an ice room, a sensation shower and a hydrotherapy pool for which there is a charge of £15 per person. Use of the mini gym is however complimentary.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE

My therapist Charlotte, was softly spoken and very descriptive, offering me a choice of 4 Decleor massage products (Relax, Detox, Flow or Tonic) for my Decleor Aroma Ultimate Body Massage (£70 for 60 mins). They all smelt delicious and I opted for ‘Flow’ that smelt warm and peppery, with ingredients of black pepper, cypruss, lemon and lavender. An invigorating and stimulating massage to boost blood circulation and get energy flowing. The massage worked effectively on the tension around my body, so calmed was I that I very nearly drifted off to sleep towards the end. The combination of the heated bed and the warmth and aroma of the product were enough to help me feel very relaxed, soothed and very indulged. The balmy texture applied to my skin felt wonderfully smooth and silky and indeed left my skin feeling just that for days afterwards. A mixture of techniques were used; massage; reflexology and shiatsu that pulped my skin really well and left me feeling energized.

IN-CROWD

The Spa is predominantly used by hotel residents, though local-workers and residents also come in to have spa treatments. The spa can treat eight people at a time and for that reason, Hen parties book the spa out exclusively for a day and get 10 hours of treatments including lunch (£130 per person).

FOOD AND DRINK

The hotel’s Drawing Room serves light lunches and traditional afternoon teas. Spa goers on a day package will enjoy their lunch in the drawing room. The Restaurant at the Randolph with 2 AA Rosettes serves the finest Scottish beef, lamb, pork and wild white fish. Both the food and the service is top notch.

WALLET WATCH

My Decleor Aroma Ultimate Body Massage was £70 for 60 minutes, which is very reasonably priced. Other treatments range from £12 for a bikini wax to £130 for an indulgence spa day, should you want to include a nights stay in the hotel and an evening of relaxation, prices start at £369. All prices stated here are Fri - Mon.

NEED TO KNOW

Macdonald Randolph Hotel, Beaumont Street, Oxford OX1 (Tel: 0844 879 9132 website: www.MacdonaldHotels.co.uk/Randolph)

Le Spa, Chalet Mounier, Le Deux Alpes, France

A welcoming unpretentious hotel spa for the perfect post ski treat

USP
75km away from Grenoble, this beautiful alpine chalet became the first hotel of the ski resort in 1933. Hosting an outside sauna amongst its array of relaxation goodies, with snow falling outside its a warm, calm and secluded area away from energetic ski world outside.

AMBIENCE
There isn't a lot of lounging space around the pool, only fixed wall benches to sit on but nonetheless, there is a hot tub that looks out on the pool, a hydro jet shower, a hammam and the aforementioned outside sauna and a gym. The decor is natural, with slate tiled flooring and wooden alpine ceilings giving the place a warm feel even though its freezing outside. The gym is small, with the inclusion of a powerplate which is not free to use (25 mins session €49) and the changing area very limited, only one corner cubicle. The products used are Cinq Mondes, combining a selection of natural cosmetic products tested under dermalogical control, without silicon or mineral oil, without artificial colorant and without any animal based products.

EXPERIENCE
I was shown straight to the pool area by Spa Manager Mr. Salvatore Farina on arrival. I was suprised to see I was the only one using the complex (free for residence) given the snow was falling so heavily outside it was an opportune moment to take some time away from the piste. I swam a few lengths of the pool to warm up my muscles and then made use of the sauna, hammam and hot tub before my sports massage (60 mins for €79 or £69). A massage incorporationg a range of techniques including, stretching to rid of muscle fatigue, perfect after a day of skiing. I robed up ready for my massage and was led upstairs, through the restaurant (luckily no one dining) and down a different flight of stairs to the spa area, where I was taken into the smallest of the three treatment rooms, for my massage. The massage was not too hard-going on my aching ski muscles, especially my calves and shins, but heavy enough to feel the tension loosening. From head to toe, I was throughly pummelled and as requested a lot of time was spend on my back, shoulders and neck.

IN CROWD
I returned to the pool area post treatment to make more use of the complimentary facilities and there were six others enjoying the complex too - all of them hotel residents having come back from their day in the mountains, I was quietly envious that my chalet didn't have such lovely amenities to make use of. The chalet is not far from the ski centre, so every reason for non-residents to enjoy a pamper too.

FOOD
The hotel restaurant serves a wide menu of dishes including mountain lake trout and pigeon. The hotel is a short walk away from the centre of town, where a range of great restaurants, creperies and bars can be found.

WALLET WATCH
A one-hour recuperation or sports massage cost €79. A four-hand massage costs €170 for 60 minutes. You can enjoy spa experiences from 2 days up to 5 days, ranging from €210 to €495. And personal coaching sessions starting from €40 for 30 minutes. All treatments are open to non-residents and include complimentary use of the pool, hot tub, hammam, sauna and gym.

NEED TO KNOW
Le Spa Chalet Mounier Hotel Spa and Restaurant, 2 rue de la chapelle, 38860 Les Deux Alpes (www.chalet-mounier.com Tel: +33(0)4 76 80 56 90)

Obsession Salon & Spa, Radisson BLU, Birmingham

-SPA CLOSING MARCH 23, 2010

Memorizing massage candle treatments 18 floors up with panoramic views of the city

USP A small day spa with ample treatment choice in a very secluded Birmingham city salon.

AMBIENCE A secluded salon spa 18 floors up is independently run Obsession Salon and Spa.
A compact salon with three treatment rooms including one double treatment suite, a spray tan booth, sauna, 2 changing cubicles a mini gym only big enough for 6 people max and a small reception area.

The salon is decorated in coffee and cream colours, with no relaxation area but 2 chairs beside the reception desk with magazines to browse. The salon was quiet, with just a receptionist and a therapist present, it made for a very intimate and private experience, feel like secluded sanctuary – no one would find me here!

I arranged for my mum-of-two sister to enjoy a Deluxe Manicure (1 hour, £35) after my Lux Shea massage (1 hour, £60), so she went shopping with her 2-year old and turned up once I had finished. The salon was hugely welcoming of her and did not bat an eyelid to a child in a pushchair and shopping bags entering the calmness of the spa.

EXPERIENCE Holly introduced herself as my therapist and gave me an insight into the massage candle treatment before we began. I changed in the room and left my clothes hanging over the chair, and chose ‘Harmony’ from the choice of four candles. With a woody and warm scent, its qualities rebalance emotions using extracts of fig.
As the shea candle is lit the room fills with the fragrance and as the candle melts, the warm oil is applied to the body. Warm and soothing, the massage itself was powerful enough to reach my problem areas and although the room was cold, the warmth of the oil definitely made a difference.

The massage itself was most enjoyable, the room for me though was slightly too cool.
I sat in the same room enjoying a fruit tea whilst my sister enjoyed her manicure. The curtains were drawn back to reveal the panoramic views of the city and the suns warmth speedily heated the room. My sister’s overworked hands were restored, using warm mitts and enriching hand remedy and then French polished, leaving her feeling pampered and her hands looking pristine.

FOOD Because the spa is not part of Radisson BLU, you would be best to head outside and find the eateries nearby. The Mailbox is only 3 minutes walk away and hosts a wide range of bars and restaurants.

IN-CROWD Hotel residents – pop band JLS enjoyed spa treatments the week before me whilst staying in the hotel. Popular with male customers not surprisingly because of its secluded location and especially enjoying the Sports Manicure (£22). But most popular with local office workers.

WALLET WATCH The treatments were very reasonably priced £65 for my massage and £35 for my sister’s manicure. You could push the boat out further with a detoxifying mud treatment (1 hour, £72) and there are a couple of specialist pregnancy treatments (1 hour, £72).

NEED TO KNOW Obsession Salon & Spa, Radisson BLU, Holloway Circus, Queensway, Birmingham B2 2BT (tel: 0121 654 6075) http://www.obsessionsalonspa.co.uk/

London College of Beauty Therapy, W1

As published on Times Online
http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/travel/good_spa_guide/article7016933.ece


USP

The largest beauty salon in London (by floor space) boasts 14 treatment ‘rooms’ just around the corner from the sights and delights of Oxford Circus.

AMBIENCE

The entrance shows the signs of student life - beauticians in their ‘whites’ milling about outside.
The receptionist was friendly to my sister and I on arrival and directed us swiftly from the modern red and white nail bar reception area (with ten tables ready for action) to the dark waiting area, a throughway to the ground floor treatment room.
What used to be the London College of Music before becoming a private family bank shows some signs of its previous grandeur – with huge chandeliers hanging from the ceilings of its vast spacious rooms.

It is a very busy salon with 28 students working at any one time and capacity to treat 20 clients in an hour. To say it's atmospheric is an understatement. It does not hold the stillness of a typical spa, but it does have a charming energy.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE

My therapist, Charlotte, went through the disclaimer and took a quick health check before my Full Body Massage including Face and Scalp (75 minutes for £25). The lotions used throughout the college salon are LCBT’s own. My desired result to be relaxed and de-stressed was met perfectly, Charlotte used great pressure, massaging evenly and thoroughly and I zoned out almost immediately.
My sister was positively glowing after her Deep Cleansing Facial (60 minutes for £20), a bride-to-be in April she is keen to find somewhere that she can come back to at affordable prices on the run up to her wedding, and she's found it. The dry skin around her mouth and hairline had almost gone post-treatment. The following day she commented on how blemish-free and better balanced the moisture of her skin was and how keen she was to book up again.
You can't choose a therapist when you book an appointment, which is a shame, but you can state whether you would prefer a male or female therapist.

FOOD

It was very tempting to go from salon to West End since you walk out into the heart of it, but we reined ourselves in and sensibly sipped hot chocolates in Starbucks opposite.

IN-CROWD

City professionals and Soho workers in the know fitting in a treatment during their lunch break or after work and the families and friends of the beauty therapy students.

WALLET WATCH

A good variety of face, body, hand and feet treatments to choose from and no matter how hard you try, you cannot spend more than £25 on any treatment.

NEED TO KNOW

London College of Beauty Therapy, 47 Great Marlborough Street, LONDON W1 7JP (0207 7208 1302; http://www.lcbt.co.uk/) email: salon@lcbt.co.uk

Reducing pain in a nice way

I broke my back many moons ago and still suffer from the ache in my lower back as well as my neck, as I'm sure most of you do given we're sitting at our desks for 8 hours a day.

I was introduced to the magic of TENS (Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation) by my hospital physio and at first found it the strangest thing. But it works. And it still works for me, so many years on.

Here's the science bit...the machine delivers small painless electrical pulses to the body via electrodes placed on the skin. This blocks the way pain signals are sent to to the brain and stimulates the body enough to create endorphins - our own pain relieving chemical.

Great for sporting injuries, whiplash, backpain, menstrual pain, sciatica, and arthritis, to name just a few.

Small enough to put in your pocket, you can use this whilst you're on the go and no one would know. Often I take it to work and use it at my desk. Why put up with pain when you don't have to.

It hasn't changed my life, but it has let me find some relief to my problem areas and that in itself has made a big difference.

Youthfulness...

I've been asked to try this face cream by my colleague and feedback to him how I get on. I'm hoping for miracle results and to turn back my age by 10 years, I'm not sure how likely that is to happen, I'll keep you posted

They say: Building on Sirtuin technology, Clinique science uses youth-extending agents to create a nightly moisturizer that helps intensify the nightly cycle of natural repair. Plumped with natural collagen, lines and wrinkles appear to evaporate. Skin gains that energized “8-hour effect” come morning.

Watch this space!

Music to my ears...

I can't tell you how many people stop me in the pool to ask what I'm wearing. I swim in two locations three or four times a week and its very rare that I don't get asked once or twice on each occassion.

Simplistically, its a rubber case for my shuffle, so I can swim lap upon lap to my chosen swim playlist and 'drown' out the rest of the pool so I can concentrate on my work out.

I've never not worked out to music, so when I started swimming it was a must find for me, and I didn't have to look that hard. Do a Google search for 'waterproof shuffle' and there are plenty of suppliers.

Needless to say- given my shuffle was only £35 the device in its entirety costs more, £30 for the case and £20 for the earplugs but its been worth every penny.

If you swim regularly and want something to stimulate your mind whilst swimming lap upon lap, give this a go. I'm in the pool twice as long as I usually would be, working out to my favourite tracks and as a by product getting very fit indeed!

Try it.

Thai Royale Beauty Oil

I don't have particularly dry skin, but I do love to put this on my face before bed and wake up in the morning with super soft and well hydrated skin.

Its smells beautifully of ginger and lemongrass, applies easily as an oil would and you only need a small amount so it lasts forever.

By morning the oil has done its thing, nourished your skin from the outside in, leaving your face soft to touch and positively glowing with hydration.

For a keen swimmer like myself, its a must. And for my pregnant friend suffering from dry skin, its perfect.

Just the tonic to keep your skin beautiful and I promise you this, your skin will feel as though you had a facial at a fraction of the price.

Try it and let me know what you think. http://www.champneys.com/Collection/Bath_and_Body/Thai_Royale/Beauty_Oil

Amala Spa, Hyatt Regency Hotel, Birmingham

Stimulating oxygen facials to protect against winter in a warm, roomy spa

As published on Times Online

USP 

A winning combination of a spacious spa area, reasonable prices and fabulous facials in the heart of Birmingham.

AMBIENCE 

The basement spa of this 24-floor hotel building is decorated in contrasting brown tones giving a warmth and elegance that matches the hotel above.

The spa has six secluded treatment rooms, including a therapy suite for two and a Hammam treatment room. There is also a nail bar big enough for four manicures at any one time.

There is no relaxation area, just a waiting area with leather seating where some groups come to take tea. It was quiet when I was waiting but rather noisy when a group of tea-drinking ladies arrived during my manicure.The clean and tidy changing rooms are shared with the Amala Club – a health and fitness centre that houses a Jacuzzi, cold water plunge pool, sauna, steam room, solarium, a state-of-the-art fitness centre and a 16-metre indoor lap pool.

EXPERIENCE

 I was looking forward to my Limited Edition Orange and Cinnamon Winter Facial followed by a Delux Manicure - with snow outside it seemed the perfect remedy to chapped skin. The treatment room, already filled with the treatment's aromas, was warm and inviting. I got off to a relaxing start with a complementary back massage using Karin Herzog’s Anointing Oil – a warmed coconut oil with cinnamon and orange.

The Winter Facial followed, a deep cleansing treatment with oxygen to stimulate cell renewal, circulation and collagen production. My face was cleansed, exfoliated, massaged and then put under Mask Niveux, a face mask containing the oxygen that fizzes and stimulates as it hits the skin.

Post treatment my skin felt firmer, more hydrated, smooth to touch and, might I say, glowing and remained so for some days to follow.

The treatment ended with a luxury manicure with softening heat treatment where my dry hands were smothered in a rich moisturising cream and put into plastic gloves before being heated and allowed to warm so the moisture enters and stays in the skin. My nails were polished with Orly Nail Varnish in a warm plum colour ready for the Christmas week ahead. My hands felt better moistured, softer and less chapped than before

FOOD 

The Atrium Lobby serves a traditional afternoon tea every day, priced at £14.50 per person. Champagne is also available. Aria Restaurant provides alternative lighter or more substantial meals. Bar Pravda offers a bar food menu of pizza, burgers and fish and chips among other dishes unlikely to appeal to serious spa goers.

IN-CROWD 

Amala Club members, hotel residents and local workers. Hen parties are particularly popular, with afternoon tea taken in the Atrium afterwards.

WALLET WATCH 

My treatments were reasonably priced: the Limited Editon Orange and Cinammon Winter Facial was £50 for 60 minutes and the Luxury Manicure £35 for 45 minutes.

NEED TO KNOW 

Hyatt Regency Birmingham, 2 Bridge Street Birmingham B1 2JZ (Tel 0121 643 1234; www.hyatt.com)