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)
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
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)
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)
Thursday, March 11, 2010
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.
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.
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.
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/
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