Travel: Written in the spas
Enjoy a welldeserved break at one of these top retreats
BEST FOR: SPECTACULAR SIGHTS Ragdale Hall Spa, Melton Mowbray, Leicestershire
With such a superb selection of activities and facilities – including 93 comfortable rooms, six pools and 50 treatment rooms – it’s no wonder Ragdale Hall is one of our best-loved retreats. And now, its new open-air rooftop infinity pool – heated to 35°C – is likely to entice even more spa lovers.
This luxurious resort is certainly a brilliant place for a getaway with your best friend. Why not relax together on the new pool’s reclining underwater seating with massage jets, enjoy a make-up masterclass in the Beauty Shop, catch up on the goss in the Thermal Spa’s brilliant Rose Sauna or Colour Flow Cave, have a go at Pilates or the aquagym?
Top up your energy levels with tea and scrumptious cakes in the Verandah Bar and Lounge, but leave room for dinner – the food and wine is really good!
Make sure you find time for pampering. The 50-minute Blissful Face and Back Therapy is a gorgeous starter, but why not treat yourself to more – an Elemis Deep Tissue Massage, Clarins Foot Pampering Treatment or Decléor Ultimate Glow Prescriptive Facial, perhaps? Ragdale’s friendly, efficient staff can help you choose.
STAY: A two-night taster break starts from £342pp, and includes either a 50-minute Blissful Face and Back Therapy, or the choice of two different 25-minute treatments – from a Soothing Back Massage, a Fresh Feet Treatment or a Soft Hands Treatment. Breakfast, buffet lunch, dinner and full use of the facilities is also included. Visit ragdalehall.co.uk or call 01664 433000.
BEST FOR: ESCAPISM Champneys, Tring, Hertfordshire
As Britain’s original health spa, Champneys has been working its magic to relax and rejuvenate since 1925.
Not only does the original building make you feel like you’ve stepped into The Great Gatsby, the endless options in which to relax make it even more perfect for pure
escapism. With a complimentary robe and flip-flops to keep, you’ll be itching to use the 25m pool, indoor and outdoor Jacuzzis, sauna, steam room and plunge pool.
And then there’s the food… Whether it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner, you certainly won’t be let down by the selection of healthy and delicious grub. The sumptuous lunchtime buffet is particularly good – providing food from curry to Italian gnocchi and fresh salads!
So, whether you’re enjoying your complimentary treatment for two, or exploring the sensational 170acre grounds, it would be hard to be disappointed by Champneys.
STAY: Champneys has three different Valentine’s Day packages available – a one- or two-night spa break and a Valentine’s spa day from just £99. The packages are available to book at all Champneys resorts between 1-28 February. Champneys one-night Valentine’s spa break is priced from £329 for two people per room. Visit champneys.com/spa-resorts/ champneys-tring or call 01442 291000.
BEST FOR: STATE-OFTHE-ART RELAXATION Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa, Retford, Nottinghamshire
Retford might not be the first place you think of when it comes to luxury relaxation, but this East Midlands market town is home to one the most high-tech retreats we’ve ever seen, Ye Olde Bell Hotel & Spa.
While the hotel itself, a 17th-century coaching inn, is gorgeous, it’s the spa just next door that has the real wow factor. Its state-of-the-art thermal room boasts eight unique experiences, including a salt inhalation room and a snow-storm walk. From the swimsuit dryer and make-up remover in the changing rooms to the spa butlers, they really have thought of everything.
No restful weekend is complete without food, and Ye Olde Bell’s is simply incredible. All this is topped off with fantastic, friendly service from the staff. Finish your stay with a recharging night’s sleep in one of the hotel’s rooms and a delicious breakfast.
STAY: Spa packages start from £99pp. The Relax and Rejuvenate package is £265pp, and includes a full day in the spa, a two-course lunch, Sabia Med treatment, a 60-minute treatment, dinner, overnight stay and breakfast. Visit yeoldebell-hotel.co.uk or call 01777 705121.