The Daily Telegraph - Saturday - Travel
It’s time for a bit of real life connectivity
Family time has been far from healthy of late. The lack of routine has meant that, by and large, the whole family has exercised less, with adults drinking more alcohol and all of us becoming much more digitally dependent. Digital addiction, in my opinion, is a pandemic in its own right.
Happily, help is at hand. The smart spa industry has for some time been inventing wonderful ways to help us reconnect IRL (in real life – an actual thing now).
Ahead of the game is Germany’s Schloss Elmau, where multi-generational families can enjoy skiing, biking, archery, canyoning, ice hockey and drumming. Marbella Club in Spain has a brilliant balance of spa and wellness for the whole family, blending time together and me-time beautifully.
Further afield, in Qatar, Zulal Wellness Resort by Chiva-Som will include a family wellness programme in its offering when it opens early this year, featuring a children’s dance studio, family treatment rooms and more.
For families with older teens (over 16), investigate Clover Mill, a retreat set in a renovated 17th-century mill in the Malvern Hills where Julie Dent, an advocate of ancient ayurveda, assists loving, exhausted parents struggling to help troubled children with all manner of ills.
Rooms at Schloss Elmau from €300 (£270) pp/pn, half board including a range of activities (schloss-elmau.de); Marbella Club from €390 (marbellaclub. com); Clover Mill from £695pp for a weekend all-inclusive (theclovermill.com)