Skin Care

  The prevalence of club spas is growing - they can now be found in most major cities across the UK. Day spa Unlike spa hotels, day spas provide no overnight accommodation. Guests are welcome to enjoy massages, facials and body scrubs and wraps (note: individual spa menus vary), and make use of onsite leisure facilities during normal working hours, on weekdays and weekends. Day spas can differ greatly. Some are large, luxurious and self-contained affairs, while others are quainter and comprise several rooms within a sizeable hair or beauty salon. Smaller day spas may not feature a steam room or Jacuzzi, and might have a smaller treatment menu (always check individual spa websites to confirm inclusions before booking).

  If you’d like to treat a loved one to a relaxing spa day, consider our pamper day gift vouchers. Dental spa Going to the dentist can be nerve-wracking for many but opening wide and saying “Ahhh!” is far easier in a stylish and calming setting designed to mimic a spa. Dental spas are ideal for those who find traditional dental practices intimidating, as well as those seeking the very best maintenance and care for their teeth. Dental spas offer a wide range of cosmetic dentistry procedures, including laser whitening, air polishing, veneers and inlays, to help your smile look its very best.

  Some dental spas do not provide traditional spa therapies (massages, facials etc.) and instead offer treatments usually available at medical spas (dermal fillers and Botox, for example). Be sure to check the services offered by individual dental spas. Destination spa Destination spas (i.e. health farms) exist to boost the overall health of guests. Traditional spa treatments help guests unwind, while a full itinerary designed to promote a healthy lifestyle is also provided. Nutritional meals, fitness and stress reduction classes, and educational lectures informing guests how to remain healthy once they have returned home are often included. The term ‘destination spa’ is sometimes used interchangeably with ‘spa resort’. Some destination spas do not allow guests to stay for less than two nights, for the benefits of their itinerary cannot be fully felt or appreciated within a shorter timeframe (check individual resorts for minimal stay durations).

Skin Care

  Weight loss and detox-focused destination spas are available, with their food menus reflecting these goals. Hammam spa At these spas, guests can experience the Middle East’s variation of the steam bath, otherwise known as the ‘Turkish bath’. Hammams are communal places to cleanse and socialise in Middle Eastern countries, though the experience (often called ‘the wet cousin of the sauna’) has been made private - and more luxurious - within Western spas. Guests unwind inside a warm room, before entering another to undergo head-to-toe body exfoliation and soaping. After rinsing off in a pool of cold water, guests enjoy a massage before ending their treatment inside an invigorating cooling room. The use of warm, moist air is what makes hammam spas so cleansing and therapeutic - those with a low tolerance for hot temperatures may prefer a different spa type.

  Western interpretations of hammam spas can vary greatly - always check individual listings to determine applicable procedures. Health farms/Health spas ‘Health farm’ and ‘destination spa’ are two terms which are often used interchangeably. Generally speaking, health farms offer a personalised experience with a high staff-to-guest ratio, personal fitness and dietary advice readily available, no children, a daily schedule of exercise and activity classes included as standard in with package price, menus are calorie-counted. It’s the norm to lounge around in towelling robes throughout all areas and typically the spas boast idyllic settings. Please refer to ‘Destination spa’ for more information Browse all health spas on SpaSeekers.com Health spa Please refer to ‘Destination spa’.

  Spa hotel These are spas within hotel environments. While destination spas prioritise pampering while offering accommodation, guests at hotel spas are less likely to stay simply to enjoy the spa alone. Rather, the spa is a fantastic additional facility to enjoy. These spas often appeal to those who would like to combine a spa visit with other holiday activities. Spa days at hotel spas are often available, but access to certain facilities may be limited for those without a hotel booking. Be sure to check individual listings to confirm inclusions before finalising your hotel spa booking. Medical spa Medical spas (or ‘med spas’) employ fully-licensed medical staff who administer non-invasive cosmetic treatments - like Botox, microdermabrasion, fillers, chemical peels and laser hair removal - in addition to more traditional spa treatments (individual menus vary). Such spas are a cross between a day spa and a GP’s office. They operate under the supervision of a fully-qualified doctor to ensure safety and desirable results for all patients.