Tag Archives: massage

Four Seasons Spa, Beirut

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The Spa at Beirut’s Four Seasons Hotel is much as you would expect it to be: smart, chic and understated. Stationed on the mezzanine level the environment is blissfully quiet and calming.

On entering I was given jasmine tea and a hot flannel to refresh my hands and face. Feeling a little worse for wear after the previous late night, I was totally ready to be pampered and plumped. The Spa has seven treatment rooms including a VIP couple’s suite with its own private steam room and Jacuzzi. Both hotel guests and city visitors are welcomed and the range of treatments covers every need. I was intrigued to spy an in-room menu, a list of treatments that can be enjoyed in the privacy of your own room, perfect if you are too tired / lazy or jet lagged to even budge from your bed.

After a quick change in the deserted changing rooms, I met my allocated therapist. While dipping my toes into a bronze basin of tepid water, my treatment was explained to me. The Mediterranean Experience is a nurturing massage that emphasises spa influences from the sea shores. It is a full body massage though some areas are given more time and attention… for me it was my feet and back that particularly benefitted.

After checking the tension and pressure were okay for me, the massage commenced. To balance the body the therapist uses olive oil and cedarwood essential oil. I loved the cedarwood, it has an intense scent and I felt it had a deep purifying effect on my skin, as well as leaving me glowing afterwards.

The products used at the Four Seasons are very natural and have an instantly calming remedial effect on the muscles. As well as coating my dehydrated skin with soothing oil, my therapist used hot damp towels to wrap up my feet, softening and rejuvenating the skin.

The spa treatments here are expensive but the experienced staff make it worth every penny/ dollar/ livre. Though the Spa provides relaxation rooms, after my treatment I travelled up in the lift to floor 26 where I continued to relax by the tranquil rooftop pool. This is a heavenly oasis and the perfect place to further unwind after a massage at the Spa.

Visit the Four Seasons Spa website here for more information and to book.

Thoroughly Modern Milly travelled with bmi, British Midland International. British Midland International flies direct from London Heathrow to Beirut offering ten flights per week. Flights are twice daily on Mondays, Thursdays and Saturdays with a daily service on all other days.  Fares are available from £485 return including all taxes and charges. For more information and to book visit www.flybmi.com

Spa at Chancery Court Hotel, Holborn

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Chancery Court Hotel is quite magnificent, a hidden palace in Central London that awaits you down a cobbled alley. I visited the luxurious spa here on a Tuesday afternoon after a busy day in London and was quite taken aback by the tranquility that instantly calms you upon entry.

Arriving late after a wrong turning, the girl at the front desk gently welcomed me while reassuring me that she had moved my treatment to a slightly later time. The Spa is found on the lower ground floor, deep within the hotel. Once inside the wooden door, the place is almost silent, just the gentle trickle of the exotic water features. Everything in the Chancery Court Spa is beautifully arranged, and ultra comfortable ready for extreme pampering.

Unable to decide between a facial and a massage, I opted for a treatment that features both. The ESPA personalised facial (55 minutes) is a therapy for skin in need of re-balancing, re-hydration, regeneration and brightening, tailor made to suit you and leave your face feeling fresh and glowing. The facial was paired with a shorter hot stone back massage (30 minutes) that employs heated basalt lava stones to iron out stress and soothe aching muscles, encouraging a state of deep relaxation. This massage was done first and was my favourite part of the treatment, unlike anything I have ever experienced before. After some sensual aromatherapy oils were massaged into my back my therapist used the hot stones to delve deeper into the knots and rub out all signs of tension… it was blissful and almost sent me to sleep.

The facial was a serious pampering treatment, no harsh exfoliating, instead oils and cleansing lotions swept away all signs of tiredness gently moisturising the skin leaving it smooth and replenished. Chancery Court Hotel Spa use the ESTA products which are natural and nourishing and feel lovely on my skin. My therapist seemed to instantly understand my concerns, kneading with pressure where necessary but massaging gently where she saw fit. It was one of the most relaxing treatments I have ever tried and released stress throughout the whole body rather than concentrating solely on one area.

Within the relaxation room there is everything you need to unwind and slip into a complete state of serenity. The room is dimly lit with individual spotlights at each bed for reading; warm green and mint tea and fresh fruit is available for visitors. The plush beds have remotes for adjusting to your preferences… I had great fun childishly moving the leg and neck rests up and down!

This award winning London day spa proves itself within just moments… it is a beautiful, relaxing place to receive a treatment or just spend the afternoon chilling out.

Visit the website to book here.

W Hotels now open in Maldives, Koh Samui, Bali-Seminyak

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Last week I went along to celebrate the launch of W Hotels’ new branches in the Maldives, Koh Samui and Bali-Seminyak. This chain of luxurious and stylish hotels is making astounding progress with a new branch opening every ten days somewhere in the world. They pride themselves on offering a service that provides for the customer around the clock. Some of the hotels even have an Insider, an expert on the city on call to give advice whenever.

With a focus on design, music and fashion the W Hotels create an ambience that inspires their guests. Each branch is different in character and vibe: the London hotel aims to illustrate the dual life of a typical Londoner, calm and businesslike in the day, a fun party animal at night.

A huge sparkling W marks the entrance to this luxury hotel in London. Upstairs, after momentarily being tempted by the shop of beautiful accessories, we were taken through to a smaller area with a giant glittering disco ball shooting light around the room. Cocktail maestros were shaking away producing stunning Asian inspired drinks: kiwi mojitos and Thai basil martinis, refreshing and delicious. While sipping away we were treated to little nibbles like hot mushroom spring rolls and tuna tartare. In one corner two expert therapists were giving mini Thai inspired massages, using intense pressure points to relax all the guests. It was divine.

I felt I was treated to a real taste of Asia and the new W retreats. I can’t wait to start planning a trip to Bali, a place that sounds as if it is filled with wishes and wonder.

Visit the W hotels website here for more information.