Tag Archives: spa

Mia Resort, Nha Trang, Vietnam

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Nha Trang has been voted one of the ten best beach destinations in the world, with year-round warm waters and long stretches of sand. Mia Resort is the ideal place to enjoy this sunny part of central Vietnam. Just outside the main city, this seaside hotel is accessible yet blissfully isolated. A daily complimentary shuttle takes guests to and from town for city exploring though most prefer to take advantage of the idyllic Mia sanctuary.

After a hellish 11-hour train journey we were more than relieved to pull up to the Mia entrance. The staff at the front desk were warm and welcoming and my stressful day instantly became a distant memory. A no-fuss check-in was complete within seconds and we were whisked away to room 507, a peaceful cliff villa.

With 70 rooms, of varying sizes, and more multi-bedroom villas on the way, Mia is a popular and burgeoning resort. A recent refresh of all rooms has brightened the décor with splashes of colour and pattern without complicating the chic simplicity of the design. Our room was the perfect holiday home, extremely comfortable with indulgent touches. A giant four-poster bed was topped with stripy pillows and surrounded by elegant drapes. The furnishings blend in appropriately with the rugged natural backdrop, particularly charming are the rustic stone wall and wooden details.

The spacious bathroom was a refuge for relaxation, with a grand granite bathtub, indoor and outdoor showers and own brand toiletries. I adored the cornflower blue linen dressing gowns, made especially for Mia by designer Gary Fell. On the private terrace there was a spectacular infinity splash pool, a sheltered lounge area with a hammock, and deck chairs for soaking up the tropical rays.

I was happy just enjoying the villa, but when hunger struck I eventually ventured out for some sustenance. Breakfast is served at Sandals, a breezy open plan dining area with views of the ocean. The endless array of Vietnamese and Continental dishes was a little overwhelming, and there is the a la carte menu to choose from too! After a round of exotic fruits and pastries I opted for the homemade orange and cinnamon infused pancakes with almond crumble, balsamic marinated strawberries and rosemary honey – a creative and tasty morning treat.

Leave time to experience the impressive Xanh Spa, a magical cliff edge pavilion for pampering. A 45-minute relaxing body massage is all you need to get your body into holiday mode. The therapists are intuitive and kind, kneading away at tense knots and warming the muscles with nourishing essential oils.

With warm weather year round Nha Trang is a great place to escape Europe’s chilly winters. Mia translates to sugarcane, a local Vietnamese crop, and everything about this beachside resort is sweet, from the devoted staff to the superb facilities and accommodation.

More information and book a room at Mia Resort here.

Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire

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The Four Seasons Beverly Wilshere feels instantly luxurious. The moment you hand over your car keys to the valet you know you are in safe hands. Located moments away from Rodeo Drive, it is the perfect place to stop after a tiring morning of shopping, or window-shopping in my case.

The spa is found a few floors up, a quiet oasis of calm, away from the buzz of the city. This sanctuary offers a range of indulgent treatments using the renowned Barcelona brand, NuturaBisse. I was lucky to experience their 90 minute Diamond Rose Facial, a thoroughly cleansing and moisturising treatment, with visible results. My therapist Sanam was also a trained masseuse and incorporated this into my facial to relax and remove tension from my shoulders, neck and face. The facial combined a variety of specialist techniques and unique products to brighten and polish the skin. As she applied different serums and creams from the Diamond range, I could smell the delicious and exotic scents from the products. I was almost asleep when she finished the treatment, feeling totally refreshed and revitalised. The 90 minutes of pampering had a visible effect on my previously tired skin, a moisture boost that continued to benefit my face days later.

For a sophisticated dining experience, the BLVD restaurant on the ground floor is the perfect place to sit back and enjoy a meal of casual classic dishes. When I visited on a Saturday evening, the eatery was full and consequently service was slow. Apologetic for the delays, the waiter ensured my glass of Moet & Chandon champagne remained topped up at all times.

A jazz quartet played standards in one corner of the room, which created a lovely atmosphere in the bar and restaurant area. Many guests seemed to be visiting just for cocktails and snacks before going out on the town. We skipped starters and tasted a few of the meatier mains. My lamb (with potato & eggplant “cannelloni”, marcona almonds and carrot purée) was an unusual combination. I found the plate of food too dry, the chunks of lamb had a nice depth of flavour but the log of cannelloni was unsuccessful in my opinion. The generously-sized 28-day aged “four story hill farm” rib-eye was presented clumsily on a plate. It was a tasty steak with a rich peppercorn sauce and thick homemade chips, but I expected more from a Four Seasons restaurant, especially considering the price tag.

We finished our meal with true American-style doughnuts, and the Chocolate Experience (sacher torte, warm fondant with vanilla ice cream, peanut milk chocolate parfait and crème brulee), which was a delicious sweet treat, cooked to perfection with a very gooey centre – it didn’t last long on our table.

With new Executive Chef Thomas Belle recently joining the kitchen at Beverly Wilshere, I hope he will reinspire the menu and add some extra sparkle in the coming months.

More information about Four Seasons Beverly Wilshire here.

Four Seasons Beverly Hills

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When you need a break from busy city life in Los Angeles, the Four Seasons Beverly Hills provides the perfect refuge. Leave your car with the valet and say hi to Marilyn on your way in (there is a statue of the film goddess by the entrance). In the extravagant lobby I noticed the prestigious Krigler perfume shop, where guests can personalise their own scent or choose from one of the famous fragrances.

It was Sunday morning and I was here to try the spa and Cabana restaurant. LA locals get their nails done every week, but for me a manicure and pedicure was a very special luxury. I was the only guest in the nail bar and my therapist worked meticulously on my hands and feet to ensure I left looking like an LA girl.

From their huge selection I chose two Essie colours, a pretty shade of pale pink (‘Hi Maintenance’) for my fingers and a punchy shade of coral (‘Tart Deco’) for my toes. With a cappuccino in hand and my feet soaking in warm bubbly water I felt completely relaxed. After an hour of pampering my nails looked very neat and professional – carefully trimmed cuticles and perfectly painted nails. After a few minutes letting them dry by the pool I headed to the leafy al fresco dining room for lunch.

The Cabana eatery offers casual poolside dining. We enjoyed refreshing homemade fruit juices before ordering a range of summery dishes. The food is simple and nicely presented, the menu features international favourites such as BLT sandwich and seasonal additions like the burrata, peach and tomato salad. Unfortunately the food looked better than it tasted, particularly unsuccessful was the very plain Parsley and Kale Superfood Rigatoni. However, the new dish of crispy crab cakes was better, an appetising soft texture and deliciously seasoned.

For dessert we indulged in their decadent ice-cream sandwich. Chewy (slightly stale) cookies cemented together with creamy homemade ice cream. It was a childish but fun pudding, ideal in the lunchtime Californian heat.

Four Seasons Beverly Hills is a temple of luxury to escape Hollywood. Though I can’t recommend the uninspiring Cabana restaurant when there are so many great restaurants on the streets of LA, the spa is a great place to treat yourself to a luxurious weekend mani-pedi.

More information about the Four Seasons Beverly Hills here.