Travel Diary - Ti Sana

Sometimes the best detox programmes can be found in the most tucked away places. This little Italian treasure has been discovered by our Spa Spy Helen. Dedicated to health and wellbeing, there is a wealth of information under it's historic roof, all only a short flight from London.
 
What were your first impressions of the resort?
My first impressions? A wonderful mix of old world charm and contemporary design –  a short transfer from the airport took me from the hustle and bustle of Milan through sweeping Italian countryside to a quaint cluster of charming Italian homes where, in the heart of this sleepy hamlet, lies Ti Sana. Constructed from part of a former Italian nobleman’s home, the thoughtful renovation, peaceful setting and caring team creates an intimate and nurturing ambience right from the start.


What do you think makes Ti Sana special?
Bags of enthusiasm from the knowledgeable, impressive young team and a strong belief in the benefits of following a raw food lifestyle.  Newly opened, with immaculate facilities, including the only Angel of Water colon hydrotherapy in Italy, Ti Sana has award-winning freestyle spa facilities, an in-house spa doctor who has published books on the subject of the colon and an authentic, balanced approach to detox and weight management.  I also loved the fact that it’s a small and personal property as there are only 22 bedrooms, so it’s ideal for the single traveller – and each room is individually designed, which makes your stay feel even more individual.


What was your favourite activity?
Apart from reaping the benefits of the well-laid out, relaxing freestyle spa, I also loved jogging with the owner, Signore D’Angelo, along the River Adda (he frequently takes guests running, or there’s a guided power walk each morning too with Mario, the fitness trainer, for those who prefer to rest their knees!).   The feeling of being in rural Italy when wondering around the little hamlet was special too – there was even a little Italian grandma doing her linen washing in the fresh water trough.  There’s a good selection of activities to keep you busy if that’s how you want to be - daily staff tips, educational lectures, group activity classes – but the sense of calm remains at Ti-Sana, so it’s just as easy to lose yourself in the little lounge and delve into a good book...
What was your most relaxing experience?
Having a massage with a therapist with who I swear had magic hands... and unwinding in the sauna (there’s even an infra-red sauna here).
How was the food?
Delicious, varied, well-presented and entirely vegetarian. The raw food specialist chef, Valerie, whipped up a different fresh juice blend each day, and, given the unlimited supply of broth each day, as well as three good sized, healthy meals each day, I definitely did not feel hungry.
Would you recommend Ti Sana?
Absolutely – this is a real find.  Authentic, intimate and so very easy to get to - a choice of four nearby airports is about as convenient as it gets.  


Fore more on a luxury spa holiday at Ti Sana visit www.wellbeingescapes.co.uk

A healthier lifestyle can prevent you from getting cancer

Drinking and smoking less and losing weight could save 134,000 cancer diagnoses each year, Cancer Research UK finds. We've been very interested to find out that making simple changes to yourlifestyle and diet can significantly cut your risk of getting cancer. http://www.guardian.co.uk/news/datablog/2011/dec/07/cancer-causes-list

Our Spy Spy Visits Canyon Ranch, Tucson, Arizona, USA

Think you know it all when it comes to Destination Spas? Well Canyon Ranch is the place the experts go to when they want to learn more. Taking the turn of Spa Spy, our Peter finds out just what makes it one of the best places for tackling your health and fitness goals.
What were your first impressions of the resort?
Considering the amazing reputation it has as a luxury spa holiday destination, it was understated and rustic but very comfortable and welcoming. There is very much a sincere focus on the health of the individuals - in mind body and spirit.
How did you find the food, was it healthy?
I found the food very healthy, fresh, plentiful, and satisfying. All the menus contain the nutritional details for each dish, i.e. calories, fat content, carbohydrates, etc. You know what you are eating. I’d call it a ‘performance food’ menu, to maximise your experience in terms of achieving your goal. Also, there was food, fruit, drinks available all the time between meal times which was great and well appreciated; there is so much going on that it is easy to forget to refresh yourself and get some energy back, so having this available was really useful!
What do you think makes Canyon Ranch special?
Definitely the high calibre of their staff. The nurses, trainers, therapists, consultants are all at the top of the game and full of knowledge, wisdom and practical advice. Many of them have been there 20 years plus, so they really know their stuff, and genuinely love working there.
What was your favourite treatment?
The ‘road warrior massage’, fantastic as a ‘recovery’ type treatment after a day of hiking or biking. Large sachets of various herbs and spices are steamed and heated and then applied to selected muscle groups. I had it after a glorious hike in the Catalina Mountains and it worked wonders.
Did you learn anything you didn’t already know from your time there?
You couldn’t help but learn if you engaged yourself even a little in the range of activities, discussions and seminars available every day. It is a learning centre as much as a destination spa and wellness resort – I felt like I was at an elite university the whole time I was there.
What was your favourite activity?
The early morning hike up into the canyons near the resort. Two and a half hours up the mountain and about an hour and a half back. You are back at Canyon Ranch in time for a late breakfast after having a great bit of exercise while watching morning break over the desert.
What was your favourite aspect of the resort?
The range and variety of activities available to you every day, it is incredible. There were up to 40 classes and seminars, with everything from high octane fitness classes to metaphysical subjects such as tarot reading.  
Did anything surprise you about the resort?
Considering all the activities going on the resort was really calm and serene. Even when it is busy, it never seems crowded due to guests being involved in different activities throughout the resort or even off the resort such as biking and hikes
What is the atmosphere at Canyon Ranch like?
I compare it to being at a top university with a highly ‘switched on’ student body. There was a level of seriousness to the way people were getting on with their programmes and daily activities. The staff had the same attitude, doing all they could to encourage the maximum effort with the joint goal of getting results. All this was tempered with a degree of mutual respect and fun that motivated you to keep coming back for more.
Who would you recommend Canyon Ranch to?
I’d recommend Canyon Ranch to someone who is genuinely serious about an investment in themselves, physically, mentally, and emotionally and who really understands the destination spa experience. For everything you give in terms of time, money, effort and dedication while you are there, you get it all back in terms of results...and with interest. It's more than a spa holiday, it's a life-changing experience. 
For more on Canyon Ranch visit our website here!
 

A Rum Affair

Nothing quite says holiday like sipping a delcious cocktail on a tropical beach paradise. But Shanti Mauricie, in Mauritius, takes it to the next level. Their rustic beach bar, the Fish and Rhum shack, has been voted 9th amongst the 50 Best Beach Bars in the world by top global travel website CNN Go.

With a drink in hand, the sand beneath your toes, glowing lanterns lighting up the midnight sea, and mauritian sega dancers swirling their brightly coloured dresses it's a heady and intoxicating way to spend a Mauritian night.

As well as cocktails, guests are offered a range of over 40 local Mauritian rums or a selection of ice cold beers from the local Mauritian brewery. Freshly caught fish and lobster is cooked on the BBQ and served alongside delicious salads featuring lettuce and vegetables grown on-site in Shanti Maurice’s herb garden.This is a luxury spa holiday with food like no other.

Shanti Maurice’s General Manager, Paul van Frank said, ‘We are extremely proud that our Fish and Rhum Shack has been recognised as one of the top Beach Bars in the world. The accolade really recognises how special the resort is and how much we value the exceptional, authentic experiences that our guests receive when staying with us.’

For a luxury spa holiday at Shanti Maurice check out our fantastic 'Discovery' holiday. 

We're still astonshed by this excellent offer at Longevity!

Exclusive 'Taste of Longevity' Luxury Short Break - Save up to 45%!

Taste the good life on an exclusive luxury spa holiday at Longevity Wellness Resort in the Portuguese Algarve. For a short time only, save up to 45% on usual rates and feel refreshed and rejuvenated in just a few days. The location in a stunning natural reserve in the mountains of the Algarve will give you a sense of calm and tranquility while you indulge in the relaxing pampering spa treatments. To take up this fantastic deal, we kindly ask you to agree to write a short review on your time at Longevity, which we will post on our website.

There are LIMITED SPACES available so act fast to make the most of this incredible offer!

	Luxury Algarve Getaway This Exclusive Escape includes: -Aromatic Body Scrub -Deeply Relaxing Cranio Facial Massage -Return Flights and Transfers -3 Nights Accomodation with Breakfast Prices from £300pp sharing, £370 single
	Become a Spa Spy like Helen! Read more about the beautiful Longevity Wellness Resort as visited by our very own Wellbeing team member Helen! Feel Insipired? Write a review of your trip to Longevity and see it appear on the website!

Postcards from Lefay

Our spa spy has proven quite the photographer with these beautiful shots from Lefay. In this interview, she gives the insider scoop on what she liked best about the resort.

What were your first impressions of the resort? I was immediately struck with the stunning views of Lake Garda, which you could just stare at for hours. There was also a great sense of space in the property. Plus, it was very eco-friendly, I was impressed by the fact there was no air-conditioning. To cool the rooms they used running cold water. It was quite high-tech there were lots of buttons everywhere and it was fun seeing what did what. There was even a button to open and shut the curtains, which I wish I could have every morning!
How did you find the food, was it healthy? On the lunch and dinner menus they have a healthy food option which tells you how many calories are in each dish. The food was absolutely gorgeous; it had a strong Italian theme and was all fresh and yummy. The salad buffet was incredible, with cheeses, hams, leafy greens, beans, antipasti and the like to choose from. You could take a buffet of salad and be totally happy for dinner. Breakfast was a decent spread, with an egg station, cereals and lovely breads.  A special touch was that they had a juicer and a big basket with apples and carrots so you could make your own fresh juice. I made my own healthy cocktail with carrots and ginger.  Be careful though, on the breakfast table there was champagne should you want it. I thought ‘ooo I could try that, but then I thought actually probably not!'
Lefay are famous for their Chinese Medical approach. How did you find it? Doctor Maurizio was really approachable and obviously very knowledgeable; he's quite a big shot in Italy. He knows a few words in English but there is a translator in the room.  Like with our other spa holidays, he talks you though your lifestyle, eating habits, checks your tongue and your pulse - the whole Chinese medicine approach is very personal. They translate the consultation into English so you have a record of it.  He prescribed me a moxibustion, which was like a hot heated rod that works on your meridians a bit like acupuncture. When the stick touched my back, I could really feel it working.
The Five different Saunas sound like an incredible experience - how did you find them? It's very European in the sense that everyone is naked, and to be honest that's not for me. They believe that when you're in the sauna you're sweating out your toxins, so it's not good to wear a swimsuit as it keeps them against your skin. Thankfully they had a separate female only sauna which had a sunset relaxation area, it was really lovely in there.
Was there anything particularly special about the spa area? The salt lake was really impressive. It was 37 degrees with a salinity of ten percent. You book into it and there's no one around so you can take all your clothes off if you want to! The whole area had lounge chairs and proper salt there. I floated around for a good 20 minutes. I felt so sleepy and blissful afterwards, I couldn't wait to get back to my room and chill out.
How did you find the resort's atmosphere? It was a really relaxed luxury spa holiday- you can wear your dressing gown everywhere, except to dinner. The service was lovely and friendly, the staff always came over to ask ‘how was your dinner'.  There was also an amazing meditation walk which took you through the beautiful grounds. I think it would be a great place for stress management.
What was your favourite part of the resort? Well I couldn't get over the views - you can just keep on looking at it, and the gardens. They allow you to make the most of it by providing lots of lounge chairs and seating areas around the property. Inside, there was a lovely ‘gentleman's' lounge with a bar area. You could cosy up in the armchairs and read a book or the newspapers which were laid out.
Any other insider tips? Remember the Italians take a siesta between 12:30-3:30, which is worth bearing in mind if you fancy visiting the nearby town. It is also well worth exploring the sensory gardens, in fact the whole place is so serence and beautiful it's great to jog or walk around.
Did anything surprise you about the resort? The Europeans often do shorter exercise classes, more frequently, which gives you a lot of variety. The Pilates and yoga classes were only half an hour long, but as no one else turned up it was like having my own private class, and the instructors were really knowledgeable, they knew exactly how to correct my postures.
Lefay have some fanstastic  packages that will leave you destressed and glowing with health. Try a rejuvenating pacackage or a chinese medicine based spa method programme.

Luxuriate at Laluna - our latest Caribbean hideaway

With its eclectic fusion of Italian influences, Balinese bounty and Caribbean charm you might think Laluna a bit of an odd mix, but it works. Voted this year as one of the top 100 best hotels in the world by Sunday Times Magazine, this chic little Caribbean bolthole on a golden Sandy beach in Grenada has proven itself a perfect spa holiday.

We've managed to secure some exclusive spa holidays at this super chilled resort. Explore the rainforest filled island, swim in secluded waterfalls,and roam around spice markets on our brand new Balance & Discovery Programme or take private yoga classes in their stunning beach-based yoga pavilion with our Exclusive Yoga Programme. Take some time to yourself and check them out!