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Janine reviews Spa Intercontinental
We all know how important it is to have some "Mummy Only" time. Up until recently, mine has consisted of blogging or tweeting as I watch TV in the evening. (My husband thinks because this is a kind of hobby, this counts as my ‘Me’ time.) One of my New Year’s Resolutions for 2010 (and I believe for many other mums too) was to change this.
So, in a bid to keep at least one New Year’s Resolution, a friend and I decided to treat ourselves to a spa day in London. We both have two-year olds that never seem to run out of energy, and with a hectic Christmas only a few weeks previously, we were definitely in need of some serious relaxation and de-stressing.
We picked the Spa Intercontinental London, billed as "a chic urban retreat featuring a therapeutic steam temple and the UK’s first double VIP suite". They offer a VIP package for two, perfect for some "Mummy Only" time.
What you get:
• Includes a Glass of champagne each, steam temple for two, one hour treatment each in the VIP suite followed by a three course set menu delivered to the VIP suite.
• The total cost is £295 (for two)
As you’d expect it was relaxing just being in the Spa, with contemporary surroundings, chilled music, dim lighting and a gorgeous smell.
After putting on some very unattractive paper knickers (choice of g-string or granny pants), you enter the Steam Temple, essentially a dark steam room with starlights in the ceiling and two seats. The fun then begins as you apply clay to your body, using a different type for face, body and legs. I was glad it was dark. Once you’re covered in mud, you sit and relax. A rain shower comes on after 30 minutes to wash off the clay at which point we were in mid-conversation and literally jumped out of our skin as water sprayed onto our faces. There should perhaps be some kind of warning!
Lunch
After dressing in big white robes, you can then sit in privacy in the VIP suite (always good when you’ve got no makeup on), to your enjoy a healthy lunch – a Bento Box (choice of Detox, Recharge or Relax menu) and a glass of champagne, before the next treatments.
Treatments
The VIP suite has two treatment tables side by side, so you can have the treatments together, which I thought was a great idea. My therapist was Anju. First you have a 30-minute Hot Stone Massage, a mix of traditional massage with hot oils, then hot stones, followed by a cooling gel. It also includes a fabulous head massage. After that is a 30-minute facial. I’m sure I dozed off for a few minutes, it was blissful and I could have happily laid there for hours.
You can shower after, and I probably should have done. Not a good idea to leave a 5-star hotel sporting a dishevelled look – you never know who you might see!
It really is hard to find any fault with the day. Attention to detail was outstanding as was the service and I’d definitely recommend Anju. It’s the perfect ‘Mummy Only Time’ package.
Other treatments include pregnancy massage, reflexology, Indian head massage, bikini wax (Anju is apparently the fastest waxer in the UK!) and threading.
This reader review was submitted in February 2010
Please note: The Reader Reviews and other comments posted on The Good Spa Guide are the opinions of the visitors who submitted them and are not the opinion of The Good Spa Guide.
See also:
* Contact Details for Spa Intercontinental
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