Take a break and refresh

Start out the New Year being kind to your body and treat yourself to a weekend spa break to revitalise your body and mind. Take a tour of some of Europe’s best spas.

Le Cinq Mondes au Beau Rivage Palace – Lausanne, Switzerland

www.cinqmondes.com

Located between Lake Geneva and the stunning Swiss Alps, the 4 acres of park land offer an idyllic setting to escape the stresses of the festive season and recover.

Drawing on Indian, Balinese and Taoist healing traditions, treatments encompass pampering beauty and relaxation therapies, together with other holistic health rituals. The spa is flooded with natural light and overlooks the lakeside gardens, while the opulent interiors of the hotel, and splendid suites with tapestries, swags, panelling and marble, transport guests to the grandiose world of yesteryear.

The Metropole ESPA – Monte Carlo

www.metropole.com 

Just steps away from the Casino, three floors of the luxurious Metropole hotel are taken up by the Spa. Enjoy the heat experience room, relaxation area, teak sun deck, state of the art changing rooms all decorated in wood, stone and natural materials, fully equipped gyms and an outside heated pool and sun lounge area. Refurbished by French designer Jaques Garcia the Mediterranean décor combines classic elegance with modern touches.  

Capri Palace Hotel and Spa – Capri, Italy

www.capripalace.com

Named the third best medical, thermal and natural spa in 2010. Over the last 20 years, the Capri Beauty Farm has acquired significant experience in the field of wellness medicine. Working in collaboration with several Universities, the spa is constantly involved in medical scientific research in an attempt to define common protocols that are the basis of all the treatments offered. Some of the treatments, such as the famous Leg School and the Metabolic Response, are original and have been patented.

Get yourself a set of tests to measure your metabolism and have a diet tailor-made for you along with a specific physical activity prescription and a serious of treatments to promote energy expenditure and sensible weight loss, perfect for after Christmas indulgence.

Try their leg firming therapies including medicated mud to help firm, smooth and decongest skin, as well as Kneipp vascular treatment, which involves immersing legs in water that contains vegetable, mineral and marine extracts to help improve circulation.

Spaciomm - Barcelona, Spain

www.hotelomm.es

For design-savvy spa lovers, Spaciomm in Barcelona's Omm Hotel can't be beat. The modern designs combine elements of wood, iron, stone and silk to give the cabins, treatment tables and swimming pools a sleek look. As for the treatments, they're top-notch. Using their own line of spa products, Spaciomm's aestheticians offer hydromassage baths, Ayurvedic massage and Pilates.

 Serenity Spa at Seaham Hall – Durham, England

www.seaham-hall.co.uk

Many spas only offer services for those 17 years and older, but at Serenity Spa, 13- to 16-year-olds are welcome to receive a number of treatments – from a lime and ginger salt rub to a pore-clearing facial – when accompanied by an adult. And everyone is welcome to enjoy the gym, plunge pools, outdoor hot tubs, steam rooms and roof garden.

Barnsley House – Gloucestershire, England

www.barnsleyhouse.com

Kinsman loves this Cotswold spa for its holistic services, including a rose oil arm and hand scrub that's followed by a manicure. Nearly all treatments use British cosmetic brand REN, whose products are touted as being free of harmful chemicals. And Kate Moss and Elizabeth Hurley are just two of the local celebrities said to frequent the hotel's restaurant.

Mavida Balance Hotel and Spa – Salzburg, Austria

www.mavida.at

Every spa aims to serve as a sanctuary for harried visitors, but at Mavida, extra attention is paid to mental balance. With its IL-DO body candle treatment, four candles are arranged around a treatment table. Herbs, released from the centre of each candle, aid in blood circulation, soothe pain and reduce nervousness and insomnia. Most guests enjoy a massage while receiving the IL-DO treatment.

Four Seasons Hotel George V – Paris, France

www.fourseasons.com

At the Four Seasons' lavish spa, the seven-hour, Vision of Beauty treatment will revive the most tired souls. During the day-long treatment, guests receive body exfoliation, massage, complete body wax, vitamin facial, manicure, pedicure, haircut, blow-dry and, finally, an application of evening make-up. Lunch is served mid-day in the spa lounge to curb any cravings.