Jaine Blackman wanders through a world of spas to emerge relaxed and rejuvenated

After a week of glorious sunshine we arrived at the Aqua Sana spa in a downpour as the tail end of Hurricane Bertha approached.

But shaking off the raindrops as we were welcomed in to the plush reception area and handed a chilled glass of prosecco, we realised it didn’t matter a jot.

The spa is part of the newest Center Parcs complex – Woburn Forest – which opened earlier this year.

For the uninitiated Center Parcs offers self-contained holiday destinations with accommodation, indoor and outdoor activities and shops and restaurants located in wooded areas.

Cars are banned and happy families (bar the usual holiday squabbling) cycle from one attraction to the other looking like they are in adverts for some kind of healthy-living, futuristic utopia.

People visiting the resort can book to use the spa but it also offers day visits and overnight stays.

Friend Maggie and I were lucky enough to be invited to sample one of its six luxury suites (more are on the way) which lead directly to the spa complex. Which was why the weather didn’t matter at all.

As well as having private access to the spa, there were also internal links to restaurants, a gym and plenty of other facilities.

There was so much to see and do in the spa that although our stay entitled us to use all Center Parcs’ facilities – and we did fancy sampling the huge tropical pool with its outside water ride – we barely ventured outside.

We were staying in a plush suite – the Bergamot – complete with bedroom, lounge, kitchen area, bathroom and large balcony.

An extra feature, a bath big enough for two positioned to one side of the bedroom with doors that could be opened on to the balcony, was rather wasted on us but would be fun for couples.

There were a fair few of those dining in the spa’s Vitale Cafe Bar, where we took a lovely fresh salad lunch, along with groups of women, what seemed like whole families (no under 14s) and other pairings of friends.

Then it was off to one of the 22 treatment rooms for the spa package’s inclusive face and body treatment where we were exfoliated, moisturised, massaged and given a facial before it was time for a bit more, erm, relaxation.

Entering the spa with its 25 experience rooms we were spoilt for choice.

Oxford Mail:

The rooms are grouped into six distinct zones, each offering a steam room, sauna, showers and a relaxation area, along with extra “experiences”, two of which are the first of their kind in the world. There are reflexology footbaths, inhalation rooms, shower walks, an ice room...

Oh, and there’s also a boutique, express treatments and manicure area; outdoor terrace; and pool, fitness suite and Zen Garden.

The six spa zones are: Fire & Ice to “stimulate your body and refresh the mind through the interplay of fire and ice”.

The Blossom Spa “an aesthetic inspiration to uplift your spirit”.

The Herbal Spa to “relax in a comprehensive and powerful way”.

The Sensory Spa “with full-body, multi-sensory stimulation to delight and inspire you”.

The Mineral & Gemstone Spa where you can “discover how minerals can relax you, and leave you feeling recharged”.

The Salt Spa where you can “cleanse the body and mind so you feel completely renewed”.

The words in quotes are from the publicity material as I’m not very good at spa-speak.

And I’m not very good at relaxing either. I loved trying all the different rooms but didn’t spend more than five minutes in any of them (not because they weren’t fab – they were – I just couldn’t sit still).

Which was just as well because even at that rate it took more than two hours to do them all.

Oxford Mail:

But after a good night’s sleep, which even Bertha passing through didn’t disturb, I ventured back and tried a few favourites (see panel left) at a more relaxed pace.

They included the two world firsts: the Sensory Experience which features different levels of humidity and heat, sounds, colours, scents and temperatures of winter, spring, summer and autumn; and the Mineral Room where varying minerals infuse the air every eight minutes accompanied by light and aroma therapy programmes and followed by a steam spray.

All great, but my favourite was the outdoor pool which boasted various bubbling water features and which early on a Monday I had to myself.

I was told Monday and Friday are changeover days for stays at the park and the spa is less busy, so a Sunday night stay was perfect.

Even when there were more people around, on the Sunday, with so many rooms there was always a quiet spot to be found.

And after floating in the pool on Monday morning, when I finally found myself unwinding enough to head back inside and stay in the relaxation rooms for more than five minutes, I had plenty to choose from.

ESSENTIALS

* Aqua Sana, Center Parcs Woburn Forest, Millbrook, Bedford, MK45 2HZ.
* 03448 266 205 
* aquasana.co.uk
* Luxury Spa Breaks at Woburn Forest start from £249 per person (including one night, lunch, breakfast, £20 dinner voucher, two days spa use, a treatment and bicycle hire) 
Book before August 19 and save 10 per cent on breaks up to October 9, 2014. Terms and conditions apply.
Spa days are from £69 per person.

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