Monthly Archives: August 2011

Melissa Vinelli’s Summer Holiday Diaries

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Thanks for your tips everyone! For all you spa junkies check out this new blog www.spa-confidential.co.uk for spa news, musings and inspiration. According to them, “Relaxing is a serious business” – I couldn’t agree more!

I’m not sure if it was your description of the eucalyptus scented steam bath and wood-fired sauna, or the image of a strapping Nordic spa therapist called Hans which it conjured, but I decided to plump for Pädaste Manor on Muhu Island. With Hans in mind, I left the Chef in London and invited my friend Aurelie. A true Parisian, she’s on holiday for the whole of August too and appreciates a spot of pampering.

Reached by a 20 minute ferry ride from mainland Estonia, Muhu Island is a totally unspoilt island in the Baltic Sea. A 16th century haven, the hotel is grand but homely, and the spa offering is second to none. With the voice of Spa Confidential echoing through my mind, Aurelie and I repeated our mantra “Relaxing is a serious business” and threw ourselves into two days of rigorous spa-ing. After sweating it out in the sauna and plunging ourselves into the icy “Siberian” tub, it was time to sample the treatments. Pädaste Manor use centuries-old Estonian herbal traditions in their spa treatments – but it’s not bearded hippy territory – one of their spa packages includes a glass of Chardonnay and a hot tub session with a bottle of Laurent Perrier – my kind of Spa!

We both opted for a Scandinavian Salt Body Scrub and then The Ultimate Skin Treatment which comprised all of the below treats –

The Ultimate Skin Treatment, full day

Seawater hot tub at the bay

Rest & relax

Oatmeal & yoghurt scrub

After-treatment full body goat milk butter crème nourishing

Light lunch

Aloa vera & cucumber wrap

Rest & relax

Body & Soul, Traditional Swedish massage with essential oils

Afterwards we slung on our party dresses and had dinner at Alexander, the fine dining restaurant which opens into the gardens – D.I.V.I.N.E!

No sign of Hans though – oh well, a girl can dream!

Spa Notes From A Novice

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Thanks for the great review of J.K. Place Melissa – sounds idyllic.

Now I am no Spa Guru (shocking given my youthful complexion I know) but I’ve enjoyed a spot of pampering at quite a few SLH hotels in my time and I know my reflexology from my reiki.

With so many of our properties offering amazing spa experiences, where do I begin!? There’s Huvafen Fushi in the Maldives, where guests gaze at the fish swimming by during their massage in the underwater spa, surrounded by the reef – a unique experience.

Closer to home, Pädaste Manor on the Estonian island of Muhu embraces Nordic spa traditions with a wood-fired sauna, a “Siberian” tub filled with ice-cold well water, and a eucalyptus scented steam bath. Think Baltic chic rather than birch twigs!

In the UK Pennyhill Park is a wonderful choice for a spa break – but if you want to prolong your summer tan for one more week then the holistic spa at Thalassa Boutique Hotel & Spa in Cyprus is an excellent option.

I’m opening this one up to readers too – what are your top three spa experiences with SLH?

Is the Chef joining you Melissa – or will you be accompanied by another of your many admirers?

PK

The Summer Holiday Diaries – Capri

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Ciao amici!

Well the Chef and I have just returned from our weekend jaunt to the uber-cool Capri and I couldn’t wait to tell you all about it. The J.K Place was exactly what the doctor ordered. With it’s laidback glamour I felt like Sophia Loren relaxing on a sun-lounger, martini in hand! Divine.

Apparently the hotel was almost full and yet it had a wonderful intimate ambience, as if we were staying in our own private villa with all the luxury 5-star services to be expected of an SLH. There are these gorgeous little touches all over the hotel from quirky ancient statues to canvases of modern art.

The location was absolutely to die for and my private pilates lesson every morning in the JK Place gardens certainly offered better views than the streets of Chelsea!

The Chef and I loved driving around nearby Positano in our fabulous classic car – we didn’t quite make it to Ischia and Ravello though as the Chef had a bit of a disagreement with the left-hand drive… Oh well.

Like all women learn at quite a young age, I know the best way to cheer up a man… through his stomach. Luckily for the Chef the food at the JK Place Capri was some of the freshest, more succulent and delicious food on the island; unfortunately for me I liked it so much that fitting into my Melissa Odabash bikini by the last day was a little bit of a struggle.

So for my next European trip I have decided I need a total Spa detox. I’ve already got my eye on the Thalassa Boutique Hotel & Spa in Paphos, Cyprus or maybe I should spend some time on UK soil and check out the Pennyhill Park Hotel and the Spa in Bagshot, Surrey. Paul, what would you recommend?

The Summer Holiday Diaries – part three

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After slathering myself in my MV moisturiser every morning and night I now resemble a new born – Paul you may only recognise me from the waft of Chanel Allure as I step into the SLH offices!

I’ve taken your advice and swapped Vogue for your   Be Inspired brochure – it’s had me dreaming I’m the female Michael Palin whilst flicking through its pages – I think I have the next 10 year’s worth of adventures planned! The Malaysian Itinerary sounds incredible. I’ve been picturing myself journeying from one side of the Malay Peninsula to the other, learning how tea is transformed from leaf to pot at the tea plantation of Cameron Highlands, trekking through the rainforest on the private island of Pangkor Laut (where Joan Collins famously liked to stay) and cruising along the Marang River wearing something effortlessly chic like this crepe maxi dress from Net-a-Porter, Elizabeth and James – my new purchase this week.

Back to my summer hols though and I’m sticking to Europe to make the most of the warm weather for the next few weeks –I’ll save Malaysiaand the long haul travel for Autumn. Inspired by those pictures of Penelope Cruz looking stunning in a white swimsuit à la Sophia Loren with hubby Javier Bardem in Southern Italy this week   (I hear she’s taking time out between filming scenes in Rome for her new film with Woody Allen), I’m heading to Capri to live La Dolce Vita! I know you always stay at J.K. Place Capri when in town Paul and so I’m taking my friend, (yes, JUST a friend) let’s call him The Chef – he’s an expert on Italian fine wines and knows his porcini from his pappardelle so the perfect companion for a jaunt to Italy.

J.K. Place is a super stylish white villa enjoying amazing views out over the Bay of Naples. This sleek Italian villa exudes laid back glamour, with its low slung sofas, flower filled vases and ultra-white interiors – in a nutshell, my dream home. The terrace teeters on a cliff above the Marina Grande and you can spot Vesuvius in the distance! If we can tear ourselves away, from Capri we’re going to go snorkelling in the Blue Grotto, and visit Positano, Ravello and Ischiain the classic car The Chef has sorted. I have my Hermes silk headscarf and huge sunglasses at the ready. I can’t wait! Any other suggestions on where to go and what to see? I’d love to swap Italy stories with your readers.

Next time I’ll fill you in on my Autumn Wish List, and how The Chef and I get on in Italia. Watch this space.

Arrivederci!