WORLD OF SPAS

All the latest and greatest developments in the World of Spas, with editor Jo Foley

Spoil Yourself In Surrey

Treat yourself to a pampering away-day at Savill Court Hotel & Spa on the edge of Windsor Great Park. You can choose from an Oriental Escape, a hot stone massage and Hopi ear candle treatment; or a Choco Therapy special, a combination of a cocoa body wrap and a Decleor facial; or a Serenity and Champagne package, with a sea-salt body polish, facial, pressure point massage and glass of bubbly.

Prices start from £105 and include unlimited use of the heated indoor swimming pool, Jacuzzi, sauna and steam room, gym and chill-out zone, as well as a two-course lunch and use of a bedroom for the day.

More info: 01784 472000 or www.macdonaldhotels.co.uk/savillcourt

Easy Exercise

I'm all in favour of keeping fit while travelling and yet can always find an excuse not to pack trainers and such like. Well, there is no excuse now as Fairmont hotels and resorts are offering adidas workout wear to all Loyalty Club members.

Whatever you need will be delivered to your room for use in the gym, in room or even in the great outdoors. They will even provide an mp3 player with music of your choice. Once your stay is over, you simply return the clothes or buy them. What a brilliant idea!

More info: www.fairmont.com.

What a Stunner!

Possibly the most beautiful spa in the UK opened earlier this year in that old favourite golfing hotel, Gleneagles. Not only is it stunning, it is also the first Espabranded spa in the world (Espa are renowned for designing and running spas for major resorts but this is their own).

To give it its full title, The Spa at Gleneagles by Espa is dark and deeply beautiful in shades of aubergine, brown, deep red and gold. But it's more than just a looker, with 20 treatment rooms, a crystal steam room, sauna and vitality pool lit by fibre optics. There are two relaxation areas - one with its own fireplace - a salon and gentleman's barber as well as a spa caf�. Add to all of this a host of treatments, day rituals and three-day rituals and you have all the ingredients for a near perfect spa.

More info: www.gleneagles.com

Palace Pampering

China's pampering offerings grow apace with the newest spa just opening in Beijing at the Aman at Summer Palace - a city-based resort of pure luxury. It is located just steps from the East Gate of the 250-year-old World Heritage site and housed in a series of dwellings where guests stayed while awaiting an audience with the Empress Dowager Cixi.

The dwellings have been updated with contemporary comforts mixed with traditional Chinese design and the spa is one of Beijing's largest, with nine double treatment rooms, an indoor lap pool, fitness room with both Technogym and Kinesis equipment as well as a fully-equipped Pilates studio, two squash courts and a juice bar.

The treatment menu includes a number of traditional therapies such as massage, wraps and scrubs, many of which incorporate Imperial ingredients such as gold leaf, pearl powder and lotus blossom.

More info: www.amanresorts.com.