To not see the attraction of "Spa days"??

[BandOMothers]

I'm writing about "Luxury Spa" days at the moment...descriptions of what you get for your money. I simply can't see why people ooh and ahh about them.

For £100 or more you get to use the pool at some hotel...you also get a go of their gym (not my idea of relaxation) and if you're lucky, you get a "mini facial" or "Mini Mani/Pedi" and a tiny salad one cheese sarnie light lunch plus glass of piddle wine.

Why are these days so popular? What do you do once you've had your facial? Go for a swim? Why not just do that in your local pool for three quid? You could book a non mini facial in your local salon for 40 quid!

Am I missing something?

No you are not - I agree with you

I dunno. I think they are ridiculously expensive but the idea of a swim and a snooze is quite appealing at the mo. dh bought me one for Christmas 2010 and I need to redeem it before the end of feb, so I'm obv not that keen.

I used to love massages etc but tbh since having kids I don't particularly like being fiddled around with

I'm not that big a fan of spa days, but I have been on a few.

Don't knock it until you've tried it. I have enjoyed them and left feeling lovely, the only problem with them I stat they are rarely good value for money. It's the cost of them that is the most off putting thing, not the actual spa-ing.

For me, it's the idea of an entire day away from everyone while being able to focus solely on myself. The idea of being able to have a few treatments, relax and read a book, go for a swim or two, use the fitness equipment and have a lovely lunch (Champneys do divine food!) is just sheer bliss! I've only been twice in my life and I loved every second of it.

I come away feeling refreshed and alive which lasts five minutes after getting home and realising that between DH and DD my house is a tip and there's paint on the walls :o

They are shit! Ooh yes pay to pad around in some slippers and a robe. You could do this at home for free but look, do it with strangers! If you want to swim, go to a pool. If you want spa treatments book them. If you want to wear a white gown and sit around with strangers, try the hospital.

O God totally agree.

My rich brother bought me a really expensive spa day. I tried to cash it in, as I was totally skint, but the spa wouldn't do it. I went in the end and didn;t really enjoy it at all. Couldn't stop thinking what a waste of money it was and how I could have done with the cash instead. Didn't have the heart to tell my bro though.

God knows. I think it's to do with this notion of pampering.

But my definition of pampering includes a squishy sofa, a lie in in a fantastically comfortable bed with great sheets, a decent restaurant and some wine. Not being manhandled by some skanky teenager.

I've not been on one but i imagined you'd get a few more luxury treatments for your bucks than that. I imagined a delicious healthy meal and lounging in the jacuzzi (or whatever the modern day equivalent is) with your pals and a glass of wine. I imagined sensual massages and whale music and aromatherapy etc. What you have described does sound a bit pants.

Levantine but you don't go to sleep on these things do you? It looks like the main attraction is to pop in and out of the sauna, steam room and pool...I don't want to get waterlogged and can't see the point!

[bgrin] at "If you want to wear a white gown and sit around with strangers, try the hospital." [bgrin]

Coral "Go the the hospital!"

I rather like spas, but I tend to visit them as part of a hotel visit, I wouldn't pay £100 for a day trip.

My favourites include lots of swimming pools, perhaps indoor/outdoor infinity pools, saunas and steam rooms, lots of peace and quiet (no children!), followed by lots of wine to counteract the healthy effect.

I don't really like the pampering options, more the swimming and steaming and relaxing bits.

I wouldn't want to do one on my own but once I year two friends and I book in for an evening at The Sanctuary (not a whole day - I think i might get bored with that). We each get a treatment or two (I always go for a massage because my shoulders and back are always tense) and then once we are all blissed out, we meet up in the bar/sofa area for a glass of champers and a snack. Afterwards we might go for a sit in the sauna or a swim or fall off the swing. We chat and have a good catch up, with added relaxation. And then we enter the scrum of a stupidly small changing room and remember that last time we said we were going to leave half an hour before everyone else

Miette no! I wouldn't mind if you did...most of them seem to add ONE measly treatment and you rarely pay less than 70 pounds...you need to pay extra for more. The lunches I note, are always "light". I want a massage, a facial AND a bacon butty wth a side of fries. Or at least a roast! That's a pleasant day out!

Met my friend today who has just come back from a girls weekend. They stayed two nights in a barn conversion and had champagne, wine and beer to drink. Plenty of food friday night, saturday and Sunday breakfast, plenty to drink, plenty of relaxation and lots of games.

The cost was 80 pounds each for the whole weekend.

not everyone's idea of a weekend away but the 10 of them enjoyed it and it was cheaper for a weekend than a day out at a spa

I agree.

Someone bought my mother one of those, for two people and she took me. It was a lovely, country hotel and the SPA was excellent but we couldn't quite get into it knowing we had to leave at a certain time for the school pick up. I would only go again if I was staying in the actual hotel overnight.

I think the main thing is I hate enforced relaxation. And I refuse to pad about in oversized towelling robes pretending I'm someone else. It feels patronising, not sure why.

You can sleep at our local spa. They have a quiet room with noting but a waterfall and heated beds in it where people go to read quietly or fall asleep. It's lovely!

There are also steam rooms, saunas, a fitness pool, two relaxation type pools, a jacuzzi, a few little outdoor jacuzzis that are mega hot and lovely to sit in on a cold evening, and one massive pool with loads of different water jets. There's a gym too, and I they offer beauty treatments, but I never bother with those.

I love having a catch up with my closest friend in a jacuzzi.

looking forward to my spa day soon, relaxing with friends in a sauna and jacuzzi, swimming, having a massage, a nice lunch, what's not to like?

YANBU. I'd sooner poke me eyes out than pay £100 to dip my toe in some water and have someone rub moisturiser into my face.

sounds like the gym to me?

I would not be bothered on my own but i really enjoy going with a friend - having a day when you can't do anything else but spa things means you have to slow down and chat. its booking time that you don't normally.

I am happy to spend on spa treatments, massage, facial, pedicure...whatever. But spare me the communal relaxation bit with tinkly music and atmospheric lighting. Bloody love a good massage...hmmm...might go book one!

Perfumed that's it! You've hit the nail on the head!

kitchenroll I can't see the attraction of sleeping beside strangers! Waterfall or not.

Oh god jacuzzis...people pee in them!!