Reviews

Buccament Bay is becoming the most talked about place in the Caribbean, a luxury five star resort with outstanding facilities which I got to experience myself. The new resort on the little island of St Vincent has exceptional facilities for the active traveller; these include a Liverpool FC Soccer School, a Pat Cash Tennis Academy, a performing arts centre with classes led by West End professionals, fitness centre and a spa. Scenes from one of my favourite movies, Pirates of the Caribbean were shot nearby.

Charlotte Dormon finds a delicious way to detox at the Absolute Sanctuary Retreat in Koh Samui.

After battling through another cold winter and the stress of London life grinding me down, I decided it was time to recharge the body, relax the mind and book in some well-deserved 'me time'.

GI Jane Bootcamp is the perfect destination for women looking to achieve their personal best when it comes to fitness. The military style exercise regime is incredibly rigorous, full of fun and the healthy meals are meticulously prepared and portioned to help your body to achieve its maximum performance.

What is Ananda in the Himalayas and who’s it for?

Ananda is the Sanskrit word for ‘bliss/happiness’ and I can certainly say that my 4 days at Ananda in the Himalayas have been full of it!

What is SHA Wellness Clinic and who’s it for?

SHA Wellness Clinic is an award-winning luxurious destination, ideal for anyone looking to cleanse their body & mind in gorgeous surroundings and in the hands of the best detox specialists in Europe. Their approach is based on a macrobiotic inspired cuisine, western philosophies and high-end eastern technology. During my four days at SHA, I’ve witnessed the life-changing power of these three elements combined, and how they can contribute to improve health. During my stay I met a variety of guests, some were simply looking to kick-start a balanced lifestyle while detoxifying the body, others were suffering from serious illnesses in search of healing therapies, and some with high weight-loss goals. With different lengths of stay, we all felt our intentions had been achieved and returned home feeling healthier.

What is BodyHoliday and who’s it for?

No wonder the mantra here is “Give us your body for a week and we’ll give you back your mind.” Working on our bodies whilst being kind to ourselves is an amazing way to relax the mind and bring clarity into our lives. It allows us to access our full potential and discard anything that keeps us from living life in full. This is precisely what BodyHoliday has in mind for its guests; the attention to detail, the thoughtfulness of the service and the in-house expertise make BodyHoliday not only a very special place in paradise, but also a great option for anyone looking for an all-inclusive wellness holiday to re-connect with nature, have fun and get the mind and body back on track. It’s one of the most popular wellness destinations in the world for solo travellers, but it’s equally exceptional for couples, friends and adult families. I can speak from personal experience when I say it’s exceptional for honeymooners, like my newlywed husband and I!   

What is Fusion Maia in Da Nang and who’s it for?

Fusion Maia Da Nang is Vietnam’s most unique, forward-thinking and individually oriented 5 star hotel. Since its launch in 2008, Fusion Maia has continuously promoted and embraced the idea of “it’s not a holiday, it’s a lifestyle.” It’s the first Vietnamese resort to offer the all-spa-inclusive concept, which means each of our guests has a minimum of 2 spa treatments per day; with the possibility of even more, depending on availability. It’s ideal for guests looking to de-stress, relax and kick start healthy eating habits with a touch of luxury and elegance. Yoga and Tai Chi are the core elements on Fusion Maia’s group class schedule and the atmosphere across the entire resort is very zen and peaceful.

With my last few student months ahead of me, it won’t be long until I’ll be stepping into the real world to begin my career. With this in mind, I decided to take it upon myself to gain as much experience as I could during my last break, in order to help me choose the right career path. With a passion for health and fitness, and plenty of experience in travelling, an internship with Health and Fitness Travel seemed like the perfect place for me to learn.  

I have now come to the end of my 8-week PR & Marketing internship in London with Health and Fitness Travel and it could not have been more worthwhile as I can take away a huge list of varied things I have learnt that will be useful for the future. Having just finished my year abroad in Madrid I knew I was keen to pursue my interests in travelling and start to explore paths within the travel industry. Everything about the internship appealed to me, especially the creative writing but the stimulating and interesting tasks I have subsequently been given have surpassed my expectations of how much I have loved this internship. From day 1, my action list was filled with tasks and learning how to grasp new software that were unheard of to me like Dreamweaver; a fantastic CV booster as I can now code.

What is Borgo Egnazia and who’s it for?

This is a wellness sanctuary for anyone that’s looking for a place to truly get away from it all. The perfect destination to spend some time being pampered, find some tranquillity and reconnect with yourself. Borgo Egnazia provides a five-star luxury wellness break for anyone who needs to take a step away from their daily life and find some inner peace. The integrated wellness programmes are tailor-made to meet the specific needs and goals of guests, and along with breath-taking scenery and numerous events and cultural activities, makes Borgo Egnazia the perfect destination for solo travellers, couples and families alike.

What is Six Senses Douro Valley and who is it for?

Six Senses Douro Valley is a true wellness haven, suitable for anyone looking to spend some time ‘away from it all’ sounded by lush green vineyards and blue waters. It’s the ideal place for anyone looking for tranquillity and a place to reconnect with themselves. The epitome of luxury and wellness where you can focus on both body and mind but also indulge in a glass of wine without feeling any sort of guilt.

Having had experience working in tourism overseas, I really wanted to discover what it was like to work behind the scenes for a travel company in the UK. Having touched on it at university, I found the prospects of online PR and Marketing especially exciting and was inspired to learn more. As a health fanatic as well as a lover of travelling, this internship seemed like an incredible opportunity and I can positively say that it has exceeded my expectations.

What is Almar Jesolo and who is it for?

A 5-star luxury lifestyle resort gracing the Italian Riviera, Almar Jesolo Resort & SPA is designed for well-being with exquisite service, class, and an award-winning spa.

What is Borgo Egnazia and who is it for?

A family-owned luxury lifestyle hotel in the heart of rural Puglia, Borgo Egnazia is castle-like and candle-lit, built in the style of a traditional with luxury additions of a Michelin Star restaurant and an award-winning spa.

For nutritionist, author and wellness coach Jessica Sepel, destination spa COMO Shambhala Estate is "a health retreat like no other". Read on for her complete review:

What is Divani Apollon and who's it for?

A short drive south of the historic city of Athens is Divani Apollon Palace & Thalasso. The welcoming and friendly atmosphere of the resort is immediately apparent as I was greeted at the reception by Yannis. After checking us in and given me a rundown of what the coming days had install for me, waiting in my room was a cool jug of refreshing fruit infusion water followed by dinner brought up to the room which consisted of a veggie stir-fry, walnut spinach and strawberry salad and chia seed pudding. To the locals Divani Apollon is known as the best luxury spa in which clients will travel from all over Greece to visit.

Tell us about the resort – what makes Aphrodite Hills so special?

Aphrodite Hills Golf and Spa Resort is a luxury 5-star resort nestled in the hills above Paphos and overlooking the birthplace of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love and beauty. Aphrodite Hills also proudly boasts the best golf course in Cyprus, making it the perfect destination for a golf break.

What is Borgo Egnazia and who’s it for?

Borgo Egnazia is the perfect destination for anybody who wants to escape the daily stresses of life. From an award-winning spa and Michelin star restaurant, to stunning rooms and scenery, there’s no doubt that this luxurious 5-star resort will offer an experience like no other.

What is COMO Shambhala Estate and who’s it for?

COMO Shambhala Estate aims to improve physical, mental and spiritual well-being for every individual and the flagship retreat does exactly that. In a secluded setting within the breathtaking Balinese rainforest near Ubud, this wellness retreat is the perfect location for anyone looking to relax and rejuvenate.

What is Euphoria Retreat and who’s it for?

Euphoria Retreat is the dream, turned reality of the inspirational Marina Efraimoglou, a former chairwoman of a Greek bank. Two cancer diagnoses led her reevaluate her life and retrain in Chinese medicine, which allowed her to reconnect with herself and create her vision of a holistic and well-being destination spa. Here, the philosophy is centered on rebalancing the body’s energies and emotions of the five elements of Earth, Fire, Water, Wood and Metal; emotionally, physically and spiritually.

‘Euphoria’ is a feeling or state of happiness and bliss, and if your focus is to reset and rejuvenate in a peaceful setting, there’s no doubt that the holistic healing haven of Euphoria Retreat, within settings of historical ruins, is one of the best places to do so.