Escape to tranquility
The need to get away from the stresses of life that surround us all has never been greater as travellers actively seek ways to enhance their well-being. So, whether you’re looking for deep cleanses amid the snowy peaks of the Alps, massages in the Mediterranean, or thalassotherapy in Sardinia, here are some of the best wellness hotspots Europe has to offer.
ITALY
Rosa Alpina, San Cassiano
With sheepskin chairs, pine furniture and soft Berber rugs, Rosa Alpina is the epitome of chalet chic. Bedrooms are equally cosy, with log-burning fires and mountain-facing balconies, while the glass spa is eco luxury at its finest with floor-ceiling windows surrounding the spa, pool, and yoga room. The hotel’s comprehensive spa is a serene haven in which guests can relax after an active day outdoors and nine tranquil treatment rooms are complemented by two indoor heated swimming pools while other facilities include a Jacuzzi, yoga studio, fully equipped gym and hydrotherapy areas including a Turkish hammam, a Finnish sauna, a Bio sauna, and a cold plunge pool.
Book it: Rosa Alpina offers double rooms from €485 per night based on two adults sharing a Double Deluxe Room on a B&B basis.
rosalpina.it
SWITZERLAND
Tschuggen Grand Hotel, Arosa
Moving Mountains is an immersive experience launched at each of Tschuggen Hotel Group’s properties where experts in sleep, nutrition, wellness and sports come together to form a memorable and lasting wellbeing programme. At their Tschuggen Grand Hotel you can enjoy yoga, hiking, ice bathing, cross country skiing and nourishing and plant-based menus for a truly restorative holiday break. At the hotel’s striking 5,000 sqm, Mario Botta Bergoase spa, there are newly developed treatments which focus on strengthening the immune system and replenishing the body.
Book it: Tschuggen Grand Hotel offers double rooms from £360 per room per night on a B&B basis. This includes access to the Bergoase Spa and use of the Tschuggen Express.
tschuggen.ch
AUSTRIA
Das Central, Sölden
Das Central is the only 5-star hotel in the spectacular resort of Sölden, Austria. Set amongst the pines, each of the 121 rooms and suites are unique and exude opulence yet retain Tyrolean charm. Das Central’s three-storey, 1,500 square metre spa is the perfect place to unwind after a long day of alpine activities. Guests can renew their energy and feel their muscles slowly relax in Das Central’s ten different saunas and steam baths. Offerings also include holistic massages which focus on the “Body & Soul Balance” concept, to help guests rediscover their centre and open their minds.
Book it: Das Central Hotel, Sölden, Austria offers double rooms from £155 per person per night based on two people sharing on a half board basis.
central-soelden.com
GERMANY
Schloss Elmau, Bavaria
Just 100km south of Munich, Schloss Elmau features two 5-star hotels with a total of 162 rooms and suites, and eight restaurants. Famed for its yoga and meditation retreats which promote refined states of attention, concentration, and mindfulness, it is also home to the Annual Yoga Summit every June where some of the world’s leading teachers provide a week of exceptional lessons for everybody from the advanced to total beginners.
Described by many as the ultimate destination for those looking to deepen their knowledge and practice of yoga and wellbeing, this is the place to unlock the door to serenity and discover true relaxation within.
Book it: Schloss Elmau Retreat offers double rooms from £270 per person per night, based on two adults sharing on a half board basis with entrance to all spas, gyms and participation in Taijiquan Qigong / yoga and Pilates and participation in guided mountain tours.
schloss-elmau.de/en/
SARDINIA
Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa, Forte Village
Set in its very own sub-tropical park on the shores of the white sandy beaches of the Mediterranean Sea, Acquaforte Thalasso & Spa at Forte Village is Europe’s leading luxury family resort and includes six sea water pools, 20 treatment rooms and a gym. Long renowned as a pioneer of thalassotherapy – a technique which uses different gradients of temperature and varying concentrations of magnesium and sodium salt in the water to target a particular part of the body – each treatment starts with a medical consultation and full check-up of the guest’s health and is particularly effective in the treatment of insomnia, digestion, anxiety, muscle pain, water retention, posture and hypertension.
