Spa Holidays & Retreats

A spa holiday — sometimes called a spa retreat or spa break — is a wellness holiday built around rest, relaxation and therapeutic treatments. The focus is on time and space to unwind, with hands-on therapies, calming surroundings and an unhurried pace that makes it easy to switch off completely.

Preidlhof in South Tyrol combines spa treatments with holistic wellbeing in an Alpine setting, while Lefay Resort on Lake Garda offers eco-luxury with signature energy-balancing therapies. Vilalara Grand Hotel Algarve in Portugal provides oceanfront thalassotherapy, and Euphoria Retreat in Greece blends spa therapies with a deeper holistic programme in the mountains of the Peloponnese.

TIA Wellness Resort in Vietnam offers immersive spa programmes in a beachfront setting near Da Nang. Chiva-Som in Thailand is a long-established destination spa with a comprehensive approach to holistic wellness. And Santani Wellness Resort in Sri Lanka provides an intimate, nature-immersed spa experience in the central highlands above Kandy.

Spain offers spa holidays for every style. In Tenerife, Hotel Botanico & The Oriental Spa Garden in Puerto de la Cruz pairs an Asian-inspired spa with subtropical gardens, while Océano Health Spa Hotel combines thalassotherapy with ocean views. On the Costa Blanca, Asia Gardens Hotel & Thai Spa brings Thai-inspired treatments to the hills above Benidorm. Inland, Castilla Termal Brihuega and Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena offer thermal spas within historic buildings.

Europe has a long tradition of thermal spa towns built around natural mineral springs. In Tuscany, Terme di Saturnia is set around a natural hot spring, with thermal pools and treatments using its mineral-rich water. In Spain, Castilla Termal Monasterio de Valbuena has a thermal pool fed by its own San Bernardo spring within a former monastery in the Ribera del Duero, and Castilla Termal Brihuega offers thermal bathing in a historic setting near Madrid.

For winter sun, Tenerife is a short-haul favourite, with Hotel Botanico and Océano Health Spa Hotel both enjoying mild weather year-round. Further afield, Shanti Maurice in Mauritius and Chiva-Som in Thailand combine beachfront settings with extensive spas, while Paradis Plage in Morocco offers a spa holiday on the Atlantic coast.

A short flight from the UK opens up plenty of spa weekend options. Palacio Estoril near Lisbon, Sun Gardens Dubrovnik on the Croatian coast and Asia Gardens on the Costa Blanca all offer spa breaks of two to four nights, while Lefay Resort on Lake Garda suits a longer weekend in the Italian lakes.

Yes. Many spa guests travel alone, and luxury solo spa holidays are one of the easiest ways to travel independently, with days built around treatments, pools and rest rather than group activities. Hotel Botanico in Tenerife, Lefay Resort on Lake Garda and Chiva-Som in Thailand are all well suited to guests travelling solo. The solo-friendly retreats page has more options for guests travelling independently.

It depends on the retreat. Most spa holidays include massage, facials, body treatments and access to facilities such as saunas, steam rooms and hydrotherapy pools. Some retreats also offer thalassotherapy, thermal water treatments, reflexology or traditional healing therapies, depending on the location and approach.

Yes. Many retreats begin with a wellness consultation to understand what is needed, whether deep relaxation, tension relief, skincare or a broader sense of rebalancing. The programme is then tailored accordingly, and most retreats adjust treatments throughout the stay.

Comfortable, relaxed clothing, swimwear and something light for lounging between treatments. Most retreats provide robes, slippers and towels. Beyond that, pack as you would for the destination — we can advise when you enquire.

Yes. Many spa retreats include yoga, Pilates, fitness, meditation or nutritional guidance alongside the spa programme. For something more active or focused on a specific goal such as stress relief or detox, the team can help find the right balance.

A short spa break of two to four nights is enough to rest and enjoy a few treatments. Stays of five to seven nights allow time to settle into a slower pace and feel properly restored, while longer stays suit guests wanting a more comprehensive wellness experience. The team can advise on the right length.

Comfortable, relaxed clothing, swimwear for pools and thermal areas, and something light for lounging between treatments. Most retreats provide robes, slippers and towels. Beyond that, packing as for the destination is enough — the team can advise at the time of enquiry.