By Debbie Djordjevic
Set in a beautiful bay and overlooking a rocky island, the Hotel Audax is a privately owned hotel with an ethos for really looking after guests lucky enough to have discovered it. The spa is the highlight of any stay here, and the Hotel Audax prides itself on providing a tailored experience to each and every customer. Guests come here just to relax and be pampered, and also to seek help for more general health problems. The spa pool overlooks the pine tree surrounded bay and must be one of the loveliest places in the area.
The treatment list is extensive and during the winter months the therapists travel to India and the Far East in search of new techniques in massage and general therapy treatments. The treatments range from lymphatic drainage massage, great for getting rid of stubborn cellulite, to reflexology. Couples can treat themselves to the ritual of Ayurveda with therapists treating the two people as if they were one, concentrating their efforts on creating a shared equilibrium. How lovely to share an experience in this way.
I was on my own for this visit, and although tempted by the bamboo massage, which uses three different types of cane to massage the body, I opted for an Indian Pindar massage, something I have never come across before. This firm, circular massage involves using heated packs filled with rice, rose petals and almond oil scented with a choice of aromatherapy oils. Knowing that I had an afternoon of sightseeing ahead of me I decided on a lemon-based oil to detox as well as relax. The massage was firm but not overpowering and it really worked into the more stubborn knots in my tired limbs. I came away feeling more relaxed than I ever have post-massage, which helped me slip easily into the relaxed pace of this lovely island.
Thermal Circuit
Those wishing to relax, tone up, increase circulation or just give themselves a treat they won't forget should try doing the thermal circuit at least once. The spa is home to a large pool divided into different zones: underwater bubble beds, hydromasssage pools, an outdoor solarium and exhilarating cold plunge pool set at just 12 degrees C. There is also a thermal bath, sauna, steam bath, and heated thermal beds in the relaxation area. The whole idea is that you keep going from hot to cold, power jet to relaxing massage, steam room to cold shower, stimulating your skin, making your blood vessels contract and relax, increasing your circulation. It is a great way of spending an hour or so (even if you feel stupid in the rubber socks and skullcap) and I came away with my senses on full alert and feeling strangely hungry.
Dr Hauschka products are on offer and other treatments include chocotherapy, winetherapy, hydromassage, aromatherapy, body peels, seaweed wraps and anti-cellulite massages, to name just a few!
The hotel
Built on the beach at Cala Galdana, the Hotel Audax Spa & Wellness Centre is comfortable and well positioned for exploring the island. Close to local shops and boutiques it overlooks a sweep of beach with stunning scenery and rocky outcrops. There are two restaurants, a pool bar and a water sports centre. While I was trying out the spa facilities my group spent a morning kayaking along the coast exploring the caves and hidden bays. For further details and booking visit www.artiemhotels.com.
Getting there
We flew to Menorca with Monarch Airlines, offering regular flights from Luton, Gatwick, Manchester and Birmingham to Mahon Airport, Menorca. To book a flight and for further details visit www.monarch.co.uk
