25 September 2014
Like most parents, at Parent Friendly Stays we can sometimes feel a little bit frazzled by the daily grind of work, household chores, school runs, sleepless nights and the rest.
One of our favourite ways to unwind on special occasions is to treat ourselves to a short break at a luxury spa hotel. What could be more relaxing than a dip in a luxury pool, a few minutes in a baking hot sauna or steam room followed by a rejuvenating back rub or massage?
We usually try to recruit a willing grandparent or babysitter to look after the family at home so we can enjoy an overnight stay alone, which also means we can make the most of all the facilities on offer like the on-site restaurant or bar. But this isn’t always possible or practical. So we’ve been delighted during the course of our research for Parent Friendly Stays to discover a number of child friendly holidays with a luxury spa on site. It’s the best of both worlds – there’s no need to worry about the little ones as they’re with you having a great time on holiday, yet there’s a luxury spa for mum and dad to enjoy (usually with the help of a creche or kids’ club during the daytime or babysitting service in the evenings – though of course mum and dad could just take turns if you’d prefer!).
So without further ado here’s a rundown of some of our favourite luxury spa facilities at family friendly holiday venues.
#5: Bedruthan Spa, Cornwall
At the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa near Mawgan Porth Beach in north Cornwall you’ll find a deep and luxurious spa pool with amazing sea views plus a cedar sauna, eucalyptus steam room, lavender caldarium and hydropool. A range of bespoke therapy treatments are also available including facials, specialist pregnancy treatments, skin rejuvenating seaweed wraps and scrubs. Parents can make the most of all these features thanks to the Bedruthan’s range of childcare options including two hours of free daily childcare, free baby listening service, full babysitting option and evening kids’ club. Find out more about the Bedruthan Hotel and Spa here, or visit their website for full details.
#4: Bath House Spa, New Forest
The Bath House Spa at New Park Manor Hotel in the heart of the New Forest, Hampshire, features a delightful 16m indoor swimming pool with garden views, with children welcome at certain hours and other periods reserved for adults only to guarantee the total relaxation of visitors. There are also thermal rooms, hydrotherapy and spa pools, a Kneipps foot spa, an experience shower, an outdoor Canadian hot tub and a fitness suite and relaxation terraces. A range of water, warmth, oil and mud therapies are on offer along with various massage techniques. Childcare at New Park Manor Hotel includes babysitting, a creche and a baby listening service. Read more here, or visit the Bath House Spa website for more details.
#3: Village Farm Health Club and Spa, Northumberland
The Heath Club and Spa at Village Farm and Town Foot Farm in the Northumbrian village of Shilbottle offers parents the chance to enjoy quality spa facilities along with self-catering accommodation (which at Parent Friendly Stays we usually find to be a cheaper alternative to hotels). The leisure facilities are all-inclusive in the cost of your holiday and include a state-of-the-art gym, a magnificent heated swimming pool and a stunning new spa bath, steam room and sauna (all only available to over 16s). There is also a large relaxation area with heated loungers and luxurious leather furniture. Find out more in our listing, or visit the Village Farm Health Club and Spa website.
#2: The Victorian Spa at Crieff Hydro, Perthshire
The Victorian Spa at the Crieff Hydro hotel in central Perthshire is a tranquil adults-only escape from the entertainment-filled family resort. There’s a glorious heated swimming pool, a sauna, steam room and spa bath, along with plenty of loungers on which to enjoy complimentary fruit and drinks. Various treatments including hot stone massages, facials and full detoxes are available, plus manicures and pedicures. Parents will be able to make the most of the spa thanks to the six hours of free daily childcare which comes with each stay at the Crieff Hydro. Find out more here, or at the hotel’s own website.
#1: Retreat Spa, Cornwall
The Retreat Spa at Retallack Resort in north Cornwall comes with a 15m indoor swimming pool, eucalyptus steam room, Scandinavian sauna and fitness suite. There are also two beauty treatment rooms at which you can enjoy a body wrap, hot stone marine treatment, facial, massage or pregnancy treatment. All of this will be made possible for parents thanks to Retallack’s childcare arrangements which include baby and toddler classes, a creche, kids’ club and babysitting. Visit our full holiday listing for more details, or visit the Retreat Spa website.
That’s the end of our summary of five fantastic family friendly spa breaks. But if we’ve whetted your appetite for more why not check out the full Parent Friendly Stays list of parent friendly spa holidays? And if we’ve missed a good one please let us know!
The Parent Friendly Stays team