Are you looking for a top spa destination for a hen do to remember, a relaxing mini-moon as newlyweds, or perhaps a pre-wedding unwind and makeover?
Nestled in the heart of Berkshire is the beautiful Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, an AA 4 star hotel with 2 Rosette restaurant and 5 Bubble Spa. They are renowned for their excellent service, comfortable surroundings and relaxing atmosphere, and with their unique spa offerings exclusive to Donnington Valley Hotel it's perfect for individuals and groups to enjoy. As finalists in the British Beauty and Spa Awards you know you'll be in safe hands.
Take a swim in the 18m pool before unwinding in one of the many relaxation areas on offer; the steam room, sauna, aromatherapy room, monsoon shower, generous poolside lounge and sun terrace. You could even visit the air conditioned gym and dance studio for a blast on the state-of-the-art equipment during your visit. Why not indulge in one of the large selection of treatments on offer?
Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa are also one of the few places in the UK that offer XeroLipo - a revolutionary treatment that combines proven scientific methods with nutritional supplement and a quick but effective exercise program to boost your metabolism.
Alison Hargreaves, owner and founder of Guides for Brides, couldn't resist the opportunity to try it out:
"The treatment starts with a lifestyle consultation - just admitting to my exercise regime (too little) and food and alcohol intake (too much) gave me a starting point for instant improvements; it's easy how good habits slip, but just as easy to correct them. After picking an area to focus on, I opted for the tummy - three measurements are taken of the area to compare with "after" results.
For the first 20 minutes I laid back and chatted to the therapist while 3 laser-powered pads broke down the fat cells congregating around my tummy, first on one side, then the other. For the next 20 minutes a series of electric shocks stimulated muscles that I didn't know existed! It takes a degree of self control to get over the feeling that 4 pairs of hands are tickling your sides but after the first few seconds I relaxed and let the pads go through the workout routine for me. Finally, a massage of the area with radio waves from heated nodules to stimulate collagen and elastin to tighten the skin. 60 minutes of relaxation later and the measurements confirmed that I had lost 2cm from each of the initial measurements.
After a herbal tea in the relaxation room I headed to the gym to meet personal fitness instructor, Dom, for a 15 minute blast in the gym. Dom takes you through a short but very targeted program to boost metabolism and help you get the very most from the treatment. You can keep the routine going at home but it is designed to deliver results even if only used twice a week.
To track your improvement Dom has a machine to measure your body composition; within seconds it delivers a full report showing your BMI, the number of calories you need, your hydration levels and most importantly, how much of your body is made up of fat, what type of fat it is and where it is stored (as if I didn't know!).
At the end of your first session you'll be given a goody bag to take home with relevant supplements, all included in the price. Depending on the results you're aiming for, there's a fat-busting drink, detox peach tea, protein powder and (my favourite) an after-dinner sherbet that blocks fat and sugar from your blood stream.
XeroLipo recommend a series of 8 treatments over 4 weeks for maximum benefit but you'll see significant results from just 4 treatments if time is short."
If you'd like to find out more about visiting Donnington Valley Hotel and Spa, visit their page here or email general@donningtonvalley.co.uk.
It's time to relax and breathe...