Because my parents are amazing my Dad persuaded my Mum to take me for a spa day this week (she didn’t need much persuading to be honest)
We went to Senspa in the New Forest on a 2 for 1 deal for a Rhassoul Pamper Day.
This post is just about my experience there and not endorsed or sponsored by them in anyway as my lovely Mum paid for everything.
I haven’t got many photos as clearly that would be very antisocial but hopefully you will get an idea of what it is like there. Simply my favourite place to go and relax.
The spa is based in Brockenhurst in the New Forest.
The whole place is Thai themed and very very peaceful.
We were greeted with a cup of green chai tea, filled out a quick medical questionnaire and then offered a complimentary breakfast. There was a lovely spread of fruit, yogurt, toast, pastries and juices.
Mmmmm peanut butter!
We then waddled off to get changed. The hotel has a main pool area with jacuzzi, small sauna and steam room then there is a door controlled by electronic wrist bands to access the spa area.
As far as I am concerned the star of the place is the hydrotherapy area. It’s a soothingly lit pool with various bubbly areas and jets. My favourite is like a big metal bench underwater which has bubbles come up and through. I could happily lay there for ever!
There is a herbal sauna, crystal steam room and then some crazy experience showers downstairs. The showers are what you might call intense! You choose a setting such as Atlantic Ocean or Tropical Storm and then brave yourself! They play jets over you at various temperatures with scented steam and the occasional thunderclap….
Next to the showers there is a giant bucket of cold water which is fun to chuck over your head after the sauna and a big bowl of ice, as far as I am concerned this is never fun but the masochist in me has had a go with it previously.
Upstairs are treatment rooms and two lovely relaxing spaces. A laconicum which has a wonderful heated floor and twinkly lights. You lie on the floor and relax with non of the claustrophobic panic of the steam room. Next door is the tepidarium which is a large room with big stone sun loungers which are heated from underneath. I am seriously trying to work out how to get one of these at home!
We spent about an hour trying out all these facilities then we had our Rhassoul treatment. This is more of a DIY treatment to be honest. You are shown to a little room (in pairs) given some paper pants and a bowl of mud then told to get into a steam cubicle. The therapist leaves you too it while the cubicle fills with steam, after 25 mins overhead showers come on to wash the mud off. Now I’d love to wax lyrical about the amazingness of the mud but frankly I hate it! It is slimy, inevitably ends up in your mouth and feels horrible if you get it in your hair. I also have serious issues being in a small space full of steam so spend the 25 minutes trying not to have a panic attack…. Anyway once you wash it off your skin does feel soft!
Thankfully after that endurance test it was lunch time!
The restaurant is Thai and totally delicious! I had green papaya salad which was zingy and refreshing and Green Chicken curry which was the nicest I have ever had! We also had more complimentary juices.
Rather stuffed from lunch we popped on the Thai pyjamas you can borrow and headed upstairs to the relaxation rooms.
There is a relaxation room with chairs and magazines where you can chat and a quiet room with loungers where you can snooze or meditate.
Last time Mum and I went the quiet room gave us a very bad attack of the giggles to the point of tears. This time we were better behaved and relaxed with more green tea and a copy of Women’s Health magazine.
Once lunch had gone down we went back into the spa and had another go round all the different parts. Most people seemed to have left by then so it was lovely and quiet. We then had a quick swim in the main pool and headed for home.
The facilities in this spa are brilliant, I’ve not been to many but whenever I see hotels advertising a spa it tends to be a pool, sauna and jacuzzi. This place is the real deal. The place is spotless and beautifully maintained and the staff genuinely couldn’t be more helpful. From my point of view it is definitely worth a visit should you live nearby and they quiet often do deals such as the 2 for 1 making it pretty reasonable. They have also started a monthly direct debit system which entitles you to 4 full spa days per year for £25 per month. I’m very tempted……
Samanthadid 