East meets west... London
By Johanna Woodthorpe-Smith, TravelMail
Last updated at 16:01 08 December 2004
Kate Moss chilled out here before her 30th birthday party
As one of London's most opulent hotels, you'd expect the spa at the Mandarin Oriental to be equally fabulous.
Madonna and Britney Spears have both been pampered here and Kate Moss celebrated her 30th in the spa with friends. Celebrity credentials don't come much better so my expectations were very high indeed.
On entering the spa, I was greeted by assistants dressed in traditional Chinese outfits who presented me with a pair of flip-flops on a tray.
Far Eastern touches like this are part of the proceedings here and with a little imagination, I almost felt as if I'd magically been transported to Hong Kong.
One of the features in the spa which first struck me was all the concrete. The floors are concrete and the nude busts which decorate the interior are sculpted from it.
Somehow this very grey look works and the candles and flowers keep the surroundings soft and feminine.
After enjoying the Sanarium sauna, Crystal Steam Room and Vitality Pool, the time for my two-hour long Ayurvedic Holistic Body Treatment arrived.
The pleasure began promptly as my therapist Vikas talked me through the treatment and massaged my feet with oils as I sipped herbal tea.
Next I was body brushed before being completely smothered in an exfoliating body scrub. Vikas was a master of discretion and his deftness with a towel meant that there was never a moment when I felt embarrassed or exposed.
The third treatment on the menu was an Express facial, which while brief, was still entirely satisfying. My skin was cleansed and massaged with so much attention that even my eyelashes felt special.
This was followed by a fabulous head massage and then finally, a realignment body massage. Every joint in my body felt as though it had been pulled back into its proper place, a sensation that was invigorating but somewhat excruciating.
Still, I felt at least two inches taller afterwards.
Bliss Factor The hot mineral water in the Vitality Pool is made even more delightful by the hydrotherapy jets.
Stress Factor More products in the changing area for guests to use would make them feel even more pampered.
Treatments
Purifying Herbal Linen Wrap (£45) Turn up your body temperature and eliminate toxins while you're cocooned in linen.
Life Saving Back Massage (£68) Ease tension and soften your skin with an aromatherapy massage.
Bookings: call 020 7838 9888 or visit www.mandarinoriental.com/london
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