How to choose a spa

Do you need help choosing a spa? Spa treatments are not cheap so it pays to be fussy. With so many new spas popping up all over the UK offering hundreds of different treatments under the guise of hundreds of different names, it can be difficult to make a choice. Do you choose a day spa? A health spa? Or a wellness centre? What is the difference and how will your choice affect your spa experience? Take a moment to ask yourself the following questions:

What exactly do you want to achieve? First of all - why are you going to the spa? Are you looking for clear skin? Nail maintenance? A relaxing massage? Pain relief? Detox or relief from bloating? Weight loss? Different spas have different focuses. For instance, if you're looking for pain relief then you might want to choose a spa that offers a wider variety of massage rather than one that focuses on skin care.

Do you want health or indulgence? Some spas offer champagne and Belgium chocolates on arrival. Others offer gluten-free snacks and wheatgrass smoothies. To avoid disappointment you need to first decide whether you want the emphasis to be on health, or on indulgence. If you're looking for a detox then being offered chocolates and alcohol on arrival isn't going to do you much good. Similarly, if you're looking forward to a weekend wrapped in a big robe beside a chocolate fondue fountain, a smoothie and a gym programme probably isn't going to cut it.

Who will be going? Are you looking for some solitary pampering, a weekend away with your friends or some quality time with your partner? Different spas cater for different clientele. Some cater for the quieter, private customers, some encourage the celebratory spirit of hen and stag parties, and some are keen to entice couples in with his and hers robes and rose petals floating in the hot tub. The last thing you want is to be a solitary guest surrounded by loved up couples, or a hen party told to be quiet by other customers.

Do you have a budget? Not all spas cater for the super-rich. Whatever your budget, there should be a spa experience out there to suit you. Do you want no-frills service with one or two budget treatments, or the whole works with champagne, Michelin-star dining, butler service and a 24k gold facial?