Sunday, April 22, 2007

By Chris Cairns

Now into my 30s (just), my ideal holiday is to go somewhere and relax, taking it very easy with a good book and a quiet beer in the sunshine.

So, when the opportunity arose to enjoy a 'spa and wellness' holiday in Gran Canaria, I immediately jumped at the chance. Ok, facials, Aloe Vera wraps and being covered in various oils from head to toe have never really been my thing (well, apart from possibly the latter), but if it's good enough for women to enjoy a little bit of pampering and TLC, then it's good enough for me!

Gran Canaria has long been the choice location for those people who are looking for a holiday with a difference - it's close to home and with all the advantages of a holiday destination within the European Union.

The trade winds and mild ocean current give Gran Canaria a fantastic climate with an annual average temperature of 24 degrees Celsius.

But now the island is keen on promoting its 'spa and wellness centres' - of which there are 14 in all.

With the most advanced facilities and experts, the centres specialise in all types of techniques and services from algae, marine fango mud, hydrotherapy, salt bath treatments, aromatherapy and mud wraps to thalassotherapy, lymph drainage, reflexotherapy, chiromassage, specific massage, Vichy shower, Turkish bath, jacuzzi, sauna and whirlpools. The idea is that more people see holidays as a time of resting, looking after yourself, toning up and recuperating vital energy.

I flew from Gatwick with GB Airways (www.gbairways.com), a franchise partner of British Airways, with a flight time of only four hours.

The Seaside Hotel Palm Beach (www.hotel-palm-beach.com) is a five-star hotel overlooking the beach in Maspalomas on the south of the island and was our base for the six-day stay.

With its beautiful location in the 1,000-year-old palm grove on the edge of the endless dune landscape of Maspalomas, the Palm Beach is an ideal setting for a holiday on the island. Make sure you book a room with a seaview - the vista is spectacular.

As the first design hotel on the island, the Palm Beach offers a luxury newly built spa and wellness centre.

There are 11 treatment rooms surrounded by a Japanese garden with day and weekly spa programmes, aromatherapy, cream baths and mudwraps.

It was here where I enjoyed a specialised treatment called Pantai Luar - a traditional application from the Far East.

To begin the treatment, your body is rubbed with pleasantly scented, warm oils. The subsequent massage is similar to a gentle pressure point massage.

While this is taking place, carefully prepared medicinal herbal packs are heated to 120 degrees Celsius in the same oil. These packs are small linen sacks and are used to massage along the body's energy channels, the so-called meridians.

The process is supposed to stimulate the skin's thermo-receivers without burning and activating what is doubtlessly the body's most effective regeneration mechanism. The whole treatment lasted an hour and it was certainly relaxing, although be warned - the oil can get a little warm at times for people with tender skin. It was then out to the relaxation room for a cup of green tea or water.

Of course the Palm Beach wellness centre offers a range of massages, therapies, peeling, soft pack treatments and thalassotherapy including seaweed wraps.

Two minutes walk away from the Palm Beach is its sister hotel, the Grand Hotel Residencia (www.grand-hotel-residencia.com).

Nestled in the lush greenery of a tropical palm garden in the Maspalomas nature reserve, this grand complex, built in typical colonial style, exudes an atmosphere of quality and tastefulness.

This hotel is smaller than many others with just 94 rooms but the attention to detail is second to none. And the restaurant upstairs with a large terrace overlooking the pools offers superb food and fantastic service.

The wellness centre at GHR offers a varied programme including thalassic therapy and physiotherapeutic measures, Moor mudpacks and even anti-cellulite massages and traditional Chinese medicine.

The Gloria Palace San Agustin (www.gloriapalaceth.com), which is only 25 kilometres from Gran Canaria Airport, has a truly majestic view of the Atlantic Ocean.

Its spa and wellness centre boasts a sauna, Turkish bath, thermal bath, a 'get in shape' pool, massages, hydrotherapy, bubbling bath, algae therapy and a rehab pool.

It was here that I had my favourite treatment of the week - an 'Ocean Men' facial which lasted all of 90 minutes.

First my face was cleaned and then an exfoliation/cleansing scrub was used. After cleaning my face with water, serum was applied, followed by a massage with hydrating gel.

A gelatine mask was then put on - which was extremely hot - and then I was left to relax for half-an-hour with this on. Finally, this was taken off and an irritant cream applied. It was remarkably relaxing and certainly changed my mind as regards the benefits of a facial.

The Gran Hotel Lopesan Villa Del Conde (www.lopesanhr.com) is located in Maspalomas close to the harbour of Pasito Blanco.

This five-star hotel's style reflects the traditional Canarian architecture, highlighted by the impressive reception lobby - a genuine adaptation of one of the most ancient and traditional Gran Canarian churches with two towers, bell tower and central dome.

Its exclusive Corallium Thalasso therapy centre, built at a cost of €4.5m, offers a Thalasso therapy circuit with modern facilities and seawater pools, as well as luxury health and beauty treatments. One thing not to miss out on is the flotation pool with its special light and sound system.

Outside, four ocean view suites with their own seawater pools and sun terraces offer treatments for couples or groups of up to six people. Also in the open air is a pavilion for seawater inhalations with heated beds, a Kneipp pool for cold water treatment (it is very cold!) and a pavilion for oil showers. The centre is, without doubt, the most attractive facility for hotel guests as well as for customers who are not staying in the hotel.

My final visit took me to the Hotel Sheraton Salobre Golf Resort and Spa (www.sheraton.com/grancanaria) which overlooks the breathtaking greens of the 27-hole Salobre Golf Course and surrounding mountains.

Only opened last September, the hotel is the last word in luxury with its seven outdoor pools, including one up on the roof.

And undoubtedly one of the resort's most attractive features is its Aloe Spa.

The Aloe Vera used in health and beauty treatments that is cultivated in the Canary Islands is considered the purest in the world. Its vitamins, minerals and organic salts give the plant its magical properties.

Indeed, it is said Cleopatra attributed her beauty to using Aloe.

It was here that I had an Aloe Wrap - a 60-minute experience which involved a thick covering of Aloe, then wrapped up inside a tight warm cover and followed by a warm shower. Certainly a must treatment for all you Aloe fanatics.

Overall, I was mightily impressed with the island's spa and wellbeing centres coupled with the stylish hotels dotted over the island.

There's no doubting that Gran Canaria is re-inventing itself as more than just a package holiday destination. Now is the time to try it for yourself.

SOURCE Belfast Telegraph