Bliss at SPA: Upper House

The outdoor bubble pool, overlooking the city of Gothenburg. Here you can actually see the traffic under you, while sitting in the pool (and the bubbles are not on:)

I especially liked the broad bench to lie on in this hot pool...

...while overlooking this view.

Great design details, for e.g hanging up your robe while taking a dip

The Turkish bath (not me however covered in bubbles)

A few weeks ago I had the pleasure of visiting the Upper House SPA in Gothenburg, while I was there on business. This was the absolute perfect relaxation after a long day filled with meetings. I had a few hours of alone time, just absorbing the ambience and tranquility of this great SPA. The best part of Upper House SPA are the many different pools, at least for a bather like me. When you enter the SPA area of the hotel you are warmly greeted and encouraged to pick out a theme for your SPA experience. You can go either Oriental or Swedish West Coast. I had a huge problem choosing, of course, but landed in the West Coast for me after a few professional advices. You then get products according to your chosen theme to bring into the SPA. Brilliant, who doesn't love a DIY SPA? You choose how to spend your time and when to use the products, but if you prefer guidance there are instructions how-to, when and where in the SPA. I went on an early Friday evening, which normally sees many visitors, but on my occasion it was very calm, I guess I was lucky and it was just what I needed. If you´re in Gothenburg and just need a couple of hours of relaxation, head to the Upper House SPA and you will feel renewed in senses and very clean afterwards. I also stayed for a glass of wine in the relaxing area of the SPA, flickering through a huge pile of magazines overlooking the city of Gothenburg and watching the evening come. 

The details:

Upper House SPA

Upper House Hotel

Gothia Towers Hotel 

Bliss at SPA - Bagni di Pisa Palace & Spa

Bagni di Pisa Palace & Spa is located a few minutes from the famous Leaning Tower of Pisa and the charming walled town of Lucca. The SPA resort reopened after a complete renovation of the magnificent historical buildings with frescoed rooms. The Bagni SPA's hot springs were known already by the Romans. Today one can enjoy a large spa and wellness menu in a gorgeous setting. There are also several weight loss programmes to choose from, although I personally would have serious difficulties loosing weight being surrounded by all that great Italian food...The thermal grotto, which is reached through a short tunnel from the 18th century, sounds promising however. A hot steam bath is stimulating a re-equilibration of the organism involving both body and mind and eliminating toxins from the body. This beautiful place is great place to clean out the winter and get prepared for summer...

This post was originally published in 2013 - but worth repeating:)

(Thanks for press photos from Leading Hotels of the World)

Having a SPA day

Sometimes you just need to check out. From everything. That´s what I did today, when I checked myself into a SPA for some much needed, quiet alone time. I was actually a bit worn out. Knowing myself and my body, and also being pretty good at listening to it (that is, nowadays), I knew I had to do something and it had to be like...now. I´m a type A-personality having sometimes difficulties shutting down and not checking my emails (thinking they all need my immediate respons and action:). I can tell you that just a few hours here did wonders. That´s my easy trick when feeling stressed or in need of some recharge and inspiration. Checking myself into a SPA for a day or just a few hours. It is much easier to squeeze in this shorter time for yourself between work and family, and you can do it more often. I highly recommend it. And don't bring your phone. Seriously. Enjoy the silence. (Ok, I did took this one picture but then I put away the phone in the locker. It felt really good actually).

Bliss at SPA [La Prairie]

OUTER BEAUTY

It´s the time of the year when most of us are longing for the holiday, and that´s almost around the corner...This made me longing for checking in at a SPA...preferably the La Prairie SPA in Switzerland...Amazing settings and the fantastic skin care, what more can a girl dream of...

Take me there! [Bliss at SPA]

OUTER BEAUTY
This is what I dream about this Wednesday. To check in at the über gorgeous Blue Palace Hotel & Spa in Elounda, Crete in Greece. Apparently the spa has every type of treatment imaginable. And a "luxury boot camp" (I have no problem working out very hard there if that´s what it takes). The Elounda Spa is specialized in Thalassotherapy. One can also book full package spa-programs for three, five or six days, e.g the "Serenity & Life balance", which I think sounds very promising and effective and is "an amazing combination of treatments for complete detoxification and regeneration of body and face. Rejuvenate through a natural way, boost your mood, and offer a few unique hours of relaxation in body and spirit". When can we go...?

{All images from Blue Palace}

A Grand experience [BLISS at SPA]

So beautiful and peaceful 

OUTER BEAUTY

You know I love a good spa, and who doesn´t? I especially love a tranquil luxury spa in the middle of a busy city. This is exactly what the Nordic Spa & Fitness at Grand Hôtel Stockholm is. If you live in Stockholm I must say this is the perfect day spa, since this will really check you out from the daily life in both body and mind, and this exactly what I did last week. 

Europe's first surface hanging outside pool [SPA LAUNCH]

OUTER BEAUTY

Last week saw the opening of a new spa in Gothenburg, belonging to hotel Gothia Towers. Not only is the spa brand new, it also features Europe's first and largest surface hanging outside pool. "The sky over your head and the city under your feet."

When can we check in? [Bliss at SPA]

OUTER BEAUTY

Wouldn´t it be perfect to check in at a spa right now? The Kamalaya spa and wellness resort in Thailand is a favourite by Tatler and Condé Nast Traveller for its wellness and holistic approach, and also to cure technology addiction. "You'll re-emerge fit, sleek and connected - to yourself, rather than your gadgets" Condé Nast Traveller says, calling this spa "one of the best spas 2013 for fixing issues."

[Bliss at SPA] Wellbeing based on the 4 elements

OUTER BEAUY
I am back from a marvellous trip to Brussels. The main reason was a 40th birthday celebration party during the weekend, and I can honestly tell you that today I urgently feel the need to check myself into a SPA...(instead I did the school run, but one can always dream a little). This made me think of the newly renovated Café Royal Hotel in London that has a new Spa, the Akasha Holistic Wellbeing Spa, based on the four elements earth, air, fire and water, which sounds both promising and interesting. The air part contains curved meditation rooms, cooly sculpted to enhance the chi, while fire is a kinesis gym and leather -walled boxing room. Water of course consists of water, leaving you with a choice of ten treatment rooms including an Asian Watsu therapy pool and Vichy wet room. If you get hungry during the treatments don´t despair, earth offers an organic juice and food bar. I wouldn´t mind checking in here...

[Images from Café Royal Hotel]

BLISS at SPA | Ystad Saltsjöbad

The setting of this SPA hotel is nothing to complain about, with its magnificent view

Loving these day beds while waiting for a SPA treatment

...or if you prefer to sit while waiting...

That´s were the ocean is, right behind the fence...

Entering the Creek Experience private area for a 2 hour treatment... 

Wonderful oil to use all over the body

Relaxing pool after the sauna treatments

This golden bowl was filled with Maroccan clay...

A little aroma therapy goes a long way. In the boxes there are different flavours to breathe in, and guess, which wasn´t that easy...

While the sun was shining, this outdoor pool will have to wait a little while...but what a promising script on the bottom...

OUTER BEAUTY
Sometimes it´s more than welcome to check out from everyday life and enjoy a little SPA time. That is what I did recently. I was invited to Ystad Saltsjöbad SPA to try out their new "Creek Experience", a full body treatment for two hours. This treatment involves a lot of bathing, so it couldn´t be more appropriate for a bather like me. You enter The Creek Experience area in a group of maximum five people, wearing your normal bathing clothes. Every little group is assigned their own SPA hostess. Our hostess Mimmi was very professional and sweet and you could tell she loved her job knowing it all. This is sort of do-it-yourself treatments all the way, although Mimmi explains everything and are right at your side the whole time. I actually loved that concept. We started off with a bath for the feet with dead sea salt (in gorgeous glamorous golden mosaic mini bath tubs). Then we went on to two different saunas. During this time we also got a lovely facial mask to put on, since it works wonders in the sauna. My tip here; don´t rub the mask all off after the sauna as supposed to. This was so lovely you might just keep it on during the whole session to really make it work for you. After that there were many different bathing rituals, like a Turkish hamam, with Scandinavian touch. Then it was time for a full body coverage of Maroccan clay, known for its minerals and salutary qualities, and on to take a shower in rainforest like showers and massage oil onto your body. The whole two hour ritual was really nice, and much more de-stressing than expected, since you enter a quiet, rather dark and calm private area. You have no other choice than to relax and let it all in (and don´t forget to go to the bathroom before, there´s no turning back and no toilet during the Creek Experience:) I would also give a tip-off that this is a treatment really suitable for doing in pair or with friends, since you can talk in a subdued voice (you want nothing else) and really enjoy some quality time together, and it´s fun to share the many rituals, although I definitely had no problem enjoying it all by myself...All in all, the Creek Experience is a great SPA treatment in a beautiful and tastefully created environment. Since I have been to Ystad Saltsjöbad hotel and SPA many times before I am sure I will come back. And rather soon, please.

Facts:
The Creek Experience costs 595 SEK (ca 60 EURO)
Ystad Saltsjöbad Homepage