Spa and the City
By Jessica, July 9, 2010
Does the idea of a week in the wilderness send shivers down your knotted spine? Remote, windswept landscapes make you turn on your calloused heel and run for anywhere but the hills? Maybe the sound of a green detox leaves your chipped fingernails clutching for a triple shot, no fat, caramel macchiato. If this sounds familiar, you may just be part of a new breed of spa goer: the Spa Slicker.
Spa Slickers don’t ‘do’ country retreats. Hectic lifestyle, full-time job, demanding family, or maybe you’re just allergic. But the harsh mirror gods and all of the pass-remarkable style saints know you could do with a bit of pampering. The nature-free solution? The City Spa.
City Spas offer brief but beautiful moments of repose before sending you on your way again, preened and prepared. Here we have listed some of the best City Spas in Dublin, Cork, Limerick, Galway and Belfast to spare you the horrors of rural havens.
Dublin
French Beauty Day Spa
Set in Dublin city centre, this spa offers treatments based on those typically offered in French spas. Get your mani-pedis, waxing and tan done or indulge in one of the massages or facials. Body wraps and slimming treatments are also available.
Buff Day Spa
The Buff Day Spa is to be found in Dublin 2. They offer the usual spa and salon treatments as well as men’s, maternity and bridal packages. Dermalogica products are used and you can make use of the spa’s sauna and relaxation rooms while you’re there.
sansanaSPA
Located on the south side of Dublin, sansanaSpa has been deemed Dublin’s Comprehensive Spa by Fáilte Ireland. Enjoy the benefits of Uspa products in a spa treatment or take advantage of their specialised massages for problems such as sciatic pain, carpel tunnel and other sprains and injuries. A sauna, steam room and mud room are also available.
Cork
The Beautique at Hayfield Manor
An indoor pool, outdoor Jacuzzi, nine treatment rooms and luxurious Elemis products, what more could you want from an afternoon break? Choose from facials, massages and body and beauty treatments in this 5 star spa.
Urban Escape Day Spa at The River Lee Hotel
This spa gives you choices of Yon-ka, Lu’lur, oxygen therapy and Mamma Mio treatments for the face and body. You can also avail of packages designed specifically for men and various beauty treatments. One of the sister Urban Escape Day Spas can be found in Limerick city.
Limerick
Rain Spa and Wellness Clinic
Rain Spa offer an extensive range of Elemis treatments, complemented by the selection of cosmetic beauty treatments available in the Wellness Clinic. These include anti-wrinkle treatments, laser hair removal and teeth whitening. Top your treatment off with a soak in the outdoor hot tub.
The Spa @ No. 1
In the heart of Limerick city’s Georgian Quarter, The Spa at No. 1 was awarded Best Boutique Spa 2010 by the Irish Tatler. They use Irish spa product line Voya as part of their facials as well as Karora tan. Avail of the aroma steam room, mist showers or sauna and hit their Snooze Room before facing the world again.
Galway
ESPA at The G
Have a momentary 5 star retreat from the hustle of Galway city in the spa at the g hotel. ESPA products form the basis of most of their face and body treatments. Also to be found are beauty treatments and various rooms for hot, cold, wet and dry experiences.
The Spa at Courtyard by Marriott Galway
A wide range of spa and beauty treatments are available at the Spa with use made of the popular Ytsara and Dermalogica products. You could also relax in their thermal suite or try an IPL treatment. An increasingly popular option, this treats fine lines and wrinkles and a number of skin blemishes.
The Square Spa
The Square Spa in the Meyrick Hotel on Eyre Square use Dermalogica products in many of their signature treatments. These include wraps, facials, massages, aromatherapy and a number of beauty treatments. Also for guests’ use are a steam room, pool and outdoor Canadian hot tub.
Belfast
The Spa at Culloden
Treatments on offer at The Spa at Culloden include facials, body wraps, massages, reflexology, reiki and men’s and beauty treatments. There is also a full range of facilities including a pool, Jacuzzi, steam room and gym.
Tranquil Waters Day Spa
If you’re around Newry, try the Tranquil Waters spa. They offer various body treatments, including wraps and scrubs, and a number of facials for different skin types. Dry Floatation and iPulse hair removal treatments are also available.
