Making hay while the sun shines...
Tuesday, December 22nd, 2009
The Hay Bath is just one of a range of natural spa remedies being soaked up on a daily basis, as the Austrian Tyrol makes a name for itself as the spa capital of Europe. Forget orchids and lilies floating in the Far Eastern sunset; today, you can experience the same deep relaxation and de-stress just a 90-minute flight away - by Easyjet!
At the 4* Wiesehnhof in Pertisau, you can soak your cares away in a sumptuous bath of locally-mined stone oils, with views over Alpine meadows and breathtaking rugged peaks, indulge your senses in a state-of-the-art spa and generally enjoy the relaxed pace of life which is typical of the Austrian Tyrol.
Johannes Edner and his wife Alexandra welcome guests as part of the family and are thrilled at the chance to show visitors the sights on motor bikes, horseback or the Segway, a battery-powered self-balancing personal transporter.
A flat room-rate is designed not to exile families in school holidays, while the spacious play room and menagerie of pettable animals keep the young ones out of mischief while the adults get on with the serious business of unwinding.
Johannes explained: "You may come as a guest, but we want you to leave as a friend."
Johannes has travelled extensively, picking up tips along the way to make sure his hotel is second to none - he even offers a pillow menu, with a choice of six, to ensure you get your best-ever night's sleep.
The Wiesenhof describes itself as half-board, but with breakfast rolling seamlessly into lunch, followed by afternoon tea and cakes, a fine a la carte dinner menu and ample quantities of fruit and hot drinks always available, it is, in reality, all-inclusive, except for drinks.
Its Karwendeltherme Spa offers a range of four saunas as well as a gloriously indulgent range of health and beauty treatments.
However, it is the hotel's signature treatment - the hay bath - which sums up the Tyrolean Spa experience. As your mind and body sink slowly into a 43C bed of moistened hay, your pores open up and your mind floats right away...
The Wiesenhof now offer cardio-scans and measurement of your metabolic rate, to help plan an exercise or weight-loss programme, and a price incentive for returning visitors. Not that any incentive is needed!
Half an hour down the road, at the Lamm ApenMedHotel in Seefeld, additional treatments focus on mental burn-out, sports injuries and chronic rheumatism and arthritis.
The Lamm works closely with some of Austria's leading medical consultants who assess guests before recommending a course of treatment, which can include deep tissue massage, lymph drainage, cupping and taping.
However, the hotel's main draw for those suffering the pain of rheumatism and arthritis is its Cryotherapy - which involves being deep frozen to minus 110C for up to three minutes, wearing only a swimsuit!
Only a few places in Europe currently offer this treatment, which has been proven to ease the pain of arthritis for up to a year as well as ease the stress of burn-out and depression.
Cryotherapy helps release endorphins which aid sleep and is thus perfect for burned out businessmen. By entering the three chambers - -10C, -60C and - 110C, the latter for up to three minutes, it's also good for boosting the circulation and is used by competitive sportsmen and women during training.
The Lamm offers traditional Alpine rooms or stunning monochrome suites in its new wing, which also houses a futuristic swimming pool and beauty spa.
Both centres offer a host of outdoor activities to occupy all ages - in winter, there's skiing, of course. However, summer visitors can enjoy more than 25 varied activities, including sailing, fishing, lake swimming, paragliding, cycling, windsurfing, golfing, yoga, pilates - or Nordic walking, particularly good for exercising the heart.
Easyjet fly from Gatwick to Innsbruck, which is just 30 minutes away from either hotel - and the management will collect you! How's that for a stress-free start to your holiday?
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