Only 20 minutes from Cork city lie over 1,600 square metres of five-star calm. A 16m hydrotherapy suite, 18 treatment rooms, a choice of 60 treatments and the only ‘walking river’ in the country; the picturesque Fota Island Resort Spa certainly impresses on figures alone. But what also sets it apart is its unique range of treatments.
Where else could you find a chocolate body wrap, designed to boost circulation and endorphin levels, or the uber-indulgent Cleopatra Day, which includes a milk and honey bath, diamond body exfoliation and gold body polish made with 24 carat gold? Whether or not you opt for this sumptuous treatment, a stay at Fota is sure to leave you feeling like royalty.
The resort spa will dazzle even the most seasoned spa devotees. Its ultimate luxury is that of choice. The 18-room spa boasts a thalaxation suite, a hammam, a tepidarium and affusion showers, where a fine mist of mineral-enriched steam envelops you and soaks into the pores.
Fota’s hydrotherapy options are also beyond compare; the unique walking river uses water currents and massage jets to ease sports injuries and tension, while dry flotation therapy offers the ultimate escape – floating weightlessly while cocooned in a luxurious body treatment. Between treatments, visitors can relax in the spa’s sanctum area and sip on herbal tea, taking in views of the idyllic hotel gardens.
This is a spa with endless specialities; Mamma Mio treatments are tailored to worn out mums-to-be, while Les Luneides products offer the finest in French skincare. There’s also a full menu of male grooming options, while beauty addicts are catered for with a menu of waxing and manicures (including the fabulous Everlasting Nails treatment which seals unchippable polish onto nails, the holy grail of manicures!).
Those seeking something more spiritual can choose from a dazzling range of rituals and ‘envelopments’, include the calming LUX massage, where deliciously scented candles are melted and poured over the skin, and the intensive Body Strategist regime, a quick-fix which uses stimulating caffeine and amino acids to tone and smooth for the perfect bikini body.
After achieving your own spa nirvana, with 800 square metres of tranquil surrounding woodland the island is too beautiful to leave unexplored. Wander around the peaceful hotel grounds, visit the famous Fota Wildlife Park or tire yourself out with an unrivalled range of exercise options including spinning, aqua aerobics and a heated pool. The bootcamp programme is ideal for those seeking a total body overhaul, while the soothing thalaxation suite offers a remedy for tired-out sporting limbs. That’s not to mention the island’s legendary golf course, a championship-standard location with an adjoining golf academy.
Similarly you can head to Cork city centre, only a 15-minute drive away, for a spot of shopping, or sample the delicacies at the hotel’s highly acclaimed restaurant, which is garnering major foodie fanfare for its locally-sourced seafood and the best of what Irish cuisine has to offer. The desserts are dangerously tempting (anyone for baked custard and nutmeg tart with plum compote?) but then, why not indulge; after all, this is a place where no luxury is spared, for modern-day Cleopatras and Mark Anthonys alike.
Visit www.fotaisland.ie/Fota-Island-Spa for more information.