USP After destroying yourself on the ski slopes of Baqueira-Beret, the in-house spa at La Pleta resort attempts to put your body back together.
Savvy guests can sign up for a pre-ski treatment which helps stimulate blood flow to legs, or they can ease tired muscles in a Turkish bath, steam room or Vichy shower. Those not in pain can get pampered with Erno Laszlo facials and fruit-based exfoliation.
AMBIENCE Opened in 2005, the subterranean spa is all modernist mountain chic, lit entirely by candles. The floors are made from local slate, and the relaxation area features boxy white day beds separated by muslin curtains.
There are only a handful of treatment rooms, which are near the hotel’s pool, so occasional shrieks from over-excited children can be overheard.
Guests who don’t want a full treatment can fork out €25 (£17) for a hydrotherapy experience. This includes a stint in the Turkish bath, followed by a session in the steam room and a plunge into a snow bath (basically a tub filled with melted snow), topped off by a hot and cold shower.
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EXPERIENCE I signed up for the 50-minute Aran Valley Honey Massage, where a concoction of local herbs, honey and almond oil is rubbed into aching muscles. I had a moment of panic when I was greeted by a male therapist (first thought: damn I should have shaved my legs) but quickly got over it as he was a total pro.
First, heated towels were laid over my body to warm my muscles and then whisked away. My therapist then drizzled warm honey on my back and over my feet, before towelling the mixture off. Next he launched into a deep-tissue massage, which eased most of the day’s aches and pains from the slopes.
IN CROWD Yummy mummies from Madrid and Barcelona and their partners, with the occasional long-weekender from London.
WALLET WATCH Similar prices to London standards. The Aran Valley Honey massage costs €110 (£75), while 50-minute massages start at €90 (£60). The resort is about 80 miles from Toulouse.
NEED TO KNOW La Pleta Hotel & Occitania Spa, Baqueira a Beret, Spain (+34 973 645 550; www.lapleta.com/)Email lapleta@rafaelhoteles.com
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