Festive Spa Break Ideas: The Perfect Christmas Escape
by Jessie Dawson
Christmas is a season for treating the people you love, but who says you have to wait...
2nd September 26
Spa Days for Two: How to Plan the Perfect Spa Day Together
A spa day for two at The Spa Hotel is a chance to slow down together and let the world wait. At its heart is our Aqua Thermal Journey, a series of warming, steaming and cooling experiences that ease you, step by step, into a deeper sense of calm. Feel the gentle warmth of the aromatherapy and steam rooms, the dry heat of the saunas and the bracing chill of the ice baths, before settling into the quiet of the relaxation lounge. Add breakfast, lunch, afternoon tea or a relaxing spa treatment to make the day even more memorable.
Set within 100 acres of beautiful Lancashire countryside between Preston and Blackpool, The Spa Hotel is an adults-only retreat where you’ll feel looked after from the moment you arrive. We’ve been named Best UK Day Spa by the Good Spa Guide for many years, which truly demonstrates the warmth and care provided by the team who look after you.
Whether you’re planning a couples spa day, a mum and daughter treat or a long-overdue catch-up with a friend, we’ll help you choose the right spa day for you. We’ll explain what’s included, what to expect on the day, and share some of our favourite additions like lunch and treatments. All you need to do is book your visit and look forward to switching off.
What Kind of Spa Day Suits You?
Every one of our spa days begins with the Aqua Thermal Journey, but the day itself can be built entirely around your preferences. The main difference between the types of spa days we offer is the time of day and the addition of dining. To start, have a think about your availability and the feeling you’re looking for. Are you both people who like a rejuvenating start to the day? Or would you rather wind down before bed in the beautiful surroundings of the spa?
Morning, afternoon or evening?
- Morning Spa – Begin your day in the Aqua Thermal Journey and Zen Garden, followed by a light breakfast. A gentle start that leaves you feeling ready to take on whatever the day brings.
- Lunch & Spa – Spend time in the Aqua Thermal Journey, then enjoy a peaceful lunch, with vegan and gluten-free dishes available. A relaxed, easy choice for a day spent together.
- Spa with Afternoon Tea – Enjoy the Aqua Thermal Journey then sit down for an afternoon tea filled with sweet and savoury treats. A lovely way to mark a birthday or celebration.
- Evening Spa – Unwind for the evening in our twilight spa, with warm heat rooms, cooling experiences and bubbling outdoor hot tubs under the evening sky, a lovely way to leave the day behind. Dining isn’t included in this day spa package, so we’d recommend reserving a table at The Orangery if you’d like to make a complete night of it.
If you’d like treatments too, our treatment-inclusive packages bring together the Aqua Thermal Journey, therapies and dining.
Couple spa days
As an adults-only spa, The Spa Hotel is designed around calming the mind and body, which makes it a natural setting for a couples spa day. It’s somewhere to share an anniversary, or simply switch off together and enjoy an uninterrupted day in each other’s company.
For a spa day for two with treatments and lunch, ishga Time Out for Two brings together the Aqua Thermal Journey, a two-course lunch or afternoon tea, the Mud Rasul and a 60-minute ishga Marine Back Experience, using Hebridean seaweed-based skincare. This spa day package with treatments is our top recommendation for couples who really want to make the most of the day together.
Mum and daughter spa days
For the mum who’s always looking after everyone else, a spa day is her turn to be looked after. It’s as much about time to talk as it is about treatments. Our top recommendation for mum and daughter spa days is either our Lunch & Spa or our Spa with Afternoon Tea package. Both give you plenty of time to unwind in our Aqua Thermal Journey before sitting down for a cup of tea (or a glass of wine) and a catch up over food – what more could you ask for?
For something extra-special, be sure to take a look at our ELEMIS Spa Sampler, which can be booked for two. This day spa package includes a 60-minute ELEMIS face and body ritual alongside the Aqua Thermal Journey and lunch or afternoon tea. The perfect way to treat your mum (or your daughter) to a complete spa day experience!
Bringing sisters or the wider family? The Mud Rasul can be shared by up to six people. If Mum is actually a mum-to-be, we offer specialist pregnancy treatments tailored to help mum unwind. Just be sure just let us know when you book, and our therapists will make sure everything is perfect for you on the day.
Spa days with friends
Good company, good food, and nowhere to be in a hurry. A spa day is a lovely way to make time for a proper catch-up, away from phones and busy schedules. Whether you’re looking to book a spa day for you and your best friend, or you’re extending the invite to the wider friend group, our Lunch & Spa or Spa with Afternoon Tea packages give you time to relax and reconnect.
Planning Your Spa Day for Two
A little planning means you can switch off from the moment you arrive. Here’s what we’d suggest.
- Book treatments ahead of time – Treatment-inclusive spa days are booked by phone, and our team will help you find times that suit you both. Weekends and the weeks before Christmas are especially popular.
- Let us know about any health conditions – Some heat and cold experiences aren’t suitable for everyone, including during pregnancy. Mention any health conditions you (or your guest) have when you book and our team will guide you. Our therapists can adapt most treatments for pregnancy, oncology care and different skin types.
- Pack your swimwear – You’ll need it for the pools and the Zen Garden. Your booking confirmation will let you know anything else to bring.
- Follow the journey in order – The Aqua Thermal Journey is designed to warm you gradually, moving from the aroma rooms and saunas to the cooling experiences and on to the pools, so each stage prepares you for the next.
- Leave time to rest – The Quiet Lounge and the heated loungers are there for unhurried moments between experiences, so there’s no need to rush from one to the next.
- Getting here. The Spa Hotel sits within Ribby Hall Village in Wrea Green, between Preston and Blackpool, and is easy to reach from the M55.
What’s Included in Our Spa Days?
Every spa day includes access to our award-winning Aqua Thermal Journey. Dining and treatments depend on the package you choose, and you’ll find full details and current prices on our Day Spa page.
Spa Day Add-Ons: Make It Extra Special
Let the world wait a little longer… If you’ve booked an Aqua Thermal Journey package, these extras can be added to help you make the most of your special day together:
- Mud Rasul – a seaweed body scrub and mineral-rich mud, followed by time in a warm heat and steam chamber. It’s shared by up to six people, but it’s lovely for two.
- ishga Thermotherapy – a 25-minute treatment booked alongside your Aqua Thermal Journey.
- Welnamis – a 30-minute sound experience through headphones, with four programmes to choose from: Stress Relief, Mindfulness, Powernap and Awareness.
- Spa treatments – add a facial, a body treatment or finishing touches such as lashes, brows or nails.
- A glass of Champagne – with your afternoon tea, or to end the day in our beautiful The Champagne Bar.
Spa Day Gifting Ideas
If you’ve been thinking that a spa day is the perfect gift for a loved one in your life, now is the perfect time to treat them to the gift of unwinding. We believe that some of the most thoughtful gifts aren’t things at all. A spa day gives someone time to slow down, settle in and feel looked after, time that’s entirely theirs. Here are a few of our favourite gifts for you to choose from:
- A spa day for two – for the person whose to-do list never seems to end. Book a spa day for them (or for the two of you) and get ready to unwind. Whether with a partner or as a mum and daughter day to look forward to together.
- A treatment – their turn to be looked after. Perfect for the person who’s always looking after everyone else.
- A gift card of any value – their escape, your gift. If you’re not sure when someone’s available, or what gift to choose, a gift card lets them decide.
Gift cards can be bought online or in person across the Village, and sent as an e-voucher or posted to any UK address. Perfect for birthdays, anniversaries or Christmas.
Staying Over at The Spa Hotel
If you’re travelling from further afield, celebrating something special or simply don’t want the day to end, a spa break lets you settle in, switch off and take things at a slower pace.
Our Luxury Spa Dinner Break includes an overnight stay in one of our hotel rooms, time in the Aqua Thermal Journey on the day you arrive and again the following morning, dinner in The Orangery and a full English breakfast. We also offer Weekend Spa Breaks, and special seasonal breaks over Christmas and New Year.
An hour, a day or an overnight stay – your journey to relaxation begins here. Find your escape with our spa days and current spa offers, or choose a gift card for someone who deserves a day to themselves.
