There are few occasions when you need a break more than when you are recovering from or being treated for cancer; a time which also requires a little specialised TLC to make sure you are properly pampered.  That’s where Spabreaks.com’s Recovery Retreats can help, with spa days and breaks tailored for exactly that time, as Lesley Lambert found out when she visited Grayshott Spa Hotel.

About Lesley

Like lots of people I’m not adverse to a night or two’s spa break with a view to recharging my batteries, primarily via the treatment and therapies available and the nutritionally-based menus.  However, I was disappointed to find out in early 2012 that a lot of spas were no longer prepared to serve clients like me, as I had been diagnosed with incurable cancer which doesn’t fit in with many of their guidelines.  I was saddened by this as it felt like another ‘blow to the system’  where another activity that I so enjoyed had been taken away from me, further adding to the too often common cancer feelings of loneliness, isolation and loss of feminity (more important to some than others, I realise). So I was delighted to get the opportunity to try out Spabreaks.com’s Recovery Retreats!

First Impressions of Spabreaks.com

The service was first rate in terms of meeting my particular needs. For example, an Account Manager worked with me via phone, taking into account all the things that were important to me:

• What sort of distance I was prepared to travel
• What kind of treatments were most important to me
• What kind of environment and surroundings I would like to go to bed and wake up to in the morning
• This list of requests is far from exhaustive …

First Impressions of Grayshott Spa Hotel                                                                                                       

Spabreaks.com came back to me quickly with a near perfect match … Grayshott Spa Hotel. Before I arrived, and adding a valuable element to the trip, one of the health consultants contacted me to understand and learn about my current state of health, my medication, and any other pre and/or post medical situations they may need to be aware of.  After the consultation, we decided the best option for me was a Nurturing Body Massage. This was booked on the proviso that once we had met face to face we may decide that a different treatment was more appropriate – we’d picked the right one first time though I’m pleased to say!

The Spa

Call me very British but I liked the fact that its facilities were separated by gender. So while some places were there to sit and relax altogether (the pool in particular), the sauna and steam rooms were separate. Chilled hand towels were also provided for the steam room which was another detail to making this a great experience of part of the day.  The spa treatments, therapies and fitness brochure could not have been more clearly laid out, giving the opportunity to both cross reference in various ways (e.g. treatment and its benefit(s) versus cost and the time it will take). This made it so clear to understand what was available, what treatment suited which conditions, and the benefits received from each one!

Restaurant

The restaurant (buffet style for breakfast and lunch, a la carte for dinner) was nicely laid out in terms of décor, furniture style and flowers.  Around nine months ago I stayed in a retreat focused on cancer patients and the menu was limited to one highly nutritional choice for breakfast, lunch and dinner – there was no other choice, unless you had a pre-known special condition.  That certainly wasn’t the case at Grayshott, where the selection was vast at the buffet, and while being supremely healthy managed to stay simultaneously interesting and appetising.

The Location

The building was beautiful in terms of its historic look and background, surrounded by 47 acres of gardens and 700 acres of National Trust grounds.  On my next visit to Grayshott I’ll take binoculars. I’m convinced I’ll be able to see Alice in Wonderland being frantically chased round the garden by the rather jittery, white rabbit!

The Verdict

I highly recommend Grayshott Spa Hotel, and would love to stay again, both for the experience of a quality hotel and the beauty of the building as well as the feeling of being restored in such a way as not to detract from the beauty and tranquillity of the surroundings with its professionally run spa, therapies and treatments.

Top Tips

• Grayshott has a wonderful cinema just off of the reception area and the week’s films and start times are displayed on takeaway sheets – well worth a look as there’s a wide variety and something likely to suite everyone.
• If you’re an avid coffee drinker, at 6pm it is no longer free and specialities such as lattes, cappuccinos etc have to be paid for. This doesn’t apply to tea whether English Breakfast or herbal, but is worth keeping in mind if you can’t go without.  Then again, maybe its worth using it as an opportunity to cut down on your caffeine intake!
• Free mocktails and canapés are served from 6-7pm. This is a great way to relax into the evening and also a good way to meet people if you’re going solo for your spa break.