REVIEWS
VILALARA THALASSA RESORT Portugal
LOCATION: Vilalara Thalassa Resort can be found in Portugal’s Algarve, high above the golden sands of Praia das Gaivotas, near to the town of Lagoa. It feels wonderfully remote, although there are several villages within walking distance. During my stay I’d signed up for a two-day liquid diet so decided to stay put in order
to avoid temptation. FIRST IMPRESSIONS: Staying put is a rather enjoyable experience at Vilalara. There’s direct access to a private sandy beach, and the sprawling, five-star resort is nestled in 11 hectares of manicured gardens. The buildings have been designed with the environment in mind, and neutral tones predominate. The accommodation units (three apartments and 111 rooms) are flat and low, their rough, sand-coloured walls reminiscent of adobe houses. Inside, it’s all about minimalism, with white furniture, walls and furnishings. The bathrooms are huge, with his-and-hers sinks and enormous bathtubs.
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THE FACTS: The spa is the main focus of the property. It has 20 rooms for thalassotherapy treatments, 22 for spa and medical treatments, a fitness centre, beauty salon and two saltwater pools. It’s instantly obvious that the Longevity Spa is about more than just pampering. Although beautiful, the treatment rooms are relatively simple – here, it’s results that matter; weird gadgetry trumps soothing music and candles. Surgical whites-clad staff buzz around, and there’s a huge range of treatments and consultations on offer, from osteotherapy sessions and intradermal ozonetherapy (which uses subcutaneously-administered ozone to improve tissue oxygenation) to lymphatic
drainage pressotherapy, which I’d opted for. A GOOD BASE FOR: Anyone keen to know more about how to improve their health. Guests can book for just one or two nights, but many come here for the tailor-made wellness breaks, booking with operators such as Wellbeing Escapes. And while
90 — aspire march 2017
it’s a wonderful place to relax – there are tennis courts, and the beautiful private beach is a fantastic place to soak up some of the Algarve’s sun – it’s not really the ideal destination for those who fancy indulging themselves. Although alcohol is available, calorie counts are listed for most food and drink items, and meals are
designed with healthy eating in mind. WOW: The staff are wonderfully attentive and somehow know which programme each guest has signed up for. At dinner, for example, my waiter knew I was on the juice diet, and during downtime by the pool the barman would promptly deliver my allotted juice when it was due. Staff also make things easier for guests on low calorie or liquid diets by removing the contents of the in-room minibars.
BOOK IT: €218 for a junior suite with garden view in April.
VILALARARESORT.COM TAMARA HINSON
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