A place called Spa
In the 18th century the little town of Spa in eastern Belgium became known as The Café of Europe. Today, Spa has spawned a worldwide wave of imitations that are now scaling new peaks of popularity.

The sound of two hands slapping
Felice Hardy selects the ultimate places to escape the stresses of the world.

On massage
The exotic is closer than you think. Felice Hardy finds Austrian peat baths in Scotland, Indian massage in Wales and the elixir of eternal youth in England.

Taking the waters
Anne McHardy is squirted with seawater in glamorous Le Touquet.

The 4,000-mile service
Hadley Freeman checks into a Caribbean resort to get her body buffed and her mind retuned.

Beau ties
Skiing can be hard on the body. Gillian Rhys nurses the bruises at a couple of five-star centres.