R&R!

After a particularly hectic July, I decided to take advantage of a couple of spa day vouchers that I had previously won in a raffle, the only downside was the only place to accept these vouchers was a 4 hour plus drive away so I had to book an overnight hotel for the night before. My youngest daughter came along with me as it wasn’t really a thing that my husband would enjoy so it was a good excuse for a girlie weekend and a road trip and it certainly far-exceeded my expectations.

On the way there we decided to visit the Designer shopping outlet Bicester and we arrived about lunchtime on a Sunday. Goodness me it was extremely busy mostly with foreign visitors pulling big suitcases in which they were filling with their bargain designer purchases. I was bowled over by the large amounts of money being spent to buoy the UK economy! The queues for Prada, Mulberry and Gucci were particularly long and in some shops we were put off by the large number of shoppers. That being said we did come away with a small amount of purchases compared to the crowds, but bargains all the same!

We travelled onwards to our destination of Ipswich and checked in to our hotel for the night.  The next day when arriving at the Riverhills spa up a very long grand driveway, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but the warmth of the greeting and the grand tour we had of the place certainly exceeded my expectations.  The spa used to be a very grand house and the facilities it offered were excellent with a huge pool with jacuzzi, steam room, sauna and aromatherapy room all being well-used by a large group of retirees.  There were at least twenty treatment rooms, a well-equipped gym and large furnished changing rooms.

Serena and I had our first treatment of the day which was a facial and very luxurious it was too.  We then had chance for a swim and a sauna before our next treatments of which I had reflexology which I found extremely relaxing and my daughter decided to indulge her football-induced aches and pains in a full body massage.  Lunch was included and we enjoyed a delicious two courses – not like the lettuce leaf only salad that I thought could be on the menu.  Just enough time for another quick dip into the aromatherapy room before it was time for my manicure and Serena’s pedicure.  I cannot praise the Spa highly enough for it’s friendly and professional staff and although it was a long way from home for us, I certainly would go again.

We even found another Designer Retail Outlet at Braintree on our way home and indulged in yet more retail therapy before wending our way onto the M25 and eventually home.  Certainly a great mother & daughter bonding experience that I would like to repeat again although my credit card might disagree!