hydro – Jammie Hayes https://jammiehayes.com Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:39:51 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.7.2 241376767 3 Indian ocean islands for winter sun https://jammiehayes.com/3-indian-ocean-islands-for-winter-sun/ Mon, 01 Sep 2014 16:39:51 +0000 https://pur.vamtam.com/?p=6748

Mauritius

With its sugar-cane plantations, Hindu temples, coral reefs and searing Creole cooking, Mauritius is a thrillingly exotic winter hop.

The three-hour time-difference and an overnight flight means minimal jet lag too. No wonder everyone goes so crazy for it. LUX* Le Morne comes with a correspondingly loyal following: guests who return year after year to tap into its chilled out, kick-back vibe. The hotel happens to be on one of the best spots on the island, a UNESCO site. The Le Morne Peninsula is quiet and protected and its long swathe of icing-sugar-soft white sand is framed by the dramatic peak of Le Morne mountain. While there are masses of activities available, your daily routine can just involve mooching from four-poster bed to sun bed, watching kite surfers take advantage of the warm breeze. The joy for repeat visitors is that there are all sorts of surprises being added by the LUX* team, who entertain guests with delightful pop-up treats. Trays of unexpected canapés appear just as you're feeling peckish. And there's a wandering Aperitivo Bar, so you can help yourself to signature cocktails devised by the in-house mixologists.

If you are an early riser, the LUX* Belle Mare on Mauritius's East Coast is the perfect spot to see the sunrise. On your way to the beach pick up a double-shot almond flat white from the cute-as-pie Café LUX* (where the beans are roasted on site and the baristas don't blink at a complicated order). LUX* design guru Kelly Hoppen transformed the property a few years ago with her sleek styling and modern edge. It feels fresh and funky but, at the same time, authentic with a strong sense of place. Hoppen is continuing to strike that clever balance over at LUX* Grand Gaube, which flings open its new-look doors at the beginning of December. The style is ultra-stylish and contemporary - bleached woods, patterned tiles, pops of yellows and charcoal greys - and alongside the hotel bedrooms are three private villas, each complemented with its own swimming pool and one with its very own beach. Guests staying here will be tempted out by Turkish treats at Bodrum Blue or to the Peruvian-Argentinian INTI restaurant, which promises Latin American passion along with refined Asian flair and a bar that will have you up all night, with some seriously good Pisco Sours. Here's a hotel with a global groove.

La Réunion

Way off the beaten track, a stay at LUX* Saint Gilles on the volcanic island of Réunion is how to secure the ultimate dinner-party bragging rights.

Getting here is not actually so complicated after all (Heathrow, via Paris) and with year-round, soul-soothing heat and gentle trade winds, it's well worth the journey. There's so much to do: swim in waterfalls, whizz off in a helicopter over the volcano or paddle transparent kayaks out on the lagoon, where you might be lucky enough to spot whales breaching. But you can also fly and flop under the shade of a palm tree. The beach is peachy pristine, the yoga is complimentary, and if you spot a corked bottle bobbing in the surf or the pool, it might just have a note inside offering a free in-room massage. One day ice-lollies will be delivered poolside, the next you might find fresh coconuts with straws poking out the top. The hotel regularly thrills guests with its impromptu treats. And you can phone home from the red telephone box offering 'on the house' calls to tell all your friends about it.

The Maldives

Heading out to this incredible archipelago is like going on holiday in a postcard. And the LUX* South Ari Atoll continues that feeling of 'can this be real?

Bright and breezy, this hotel is a grown-up playground of side-by-side swings over the turquoise sea, DJs playing at the East Bar and clandestine late-night dancing spots. By day, you won't see sharper bikinis or larger sunglasses anywhere else in the atolls. When you're on a speck in the middle of the Indian Ocean for a week, it's good to keep things feeling fun and spontaneous. One night you might sink into a bean bag to watch a film at the pop-up outdoor cinema, the next skip off to the spa for a bespoke LUX* Me treatment. And on the third you could discover an astrologist on the beach, ready to help with stargazing. The morning after, order room-service breakfast on your veranda, to enjoy with the splendid sea view or served on a floating tray in your private swimming pool. None of this is done without a conscience though - the green credentials here are meaningful, with cooking oil turned into biofuel and gardens irrigated by bath water, plus chemical-free cleaning products and filtered bottled water. Impressive.

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Top 5 Tips for Choosing a Day Spa https://jammiehayes.com/top-5-tips-for-choosing-a-day-spa/ https://jammiehayes.com/top-5-tips-for-choosing-a-day-spa/#comments Fri, 21 Mar 2014 21:52:48 +0000 https://pur.vamtam.com/?p=308

Hosting guests can be a big feat, so anything you can do to make the process easier for yourself is essential. LoBello recommends creating the dining space in close proximity to the barbecue or an entrance into the house so as to save time running between the table and the kitchen.

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In decades past

In decades past, a trip to a spa was like a mini-vacation. Spas were more like resorts because you'd stay for a few days, and their expense meant they were luxuries most often reserved for the rich and famous. These types of spas, called destination spas or resort spas, still exist (and you don't necessarily have to be a millionaire to visit one), but there's another type of spa available now -- the day spa.

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A day spa

A day spa may have most of the treatments and facilities available at a larger resort spa, but you only go there for as long as the treatment takes, typically an hour or two. Since you're not spending the night, a day spa is quite a bit cheaper than a resort spa.

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Тhe right place

How do you know if a particular day spa is the right place for you? Here are five tips for making sure your day at the spa is safe, sanitary and utterly relaxing.

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Spa first-timer

If you're a spa first-timer, the spa's employees will help guide you through the various services and procedures, letting you know what's expected of both you and your esthetician. Still, it's a good idea to learn about spa etiquette ahead of time. These are general rules that most spas adhere to, but if you have questions, you should call the spa to find out how the staff does things.

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Spa employees

Be aware that spa employees have other appointments, so it's important to arrive on time. This way, you can enjoy maximum relaxation and be on your way before the next appointment starts.

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The future is laundry free https://jammiehayes.com/the-future-is-laundry-free/ https://jammiehayes.com/the-future-is-laundry-free/#comments Mon, 10 Mar 2014 18:01:52 +0000 https://pur.vamtam.com/?p=306

Majestic Towels launches supreme quality new Disposable Waffle Kimono

Majestic Towels have launched an innovative new kimono, the first of its type in the industry. It has been designed following feedback from many spa professionals asking for a luxurious, elegant, soft to the touch and yet disposable robe.

The robes

@SpaTherapy

The robes are comfortable but supremely strong robe and offer a much lighter option for clients that find heavier cotton robes too warm and cumbersome.

The kimonos

@SpaTherapy

The kimonos remove the costs of laundering and are especially practical for use in all wet areas, or during treatments that can cause staining/marking to cotton robes such as massage and waxing. The advanced material structure enables the Disposable Waffle Kimono to absorb 10 to 12 times its own weight in moisture and the breathable, lightweight design makes it perfect for use in thermal suites.

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https://jammiehayes.com/quote-2/ Mon, 24 May 2010 12:15:57 +0000 https://pur.vamtam.com/?p=1794 Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.

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