Spa Review: Champneys Tring

My hubby and I recently checked ourselves into Champneys Tring for a little RnR. We'd heard good things about it – I mean, the name speaks for itself, doesn't it? It's only 50 minutes away from Cookham and an easy drive.

When we pulled up, I must admit I thought it looked a bit like a university campus – a sprawling mass of buildings. It was huge. But inside it was beautiful. There's a huge foyer with welcoming staff who are on hand to with a pink welcome drink and to take your luggage. We were given a map of the resort – yes, it's that big – before being whisked up to our room, which overlooked the grounds and was lovely and clean. After changing into our luxuriously soft robes and slippers, we headed for the cafe for a fresh fruit smoothie to make us feel healthy, even though we hadn't done any exercise yet. Just walking round the hotel is enough in itself!

Next, we got out our map and checked out the facilities. It's vast. There's a fitness area, with gym, studios, no end of classes and a 25m swimming pool. We dived in and did a few lengths, just in time before the aqua aerobics started. After sitting in the sauna and steam room for a while (for some reason men's and women's are separate, so you can't really chat here), we made our way to the relaxation area, where there are beds, cosy throws, swing seats and a hot tub in front of a faux-fire. We were well and truly starting to wind down by now.

Our first treatment was the Thalassotherapy. About 10 people at a time are supervised in the Thalasso pool, with its warm saltwater and subdued lighting, and you work your way around the various stations in the water, such as the hydrotherapy jets designed to stimulate and tone tired aches and pains. I'd heard Thalassotherapy is great for muscle and joint complaints, it aids stress reduction, re-mineralises the body, increases metabolism, improves circulation and is great for your skin, arthritis and general muscular problems. I was sold!

Afterwards, we braved the outdoor hot-tub, making a dash in the icy winter air in our swimwear with a very loud squeal, before plunging into the warm bubbling water.

The range and quality of treatments was amazing – I didn't know which to choose. I opted for an Elemis Superfood Facial, a traditional back massage and the reflexology. All of the them were first-class, but I loved the reflexology. I deeply relaxed and then enjoyed chatting things through with the therapist about the reflex points on my feet linked to each part of the body and what she'd discovered – and I felt so emotional afterwards I cried!

We had dinner, breakfast and lunch at the hotel. The evening meal is a formal affair, where you pick from the menu. Chris chose the steak and I went for the chicken – and both were tasty, although were a little too healthy/bland for Chris' liking! You are allowed wine with dinner at Champneys, but there is no bar.

Breakfast and lunch was a much more relaxed experience, with people dining in their robes, and there's so much choice at the buffet. We piled up our plates as we wanted to try everything, from the chicken wraps to the fresh soup to the salad bar and hot pasta. The Eton mess dessert was heavenly.

We finished off our stay with a mooch around the Champneys shop and made a few purchases, then took a stroll in the lovely grounds.

So were there any downsides? It would be nice if there was a bar for a cheeky glass of wine should you want one, or a vending machine with chocolate in it if you get desperate, but I had to remind myself we had chosen to come to a health resort!

The facilities are truly amazing, and the service good – although perhaps the resort needed more staff to man the many areas.

But we had a brilliant time, and were sad to leave as we'd thoroughly enjoyed our stay. We will be trying one of their other resorts for sure.