No.15 - Spa weekends away

Valentine’s Day is probably on your radar but is it really what we need, right after Christmas?  If you’re anything like me, you’re probably still trying to shed the pounds that you put on over Christmas and your skin is really dull due to the miserable Winter weather.  What we really want is a proper bit of pampering to ease those aching bones and to breathe new life into ourselves.  So instead of suggesting those sexy, romantic breaks that require us to slide into our tightest frocks,  I thought it might be better to look at Spa Breaks, so where could we be going to revive ourselves this February?

Pool area at Sopwell House

First up, and just a short drive from St Albans in Hertfordshire, Sopwell House Hotel,  offers both a spa and great golf course to it’s residents.  The Spa and pool area has recently undergone extensive refurbish-ment, designed by Sparcstudio, the multi-award winning designers and architects.  Facilities include a pool, Jacuzzi, starlit steam room, sauna and experience showers with heated mosaic seats.

The Spa uses ESPA and Clarins products  and there are a range of Spa packages to choose from, including a range of treatments for men as well as ladies.  For me the great attraction of this hotel, apart from the fact that it is very close to the motorway for ease of access, is the amazingly good food on offer in both of the restaurants.  In fact, if you are still trying to lose the last couple of pounds from Christmas you might want to steer clear of these, as the menus are both very tempting and reasonably priced for the quality of the food on offer.

External Vitality Pool

Next up is the Menzies Hotel in Stratford. Be prepared to park your car next to a Austin Martin and enjoy a Pimms from the terrace over-looking the fish pond and horizon beyond.   The Spa here enjoys an indoor pool, and an external vitality pool (which is walled by glass but open to the sky), heated lounger and foot spas.  There is also a range of experience rooms including a sauna, a Caldarium, a Laconium and a Tepidarium.  In addition, there is an ice fountain, and Tropical and Polar Storm Showers.

A selection of Clarins and Elemis treatments are provided  here but I would recommend that you book before you go, to avoid disappointment.  Their facials can knock a good ten years off you!  The Menzies also has a double treatment room if you want to have a massage with that special someone too.

There is also a gym, tennis courts and a very good golf course here too if you want something more energetic.  Perhaps this is where you might lose that last couple of pounds from Christmas, am I starting to sound obsessed?

If you are staying at the Welcombe Menzies, I would definately ask for a refurbished room throughout your stay and to book any evening meals  at the time of booking.  Their restaurant generally serves good food too, but if you wish, a short stroll down the river side will take you into the heart of Stratford where you can enjoy the theatre as well as a good meal.

The Lion Quay Hotel in Oswestry has a great day spa.  This includes all the usual facilities you might expect including a great jacuzzi area, a vitamin D room designed to make you feel like you’ve been out on a sunny day and a snow room complete with 2 foot of snow.  

The hotel attached to this hotel is right on the river and serves good plain pub grub which is served inside or out, depending on the weather.

So here are my top three reasonably priced spa breaks for February.  Please feel free to suggest more for our readers in our comments section.

You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for a couple of weeks, and that is because I want to change things up a bit for the new year and to write about things that are seasonal and have been inspired by events around us.  That means that you are likely to get fewer editions but hopefully something just as interesting  as ever.  Thanks for reading, see you soon, and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out  LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling. 

No. 14 - Where Next - Memories of Australia

 A few years ago I spent nearly 6 months travelling around Australia, that may sound a lot but believe me, it only skimmed the surface of this vast continent.  

Map of Australia

The first thing that struck me about Australia was it's shear size, this was brought home to me one afternoon chatting to some fellow travellers in a Melbourne backpackers hostel.  I happened to mention that I was going to go to Adelaide the following afternoon, as to me it only looked a couple of hours away judging from the map I saw on the wall.  When everyone had picked themselves up off the floor from raucous laughter, I was informed that Adelaide was a 15 hour drive away.  So be warned, what looks like a couple of hours drive on a map in the UK is about 15 hours drive in Australia.  

Greyhound Coaches which tour around Australia

If you want to get a really good feel for the size of Oz I suggest you take a coach from Perth to Sydney.  I got on the bus in Perth at 8.00am on Friday morning and arrived in Sydney at 11.30pm on Monday night.  Bear in mind that the coach was driving non-stop except for odd refreshment breaks at road houses along the way.  

Rubber Plant Tree in Australia

The vast size of Oz often means that people tend to fly between resorts rather than take to the road, but I think this is a big mistake.  The real charm of Australia is often hidden in between the big cities, where you can drive for hours without seeing a house, telegraph pole or human being.  This is supplanted with trees and flowers that you don't see in England.  All plants that you do recognise are super-sized too, for example there was a time when every house in England would sport a rubber plant, and this would be kept in the bathroom and often consist of a single stork with a couple of leaves - in Australia they are trees its the same for umbrella plants too!  

Herd of Emu

You can also see amazing animals roaming freely where in England, you would only see them in a Zoo.  I clearly remember being amazed to see a green cloud fly overhead, to be told that they were budgerigars.  I also recall coming to a crossroads on the border between New South Wales and Victoria and finding a herd of Emu nibbling the shrubs by the side of the road.  

Crossing the Nullarbor Plain in Western Australia is a whole new experience too, seeing amazing lizards basking on the road and kangaroos hanging out in the

The Nullarbor Plain

bush.  Sadly we also saw a great deal of road kill too, and the odd car wreck from a collision with a kangaroo. Apparently kangaroo's are so muscular that hitting one with a car can easily write it off.   I remember hearing people talk of it being essential to fit rhubarb to the front of your car, it wasn't until I went across the Nullarbor that I realised that they were actually saying 'roo bars'!  These are basically the same as bull bars on four wheel drive cars in England.  Oops!

There are so many great experiences to be had in Australia, one of which was when I went to Phillip Island with the Australian Conservation Volunteers.  I spent a long weekend, building hutches for the Fairy Penguins who parade up the beach each evening after swimming all day in the sea.  Apparently Fairy

Fairy Penguins parading up the beach

penguins build their nests into the sand along the beach and when it rains the nests can collapse and kill the baby penguins, so the volunteers build hutches, where the penguins have already built nests so that they can have a better chance of survival.  These little furry critters are super cute to look at but don't make the mistake of giving them a cuddle.  Their jaws, which spend all day catching and killing fish, can take a thumb off if you're not careful.

Another great place to visit if you are over towards Perth, is Wave Rock at

Wave Rock at Hyden

Hyden.  This is an amazing rock formation in the outback miles from the sea, that was formed by volcanic rock hitting cold sea water millions of years ago.  I have pictures of me surfing on a rock!

The Great Barrier Reef

You really shouldn’t go to Oz without visiting the Great Barrier Reef, this is firmly on the tourist trail but it is absolutely breath taking and in my opinion one of the most amazing places on earth, especially for diving enthusiasts.  But don’t worry if you’re not, you barely need to know how to snorkel to get in amongst an amazing array of fishes and coral.

If you are planning a trip, please try to make sure that your visit contributes to the economy of the indigenous Aborigines in some way.  The Aborigines have

Aborigine Art

been poorly treated by white immigrants over the years and this has had a serious impact upon the health, well being and prosperity of the indigenous people of Australia, who are part of one of the oldest surviving cultures in the world.  One way of doing this might be to support their thriving art industry.

Obviously I could go on for hours about the sights and experiences of Australia, but that would require a book, so instead I will leave you with my final recommendation which is a visit to the Daintree Forest and Cape Tribulation north of Port Douglas in Queensland.  Here you can take a night walk through the tropical rainforest at night in search of the red eyes of a crocodile.  Probably the most scariest thing I’ve ever done on holiday, but well worth the cobwebs in your face and the Cane toads landing on your feet.

Night Tour of the Daintree Rainforest

Finally, do heed the health advice of the Australian government and ‘Slip, slap, slop,’ to protect yourself from the very strong sun.  Do this by slipping on a shirt, slapping on a sun hat and slopping on the sunscreen.

Have fun and do tell us about your memories of Australia, we would love to hear from you.

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out  LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling. of the great items for sale on line 

Issue 13 -What's Hot - Things to keep us warm on our travels

Seeland Canazei Pac Snow Boots

 The North Face Decagon Jacket 

Okay, so I need to go out and get some groceries, but have you seen the weather out there?  It's cold,wet and miserable, better to stay at home and plan the next trip right?  Well, of course it is, but sooner or later you'll run out of milk or at least need to get to the nearest airport.  In order to do that you will need something to travel in, and that needs to be warm.  Here are a few nifty little items of gear, gadgets and gizmos that you might need.  If so, don't head outside, just order them online at www.lotustravelessentials.co.uk


Firstly, you need the right gear to head out into the cold, especially if its snowing, how about a nice pair of snuggly boots to keep you warm? Then you need a nice pair of ski pants and a ski jacket.  Lotus Travel Essentials has plenty of things to keep men warm too so be sure to take a look.  Once you have your main essentials you might want a new pair of gloves and a hat to keep off that rain.

Sesame Street Big Bird Hat

We also have a range of gloves for all occasions: whether you're skiing, off on business, walking, camping or taking photographs in the snow, we even have diving gloves.  We also have hats for all occasions to.  Apart from our ski hats, we have ski helmets and ski helmet covers too. If you're planning on jetting off to the tropics this winter, don't forget to pop a sun hat into your suitcase.

Warmawear Heated Mens Gilet,
Socks and Scarf set

Of course keeping warm doesn't stop there, what about some thermal socks and a nice warm scarf?  Our heated socks, gilet and scarf set will keep the worst of the weather at bay.  Which will leave you more time to spend out in the cold whatever you plan to do.

However, if all you plan to do is take the next plane out to somewhere hot, then the essential thing you will need for the car journey is a nice electric blanket...

Sentik 12v Heated Car Travel Blanket

Thanks for reading, see you next week and in the meantime, I hope that you can take sometime to check out some of the great items for sale on line at LotusTravelEssentials.co.uk happy & safe travelling.

Next week we head outback to Australia for some surprises off the main tourist route.