AS budgets get tighter, people want bang for their buck. Janice Hopper discovers a girls weekend that delivers luxury and excellent value for money.
Admittedly I didn’t necessarily expect to find glamour, luxury and indulgence in Irvine. And if anyone said that after a visit to this small west coast town I’d leave feeling like a new woman, I would have been a little surprised, but The Gailes Hotel is a gem in Ayrshire’s hospitality crown.
While many guests are drawn to its nine-hole golf course, I took my pal Karin to experience Gailes’ Si! Spa that offers a collection of over fifty personalised treatments, day spa packages and overnight spa breaks. We’d signed up for the current autumn ‘Fall Into Si!
Spa ’package. From £165pp I’m talking overnight bed and breakfast accommodation, a two-course meal in Gailes’ Coast Restaurant, two 30-minute beauty treatments, plus one hour access to the ‘Thermal Suite’ and its outdoor hydropool.
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£2 million was recently spent on Si! Spa’s makeover, and it shows. We padded around in our robes to discover the finish and decor is immaculate — the Thermal Suite is a thing of beauty. As you ascend the stairs before three illuminating port-hole lights before dipping into the vitality pool, it feels as “stylishly seductive” as the website promises, a glamorous but calming setting to catch up with good friends.
After a few minutes in the steam room and sauna, the next port of call was the outdoor hydropool. There’s something extremely satisfying about the sensation of a fresh Scottish coastal wind on your skin before submerging yourself into the welcoming heat of bubbling water.
Before our treatments commenced our package also included a pot of herbal tea accompanied by a flapjack served in the spa’s champagne bar. Yes, this place has a champagne bar! But, foodie treats and decor aside, a good spa needs to be backed up by quality treatments, and I’m pleased to say the therapies absolutely delivered.
The choice of boutique therapies includes back, neck and shoulder massage; therapeutic scalp ritual; a brightening facial; and a luxurious
foot treatment or hand treatment. The ESPA products smell and feel delicious, and the whole process was as quietly calming as I could wish for. And the experience doesn’t end there. After our treatments, guests are led to a Relaxation Room; a deep, dark space in which to decompress and quietly swap notes with pals about your treatments, before emerging into the real world once again.
Karin’s therapist did encourage her to remain hydrated and take it easy, she nodded sagely but deep down we both knew that we’d head to the hotel’s Coast restaurant to eat steak and drink red wine.
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After pulling on our frocks and applying slap to our new #LivingItsBestLife pampered skin, it was time to dine. In terms of food, while Coast Restaurant’s furnishing are modern and fresh, the menu features family favourites over haute cuisine, again creating an affordable price point. My feta and watermelon starter was followed by a traditional steak and ale pie, with a cheeky cocktail and glass of vino to boot.
The Gailes Hotel feels like an oasis, close to the beach, a real escape from it all, but the hotel’s located just forty minutes from Glasgow, handy for both Glasgow and Prestwick airports. The following morning, while it’s tempting to rebook straight into the spa, there’s ample to see and do in the vicinity.
We spent a few hours at the Scottish Maritime Museum, we ate red velvet cheesecake at Puffer’s Cafe (with its beautiful views over the water), we saw the mini Kelpy maquettes that were prototypes for the stunning Kelpies in Falkirk, but it’s equally possible to dip down to Ayr, visit Dumfries House or, get a bit carried away, and set sail for Arran.
Ultimately, with a host of offers, deals and packages, The Gailes Hotel works for couples, golfers and spa enthusiasts at a price that, compared to other hotels of this calibre, may surprise you.
For info on all of The Gailes Hotel’s deals, from Afternoon Tea to the “Fall into Si! Spa” autumn break, visit gaileshotel.com or call 01294 204040.
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