With treatments from across Europe, a mosaic-tiled bath-for-two and iPods in the relaxation room, the intimate Fredrick's Hotel and Spa offers a cosmopolitan spa experience, merely 20 minutes from Heathrow airport

Fredrick's Hotel and Spa
Shoppenhangers Road
Maidenhead
Berkshire SL6 2PZ
reservations@Fredrick's-hotel.co.uk
www.fredricks-hotel.co.uk

I had a notion that a spa day would leave me feeling poked and prodded, albeit from the comfort of a fluffy bathrobe. But as I pulled away from the gravel courtyard after an afternoon at the Fredrick's Hotel and Spa, I found myself in a pleasant haze, fully relaxed, and wondering where the last few hours had gone.

Situated in the heart of Berkshire, Fredrick's lets city-weary travellers trade their tired muscles for a few hours of indulgent serenity. The grand reception with dark wood furniture resting on cream marbled flooring sets the tone of Fredrick's; a mixture of modern European chic engulfed in old English charm amid two-and-a-half acres of perfectly manicured gardens.

I was introduced to Elaine, who would be looking after me for the day, and managing my treatments. The treatment rooms, all relatively small, emphasise intimacy over grandeur. The female changing room exemplifies this philosophy -- more screen-star dressing room than public-pool locker room. 'We are not interested in quantity,' says proprietor Caroline Losel. 'We want to create an automatic atmosphere of calm, so there are rarely more than three or four people in the spa at any one time.' I didn't see anyone else on my visit.

Before long I was robed up and padding down a short corridor to the Flotarium for the Fredrick's Dream Bath Experience. The Flotarium has a deep wide set bath in one corner, covered with dark blue and gold leaf mosaic tiles. The room was filled with candles and as I sank deeper into water laced with goats' milk, rose petals and aromatherapy oils, the soft piano music accompanied the sound of my breathing and I drifted away.

As I lay suspended in almost darkness, almost silence, with only the twinkling of the LED 'night sky' on the ceiling to occupy my mind, I felt completely at ease, physically and mentally. I'm not sure if I fell asleep, but I was underwater with only my nostrils poking out when the music (which you can hear above and below surface) was turned off, a signal that my time was up.

The Dream Bath can be experienced à deux and is particularly popular on Valentine's Day. The twinkling night sky, quivering candlelight and heady scents make a perfect romantic treat. With Heathrow just around the corner, you can imagine stopping at Fredrick's for a day or overnight to have some pre-flight pampering before a dirty weekend away or honeymoon trip.

The focus at Fredrick's is on wellness and health, and my sumptuous lunch reflected that. I had a light yet luxurious menu of smoked salmon dip and crudités followed by seared tuna cooked to perfection. I was feeling sufficiently sated and ready for my aromatherapy massage and pedicure, the last of my two treatments.

I was incredibly impressed by the non-invasive and quiet nature of the spa staff at Fredrick's, and was initially a little apprehensive about my back massage and pedicure; I get lower back pain and just hate my feet. It wasn't long however before I was flat out on the broad massage bed while Elaine worked out the knots using aromatherapy oils. She seemed unfazed by my stubby feet also and despite their wretched state, before long my toes looked like toes again, replete with pink tipped, perfectly symmetrical toenails.

There are a host of treatments available at Fredrick's Spa, incorporating ancient and modern philosophies from all over the globe, from Austrian chocolate wraps to LaStone therapies from Native America, Hungarian mud wraps and steam treatments with exotic Moroccan muds and French Argile clays. There is also an indoor/outdoor hydrotherapy pool with underwater massage beds, a neck and back waterfall and automatic sliding doors that allow guests to swim out to the hydro jets and Jacuzzi seats of the outdoor pool.

For women with golfing partners, Fredrick's offers a great his-and-hers experience, with a full 18-hole golf course which runs behind the spa. Sitting in a leather recliner in the relaxation room, sipping Tiger Tea, nibbling on strawberry sorbet and watching the golfers from a secluded distance is a strangely pleasant experience. The relaxation room also provides iPods so you can choose from a large range of music if all the silence and serenity becomes too much. There is a whole menu of treatments available for men also, and even the massage beds are larger than normal to accommodate clientele with a bigger build.

I would definitely return to Fredrick's, but this time with my partner or a friend. It is not the place for groups or large parties, but is an ideal retreat for a couple looking for some peace and quiet, a touch of good food, champagne and maybe a little romance.

Cost
The Pure Indulgence Day, which includes either a Hydro massage or Dream Bath Experience, a combination face and aromatherapy body massage and a manicure or pedicure, costs £240. This also includes use of the leisure facilities and a light two-course lunch with a glass of champagne.

Hotel rooms start at £260 for doubles/twin rooms and include an English champagne breakfast, early morning tea and paper, champagne and fresh fruit on arrival and complimentary use of Fredrick's spa facilities.

How to get there
From the M4 head towards Maidenhead West from junction 8/9, and then towards Cox Green/White Waltham.

For more information, visit www.fredricks-hotel.co.uk

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