The Spa Spies

Sassy Spy

You can always rely on Sassy Spy to cut to the chase. When it comes to spa, there's no sugar coating. No stone is unturned in her mission to find the perfect spa experience.

Likes

Luxurious scented candles; hot massage oil; being warm; unusual treatments; fluffy towels; natural light; firm pressure.

Dislikes

Mould; slamming doors; being walked in on while treatment in progress; therapists with cigarette-laced breath.

Savant Spy

A journalist, writer and mother of two teenagers, Savant Spy recently retrained as a psychotherapeutic counsellor, which feeds her love of knowledge, books and deep, philosophical conversation. An ideal spa day is about giving her brain space to muse creatively, while reconnecting to her body and senses.

Likes

Clever, inspiring design, sublime views, a vast, clean and empty pool, solitary relaxation areas to read, write or commune with my muse.

Dislikes

Small talk, discussions about spirituality or astrology, any products containing tea tree oil or aloe (sadly am allergic), busy pools where you can’t do laps.

Scarlet Spy

Scarlet Spy is our newest Spa Spy but already has strong opinions on what makes or breaks a spa. Colour, texture and beautiful architecture make her a happy Spa Spy.

Likes

Nature-inspired spas, cold water plunges, sound baths, deep tissue massage, delicious food.

Dislikes

Thin walls in treatment rooms, lounger hoggers, soggy robes, bright lights.

Scottish Spy

Scottish Spy is a globe-trotting travel writer who enjoys easing her jet lag, tired muscles and frazzled nerves in the spa. She is a nature lover who has a penchant for organic products that are kind to both her skin and the environment.

Likes

Picturesque views; firm massages; friendly therapists who make you feel at ease; stylish interiors; attention to detail; outdoor hot tubs; infinity pools; fluffy robes and towels; a good selection of spa treatments.

Dislikes

Any attempt to hard sell; inconsiderate therapists; areas in need of a clean; rowdy guests; cheap toiletries; restaurant menus that are overly healthy; cold swimming pools; no private changing areas; paper pants.

Seaside Spy

Seaside Spy thrives on expert massages, good coffee and the finer things in life. When she's not spa-ing, she's busy being mum to two little ones and blogging and vlogging about family life and style.

Likes

Variety, luxury, great results.

Dislikes

Over-chatty staff when it's clear you want to switch off and relax, unhygienic settings and equipment, poor results.

Serene Spy

As a busy travel writer and new mum, Serene Spy takes her rare downtime seriously. For Serene a spa day is all about reconnecting with her inner butterfly.

Likes

Attentive friendly staff, personalised treatments, imaginative spa food menu and spas that look after their therapists’ wellbeing too.

Dislikes

Changing rooms and showers that aren't spotless, tatty towels and robes and having to get dressed for lunch.

Shy Spy

Small but perfectly formed, Shy Spy loves a challenge. From Watsu to a fish pedicure, Shy Spy will try anything once. She likes her spa to be neat and discreet, but she's not too bashful to try the weird and wonderful spa treatments on offer.

Likes

Instant results; jasmine and frangipani scents; hot steam rooms; a good selection of magazines; modernist decor.

Dislikes

Whale noises (on CD, not in the pool hopefully); hard massage beds; tiny toilet cubicles; being spoken to like a child; lukewarm pools.

Single Spy

One of the founders of The Good Spa Guide, Single Spy is a font of spa knowledge. We all know that if we have a question, Single Spy will be on hand to help.

Likes

Warm floors when you put your bare feet upon them; heated treatment beds; soft towels; attention to detail, so that your treatment room looks and smells beautiful when you arrive in it.

Dislikes

Cold floors when you put your bare feet upon them; therapists who use your treatment time to write up a list of product "recommendations" that they hope you will purchase.

Spirited Spy

Spirited Spy is likely to be found as far away from the city as she can possibly get. She’s so obsessed with water that she should have been born a mermaid, and when she isn't frolicking in the sea, she's usually wallowing in the closest hydrotherapy pool.

Likes

Boutique boltholes with a good dose of opulence; island retreats; panoramic views; informative therapists; fluffy dressing gowns.

Dislikes

Worn towels; wet floors; tired design; bad acoustics; unruly children.

Spiritual Spy

A journalist for over 20 years, Spiritual Spy is a reformed stress-bunny now seeking a more balanced life through yoga, meditation and long walks in beautiful places. She relapses now and then, but finds that escaping for a few days to a spa or wellbeing retreat is the best way get back in touch with what’s really important.

Likes

Heated outdoor pools, yoga-based therapies, beautiful grounds to wander in, personalised treatments.

Dislikes

Crowded changing rooms, whale music, complicated booking systems, hen parties hogging the hot tub.

Stateside Spy

Stateside Spy thrives on hydrotherapy, expertly executed spa treatments and delicious cuisine. When she's not spa-ing, she's likely to be found somewhere in nature studying the stars.

Likes

Authenticity; happy staff; mineral waters.

Dislikes

Treatments that are showy and lacking in substance; uncleanliness; poorly thought out spa aesthetics; badly trained therapists.

Student Spy

Here to ensure we stay down-with-the-kids, hip, cool and ever-so-trendy, Student Spy is our youngest member.

Likes

Good food; friendly therapists; decent music to listen to during a treatment; therapists who understand that exams make you feel really stressed.

Dislikes

Robes that are too big for people who are only five foot tall; swimming pools with no room to swim; too much healthy food.

Stylish Spy

Travel journalist and single parent Stylish Spy loves nothing more than hopping on a plane to check out (and spy on) international spas. On home soil, she loves nothing more than visiting spas for a leisurely swim and knot-busting massage.

Likes

Minimalist lines; organic products; facial massage; tranquillity; interesting people-watching.

Dislikes

Discarded towels on loungers; steam rooms that aren't steamy; mobile phones.

Suave Spy

Our singular male spy, Suave Spy ensures we don't neglect all things male. Suave is always on hand to try whatever treatment, product or experience is reserved as "Just for Men" (although his hair colour is all his own, you understand.)

Likes

Tepedariums (heated seats make my spa day); pools you can actually swim in; eucalyptus steams rooms; deep tissue massages.

Dislikes

Anything to do with ice or cold plunge pools; having to go outside mid-spa day; other people talking loudly; hot tubs with the bubbles on!

Summer Spy

Summer Spy is most likely to be found dipping her toes into spa water facilities and trying out alternative treatments. She's so laid back she's almost horizontal... until it comes to bad customer service!

Likes

Warmth and sunshine; spas which take me away to another country; fruit infused waters; beach-worth pedicures; deep tissue massages.

Dislikes

High footfalls; treatments that over promise and under deliver; heavy lunches; loungers drapped in used towels.

Super Spy

Super Spy does it all! She's our ultimate spa-ista and always knows what's hot and what's not in the world of spa.

Likes

Length size pools; strong swan pipes; seriously deep tissue massages; beautiful views from outside thermal experiences.

Dislikes

Sniffing therapists; cold treatment rooms; hard sell on products.

Sybaritic Spy

Luxury, luxury, luxury. As the other founding member of The Good Spa Guide, Sybaritic Spy has had more spa experiences in the last few years than most people have in a lifetime. If you want to know about spa, she is the woman to talk to.

Likes

Warm treatment beds; fragrant steam rooms; therapists who listen to what you say; unexpected treats such as back massages that start with hot towels on your feet.

Dislikes

Small towels; crowded changing rooms; black mould in the showers; therapists who sniff; anyone who doesn't take my lavender allergy seriously - until I'm actually sick on them!

The Spa Spy

The Spa Spy loves the perfect relaxation areas where she can whip out her laptop and report from the spa frontline!

Likes

Intuitive masseurs, inspired or outlandish treatments and design, posh products and celeb spotting.

Dislikes

Anyone po-faced (guests and therapists) or stupid, boring design and treatments.