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The Spa Spies

The Spa Spies review and rate more than 100 spas a year -- it's a tough job but someone has to do it.

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Introduction

The Spa Spies

A Spa Spy is a committed, professional journalist at Good Spa Guide who is passionate about all things spa. From Jacuzzis to the gym, massage to wraps, there is nothing they won't try to find the pinnacle of pampering perfection.

If you've got a story you'd like to share, an idea you'd like us to consider, or a beach you'd like us to lie on, please email us at [email protected] and we'll get straight onto it.

Spy82

Age Early 20s

Sassy Spy

Skin type: Normal/combination skin

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.

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Spy172

Age 46 (and now reversing)

Savant Spy

Skin type: Oily/sensitive

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.

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Spy142

Age Early 40s

Scarlet Spy

Skin type: Normal/dry

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.

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Spy132

Age 50s

Scottish Spy

Skin type: Normal - dry

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.

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Spy112

Age 30s

Seaside Spy

Skin type: Combination

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.

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Spy72

Age 30s

Serene Spy

Skin type: Normal to oily

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.

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Spy42

Age 37

Shy Spy

Skin type: Combination

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.

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Spy152

Age Young at heart. Oh, alright then, 50s.

Single Spy

Skin type: As therapists like to say: "mature".

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.

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Spy52

Age 38 (going on 23!)

The Spa Spy

Skin type: Normal/combination

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.

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Spy102

Age 20s

Spirited Spy

Skin type: Dry/combination

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.

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Spy112

Age 40-something

Spiritual Spy

Skin type: Combination

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.

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Spy32

Age 40s

Stateside Spy

Skin type: Combination

Likes:

Authenticity; happy staff; mineral waters.

Dislikes:

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

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Spy122

Age 18

Student Spy

Skin type: Combination

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.

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Spy92

Age 40-something

Stylish Spy

Skin type: Sensitive

Likes:

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

Dislikes:

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

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Suave spy

Age 30s

Suave Spy

Skin type: Sensitive

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!

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Spy12

Age 30s

Summer Spy

Skin type: Oily/combination

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.

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Spa22

Age Ageless (47)

Super Spy

Skin type: Dry and sensitive

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.

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Spy142

Age 30s

Supreme Spy

Skin type: Normal to dry

Likes:

Picturesque views, innovative body treatments, knowledgeable therapists, results driven skincare and small touches that surprise and delight.

Dislikes:

Areas in need of a deep clean, noisy guests that spoil a calm ambience, treatments that aren’t personalised and being cold.

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Spy62

Age 50s

Sybaritic Spy

Skin type: Dry

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!

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