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In Style Magazine
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01 September 2009
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Spa and Away
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Whether your idea of relaxing is being pummelled with hot stones or anointed with fragrant oils, we can all agree that spas are best when they're luxe, lavish and drop-dead stylish.
Jordan
Age-old rituals in stunning surroundings
WHERE: Evason Ma'In Hot Springs & Six Senses Spa, Ma'In.
SETTING: overlooking a series of thundering hot springs, 264 metres below sea level. From the third-floor bedrooms and above, you can see the Dead Sea, a four-kilometre trek away.
KNOWN FOR: it's where Lawrence of Arabia made his mark. The beautiful ruined city of Petra was the setting for Harrison Ford's most memorable outing as Indiana Jones in The Last Crusade.
SPA STYLE: a blend of centuries-old rituals (its mineral-rich hot springs have been used since pre-Roman times), classical architecture and a wholesome approach to relaxation.
ON THE SPA MENU: treatments incorporating locally sourced ingredients such as dates, honey, yoghurt, frankincense and oils.
WHAT I HAD: a Bukhoor Balance Massage (97 JOD, about £84). Incense smouldered in a traditional mabkhara burner as I was buffed to perfection with an olive oil massage. The spa's hot thermal pools were surprisingly refreshing.
THE HIGHLIGHTS: a night spent in a Bedouin tent in the beauty of Wadi Rum valley was one of the best experiences of my life.
TAKE-HOME TIP: olive oil makes a fab beauty aid.
Kate O'Donnell
Cleveland Collection (0845 450 5732; clevelandcollection.co.uk) offers seven nights from £1,225 per person, b&b, based on two people sharing a Superior Room, including return flights.
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