Luxury spas abroad don't have to be the exclusive prerogative of the rich and famous. This selection of glorious beauty retreats across the continent have been specially chosen by the ultimate holiday insider,
Condé Nast Traveller, for being utterly irresistible and - what makes them more unusual - surprisingly affordable.
Delphi Mountain Resort & Spa
IRELAND
Amidst lakes and mountains on the wild, western coast of Ireland, this is a breathtaking retreat spot. Doubles from £69, massages from £25, facials from £24
Hotel Therme
SWITZERLAND
A modern edifice set into the hillside and centred around six thermal pools, this spa is about indulgence, not regimen. Doubles from £39, massages from £23, four-night packages from £594
La Reserve Hotel Terme Salute
ITALY
Water treatments and the thermal spring are order of the day. Set in a picturesque hamlet, the surrounding countryside plays host to more monasteries than anywhere outside of Tibet. Doubles from £93, massages from £24, three-night packages from £432
Le Sirenuse
POSITANO, ITALY
Possibly the coolest spa in southern Italy, and a modern architectural delight. Doubles from £253, massages from £69, three-night packages from £715
Les Fermes de Marie
MEGEVE, FRANCE
On the slopes all day and be pampered all evening - that's the idea behind this alpine spa. The area is noted for its Michelin-starred eateries.
Doubles from £278, massages from £46, six-night packages from £890
Les Sources de Caudalie
BORDEAUX, FRANCE
Treatments revolve around the beneficial properties of grape seed - perfect for its situation at the heart of the wine-making region.
Doubles from £122, massages from £39, two-night package from £350
Sofitel Thalassa Miramar
BIARRITZ, FRANCE
Set on the sea, try out thalassotherapy here; seawater baths, showers, massages and algae wraps are the order of the day. Doubles from £80, massages from £28, two-night packages from £291
The Spa at Palazzo Arzaga
ITALY
Housed in a 15th-century monastery set in parklands, this spa boasts 50 treatments, including dietary consultations. Make time for a night at the opera in Verona. Doubles from £183, massages from £31, three-night packages from £589
Thermae del Parque Forte Village Resort
ITALY
One of the most beautiful spas in Europe, it revolves around a five-pool treatment, and the specialty is an underwater shiatsu massage. Doubles from £230, massages from £74, shiatsu massages from around £79, weekend packages from £236 (excluding accommodation)
Thermes Marins de Monte Carlo
FRANCE
This extravagant 19th-century spa is serious about combating stress, cellulite and aiding weight reduction. Doubles from £253, massages from around £36, three-night packages from £1,004
Victoria Jungfrau Grand Hotel & Spa
SWITZERLAND
Ugly architecture is made up for by the excellence of the treatments, medical back-up, food and surroundings. Doubles from £242, massages from £27, three-night packages from £650
Villa Paradiso
ITALIAN LAKES, ITALY
Unremarkable from the outside, celebrities love it. Focus is on prevention and education, with personalised treatments and intense regimes. One-week packages from around £1,311 per person