Laucala Island, east of far-flung Taveuni in Fiji, opened in 2008 for just 50 discerning guests who don't mind shelling out upwards of 3800USD per night for a beachfront Plantation Residence. Set amidst a working coconut plantation, at this level of opulence, privacy, exclusivity and exquisite service is de riguer.  With astounding attention to detail, assisted by a guest to staff ratio hovering around 7:1, Laucala Island has perfected the art of fine hospitality infused with an element of Fijian warmth.

Fiona Harper is one of few journalists invited to visit Laucala Island. Contact Fiona Harper to commission your exclusively crafted feature or puchase the article for immediate download.

Images are available.

Exquisite facilities where exotic aromas of spices and pure essential oils are accompanied by the gentle sound of soothing music bathe your senses and provide total relaxation.  This is the essence of a spa Mauritian style

An illustrated detailing the speciality facilities and services offered at some of the island nation’s finest spa retreats can be written on assignment from 1000 to 2000 words, depending upon editorial requirements.  

A separate side bar or a full length feature on Destination Mauritius can also be written.

A separate side bar or a full length feature on the outstanding golf resorts in Mauritius can be provided as well. 

by Karen Halabi

There  I was hanging by the neck in water.

I was at a spa in Slovakia, and traction is just one of the treatments recommended here, along with mud baths and hot thermal waters

I stood naked shivering looking down at the medieval style torture apparatus, then the assistant arrived. "Yah, come in!" she beckoned as she pointed towards the water. I stepped gingerly in then made my way to the edge of the platform. She strapped me in and then pushed me forward till I was dangling by the neck - a bit like Ned Kelly at the end of his tether.

Noel Kelly, head of the Koh Samui Tourist Police Volunteers' Group on Thailand’s Koh Samui Island, has a unique view into the current state of tourism on the island. “Petty theft is a major problem”, he says. “We work with the Tourist Police to provide assistance in these and other cases. The role of the Tourist Police is not to police the tourists, but to act as a cultural bridge.”

 This famous Spa Town, only 80 km from the Slovakian Capital Bratislava, has thermal mineral springs which are renowned for their health and restorative benefits.

 Unlike modern day so-called spas, European spas are traditionally linked to the presence of thermal springs and in the case of Piestany the whole town is dedicated to this health activity. People come from all over the world to take the healing waters here and a visit to the Spa is considered a health treatment, whether you have a health issue, such as shoulder aches and pains, or just want to feel reinvigorated.

Piešťany is situated in the western part of Slovakia, only 140 km from Vienna, capital of Austria.  This beautiful town attracts visitors from all over world, most of whom return again and again after discovering the secrets of it’s curative and natural therapies. Many use it as a base for their discovery of Slovakia as the area is surrounded with historical sites and ancient castles.

The Spa Island of Piestany provides the perfect environment for wellbeing and relaxation through the use of high-quality curative treatments, application of state-of the art medical and rehabilitation methods and use of sulphurous mud. Balneo-therapy (a combination of spa treatments, thermal mineral water and mud)  at Piestany Spa is designed to refresh and revitalize. Whilst this Spa resort has a world wide reputation for delivering high quality medicinal treatments for arthritis, rheumatism and mobility problems, its famous therapies combined with the beauty of the Island and wide choice of relaxation treatments, also make it an excellent de-stress escape for the health-conscious.

 A visit to Piestany is part of a 26 day luxury three-country tour of Eastern Europe which is personally escorted by Slovakian born Eva Santo, director of European Spa Tours, who conducts specialised spa tours to Eastern Europe. She speaks the languages of each country fluently and knows each of the destinations intimately.

 Santo’s Explore and Re-Energise Tours are like ‘holidays with health benefits’. Unlike other tours where you might get one treatment thrown in – this is four treatments per day. You won’t recognise yourself when you get back.

 As well as a stay at the specialised 200 year-old European Health Spa at Piestany, the tour includes visits to Budapest and Prague, staying at the luxury Hotel Thermal on Margaret Island in the middle of the Danube, with a cruise on the Danube, concerts, gypsy music, dancing, and excursions to see the romantic countryside, historic castles and the Slovakian capital Bratislava.

For further information see www. europeanspatours.com.au

To request a story on Eastern European spas contact the author.

This article runs to approximately 1200 words but can be tailored to individual editorial requirements. Images available.

Thankfully, before dropping his towel in front of a growing band of curious onlookers and submerging into the ancient, lime-colored waters, a security guard comes to his rescue, hurriedly explaining that no one has been able to bathe in the hot springs since a health scare decades earlier.

Happily however, this is now a distant memory. While more than 4.5 million people visit Bath annually to take in its mix of Roman treasures and stunning Georgian architecture, for the first time in almost three decades they can follow in the footsteps of the Romans and Georgians and bathe in the mineral rich hot springs now the new Thermae Bath Spa has opened

There are more healers in Byron Bay than there are those needing healing. Maybe these two categories overlap. From steamroller therapy to astral lotto, there is something for everyone.

Music and design arts in Byron Bay also seem to show extraterrestrial influences. Byron now needs to feed these creative bursts out to the rest of the world - and accept some much-needed feedback.