Lifestyle Archives - Page 3 of 4

How to Create a Luxury Spa in Your Home

Home, Lifestyle, Rituals, Spa, Tips, Women's Aga

The Oxford Dictionary’s definition of a spa is “a bath containing hot aerated water”, I guess you could say that “spa” is a fancy word for a “hot bath”. By this definition you could very well have a private spa in your home already! However I think when most of us think of the word “spa”, we think of a luxuriously appointed space oozing tranquillity and calm, nourishing refreshments with meditative music in the background where your mind, body and soul are pampered and recharged. Now wouldn’t you prefer that in your home, rather than just a hot bath?

A professional spa session can set you back quite a lot, sometimes even up to hundreds of pounds. However if you were to create a spa environment in your own home, then you can use it literally whenever you want. Planning, reservations and logistics are yours to command. And of course it will be way cheaper, all you need are a few accessories in your home.

The Power of Welcome

Experiences, Hotels, Lifestyle, Loyalty Schemes, Perks, Rituals, Tips Aga

There is nothing that makes you feel more at home than a good welcome after a journey, no matter how long or short. During my travels, I learned to appreciate a good welcome and it has since become a symbol of how the venue will treat me that I pay particular attention to. A welcome means a lot and has many important functions that carry importance throughout your stay.

Agriturismos – Farm Stays in the Italian Countryside

Deals, Experiences, Food & Drink, Hotels, Lifestyle, Tips, Travel Tom

Italy. Hearing the name of the country evokes a number of thoughts and sensations. From history to food. From stunning scenery to warm hospitality. From hectic bustling metropolises to laid back easy-going villages. Italy offers something for everyone.

From observation and experience, most people who travel to Italy stay in the major cities at hotels and B&Bs. There is nothing inherently wrong with this, and if it was most other countries this is the ideal choice. Italy is blessed with having any number of excellent hotels that are worth checking out. However there is another form of accommodation that while not unique to Italy, Italians have definitely seized upon the concept and made it their own.

The gift that keeps on giving – Bobbi Brown’s ‘How To’

Accessories, Fashion, Lifestyle, Tips, Women's Aga

Doing the usual window shopping at Elys, which is a rather nice shopping centre in Wimbledon, London, I noticed that the Bobbi Brown counter had a professional make-up artist who was applying make-up and discussing with their client about what was being applied. Enquiring more about this, it turns out that Bobbi Brown offer a free make-up lesson. Without any hesitation I signed myself up to see what all the fuss was about.

Not only did I receive some brilliant tips and tricks that I still use in my daily routine, but I’ve also learned how best to utilise the lessons not only for my own everyday use, but also for when a special occasion requires it.

Hidden Gems at Hotel Stays

Experiences, Lifestyle, Perks, Rituals, Tips Aga

To get the ultimate value out of hotel stays, all you need is to keep your eyes open for what amenities are on offer and just go for them! I’ve had many exquisite experiences throughout my hotel stay career, but I want to mention the top of the top here. My most exceptional four experiences I found completely by chance. Every single one was a nice reminder of the abundance of opportunities around you if you are keen to try. These experiences totally made my day and I felt that I was really taking advantage of what was on offer but many people miss out on.

The first experience is the value of a valet car park (which I covered in my other article), another was a sensational swimming pool at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park, the third was a phenomenal yoga session at the Mandarin Oriental The Landmark in Hong Kong and finally I had an epic Sense Spa experience at The Rosewood in London.

Afternoon Tea Unlimited

Alcohol, Experiences, Food & Drink, Lifestyle, Rituals, Tea Aga

There is only one prerequisite you need in order to go for afternoon tea in the Rosebery Lounge at the Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park: be ravenous. And I don’t mean be just a bit peckish thinking you’ll have a cup of tea, a dry sandwich and a piece of cake. I mean this is my only meal of the day hungry. Trust me on this one, now let’s find out why…