The mission To head into summer feeling more serene, polished and
sharper round the edges, without splashing out a small fortune.
USP A three-storey spa and fitness complex within toddling distance of
a great sweep of Blue Flag beach, with all the amenities of a seaside resort
at hand.
Ambience Jurmala's seaside location, spring waters and healing mud
prompted its development as a fashionable health resort in the late 19th
century. Many of its distinctive wooden houses date from this period. The
Baltic Beach Hotel, however, is a more recent creation. A huge block
originally built for holidaying Soviet bigwigs, it has been refurbished
recently, but it is still quite retro and not quite as five-star-looking as
its rating suggests.
The spa's three floors include one with a large municipal-lookalike pool,
another with a much more stylish series of sauna and seawater pool suites,
and a third - a calm and cosy area - devoted to treatment rooms.
Quality of experience The receptionists and therapists were friendly
and professional, with much better English than I had expected. I chose a
couple of toning body treatments, a facial and two more relaxing options.
All were excellent, even the warm bubbling, honey-milk bath with sea
buckthorn, juniper and ginseng.
The “mountain lavender” cosmetic massage was even more relaxing: 90 minutes of
being gently rubbed with body scrub, soothed with heated muslin bags of
lavender flowers and stroked with lotion. Even the “functional” treatments
were fun. For the first I was slathered in anti-cellulite clay, wrapped in
plastic and enclosed in a space-age pod on a heated, vibrating bed where I
listened to New Age music.
After 45 minutes at 45C, I was convinced I looked sharper around the edges. I
was even more convinced after a lymph-drainage treatment: cream, more
clingfilm and a set of heavy wraps electronically squeezing up my arms and
legs.
Products Phytomer, Janssen, Ella Bache and La Prairie; local
mineral-rich mud and water; and plenty of herbs, birch twigs, honey and the
like.
In-crowd Prosperous local people; glitzy Russians and Belorussians;
sleek Scandinavians.
Food The tiny, rather frilly spa café, with more decorative cherubs
than a Tiepolo ceiling, has a small menu of healthy snacks. You may be more
inspired by the hotel's Caviar restaurant. Many regard it as the best in
Jurmala.
Wallet watch A three-night stay costs £439pp (including return flights
from Gatwick on Air Baltic to Riga, transfers, accommodation with breakfast,
plus four treatments: classic massage, pearl bath, mud application for face
and classical manicure and pedicure). Further treatments can be booked
through Baltic Holidays; see the price list in English at www.balticbeach.lv
. The 90-minute mountain lavender massage, for instance, costs about £40.
Need to know Contact Baltic Holidays on 0845 0705711, www.balticholidays.com
Spa rating £££££
