The Times - Thermas de Carratraca, Spain

24 September 2008

Ask our expert: soul spa for newly single mum

Karen Hamilton wants a spa break in the sun to refocus her life and lose a bit of weight.

After a very difficult four months during which my husband has left our home to begin a new life with someone else, I would like to book a three or four-night spa break somewhere in the sun for early October. It would be nice to relax, have some treatments, sit in the sun, lose some weight and try to refocus my life. I have looked at a number of spas on the internet, but am a bit confused by the huge range. Karen Hamilton

Times Online spa expert Nick Wyke responds: It sounds as though you could really benefit from some time away from home with your feet up in the sun. The Mediterranean is still warm at this time of year and has a number of suitable options all with outdoor pools that should be in use.

The Fortina Spa Resort in Malta has new wellness rejuvenation rooms, a choice of more than 200 treatments, and extensive facilities including magnetic beds that help you rest. There are plenty of fitness classes to join, too, from gentle yoga to gym workouts.

It also offers spa bedrooms with a mini-spa all to yourself, including a whirpool bath, steam room/double shower, and a Dermalife “pod”, which claims to use steam, vibration and infrared technology “to rid the body of toxins”.

There are six restaurants but the menu in Taste, the main one, lists the full calorie and nutritional content of each dish. The view from the sun loungers is unbeatable - the 16th-century walls of the capital, Valletta. Three-night packages start from £569 all inclusive, including flights and two thalasso pool treatments.

Thermas de Carratraca in Andalucia is a quiet, classy boutique property that has a spiritual feel about it and would still be nice and sunny in October. Spa treatments focus on the spring waters, which would be very relaxing for you. They also have a calorie-controlled organic diet that would be useful for short-term weight-loss targets. It's very good value for money, too, at about £700 for four nights through Wellbeing Escapes with treatments included.