We try the detox with a luxury twist at Healthouse Las Dunas in Spain
Whether you’re looking to detox, de-stress or simply dive into a world of calm, Healthouse Las Dunas is the place to do so. Enjoyable yet effective, think health with a luxury edge.
Located on the New Golden Mile, Healthouse is a mere four miles East of Estepona and 16 west from Marbella. Situated right on the seafront, on a spotless sky day it offers glimpses of Gilbratar and Africa – although you’ll feel far from usual civilisation when residing within its walls.
Elegant and calm, Healthouse Las Dunas seems a world away from the nearby party town of Marbella. Even when walking in to its regal entrance, it’s soothingly quiet – with barely a soul around. There’s no sense of the usual mad bustling that comes when checking in on a Friday evening. Almost immediately, it feels very secluded – which might be a drawback for some hotels, but for a health retreat such as this it’s ideal.
The rooms
This is a place to switch off, and the lavish rooms follow suit. Formally a five-star hotel, Health House offers 55 suites – all of which come with terraces overlooking the pretty gardens and pool. Most of these boast picturesque seafront views – pair this with a Spanish sunset and expect the perfect relaxing backdrop, with few sounds but the rustling of plants and a light ocean breeze.
Rather glamorous in style, suites are vast and split into three sections. Think gilded paintwork, huge beds, and vast marble bathrooms – which come complete with individually chosen Naturhouse products. Little touches count – the toiletries are full sized, the pillows are dreamily soft and the room feels gorgeously serene. If Hollywood elegance is your thing, you’l love it.
The experience
From detoxing to dieting, the health centre offers it all. Chat with the friendly nutritionist during individual sessions for personally tailored diet plans (which are slightly old fashioned in style) but informative and helpful nonetheless. These sessions also include impressive DEXA machine tests, which measure body-fat, water retention, food allergies and more. During a stay, guests can also try a range of activities including yoga and Nordic walking along the seafront.
The spa also means business with over 3,000 square metres of treatment space, including a salt cave, steam bath, vitality pool and sauna. Whether you’re looking to pamper, pummel or polish, there’s something for everyone. More unusual treatments include a Golden Triangle Body Cleanser, as well as a Manual Aquatic Massage. There’s even a room where guests can be hosed down to help aid weight loss.
The food
The food makes all the difference between a boring health farm and a luxxe detox haven such as this. Entirely alcohol-free, the dinning experience here is based on serving gourmet cuisine with a healthy yet nutritious approach. Ingredients are carefully chosen, and the salt-free meals are far better than assumptions with calorie restricted menus would suggest.
Talented Michelin star chef Antoni Luis Aduriz, creator of renowned the Mugaritz restaurant is the genius behind the gourmet four-course meals. Served like clockwork at set times throughout the day, expect tastily creative food dishes as succulent steamed turkey, fresh tomato-based salads, plenty of seafood and even banana ice cream. On Tuesdays and Thursdays, guests can even order from an a la carte.
The verdict
Detoxing just got a lot more delicious. Whether you’re looking to shift a few pounds or simply de-stress from daily life, book a stay at Healthouse Las Dunas and head to this secluded spot of Spanish serenity for some top notch tranquility.
Make it happen
• Cost: Double rooms start from £195 in low season. To make a booking, phone +34 951 082 090 or click here.
• Where: Calle Cádiz, 29680 Estepona, Málaga, Spain
• Getting there: Monarch operates flights to Malaga from Birmingham, London Gatwick, London Luton, Leeds Bradford and Manchester airports with fares, including taxes, starting from £42 one way (£81 return). For further information or to book Monarch flights, Monarch Holidays or Monarch Hotels, please visit www.monarch.co.uk
