Hotel and destination
I was staying in the Wellness Suite which is a good sized room with a massive bed and lovely south facing balcony with amazing mountain views. My balcony had an outdoor bed which can be made up for you and you can sleep outside! Room was well equipped and comfortable and had everything you would expect from a luxury hotel. Little touches such as a sleep relaxation kit (you have to ask your maid or at reception to get it), noise cancelling headphones and large showers with mood lighting were appreciated. I have to point out that my room was in 'DolceVita' block and these rooms are more modern. Guests can also stay in the accommodation block just above the spa where rooms are more traditionally Italian in style (expect lots of wood, marble and beige colours).
Hotel is compact and well connected, nothing is too far to walk to and is surrounded by mountains. Everywhere you look, the sight will not disappoint you.
Naturno town is walking distance with its shops, cafes and restaurants but be prepared to walk uphill coming back. Area is great for any outdoor activities including hiking, trekking and cycling.
Food
If you are on a wellness programme, full board is included. Breakfast and dinner is served in a wellness restaurant, lunch is in the main restaurant. Breakfast is a lovely buffet display including all breakfast must have items plus there was a juicer and orange presser so you can make your own healthy drink. Lunch was a buffet style again offering a range of cold salads, hot items and a live cooking station. Dinner is a 6 course affair, you can choose between the gourmet or wellness healing menu. Menus are different every day. I opted for the wellness menu but was never able to finish all six courses! If this is too much food for you, you can ask for your portions to be halved in size. It's worth knowing that wine and alcohol is widely available.
Spa facilities
Spa facilities are enormous, and you can spend a whole day just exploring and trying all different options. Lovely outdoor heated pool is at the heart of the hotel. There is also a heated infinity pool at the top floor of one of the buildings. Indoor thermal pool is very special as its water contains arsenic which can help with various skin diseases, thyroid or central nervous system problems but can only be used under medical staff guidance. Now, the Sauna Tower – whole 4 floors dedicated to saunas! Here, you will also find the deep see relaxation room here, salt room, corner with teas and light refreshments and various relaxation areas to unwind and soak up those views. I have to say that each relaxation room is very inviting and you might find yourself spending lots of time in there just chilling on a bed or a swing, admiring views or reading a book. There is also gym and functional training room. Daily group activities are free of charge for all guests and everyone will find something on there regardless of your sport of choice – fitness, yoga, meditation – schedule has it all. There is also a climbing wall if you wish to have a go.
My wellness journey
My spa schedule (which was ready in my room upon arrival) was packed with activities and I could not wait to try them! I had a lovely facial as well as a movement class using ropes. I had a consultation with Preidlhof’s in house doctor Dr. Med. Alexander Angerer and did the heart rate variability measurement test. During the test I sat in a comfy chair for 20 minutes being hooked up to a machine. After 20 minutes, Dr Alexander printed my results and explained in detail his findings which were pretty accurate! He recommended some supplements for me (available to purchase a the hotel). This test and consultation is included in some health programmes and is usually done on your second day. Results are shared with the spa team who will then prepare a schedule based on that. Dr Alexander mixes various approaches – medical, traditional Chinese medicine and homeopathy to treat guests from 360 degree approach. I also had a shiatsu session with Andrea Martinelli. I knew this treatment in theory but had never tried it before. Session was a mix of gentle body movement and energy work. Andrea was able to identify my tension areas and we found the reason which was related to recent traumatic experience during our chat post treatment. Plus, a couple of days after the session I realised that the tension and pain in my upper back is also gone!
I also tried the deep sea - this is a special relaxation chamber and the session takes 15 minutes. It is hard to describe in detail, let's just say it is a mix of sound and light. For the first couple of minutes I was not sure what was happening or what I should expect but things gradually intensified and by the end of the session I found myself spread across a comfy beanbag, not moving, mind still and being completely mesmerised by the sound and light.
Overall
The health spa concept is very holistic and spiritual and I would not hesitate recommending this place to anyone who is going through some difficult times and need bit of a guidance as well as those who have deep rooted traumas and are ready to deal with them. Staff at the spa are extremely helpful and the experts are top notch. I recommend going with an open mind and an open heart and see what happens. Hotel facilities are great and will allow you to relax and unwind in no time. Hotel might be far from the airport (2 hours drive) but the scenic journey will make up for it. Hotel is adults only and mainly used by couples, however I felt welcomed as a single female traveller and didn’t feel awkward during meal times. There were some other solo females and I managed to make a few connections. Food was great and tasty but I would not recommend for anyone who wants to follow a strict diet or if the main reason for travelling is weight loss. You can opt for the wellness menu for your dinner but be ready for carbs and wine on display – at the end of the day, you are in Italy!
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
