Location and Design
Palace Merano is located in picturesque town of Merano, in the northern Italy, surrounded by mountains. Merano town is charming and worth visiting and this area offers a range of outdoor adventures such as walking, hiking or skying. Palace itself is very grand and will transport you back into times long forgotten. This is not my personal choice of style but I have to admit it suited the location and it made me feel a little more special! However, The Revival & Spa areas are modern, expect lots of white, soft tones and minimalist design.
Food
Food is exquisite and each dish was a feast for an eye too! Restaurant service is old fashioned and impeccable.
Doctor prescribed me with Biolight menu for breakfast to have more energy for the day and Detox for lunch and dinner. Detox menu was always a 3 course meal, no dessert. Portions were much smaller to what I normally eat at home so for the first couple of day I felt hungry between meals but my body quickly adjusted. Lack of coffee (yes, no coffee here, only coffee substitutes such as barley or chicory.) was also not much trouble. On detox you get served fish twice a week otherwise its fully plant based. Biolight offers meat options. At lunch you also get a juice specifically prescribed to you by TCM Doctor to support your element. Each dish I had was super tasty, there was nothing I didn’t enjoy. Palace Merano is a dry hotel with no alcohol on site available. Instead you can get herbal teas or a mocktail in the Tea lounge.
Wellness Facilities
These are spread over 2 floors. Entire 5th floor is dedicated to Revival which is the medical part. This is where doctors, dietitians, TCM department and aesthetics are. Spa is on lower ground floor where you get your massages and hydro treatments done. There is also a relax and balance zone on the first floor with relaxation area, yoga studio and 'relaxing chair’.
There is an outdoor and indoor pool (suitable for lap swimming), sauna, hammam, Kneipp, cold plunge pool and ice fountain and separate female only sauna, hammam and Kneipp. You can enjoy group classes too. Mornings are dedicated to ‘Energy awakening’ with meditation and gentle stretching. Afternoons are more active with Pilates, Aqua gym or fitness. Outdoor activities are also organised. Gym is a good size with all equipment you need for a good work out.
Palace Merano has its own laboratory as well as a range of its own beauty products, supplements and teas. No one from the team was trying to upsell me these products which I appreciated.
My Wellness Experience
My stay started with a doctor consultation. She asked lots of lifestyle questions, checked my blood pressure and lungs. My concern was my weak immunity so she swiftly prescribed two sessions of ozone therapy and a blood test. They have different blood tests available, I did the standard panel. After bloods and ozone, the day carried on with Body densitometry scanner, a tool which scans your whole body checking for standard metrics such as body and fat mass or water retention as well as bone density. Then I had Traditional Chinese medicine consultation. First the TCM doctor did the bioenergy check up followed by personalised treatment depending on her findings. I had a consultation with dietitian who prepared a take home plan for me with some key advice and recipes. I also had a postural analysis - walked on a treadmill for a few minutes with a special tool wrapped around my shoulder blades. Results - the way I walk is perfectly distributed and I'm evenly balance between my right and left side! There is a second consultation with doctor who checks all results, explains it to you and offers solutions for your issues.
In the spa I had a full body cupping massages - I have to say my therapist was very skilled and gave me one of the best treatments I ever had. These cupping massages focus on specific meridian lines to balance your energy and aid detox. Which line to focus on is prescribed by TCM doctor. Next, I had Hydro Energy treatment. This consists of 3 elements - hydro bath - warm bath with jets and essential oils. Super relaxing. Next is a mud wrap - warm mud on upper body, (freezing) cold mud from below knees. Again, super relaxing. Last is a hydro jet - this is when therapist hose you down with a jet. Relaxing? Not! But I felt very energised after. Hydro treatments and cupping massage is repeated daily to aid detoxification and elevate energy. You will also be put on scales each time after hydro energy treatments to check on your progress.
My results? All good, no real issues to report on apart from stress levels which are high. I was given probiotics to look after my colon, had dietary advice to eat more protein and how to add it to my diet. TCM doctor advised more walks in nature (for lungs), have regular massages, look after my hormones and don't eat ice cream and cow's milk which are very bad for my element. Overall, my results reassured me and advice I was given was achievable and I should be able to fit it into my lifestyle. I found all doctors were very understanding, approachable and not preachy at all. I've also lost 2kg within 4 days. It surely is mostly water plus frequent toilet visits as I was given some natural remedies for cleansing but I will try to keep it off!
Apart from items that are included in your health programme, they have a selection of massages, body treatments, facials (from non-invasive to plastic surgery, private training session, Reformer Pilates, IV's, cryotherapy, hydro colon and much much more which you can add during your stay.
My Personal Highlights
- I appreciated all tests they did including blood works and different types of scanners. These are great preventative tools checking status of your health, where or what to improve and if there is something to be concerned about.
- I was always under impression Palace Merano attracted more mature audience, but I was very wrong! There were younger people too (late 30’s, early 40’) and quite a few solo travelling females from all over the world so soon I was chatting away.
- Blend of medical and holistic – I met Traditional Chinese medicine doctor right after I had a consultation with western medicine doctor. Although two fields are miles apart both consultations blended together in perfect harmony offering full 360 approach to my health and it made perfect sense
- Every member of staff from doctors, therapist to waiters and receptionists were friendly, warm and I felt I was being listen to and heard.
I would recommend this hotel to
- Anyone who is serious about their health and preventative care or wants to try another medical wellness hotel
- Those who want to do a detox (properly, under supervision)
- Single travelling females will feel very comfortable here too as well as health conscious couples
- Anyone who wants a little luxury in their life – the style, the service, attention to detail will make you feel special and important.
Visited November 2024
Why Wellbeing Escapes?
