Location and design
Palace Merano is located in the picturesque town of Merano, in northern Italy, surrounded by mountains. Merano town is charming and well worth visiting. This area, too, offers a range of outdoor adventures such as walking, hiking or skiing.
Palace itself is very grand, and will transport you back to times long forgotten. This is not my personal choice of style, but I have to admit, it suited the location and made it feel a little more special! However, The Revital Spa areas are modern — expect lots of white, soft tones and minimalist design.
The food
The food here is exquisite and each dish was a feast for the eyes, too! The restaurant service is impeccable.
The doctor prescribed me with the Biolight menu for breakfast, to have more energy for the day, and Detox for lunch and dinner. The Detox menu was always a three-course meal, with no dessert.
The portions were much smaller to what I normally eat at home, so for the first couple of days 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 it's fully plant-based cuisine. Biolight does offer meat options.
At lunch, you get a juice specifically prescribed to you by the Traditional Chinese Medicine Doctor. Each dish I had was super tasty, there was nothing I didn’t enjoy. Palace Merano is a dry hotel with no alcohol available. Instead, you can enjoy herbal teas or a mocktail in the Tea Lounge.
Wellness facilities
The entire fifth floor is dedicated to Revital, the medical wellness area. Here, doctors, dietitians, a Traditional Chinese Medicine department and aesthetics work alongside one another.
The spa is on the lower-ground floor, where massages and hydro treatments are carried out. There's a relax and balance zone on the first floor with a chill-out area, yoga studio and 'relaxing chair’.
Elsewhere, you'll find outdoor and indoor pools (suitable for lap swimming), a sauna, hammam, Kneipp (traditional European water therapy using hot and cold contrast), a cold plunge pool and ice fountain, and a 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 sessions. The gym is a good size with all the equipment you need for a good workout.
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 a 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. Next, I had a Traditional Chinese Medicine consultation. First, the TCM doctor did a bioenergy check-up followed by a personalised treatment based on her findings.
I then had a consultation with a dietitian, who prepared a take-home plan for me with some key advice and recipes. I also had a postural analysis, walking on a treadmill for a few minutes with a special tool wrapped around my shoulder blades. According to the results, the way I walk is perfectly distributed and I'm evenly balanced between my right and left side! There is a second consultation with the doctor who checks all the results, explains everything and offers solutions for any issues.
In the spa I had a full body cupping massage — 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 (as prescribed by your TCM doctor).
Next, I had the Hydro Energy Treatment. This consists of three elements — hydrotherapy bath, warm bath with jets and essential oils. Super relaxing. Then it was time for a mud wrap, with warm mud smothered on the upper body, and freezing cold mud placed below the knees. Again, super relaxing. Last was the hydro jet — this is when a therapist hoses you down with a jet. Relaxing? No! But I felt very energised after. Hydro treatments and the cupping massage was repeated daily to aid detoxification and elevate my energy levels. I was measured on scales each time to check progress.
My results? All good, no real issues to report on apart from stress levels which were high. I was given probiotics to look after my colon, and dietary advice to eat more protein.
The TCM doctor advised more walks in nature (for lungs), regular massages, to look after my hormones and don't eat ice-cream and cow's milk (bad for my element). Overall, my results reassured me and the advice I was given was achievable.
All the doctors were very understanding, approachable and not at all preachy. I lost two kilograms within four days!
Personal highlights
- I appreciated all the tests carried out, including bloodwork and different types of scanners. These are great preventative tools checking the status of your health, where or what to improve and if there is something to be concerned about.
- I was under the impression that Palace Merano attracted a more mature audience, but I was very wrong! There were younger people too (late 30s, early 40s) and quite a few solo travelling females from all over the world — it was a great mix.
- The blend of medical and holistic wellness — I met the Traditional Chinese Medicine doctor right after I had a consultation with a Western medicine doctor. Although the two fields are miles apart, both consultations blended together in perfect harmony offering a full 360-degree approach to my health, and it made perfect sense.
- Every member of staff, from the doctors and therapists to the waiters and receptionists, were friendly, warm and I felt I was being listened to.
Who's it for?
- Anyone who is serious about their health and preventative care or wants to try a medical wellness hotel.
- Those who want to do a detox (properly, under supervision).
- Single travelling females will feel very comfortable here, as well as health-conscious couples.
- Anyone who wants a little luxury in their life — the style, the service, and attention to detail will make you feel special and important!
Dominika visited in November 2024.
If Palace Merano sounds like your idea of the perfect wellness retreat, you can book by getting in touch with our team of experts. They'll advise on the best rates, plus exclusive benefits for Wellbeing Escapes guests.
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