Escape to the SenSpa Sensation

   Situated in the heart of the New Forest, Hampshire, Carey’s Manor Hotel and SenSpa is the perfect countryside weekend retreat. What was once a former Royal hunting ground is now a luxurious hotel and spa, offering guests the chance to lose themselves in a truly Thai-inspired environment without having to embark on an 11 hour flight.

   On arrival, the HOTHOT team was greeted with the warmest of welcomes by the staff and we were given a tour of the hotel and spa, before getting down to some serious relaxing. One of the first things we noticed was the unique exotic fragrance of the hotel, which immediately transported us into a realm of requiescence and our daily stresses were instantly forgotten.

   With a choice of bedrooms and suites, there is a room for everyone. Juxtaposing original 19^th Century features with stylish sophistication, each room is immaculately furnished, spacious and provides impeccable comfort steeped in splendour. The HOTHOT team stayed in an Oakwood Garden room, which overlooks the beautiful gardens and naturally captures the serenity of the surroundings. And it pleased us tremendously that we were greeted with complementary champers and chocolates, a very thoughtful gesture!

   The hotel facilities include the Ozone swimming pool, steam room, sauna, relaxation rooms and gymnasium but the hidden gem is the SenSpa. With a very impressive hydrotherapy area covering two floors, it is the perfect place to relax, cleanse and awaken the senses.

   The large hydrotherapy pool relaxed muscles we didn’t even know we had with strategically placed water jets, after which we were caressed by the gentle bubbles of the underwater loungers. The thermal treatment rooms, including a Crystal steam room and less intense herbal sauna, cleansed our skin and bodies of all post-Christmas-and-New-Year toxins. Result!

   To cool down, we experienced the health showers, which vary in temperature and are designed to invigorate. For the brave, there is the Experience shower. Here, you can stimulate the senses and douse yourself in ice-cold water by emptying a bucket that is suspended from the ceiling all over you. Then step into the Experience shower and choose from tropical rainfall, sea storm or ice storm, and experience being in your own personalised storm, accompanied by exciting sounds and lighting. A personal HOTHOT favourite.

   Finally, you can lose yourself in the Laconicum, another HOTHOT favourite, and relax on the heated benches or perfect your star-fish pose on the heated tiled floor. If you prefer a less humid environment, the Tepidarium is home to heated stone loungers, ideal for a cheeky snooze under the twinkling lights. For even more tranquillity, you can lounge in the Relaxation room or the Quiet room, where there is an endless supply of green tea, water and magazines. Also, if you want to target a particular area of the body, the spa offers a range of treatments with specialist advice given by therapists.

   Fully relaxed, it was time to refuel. The hotel houses two restaurants; the Manor Restaurant and the Zen Garden Restaurant. Our evening meal was in the Manor Restaurant, which is elegantly furnished with subtle hints of timeless glamour. The tables were perfectly presented, each covered with an immaculate white table cloth, adding to the fine dining experience. The waiting staff were friendly and accommodating, and an idyllic ambience was created by the live piano player. However, although presented well, the food was lukewarm, bland and the portion sizes were very small, prompting us to ask for more sides. Unfortunately, the standard of food served didn’t reflect the high standards set by the hotel and spa.

   The following morning, breakfast was at the Zen Garden. The décor kept with the Thai theme and the atmosphere was pleasurable.  Once again, the staff were very eager to please but the food lacked that certain je ne sais quoi. The continental section was fine, but the hot food was overcooked and carelessly presented.

   Overall, HOTHOT’s experience at Carey’s Manor Hotel and SenSpa excelled our expectations. The staff were faultless and attended to all our needs. The entire hotel and spa were immaculate, and the Thai-inspired theme was a charming finishing touch. Indeed, we felt positively relaxed and rejuvenated after our stay. Just a little more consideration and a spoonful of TLC in the kitchen and Carey’s Manor and SenSpa would teasingly tantalise all of the senses.

Rating: 8/10

For Reservations, call 01590 624467

Email: stay@careysmanor.com

Or book online at www.careysmanor.com

Careys Manor Hotel & SenSpa
Lyndhurst Road
Brockenhurst
Hampshire
SO42 7RH

Sunday Loving

L is for the way you look at me…

They say that love works in mysterious ways and today, Cupid was definitely lurking about with his Love Gun. Indeed, today was a day of match-making between the Girl Next Door (well, from across the road) and our very own SJ. It all started with that one look (or snowball) in which SJ had caught the attention of ‘Beige-coat-and-wellies’ girl, later to be referred to as LGS. Time stood still as we, the residents of NPM, waited for this beautiful tale to unfold.

O is for the only one I see…

‘Beige-coat-and-wellies’ girl was immediately smitten by the infamous SJ. Her flirtatious waving from her lounge window was confirmation that SJ should make the first move. She was waiting for the bait. Unsure of how to approach the situation, SJ sought guidance from the rest of the male population of NPM and decided that there was only one way to seduce her from afar: to craft a beautifully romantic note…  

V is very very, EXTRAordinary…

Amidst the group of girls, ‘Beige-coat-and-wellies’ girl stood like a rose among thorns. SJ did not want to miss this opportunity and courageously placed his Love Note directly on the window pane that separated him from this precious gem. The excitement on her face was immeasurable as her eyes caressed the tender words of SJ’s note. Within minutes, a knock at our door indicated the arrival of her reply. She was keen: good sign. SJ was not to face rejection.

E is even more than anyone that you adore….

Not only was she keen, she had taken the effort to write her reply on pink paper, signed with a lipstick kiss and finished with a cheeky spritz of Marc Jacob’s Daisy perfume. But more obvious was the fact that she wanted SJ to contact her; she had given him her mobile number. The chemistry was building. However, it all relied in the construction of his next note. SJ decided not to jump straight in with a text and to keep sending hand-written notes.  Giving her his mobile number too, he decided to up the flirting by asking her one simple question: ‘Night in or night out?’ and casually revealed himself to her as SJ. She replied with ‘night in’, naughtily adding ‘clothes on or clothes off?’ also signing it with her initials: LGS. The sexual tension was obvious, but SJ was determined to play it cool (He is a gentleman, after all). He opted for ‘clothes on’ but instigated that he wouldn’t mind seeing what was underneath her beige coat! (Oooh, we love a bit of sauce!)

A few hours passed, but no reply came. We were disappointed. We decided that we no longer liked the sound of LGS and distracted poor SJ with an episode of Britain’s Brightest, while he contemplated his pie and wedges combo. So to not break SJ’s heart, we did not mention LGS again… until her final note of the evening arrived on our doormat.

L.O.V.E was made for me and you!

She was now playing hard to get, asking for SJ to send her a note during the week. Maybe she was tired. Maybe she was scared that it was all moving too fast. There is still hope for these two after all. Tune in next week to find out SJ’s next move.

 Watch this space : SJ 4 LGS 2K13 NPM