I always feel a bit naughty visiting a spa on a weekday which only adds to the appeal, so it was with excited anticipation that I skipped off to the Marriott on a Tuesday for some R&R.

I’d stayed at the Marriott a few times but never sampled the spa. It used to be my hotel of choice when I lived in the capital but needed to be in Birmingham for business. It’s also a stone’s throw from Simpson’s which was always a bonus! The spa is located on the lower ground floor of the hotel and the lovely Elizabeth was on hand to give me a tour. When I say tour, the spa is quite small so it was a quick one, but that was a plus point for me. Its size meant it felt friendly, quiet and relaxed yet it has all the facilities you’d expect from a really great spa.

ROOM WITH A VIEW

The three treatment rooms are all equipped with customary low lighting and hypnotic spa music. The pool looked very inviting although I couldn’t swim due to a beauty related injury – a long story and thankfully nothing to do with the Marriott. Firstly, it’s worth mentioning the ceiling. Sometimes when you’re lying flat on your back in a spa it’s clear that nobody who works there has ever experienced the same view because you’re left gawping at an air-conditioning unit or something equally ugly. Here each treatment room has an attractive cream and metal drape above the bed which is a really nice touch. The range of treatments is extensive, but I opted for a facial as my skin needed some serious wizardry to get it back on track. Blotchy and dry is probably not a therapist’s dream, but I was hoping they could help. Elizabeth gave me a thorough consultation and we ran through my skin type and skin care regime in detail.

FACE FACTS

All the products used are Decleor which I love, so this all sounded promising. After face mapping and cleansing came exfoliation. I’m used to buffing my skin with a grainy product that feels like it’s doing the job, but the Decleor version was a thick smooth paste that was applied then rubbed off without any scrubbing. This might be where I’m going wrong. Although it felt strange it worked a treat and left my skin feeling much smoother. The face mask and the shoulder and neck massage that followed felt fantastic. I hadn’t felt particularly stressed when I arrived, but now completely chilled out I realised I probably was. My shoulders dropped and I felt great. After leaving the treatment room I made my way to the relaxation room which I didn’t find that relaxing. The furniture is more akin to a waiting room, but it’s a minor detail as the loungers by the pool are a perfect place to chill out.

AFTER GLOW

The after-care advice from Elizabeth was great. She recommended a couple of products to try at home and advised working a monthly facial into my regime which at a mere £29 would slot in nicely. On the day after my treatment I was a bit pink, but over the following couple of days I did notice a difference. My skin felt plumper and smoother and generally a bit younger which I guess is what we’re all striving for. Whenever I’ve found a spa experience or treatment I particularly rate like this one, I say convincingly that I’ll definitely go back and I hardly ever do. The difference here is I’ve already made the call and booked another facial which is very telling indeed.