Twinkle, twinkle, little spa

key2holidays, the specialist online operator, has recorded a 23 per cent increase year on year in requests for spa-based holidays, which it attributes to the growing need for stress-busting in the current troubled times.

One property that the operator’s resident Far East expert recommends for affordable soul soothing is the 4 star Spa Village Tembok in Bali. The hotel offers tranquil, rejuvenating pastimes including starlight gazing which involves nothing more strenuous than floating on a lilo on the hotel’s beachside infinity pool with an MP3 player of chill-out tunes and taking in the night skies.

Other activities to divert attention from today’s uncertain environment include squid fishing by the new moon, classes in Balinese dancing, Indonesian cookery or learning to make the scrubs and lotions used in the spa from local ingredients such as Lapis-Lapis (a Malay herbal wrap) and Meodak (a body scrub).

The spa is the key feature at the hotel. It offers a range of healing treatments from three traditional discovery paths – Vigor, Creativity and Balance. Treatments combine the healing properties of local plants and black volcanic sand - a characteristic of the beach the hotel sits beside. All treatments start with Segara Giri, a ritual involving a sauna style foot treatment using hot volcanic sand to purify the self of negativity.

Bookings made with key2holidays include one spa treatment per person per day plus full board accommodation, meaning that both mind and pocket have a relaxing break.

Example price: 7 nights at the 4 star Spa Village Tembok in Bali costs from £999pp (saving £180) including return flights, transfers, full board accommodation plus one spa treatment per day. Price valid for travel from 13 April until 16 July 2009.

For further information on the holiday above, visit key2holidays.co.uk.