Top 5 Spa Retreats in the South East
You’re feeling a bit stressed, a little lethargic, and in need of a mental and physical boost. A day at a spa, or even better, a few days, could be the pick-me-up you need. If you really want to treat yourself, then take a look at some of the top spa retreats in the South East. They may have packages available that are more reasonable than you think, and they really will look after you. It is difficult to choose just 5, but here are some of the best.
1. Champneys – Now with 5 spas, 3 of which are in the south east, Champneys has become an institution. Whether you go to Tring, Forest Mere or Henlow, you can be assured of top class service in beautiful surroundings. Champneys have won many awards, and also have their own range of products which are now sold all over the world. Packages are available from day spa visits, with or without treatments, to weekends, short breaks and longer stays. Special Christmas or New Year packages are available too, and great discounts can often be found online. Champneys in Tring also offers specialist medical services such as well-woman and well-man health screenings, and sports physiotherapy.
2. Nutfield Priory – In Redhill, Surrey, Nutfield Priory Spa is certainly one of the best in the south east. A variety of treatments and packages are available, and spa days (with at least one treatment) cost from just £55. For longer breaks, the hotel is a gorgeous historic country house with sumptuously decorated rooms and great service. Fine dining or more informal meals are available in the restaurants. A variety of longer stay packages, special breaks and discounts are available on the website.
3. Grayshott Spa – Near Hindhead in Surrey, Grayshott Spa is another award-winning luxury spa. Rather than a hotel with spa facilities, this is a place which exists solely for the purpose of relaxation, rejuvenation, and health improvement. Packages are available, or you can tailor make your own to suit your own needs. All packages include a consultation with a health consultant, fitness classes are included, and all food is healthy. If you want to combine health improvement, or weight loss, with relaxing treatments, this is a great option.
4. Brooklands Hotel – On the list partly for its cutting edge design, with a famous racing track actually going through the reception area, The Brooklands Hotel offers a selection of treatments and packages. There is no swimming pool at the hotel but there are steam rooms, saunas, outdoor hot tubs, and a selection of treatments that will relax and pamper you.
5. The Vineyard – In Stockcross, near Newbury, this is the highest rated hotel in the UK. With spa and fitness facilities worthy of its 5* status, it is a great location for a pampering break. The spa facilities include gym, pool, relaxation areas, and treatments including ESPA products, among others. Even if it seems extravagant, it’s certainly worth keeping an eye open for special offers.
Andrew writes frequently about travel and eco-holidays. He also maintains a blog on solar panels .
Ethical Investment in the UK
If you’re looking to invest some money and are finding that most of the investment funds are associated with companies you really wouldn’t like to give your money to then you need to look for advisers that specialize in ethical investment. The following financial advisers do exactly that:
Barchester Green Investment – Barchester are experts in ethical investment and provide their clients with sustainable financial planning advice.
The Ethical Investment Association – The Ethical Investment Association represents financial advisers with specialist expertise in pairing the values of organizations and individuals with their financial requirements.
The Ethical Investment Co-operative - This is a collection of independent financial advisers who provide free advice (they get commissions from certain banks etc.).
Ethical Investors Group – EIG will help you with your ethical investments. Also offer the Ethical Fund Directory which regularly rates funds according to social criteria and the Environment.
Alex is a financial blogger and writer. He loves writing about vegetarian and green issues although he spends most of his time writing about finance and business from mortgages to taxes to payday loans .
China Invests Record Amounts in Renewables and Introduces Carbon Trading
The Chinese government has announced that they will be placing a cap on the carbon emissions which their country emits annually and will be letting the individual Chinese provinces plan and regulate their own emissions in a more organized and efficient manner. In doing this the Chinese government hopes to create a stable basis for their first carbon trading scheme which they hope will in turn bring emissions even lower. It is their intention to bring carbon emissions down to somewhere between 40-50% below 2005 levels by the year 2020.
All of this was revealed alongside the announcement of an astonishing $54.4 billion of investment in their renewables industry. The USA, by comparison, only spends $34 billion and Great Britain spends a mere $3.3 billion. There is as ever a caveat, however. Last year China’s emissions increased by 13.3% to 7.7billion tonnes and if you look at the figures since 2000 the figures are quite worrying. From 2000 onwards China’s emissions of CO2 have grown by a whopping 171% and have all but matched the rapid growth of their economy. Consequently, the massive increase of renewable technology is crucial as it will be one of the only ways that it is possible to change the ties between economic growth and carbon emissions.
Alex is a journalist and blogger. He writes on everything from finance to green tech and writes a consumer blog for Coupon Croc .