If, like us, you'll be in dire need of some well-deserved rest and rejuvenation once the Christmas period draws to a close, you may consider soaking up the atmosphere in one of Northern Ireland's most breathtaking resorts.
Get a sneak peek into Irish Tatler's Spa of the Year 2015 with the help of a MummyPages mum who recently spent a night at the stunning Galgorm Resort and Spa in Co. Antrim.
Leading us through her wonderful experience, this mum has us moments away from packing our bags and choosing our treatments!
Immediate impression
On arrival at Galgorm Resort and Spa in Co. Antrim, we were greeted by a friendly and helpful doorman who directed us to reception to check in - a process which was friendly and efficient.
The atmosphere in the foyer was very relaxed and welcoming, with people sitting in front of fires lingering over drinks.
Impression of accommodation
The room was very spacious and beautifully decorated. The bed was very comfortable to sleep in and this was accentuated by the wonderful pillows.
The bathroom was gorgeous, with a big bath, great products and a separate walk-in shower. It was everything you needed for a relaxing night away.
The spa experience
The spa experience is one of the best that I have ever had. There is a lot to choose from and we went for the riverside tubs.
We were shown to our hot tub which was very picturesque as it was along the riverbank, and once in the hot tub we soon forgot that it was absolutely freezing outside! It was warm and relaxing to breathe in gorgeous fresh air with a wood burner fired up beside us.
We were then served champagne and chocolates which was the icing on the cake and made us feel very spoilt.
An hour flew by and it was time for our treatments, so our fresh, new robes were brought down to us for our return to the indoor spa where we filled out our requirements for the chosen treatments.
The treatment experience
The staff's attention to detail was excellent; they had a questionnaire regarding the kind of pressure you preferred and whether you wanted the therapist to have a conversation or not.
The staff were very friendly and attentive and made you feel very well looked after. I had a fantastic massage and it felt like the therapist had listened to all my requirements by focusing on problem areas.
The facial was lovely; helped by the beautiful products which smelled gorgeous and luxurious, and ensured my skin felt really fabulous afterwards.
After the treatments, we were brought to a relaxation room which was lit perfectly to continue relaxing. Once there, we were given some water to rehydrate along with an exquisite mango sorbet to wake us up a bit!
The wining and dining experience
We ate in Fratelli’s Ristorante Pizzeria and Bar which had a warm and lively atmosphere. The staff were very friendly and the food was simple and tasty.
The menu was a very good, offering something for every taste. They had Cicchetti- an authentic Italian way of doing starters - which were delicious and very reasonably priced.
I had the sea bass for my main which was cooked perfectly with excellent sides. Desert was yummy although I didn’t have much room for it! There was also a very good wine selection with something for everyone and a great cocktail menu.
After dinner, we popped into Gillies and there was a really good band playing with a very big crowd.
It seemed like a great night out, but we were tired and headed up to our room with a gin and tonic before drifting into a deep sleep with no children in tow.
Overall experience
It was a great way to enjoy a night away with no kids as you really feel like you have chilled out!
Checking-out was easy and fast, and we will most positively be back after a very relaxing and fabulous experience.
