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with
H
MELANIE HARVEY
ow do you fancy being
covered all over in slimy,
cold, smelly mud?
OK, perhaps that
doesn’t sound too appealing
but maybe the prospect of
firmer skin, soothed muscles
■ Flying from Glasgow
and some respite from those
on November 20, seven
aching joints does?
nights in Sharm El
Well, I’m certainly hoping
Sheikh staying at the
so. I’ve come to Portoroz in
four-star Sharm Resort
Slovenia to explore its small
on all inclusive, from
coastline, which is just a
£399 per person.
stone’s throw from Trieste in
■ Flying from Glasgow
Italy to the north and Croatia
on May 7, seven nights
to the south. While it may be
in Palma Nova, Majorca,
staying at the four-star
small – just 29 miles in total
Marina Torrenova on
– it’s big on attractions.
all inclusive, from £379
First stop is the spas that
per person.
pull in visitors from all over
■ Flying from Glasgow
Europe looking for some
on May 11, seven nights
indulgent relaxation.
in Corfu staying at the
The Lepa Vida Thalasso
four-star Aquis Sandy
Spa in the Secovlje Salina
ˇ
Beach on all inclusive,
Nature Park is one its newest,
from £379 per person.
opening just last year.
■ Also check out
I’m not really your typical
www.holidayandflight
visitor to a health spa. In fact,
centre.com or call
my most recent “treatment”
01698 425444.
was a back massage 10 years
ago, so when I’m offered a
mud wrap, I don’t really know
what to expect.
The mud comes directly from
beneath the park’s centuries-old
saltpans, which have a high
concentration of minerals, and
the spa assures me it has “natural
healing properties”.
“Change into this, please,” says
a beautician, as I'm handed a
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Late deals
IT'sMUDDY
skimpy thong. A few minutes
later, I sheepishly return and
take my place on a bed smothered
in mud.
I have visions of ending up
looking like a giant cowpat as she
eagerly delves into a plastic
bucket, bringing up large fistfuls
of the cool, slimy extract.
Oozing from between her
fingers in large dollops, she
smears it liberally over my neck,
shoulders, arms and chest, and
downwards, until my whole body
is covered in its sticky embrace.
I’m left to cook – sorry, relax –
under the hot, midday sun as the
once cooling goo begins to dry
and harden. Thirty minutes later,
I step from the shower a new
man. OK, not quite, but I’m
refreshed and recharged, and that
will do for me. After a gentle soak
in the spa’s salt pools, and a quick
tour of the historic salt pans –
which are still in use today – I
arrive back at my hotel with a
spring in my step and a healthy
appetite for dinner.
I’m staying at the Hotel Marita
– just a short stroll from the
centre of Portoroz.
Set in lush, green gardens, it is
an oasis of tranquillity and calm.
Inside, the accommodation is
stylish with light, airy rooms and
mine even has a balcony with sea
views. After dinner, I take a stroll
Lying in the sun caked in rejuvenating
mud is not for everyone. But Slovenian
health spas are a big draw and there's
lots more besides for visitors to enjoy
CHRIS PARKER
[email protected]
into Portoroz. A relatively modern,
purpose-built resort, it has been
thoughtfully developed. Green
hills, covered in pine trees,
surround a pretty bay blessed with
calm, warm waters.
I pass by the opulent Grand
Hotel – widely regarded as one of
the best in Slovenia – before
settling down for a spot of people
watching at the cool, laid-back
Cacao. Of the many stylish, swish
bars and cafes, this is one of the
best and quickly becomes a
favourite of mine.
Its busy ice-cream counter
serves a dizzying selection of
flavours – I count nearly 30 – and
draws a crowd day and night.
Its big, comfy sofas are a great
place to stretch out and sip a
few cocktails.
The following day, I set off to
discover what all the wealth from
the saltpans has created.
Nowhere is this more apparent
than in the Venetian cities of Izola,
Kopper and our destination for the
morning, nearby Piran.
After a short bus ride, we meet
our guide Irena, who grew up in
this medieval city. Just 60 miles
across the Adriatic by ferry is
Venice and there are similarities all
around. Its distinctive bell tower is
the same design as the one in St
Mark’s Square. But don’t expect the
canals of Venice – the water here
laps around Piran – or thankfully
the overwhelming crowds.
Here it is a pleasure to walk and
explore in relaxed surroundings.
As we drop down into the town,
we pass through the winding
narrow alleys that snake their way
between rows of tightly packed
houses, dating back hundreds of
years. There’s a glint in Irena’s eye
as she recalls being a child running
up and down the 6R