Itchy feat…

A bath in prickly hay? Even that couldn't spoil the tranquil beauty of the Dolomites for Joanne O'Connor when she spent a relaxing weekend at an innovative mountain spa on the border of Italy and Austria.

Mountains of the mind

Dan Whitaker discovers that life coaching while hiking Spain's Picos de Europa helps body and soul.

Well satisfied

Suzanne Duckett, author of The Spa Directory, selects 10 of the best places to be pampered.

Clocking off

A round-the-world ticket, voluntary work or lazing on the beach, Isabel Choat finds a range of options for those seeking the ultimate career break.

A wonderful life

The desert resort town of Palm Springs has long been a retreat for Hollywood's finest. With luxury spas and 42 pools to choose from, Melissa Denes feels every bit the movie star.

I swear it’s absolute bliss

Nicole Mowbray visited Nevis and St Barts to indulge in her favourite hobby: pampering herself. She wasn't disappointed.

If you’re at the end of your tether

There's meditation and silence, no drinking or smoking. It's a tough one, but can chatterbox Simon Hattenstone find inner calm at a Tibetan centre in Scotland?

If you’re in need of a detox

Sea water and seaweed are great ways of giving your body a boost - as Lindsay Baker found out at a family-run spa in Ireland.

If you’re looking for luxury

With an aversion to relaxing and a horror of getting wet, how would Suzie Mackenzie cope with an indulgent stay at a West Country hotel?

Dude day

Zoe Williams: I always thought, because I did ballet as a kid, talentlessly and at decade-length, I would be good at riding. It was just a middle-class dyad; I've never been on a horse.

If you’re Gwyneth Paltrow

Do you want to make like a Hollywood superstar interested in the 'spiritual' side of life? Melanie Hill shows how it's done.

Sweet dreams

Following in the footsteps of the ancient Greeks, Michelle Pauli embarks on a pilgrimage of spiritual healing. Fortunately sunbathing, swimming and post-lunch naps are all part of the holistic journey.