How Do Services at fibre Compare to those at an Award Winning European Spa?
Overview
Spa: Serenity: The Art of Well Being at the Pine Cliffs Resort
Location: Algarve, Portugal
Visit: May 2022
Recommend : Thermal Oasis Room
Serenity received recognition as the best “Luxury Destination Spa” in Portugal and the top “Luxury Wellness Spa” in Europe. It is located in a secluded and beautifully designed space.
Sign in the reception area of the Serenity Spa in Portugal.
A massage table in Couples Room at Serenity.
Essential research
I visited Serenity to find ways to further enhance the sessions offered at fibre: A Homespun Spa.
I booked a Signature Treatment because it closely followed the steps used at fibre for the Rejuvenating Session. The Serenity Signature treatment began with a luxurious exfoliation, transitioned to a full body massage, then a modified facial. Afterwards, I felt completely relaxed and renewed.
The experience at Serenity encompassed more than the Signature Treatment. The overall atmosphere and the attention to details accentuated the visit.
This review includes four tips which may make your visit to Serenity even more relaxing. It also describes the service I received and how this visit helped to validate/inform services offered at fibre.
A Modified Start
The reception area at Serenity had large chairs for guests and several areas set up to artfully display numerous spa products. A large floral arrangement on the counter set a nice welcoming tone for the facility. Glass walls formed the exterior barrier and allowed natural light to fill the space.
Knowing the benefits of a sauna, I hoped to try out the dry sauna and the experiential shower in the Thermal Oasis Room before my Signature Treatment. I arrived 30 minutes before my appointment, and discovered the facility didn’t open for spa guests until the time of my appointment.
Serenity Locker Room holds many lockers and gives access to one toilet and one shower.
After check in, I met the therapist assigned to me. I received a friendly greeting and an invitation to visit the the locker room. The therapist gave me a towel, slippers, a robe and instructions on how to use the locker.
With numerous lockers available, the space appeared clean yet small. With only one toilet, one sink, one shower and two mirrors; it may feel tight when several people are in the room.
Signature Treatment in a Stunning Setting
I showered then put on the robe and slippers. The therapist returned and led me to the Couples Room for the Signature Treatment. This room made up for the relatively small locker room. It was a cavernous, elegant space - actually two adjacent rooms. One room had two massage tables and the other room had an oversized couch, a giant jacuzzi, and an immense freestanding shower.
The therapist started the Signature Treatment by using an oil-based body scrub to do a full body exfoliation. The therapist left the room and waited outside while I walked across the room and took a shower to remove the exfoliant.
I dried off and got back on the table. The therapist returned and provided a massage and a facial - both very relaxing.
I appreciated the therapist’s knowledge and use of intentional touch while delivering the Signature Treatment. The only drawback stemmed from my beliefs about safety in the workplace. The walk to the shower had me thinking of ways to prevent slips and falls. It reinforced the reasons for using a dry exfoliation at fibre and eliminating the need to shower after exfoliation.
Additional massage table in Serenity’s Couples Room.
Large luxurouis lounge beds in the Relaxation Room at Serenity.
Dreamy Relaxation Room
After the treatment, the therapist took me to the Relaxation Room and gave me a pot of the spa-exclusive, lemon grass tea.
With the Relaxation Room empty of other guests, I quietly reflected on the treatment in the comforting quietness. This reminded me of the benefit of having space for only one client in the reception room at fibre.
I savored the delicious tea before heading to the Thermal Oasis Room.
Thermal Oasis Room
The Thermal Oasis Room included a sauna with Himalayan Rock Salt, a hydrotherapy pool, a steam bath, an herbal sauna, an outdoor jacuzzi, inside and outside relaxation areas plus other extras. The hydrotherapy pool had three lounge surfaces with individual jets and views of the outdoor area.
The outdoor area offered a quiet, private view of a lush garden and comfortable lounge chairs. I snoozed in the chairs and skipped the outdoor jacuzzi - it needed to be cleaned (i.e., dirt in the valves and debris in the water).
The Serenity website touted a selection of healthy drinks; I didn’t see them. The hydration station - a set of water dispensers filled with sliced fruit - essentially ran dry during my visit.
Hydrotherapy pool in the Thermal Oasis Room at Serenity.
Herbal sauna in the Thermal Oasis Room at Serenity.
Tips for making the most of your visit to Serenity
1. Plan to arrive 30 minutes after it opens to spa clients. This gives you time to store your belongings and change.
2. Let the person scheduling your session know whether you want to use the Thermal Oasis Room before or after your session.
3. Ask for a brief tour of the Thermal Oasis Room (including how to operate the experiential showers and saunas) and request a towel. I saw a container for used towels; I didn’t see any clean towels.
4. The Thermal Oasis Room had more space than the locker room. It had two toilets and a shower plus another set of lockers which were easier to access.
Results: Informing Services at fibre
Continue offering warm compresses as needed during massage sessions to help relax muscles.
Keep using raw silk or mesh gloves to provide full body exfoliation; eliminate the need to remove oily body scrub.
Survey clients who receive the Rejuvenating Session or the Serenity Massage for their preferred tea (i.e., loose leaf or bagged). Provide the chosen tea based on results.
Overall, I had a wonderful experience at Serenity and I highly recommend it. The visit reinforced many of the practices in place at fibre. To thank you for reading this far, here’s a code for a 10% discount at fibre:
RESULTS
Code expires Saturday, 6 May 2023.
*New clients see the online scheduler for a code that never expires.