Days out: Aztec Hotel and Spa, Bristol

IF the measure of a perfect spa day is that you fall asleep at least once, the Aztec Spa passes the test superbly - but I’m not going to let you into the secret of how many times my eyes drifted shut as I relaxed in its lovely surroundings.

As I settled onto a lounger by the pool, I already knew it was going to be a success as it had passed two key personal tests with flying colours, thanks to the warmth of the welcome and the air of peace and tranquility. Which isn’t necessarily what you’d expect to find on a business park just off the M5.

Within a 40-minute drive of my home in Wiltshire, and handily placed for a spot of retail therapy beforehand, with Cribbs Causeway just down the road, the Aztec Hotel Spa is open to non-residents, as well as offering overnight packages.

The decor is modern, and while the lights seemed a little too bright and the atmosphere a little too warm at first, it was surprising how quickly I began to feel miles away from the real world.

The spa facilities include a steam room and sauna, the 13.5-metre long pool and a whirlpool bath large enough for five or six people to sit in comfort amid the bubbles. The changing rooms are male and female, there’s a small lounge area and you also have access to the well-equipped gym if you want.

Treatments on offer range from waxing and nail polishes right up to full body massages and facials, using Caudalie, a glamorous French skincare brand that combines the latest scientific techniques with ‘ancient secrets from their vineyards in Bordeaux, delivering gorgeous textures and aromas that are a delight on the skin’.

I’d opted for two of the taster treatments, at the end of my day, leaving me free to chill out first. Which I did, cuddled up in a lovely soft bathrobe, sipping a mocha from the machine in the reception area and leafing idly through the pages of a novel.

Soon, however, the lure of the whirlpool bath at the other end of the pool called, and I stepped carefully into its bubbly depths. Curiously, it proved easier to keep your balance when the water was switched on and topped with a drift of foam, than later on when I went in as it had been turned off for a short break, as it is regularly, probably because the refraction on the smooth surface made it hard to judge distance properly.

I followed this with a nip into the steam room, where I lasted less than five minutes before diving thankfully into the sauna. Yes, I know the conventional way to do things is to bake yourself first and then refresh your skin with steam, but I’m a bit of a salamander and like the dry heat. It’s also an excellent way to dry out your swimsuit and make sure you don’t spend lunch with a soggy bottom.

Lunch, while suitably healthy, was delicious and plenty filling, especially as I’d planned some gentle exercise for the afternoon. Swimming a succession of laps, interspersed with a little lie down, then a visit to the gym for a session doing what my instructor is always telling me to do and actually practising Pilates in between classes, and some more steam/sauna sessions, it was soon time for my treatments.

Although the pool might seem small, I was impressed to find when I checked the distance later that I’d actually clocked up a mile’s worth of lengths.

I’d chosen a back, neck and shoulder massage, followed by an all-over body scrub. Sarah, who’d been so helpful when I checked in that morning, carefully checked on the details of the stiff shoulder I’d mentioned on the health form before starting work....another one of those drop-off moments.

The scrub, with what she assured me was simply almond oil and brown sugar, left my skin glowing once I’d simply showered it away, with absolutely no nasty sticky residue. The effects lasted several days, too.

I visited on my own, but couples, whether him ‘n’ her, ladies on a day out to include lunch or mum and daughter combos, plus ladies’-only groups and two-generations of family, made up most of the clientele.

A few hours here would make the perfect break if you’re looking for a Mother’s Day, birthday or special occasion gift (daughters take note); they do gift vouchers too, so Mum could select her own treatment.

Spa opening times: Monday-Friday 6am-10pm; Saturday/Sunday 7am-9pm
Treatment times: Saturday-Tuesday 10am-6pm; Wednesday-Friday 10am-9pm. 
Prices: Taster treatments £31; facial treatments £31-£99; waxing £14-£25; tanning £29-£44; nails £20-£40; spa days £55-£255.