
<p>What a year this has been! It has been the longest time since you saw something from me. Lots of work, COVID, and generally little to tell from a « traveling » perspective. </p>



<p>However&#8230; I still owe you all an update on a holiday in Dordogne in Les Eyzies de Tayac where we stayed at the lovely <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://hotelcromagnon.com/" target="_blank">Hotel Le Cro-Magnon</a> that we highly recommend. The town is magnificent, well-located (easy to visit Sarlat, Saint-Emilion, Monbazillac, etc.) and the hotel has everything you need including a good on-site restaurant. If you add to that your lovely hosts, Ruud and Jan, you know you will have a relaxing holiday away from crowds</p>



<p>This end of September 2020 however, we had a week off and nowhere to go with new enforced COVID measures. So we decided to book something that we had anticipated in our own country (Belgium) after we retire (!!). Boy did we underestimate how much we would like this week staycation. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.theroadsitravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/img_0049.jpg" alt="" class="wp-image-134"/><figcaption><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thermesdespa.com/home/" target="_blank">www.thermesdespa.com</a> </figcaption></figure>



<p>Where did we go? We went to the town of Spa, where more than 150 years ago the concept of spa treatments originated. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spa,_Belgium" target="_blank">Spa</a> is one of the best known mineral water springs in Belgium. <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.thermesdespa.com/home/" target="_blank">Les Thermes de Spa</a> is where it all happens&#8230; You have an overall access to several mineral baths with whirlpools, in-and outside swimming, rest areas but then you also have a high number of « spa » treatments. Apart from the massages, facials etc that any spa can offer, some treatments are specific for the use of lightly naturally carbonated Spa water from the Marie-Henriette spring: <br>&#8211; Carbo-gazeous baths: the naturally carbonated water goes into a copper bathtub where at body temperature you are caressed by a high number of little bubbles relaxing you very much and washing any stress away<br>&#8211; Mud treatments with highly beneficial focus area’s<br>&#8211; Thermal showers where specific areas of your body are treated with the famous water of the Marie-Henriette spring<br>&#8211; Thermo-spa, niagara baths,&#8230;<br>The list goes on &#8211; each one more relaxing than the other</p>



<p>Was it expensive? No and yes &#8211; spa treatments always cost money but you get quite a lot of your money’s worth compared to spa’s abroad or on cruise ships, especially if you take a package. We booked a 5 day package, which included at least 3 treatments per day (facials, massage (relaxing and ayurveda), carbo-gazeous baths, niagara baths&#8230;), full access during the entire day to all facilities, a three course lunch, bathrobe, slippers etc for 600 € for the 5 days. While 600 in itself is of course 600 €, I dare you to copy the included services to any other spa and compare. <br>All services were absolutely well executed, staff friendly and knowledgeable, and all measures to keep social distancing well-observed&#8230;<br>We will definitely be back &#8211; even after COVID doesn’t confine us anymore</p>



<figure class="wp-block-video"><video controls src="https://www.theroadsitravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/joined_video_53acd0bd22e5442ba42dc2b468609c81.mp4" width="720" height="720" style="aspect-ratio:720/720"></video></figure>



<p>Where can you stay? We stayed at the <a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-spa?facilitatorId=RHGSEM&#038;cid=a:ps+b:ggl+c:emea+i:brand+e:rdb+d:ukirwe+r:brt+f:en-US+g:ho+h:LGGZH+v:cf&#038;gclid=CjwKCAjw_NX7BRA1EiwA2dpg0twCQnc1Gp7EL9whYnmJnTz3mHDQLs931nkvlVvH9Rcr-NKIMpjdYRoCMx0QAvD_BwE&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">Radisson Palace Spa</a> since it offers the great advantage of a private funicular to Les Thermes de Spa. It makes it very relaxing to go to the Spa on the top of the mountain. I added a video on this. <br>But most of all, it is just a very good hotel: the rooms were clean, modern and airy; all equipment was there; the restaurant is very well run &#8211; if you would urge me to find one negative point, it would be that the chef loves tagliatelle, zucchini and eggplant too much since you find it on almost every dish but that doesn’t change the fact that the cuisine is really good. All staff are incredible and motivated. <br>Here as well all COVID measures well-observed and applied. </p>



<figure class="wp-block-image size-large"><img src="https://www.theroadsitravel.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/10/img_0050.png" alt="" class="wp-image-135"/><figcaption><a rel="noreferrer noopener" href="https://www.radissonhotels.com/en-us/hotels/radisson-blu-spa?facilitatorId=RHGSEM&#038;cid=a:ps+b:ggl+c:emea+i:brand+e:rdb+d:ukirwe+r:brt+f:en-US+g:ho+h:LGGZH+v:cf&#038;gclid=CjwKCAjw_NX7BRA1EiwA2dpg0twCQnc1Gp7EL9whYnmJnTz3mHDQLs931nkvlVvH9Rcr-NKIMpjdYRoCMx0QAvD_BwE&#038;gclsrc=aw.ds" target="_blank">Radisson Spa Palace hotel</a>, connected to Les Thermes de Spa by funicular</figcaption></figure>



<p>This whole crisis made me realize even more what a great country Belgium is &#8211; although we did not have great weather during our week, we feel refreshed, replenished and are already looking forward to our next stay! </p>