Homes with spas included

Independent, *with excerpts, 16th August 2006

First came golf courses, now luxury holiday villas have taken leisure facilities to a tempting extreme. Graham Norwood profiles homes with spas included

Spas used to be associated with the ancient practice of bathing in hot springs and mineral waters - but now, as increasing numbers of overseas-holiday-home owners can testify, spas have a 21st century spin added to them.

The Greeks are believed to have come up with the principle of "taking the waters" for the purpose of improving one's health, although many believe the term "spa" comes from the Belgian town of the same name which has been known since Roman times for its baths, to which people flocked to be pampered.

In the 19th century, Europe's great spas were destinations for the wealthy, while in the past 100 years the trend has spread to North America and Australia. But increasingly these days the term is associated with special relaxation centres installed in exclusive, upmarket developments of villas, houses and apartments.

The proliferation of spas has gathered so much momentum that even relatively low-cost developments in areas like Bulgaria are now being built with spas attached.

Mountain Residences, a 203-apartment scheme located close to the main ski lifts at Bansko, 200km south of Sofia, will have a spa centre when it is completed in spring 2008.

"It's what people expect and resorts are keen to have these to ensure families are attracted" explains the developer of Mountain Residences. "Having a ski facility alone or a golf facility alone is fine for one or perhaps two members of a family, but you need a range of amenities including spas to keep everyone happy. And a spa has a certain cachet - it signifies a development is quite high standard" he claims.

As the string of new schemes with spas suggest, these facilities are the new "must have" for any reputable second-home resort.

It used to be a tennis court, then a pool and more recently a gym - but at least now, with a spa, you're sitting back while someone else does the work.

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