PERSONAL BEST fast
PERSONAL BEST fast developed by renowned Austrian doctor F X Mayr in the early 20th century. While the primary goal of the treatment is not to lose weight, but to achieve a sense of wellbeing, most start to shed kilos after just a few days. Wellness sceptics are often surprised at the physical improvements they achieve after just a few changes to their eating habits, a result – among other factors – of the careful, exceptionally personalised support of doctors and therapists. Other detox treatments include lymph drainage, hot liver compress and wrap and herbal packs as well as fitness options and a large selection of dermatological treatments. Many guests also make frequent use of the neighbouring golf course. DON’T MISS An appointment with the resort’s commanding line-up of eminent doctors, kinetics trainers and coaches is a must. These include Dr Roland Heber, a traditional physician and a specialist in Chinese medicine, as well as psychoneuroimmunologist Christian Schubert, an expert on the long-term effects of stress who is particularly in demand. USP The natural beauty surrounding the lake is truly one of a kind: an early morning dip in the saltwater pool or an open-air perspective of the magnificent sunrise views across the Alpine peaks are enough to melt away even the most rigorous stresses. lanserhof.com – Franziska Seng T he Getaway Schloss Elmau Krün, Bavaria WHO GOES? This June it was the leaders of the G7, who had the place to themselves. Otherwise, Schloss Elmau welcomes a mix of culture aficionados from around the world, families with children who appreciate the resort’s engaging “edutainment” programme (such as a chess academy for kids six and up), as well as anyone who – after a massage on a poolside daybed – wants to enjoy one of the region’s most beautiful Alpine panoramas. THE EXPERIENCE Built nearly a century ago as “a space for the development of personal and communal life”, the resort is perched 1,000 metres above sea level in the Wetterstein mountains south of Munich. Up here, in King Ludwig II’s former game reserve, guests are lavished with a carefully curated and refined programme that, since its founding, has attracted both praise and devotees. Standout culinary offerings from the resort’s nine restaurants complement a one-of-a-kind culture programme with more than 200 private concerts, reading and film screenings each year. THE PROGRAMME As of late March, when Elmau Retreats was launched, the property has become two resorts. And Schloss Elmau doesn’t just have one spa: it has five. Sprawled across 7,000 square metres, there are six heated pools, 22 treatment rooms, two yoga pavilions with daily classes for all levels and a spa menu featuring a selection ranging from ayurveda to lomi lomi, Thai massage to hammam scrubs. Still, the surrounding nature takes centre stage: the steep mountain faces all around the Wetterstein summit are close enough to touch, and the picturesque plateau is ripe for exploration. All in all, it is an aweinspiring wellness package that offers nearly anything and everything that revitalises, relaxes, strengthens, heals or beautifies. DON’T MISS A hike to the Elmau Hütte is the picture of relaxation: after an easy 45-minute ascent, there’s nothing better than a chilled Weissbier amid the spectacular scenery. Back down the mountain, a papaya salad fits the bill (made according to a secret recipe known only by the four in-house Thai cooks). Burn calories at the hammam, a 500sq m Jura sandstone temple of warmth, before unwinding in a leather chair while enjoying live jazz next to the fireplace. USP Guests here aren’t forced into the stark white robes common at spas of this calibre, and are instead given a choice of 16 colours – from raspberry and caramel to mint green and dark chocolate brown – making for a stylish, heterogeneous group of solace seekers. schloss-elmau.de — Thomas Midulla FROM TOP: EGBERT KRUPP, CHRISTIAN KAIN (3) 46 DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM
T he Reboot Villa Stéphanie Baden-Baden, Baden-Württemberg WHO GOES? European aristocrats, Middle Eastern royals and the Russian elites, who have repaired to this Black Forest Eden for decades, but are now joined by a new clique of au fait sybarites at this more exclusive and private retreat, part of the iconic Brenners Park-Hotel & Spa. THE EXPERIENCE With just a dozen double rooms and three commodious suites, this fivestorey mansion, originally built for Napoleon’s adopted daughter, is the epitome of privacy. Guests have their own canopied entrance, anchored by a small lobby with an elegant eat-in library decorated with modern art, but can also avail themselves of all the services and amenities of Brenners, including its wellness centre, vast swimming pool, noteworthy restaurants (one with a well-deserved Michelin star) and the convivial bar, where the ivories are tickled nightly. Most crucially, they have at their disposal a glass-enclosed sauna, steam room, gym and plunge pool as well as a private ladies-only spa suite. THE PROGRAMME Anything other than receiving a full health diagnosis and then attempting to enhance your physical or medical state during your stay would be a disservice to the lengths the highly trained team goes in order to put you on the path of the straight and narrow. This means a full physical analysing every inch of your body composition followed by a visit down the corridor to Haus Julius, a comprehensive whitewashed medical facility, for an ultrasound at the practice of Dr König & Kollegen to determine, for example, the viscosity of your blood, before stopping at the Prevent Group, where a summation of your cardiorespiratory fitness is determined on the stationary bike by yet another physician. In short, whether it is dental care, weight loss, detox programmes, performance diagnostics, physical therapy, Shiatsu purveyed by Pierre Clavreux or kickboxing and mental training by Henri Charlet, it’s all available under one veritable roof – and all of it handled and scheduled by a dedicated pair of knowledgeable and professional liaisons who also furnish you with a pre-departure dossier enumerating all of your stats, accomplishments and areas of future care. DON’T MISS Like nearly all of the therapists and practitioners at Villa Stéphanie, Othman Challouf – whose massages unlock the tensions of strained muscles and whose signature hammam treatment cleanses and stimulates the skin – is booked well in advance by regular clients, so be sure to request an appointment with him prior to arrival. USP Located on the leafy Lichtentaler Allee in the centre of Baden-Baden, it is just a short stroll to world-class shopping, the famous thermal baths (the Friedrichsbad is a must), the town’s iconic casino and Germany’s largest opera house, the Festspielhaus. villastephanie.com — Farhad Heydari M U S T - H A V E S FIGHTING THE FIGHT Four German-engineered serums to combat the ageing process show the country’s technical expertise goes beyond beer and BMWs BABOR The 55-year-old, Aachenbased company – which has an exceptionally scientific approach to skincare – has introduced the four-bottle ReVersive Anti-Aging Dual Serum, which utilises so-called “booster” technology to reactivate enervated skin through micro-emulsion over the course of four weeks. babor.com PHARMOS NATUR With ingredients ranging from St John’s wort and sesame seeds to essential amino acids and rare oils, the resourceful, cell-regenerating Anti- Stress Serum works its magic on stressed-out skin, rendering it smooth, resilient and radiant. pharmos-natur.de ADVANSKIN The skincare specialist headquartered in Munich has zeroed in on hyaluron – a miracle substance known for its superior water-binding properties – in its aptly named Hyaluron Serum, which revitalises dry skin with a botox-like effect in minutes. advanskin.de VILLA STEPHANIE (3); PRODUCTS: COURTESY MANUFACTURERS SPAGYRIC BEAUTY The Bavarian brand’s skincare products prove that “green” cosmetics are no less effective than their high-tech counterparts. Its new, vitamin-rich Repair Serum, which takes up to 1,440 laboratory hours to produce, makes use of raspberry, beech and violet extracts to moisturise, repair and tighten skin. ludwigbeck.de DEPARTURES-INTERNATIONAL.COM 47
