USP Located on the stunning beach of Le Touquet, Northern France, this excellent value thalassotherapy spa offers an extensive range of water therapy and alternative treatments to invigorate and restore.

AMBIENCE Accor Thalassotherapie has a municipal, clinical feel about it - modern white interior, treatment rooms with frightening looking water-therapy contraptions and strangely coloured pools. Fortunately, the thermal swimming pool and chill out room (with beds and pastel hued duvets) have breathtaking views across the sea, which make them the perfect place to relax after treatments.

EXPERIENCE On arrival, I was handed a robe, swimming cap and a print-out of my treatment schedule and told sternly to arrive at my designated room (one of 30) on time - not such an easy task, the place is like a maze. I dutifully obeyed by arriving five minutes early each time for fear of being late. My first treatment was a jet douche - standing starkers in a wet room holding onto a balance bar and hosed down for ten minutes with a powerful jet of hot seawater by a rather scary woman in a white coat wouldn’t have been my first choice of treatment but, after a few minutes, I really started to enjoy it. Having your spine pummelled (usually a no-go area) was a spectacular experience and any hint of bashfulness had been washed away by the time she headed south to the buttock and thigh region.

Tingling from head to toe, I swam a few laps in the thermal waters of the pool before heading to room number 21 for a jet bath, best described as a state of the art Jacuzzi for one. Into the water went a capful of invigorating seaweed bath-foam and me. I decided to submerge myself completely for a full-body experience, which I later regretted when it took seven washes to get the seaweed stuff out of my hair, still at least my skin was silky smooth with a healthy pink glow. Sadly I didn’t have time for a massage, but I imagine it would have been administered with much gusto and cracking of knuckles. Being used to spa experiences that are more Zen than medicinal, this was quite a departure - that doesn’t mean it wasn’t good, it was just different and goes to show you don’t need luxurious surroundings or to spend a fortune to get the same end result. I walked into the spa tired and hung over and left feeling energised and fabulous.

FOOD The spa is part of a hotel where spa guests are welcome to dine. I decided to be healthy and opted for the fresh fish and salad buffet, and then spent the whole of lunch looking enviously at those who’d chosen from the full Gallic menu.

IN CROWD Clearly, people of all ages and ailments come to experience the restorative properties of the seawater - on my visit, I encountered four generations of a family of 15, a hen party and a large number of older arthritic clients.

WALLET WATCH Water therapy treatments start from as little as 10 Euros (£6.77), restorative packages including treatments, meals and hotel accommodation from 100 Euros a day.

NEED TO KNOW Accor Thalassa, Front de Mer, BP 214 62520, Le Touquet (03.21.09.85.30; www.accorthalassa.com)

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