Mission Is five-star pampering with husband and two children aged 12 and 6 in tow possible in the new spa suites at the InterContinental, London Park Lane?

USP No need to mingle with hoi polloi such as Scarlett Johansson and Beverley Knight in the hotel spa, the therapist comes to your luxury suite. There are two double bedrooms, a lounge, two bathrooms, two more loos, plus fridge and tea/coffee-making area. The smaller bedroom converts into a treatment room and, once the treatment’s over, hey presto, the room converts back into a bedroom with fold-down double bed for the children. Spa-suite guests have free access to the exclusive Club InterContinental lounge. Kitted out with plasma TV screens, internet access, magazines, newspapers and free snacks and drinks, it’s the perfect distraction for all ages while mum has a massage back at base camp.

Ambience Right on Hyde Park Corner, with stunning views across Wellington Arch and Green Park, the hotel – part of an American group – has just completed a £76 million refur- bishment to give it the urban style and elegance that would appeal to global business-travelling types. The suites are extremely spacious, neo-classical in feel, with lots of wood, leather and gentler fabrics to soften the harder edges. The bedroom/treatment room has clever inbuilt shelving to accommodate products, floaty white voile drapes and 12 colour lighting schemes; perfect for small people who love twiddling knobs.

Experience The deceptive strength of my petite therapist’s hands and forearms during a full body massage went a long way to easing the knots that make my shoulder muscles about as supple as a bag of marbles. As the CDs had not yet arrived, I was spared any tinkly spa sounds, but maybe on the Bose sound system whale music sounds terrific. Being able to change in the privacy of my own room and slip into the spacious en-suite slate and chrome bathroom afterwards was a treat. But, just as I was emerging from deep postmassage relaxation, my son burst into the room demanding a full account of the experience. It was a bit like being woken up in the middle of the night and left me feeling grumpy during the children’s bath/bedtime routine.

Products Elemis: my sweetly-scented massage oil was frangipani-based. “Advanced cosmeceu-tical” skincare treatments, fancy cosmetics that emphasise the science bit, are available using La Thérapie range. London Park Lane on 020-7499 3131 or visit intercontinental.com

In-crowd There is no crowd, that’s the point.

Food There’s a 20-page glossy room service – sorry, in-room dining – menu. A large bottle of mineral water costs £5.50; a chicken caesar salad £15. We all enjoyed our supper in the hotel’s Cookbook Café, with properly cooked children’s food and à la carte standards. The café chooses a cookbook by a well-known chef each week on which to base daily main-course specials.

Wallet watch Ouch. Prices for a spa suite sleeping 2-4 start from £2,000 a night including breakfast, two hours of spa treatments, private butler and access to Club InterContinental. The hotel’s spa is open to nonresidents. A one-hour wellbeing massage costs £90.

Need to Know For more information or to make a booking, call the InterContinental

A second opinion on the Spa Intercontinental:

USP A Park Lane location means this hotel is in the heart of Mayfair, close to shopping and the West End. The spa has also just undergone a complete makeover, so now is the time to visit.

Ambience Unlike Hilly, I had my treatment in the main spa, but far from mixing with the hoi polloi I wasn’t aware of anyone else being there. This is not due to lack of custom, but because clients are taken straight to treatment rooms. Here an adjoining changing area with a wardrobe and shower room (plus toiletries to spruce yourself up before leaving) offers a place to change and means you don’t have to embark on a self-conscious wander across the lobby in a bathrobe, something us British spa-goers despise.

The décor in the spa is striking – more memorable than your average minimalist-meets-earthy-tones hotel spa. The five treatments rooms are an ellipse shape, which is strangely soothing, with under-floor heating, and the lights change colour, depending on the stage in the treatment – which together with the mood music sets the tone. The décor throughout is striking – dark polished granite, off-white walls with accents of brighter colour, lots of candles and imaginative flower arrangements – the look is contemporary, yet calming. The piece de la resistance is the steam temple, which glistens in a mosaic of gold and black and offers a stunning treatment for two people wishing to detox with a steam and mud wrap, then a powerful double rain-soak shower.

Experience I had a Wellbeing Back Massage followed by a pro-Collagen Quartz Lift Facial. The former was great – the therapist adhered to my requests for firm but not agonising pressure and used soothing scented oils to work on the knots in my shoulders. This was followed by the facial, which included a soothing facial massage, peel and mask. It left my skin a little blotchy but a day later it was smooth – whether the collagen made any difference I can’t be sure, but I was happy with the results.

Products Elemis, the company that’s just signed a deal with BA to provide its amenity kit goodies, is the big name here. Products are simply packaged and while they are not sold on aromatherapy, the citrus and floral smells during my treatment were delicious. There are also some treatments using La Therapie.

In-crowd I’m pretty sure I saw Meg Matthews in the lobby, but as for crowds in the spa, you’re unlikely to see them, thanks to the private changing areas.

Food The hotel has a restaurant overseen by former River Café head chef, Theo Randall, which serves indulgent Italian cuisine, or there’s lighter options at the Cook Book Café. Here the menu changes daily, there are frequent events including book launches, talks and cookery demonstrations, and diners are invited to get involved with the cooking.

Wallet watch The 30-minute Wellbeing massage costs £35 and the facial, which lasts one hour and 15 minutes, costs £112.50

Need to Know Spa Intercontinental, Intercontinental Park Lane, One Hamilton Place, London W1J 7QY; tel. 020 7318 8691; londonspa@ihg.com; www.spaintercontinental.com

Ginny McGrath

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