USP Aquitaine, is a private treatment suite for a secluded day of pampering and relaxation within the spa at the Runnymede Hotel in Egham, a 40-minute train ride from London Waterloo into the Surrey countryside. You can reserve the suite for up to 11 people. It is popular (booked for weekends until next year) with brides holding their reception at the hotel and having a pampering hen party, and also with mums and daughters having a girls’ day.

AMBIENCE Friendly, helpful, relaxed and having a personal assistant for the day means you can bypass having to think altogether. The Aquitaine suite is in the basement, secluded from the rest of the spa, and you are given a special entry code, so you can relax knowing you won’t be disturbed. The relaxation room has sofas, and (rather rigid) armchairs, surrounding a coffee table laden with jugs of iced mineral water and fruit juice, and there's a hot-water dispenser to make herbal teas. For incurable techno junkies there’s a plasma screen with Sky, DVDs, Playstation 2 console, WiFi Internet access. There is also a massage chair, which came to life at the press of a button to give my back and shoulder muscles a thorough going over. The only drawback is that the Aquitaine suite does not yet (it’s scheduled) have its own loo and changing room, so we had to go up a flight of stairs and along to the general changing room to disrobe and get into our uniform for the day - white dressing gowns and lovely soft slippers. As you are recommended to drink lots of fluids, there were also frequent treks to the loo. The spa itself has mixed and single-sex saunas, a eucalyptus steam room, showers, whirlpool bath, a kiddie pool and swimming pool with lounger area. Tall wooden-shuttered windows filter light beautifully into the pool area from the landscaped gardens. There's also a gym, dance studio and tennis courts.

QUALITY OF EXPERIENCE My personal assistant/therapist for the day, Michelle, introduced me and friend to the private relaxation room decorated in soothing neutral colours. Large opaque sliding-glass doors at one end, open to reveal a double treatment room with low, subtle lighting. Left to flop on the sofa, sip tea and chill out to relaxing music for half an hour, we found ourselves intoning like a mantra, "gosh, this is soooo relaxing". Michelle and a second therapist returned to begin treatments. I opted for the "Total Indulgence" hot stone body massage. Michelle explained that this aims to restore balance and harmony by working on the chakras (energy centres) along the back, hands, feet and scalp. She asked me to sniff a couple of aromatherapy oils to choose my preference. The treatment, which lasts 2 ¼ hours, consists of body brushing, exfoliation and then a fabulous hot-stones massage with my chosen oil. At each stage - legs, arms, back, feet - I drifted in and out of consciousness thinking, "this bit's the most relaxing" and then it would get more so. At one point I got an itch on my nose, but was so relaxed I found it impossible to lift the dead weight of my arm – and didn't care, leaving my itchy nose to sort itself out. The treatment finished with a light facial and a head massage. The therapists left us to regain consciousness, whispering that they would bring lunch. I managed to turn my head and saw my friend comatose and smiling.

IN CROWD Mostly Brits on breaks. There was a special deal with nearby Legoland when I was there so young families predominated, which was great as they mostly disappeared to Legoland during the day. Many guests are 50 to 60-something couples who use the location, as a base for visiting London, Windsor, Hampton Court Palace. During the week the hotel is busy with business people as it is 10 minutes from Heathrow. The gym is popular with locals.

FOOD A champagne lunch, served in the Aquitaine suite or the spa garden restaurant, is included in the package. I chose flaked salmon with lamb’s lettuce, beetroot in citrus mayo, and my companion had sliced poached chicken with mango and baby spinach leaves in low fat Dijon mayo. Morning and afternoon tea are included, with Danish pastries/cakes and fresh fruit.

WALLET WATCH Aquitaine day packages start from £135 per person, for a minimum of two people; or from £90 per person for a minimum of four people; or you can make up a bespoke day from a selection of facials, body treatments, manicure and pedicure. The package includes use of the spa facilites, gym, dance studio and tennis courts.

NEED TO KNOW Aquitaine at the Runnymede Fitness Spa, Runnymede Hotel, Windsor Road, Egham, Surrey ( 01784 220990/1/2; www.runnymedehotel.com)

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