Pampering at Porto Sani Village & Spa, Halkidiki

The spa: the five-star Porto Sani Village & Spa, on the shores of the Kassandra peninsula in northern Greece, is one of four hotels in a 1,000-acre ecological reserve. Its sumptuous subterranean spa indulges guests with products from Parisian health and beauty brand Anne Semonin. Spa Spy's symptoms: months of jogging have given this overweight male sore leg muscles and a wind-burned face.

The prescription: a good pampering with a couple of signature treatments that will also offer relief from those running injuries. The therapist recommended a deep-release massage using hot stones (€125) for my aching legs, and a rapid-repair facial (€90) to sort out my skin condition.

The procedure: lying on my front in a candle-lit room, I am lulled by soothing mood music as a therapist massages me with heated black basalt stones, which are said to work on the body's energy channels, promoting deep-muscle and tissue relaxation. It sounds like torture but, after an hour, I have to be woken for my facial.

After my weathered face is scrutinised, I am given a treatment plan including the application of essential oils containing lemon zest and marjoram, together with trace elements of chromium, cobalt and iodine. The aim is to reduce inflammation and soothe my skin while increasing circulation and protecting my capillary walls.

advertisementThe verdict: the massage left me feeling ready to hit the ground running again. Post-facial, my skin was definitely soothed. I'll have another one after my next marathon…

The medical opinion: "Hot stone massage is thought to alleviate symptoms by causing local improvements to blood flow due to the heat, causing blood vessels to dilate, rather than having an effect on 'energy channels'," writes Dr Max Pemberton.

"Broken capillaries on the face are the result of rapid constricting and dilating, often in response to changes in temperature or severe wind. There remains poor evidence that products applied to the skin actually strengthen capillary walls, although moisturising makes it less likely to recur."

The feel-good factor: within the resort there are private beaches, a marina, 13 restaurants and sports including tennis and scuba. But for much of my short stay I remained horizontal by the pool. Ordering food and drinks from my lounger, I slopped on the suntan lotion and, no doubt, undid all the benefits of the facial.

Details: ITC Classics (01244 355 527; www.itcclassics.co.uk) offers five nights at Porto Sani Village from £630 per person, B&B, including direct flights with British Airways and private transfers from Thessaloniki airport.

21.07.2008