Recently, the five-star Monart Destination Spa was awarded yet another accolade of the highest order to add to its list; it was named best spa in the entire country by the Irish Independent, as voted for by their readers.
With this in mind, our hopes were high as we travelled down to the countryside 4km outside Enniscorthy, Co. Wexford – and thankfully our expectations were exceeded.
First impressions count, and Monart’s is one of pure escapism. As soon as you pull up to the historic house, which dates back to 1740 and is surrounded by horses and woodland, you truly feel as if you’re ‘getting away from it all’. The stunning house is connected with a glass walkway to the modern building, which is where you will find the accommodation, bar, restaurant and spa.
As soon as you step inside, friendly staff cater to your every need, and take you to your room, which is spacious and comfortable, featuring a sliding glass door with a view of either woodland or the lake. Not the worst view to be greeted with in the morning, let us tell you!
We arrived in the evening and were booked into the fine food restaurant. And fine food it was! Along with the most pleasant staff, who really strive to make sure your experience is as enjoyable as possible, each dish was simply exquisite – special mention must go to dessert, milk chocolate and passion fruit delice, which was almost too pretty to eat. Almost!
The following morning, we made our way down to breakfast, in our fluffy white robe and slippers, as it is encouraged to wear these at all times during your stay (except during dinner, of course!). It is also encouraged to abstain from phones during your time in Monart, so we enjoyed our pancakes with pecan maple syrup while enjoying the sound of silence; no kids, no social media, no news…utter bliss.
Next up was the main event: the spa. A quick warning: you will find yourself so relaxed that you may refuse to leave. Firstly, there’s the thermal spa, which offers saunas, ice bucket showers, a sanarium, caldarium, knieppe cure pool, aromatic steam room, salt grotto and a hydrotherapy pool.
For our treatment, we were invited to try the newest addition to Monart: the Pevonia Stem Cells Photo-Elite Body Contouring Wrap, which is €120 for 60 minutes.
Be advised that this 3-in-1 exfoliating, contouring, and regenerating wellness experience isn’t a pampering treatment – it is results driven. And those results are to reduce cellulite and skin sagging to keep the body looking youthful. Our therapist was faultless and she later took us to the relaxation room, which has the cosiest beds with blankets, magazines and herbal teas to chill out post-treatment.
Afterwards, we went for a walk around the grounds and truly understood why the majority of Monart’s guests are repeat visitors. Go once, and you’ll want to go again. And again…