Less than ten minutes walk from Charles Bridge, you’ll find Prague’s Mandarin Hotel on a secluded back street with a majestic entrance, at least for old town Prague. What makes it so wondrous leading up to it could be because this luxurious hotel is built on the site of a former 14th-century monastery. Spices, their upscale Asian-inspired restaurant is on-site where you can sit indoors or outdoors depending on the weather. We included Spices in our Ultimate Food Guide to Prague, so be sure to check it. If you’re a foodie, you might just book a flight to Prague based on the scrumptious photos alone.

Prague hasn’t always been this luxe, but every year, it seems to add more upscale options for travelers and the Mandarin should be one of those stops on your pampering list, whether that means staying in one of their chic rooms or suites, dining at Spices or booking a spa treatment. Their rooms (and the hotel lobby and lounge areas), all have plush furnishings, the rooms have private limestone bathrooms with heated floors and some rooms add terraces, monastery garden or castle views. Suites feature lavish decor and accents such as vaulted or arched ceilings, as well as living rooms. Wellness travelers will also appreciate the fact that the Mandarin has a gym on the premises as well as a sauna, which I tried the moment I arrived.

When you arrive, the first thing they do is slip you into their open toe sandals right in the lobby while you fill out your paperwork — tea and a hot towel is brought to you while you wait. The lobby area is very calming and relaxing, so your mood is set even before you make it to the relaxation lounge or the treatment rooms.

The entrance itself incorporates a l’il Eastern style, and a stone Buddha greets you as you make your way to the door.

Their products are available for purchase and are beautifully presented on a large display table, including a lovely collection of Gaylia Kristensen — I left with a sample of their anti-aging serum. Over 40, you can never have enough anti-aging products in your bathroom cupboard in my opinion.

Below, inside one of the treatment rooms….

The other areas beam of serenity and tranquility in every direction. It goes without saying that you should feel relaxed at a spa, especially one in a 5 star hotel, although I’m always astonished at how few spas focus on attention to detail from the moment you walk through the door. The Mandarin has that down in spades and makes you feel like a princess for as long as you’re there.

Below, the changing room area — they have all the things you’d expect from an upscale spa, such as razors, cotton, combs, Q-tips and throw-away knickers, which is more common in Europe than it is the states.

Inside the hotel lobby, the feeling of luxe and decadence continues — how’s this for an additional WOW factor?

Outside, there’s even more luxe, so even if you don’t stay at the hotel, be sure to spend a pampering afternoon here, at the gym, in the sauna and for one of their spa treatments.

Signature Spa Therapies

Developed in consultation with specialists in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and master aromatherapists, each signature therapy consists of a relaxing, hands-on body massage ritual that combines the powerful effects of oriental meridian massage with the therapeutic benefits of custom-blended essential oils. Each treatment begins with a private therapist consultation in order to determine each individual’s personal and current state of well-being and then the treatment and oils are then tailored to each guest.

One of the more interesting body therapies on their menu is something they refer to as Coffee Indulgence. If you’re a coffee lover, you’re bound to be curious. The goal of the treatment is to help rejuvenate dry, out-of-condition skin. An intensive salt and coffee body exfoliation stimulates the circulation and sloughs off dead cells to revive dull, tired-looking skin. Hands and feet are given special attention with applications of Vitamin E oil to cuticles and heels and a freshwater mud mask to truly soften and condition the skin. Your body is layered in hydrating and mineralizing marine algae and then massaged, while the skin is then protected with velvety moisturizing body butter.

They also offer traditional Thai massage, unique body treatments and a repairing and Anti-Aging Facial which uses natural oils of Inca Inchi and Larch Extract to stimulate collagen formation to deliver firm and tightened skin. They add Pomegranate and Rosehip Seed Oil which are anti-inflammatory, always a good thing. While I’m a huge fan of anti-aging facials, I went for their Oriental Essence Body Treatment since I had a facial over at the Four Seasons, so wanted to try something a little different. It combined massage with a mini-facial — absolute bliss and strongly recommended!

Other treatments worth mentioning include Oriental Foot Therapy, a Quintessence Body Scrub, a Petrin Ritual which includes a foot bath and a full body brushing treatment, and something they refer to as a Vltava Treat, which is inspired by Czech spa traditions. This experience mineralizes your body with a wrap in freshwater mud as well as a relaxing bath. They do entire spa programs as well, which consist of full day packages that combine treatments and modalities and a half day Bohemian Ritual. For locals, they also offer a 12 month membership program that combines unlimited use of their Fitness and Wellness Center, bonus spa therapies and discounts at their spa.

Their main product line was developed by Aromatherapy Associates, and includes five body oils, five bath and shower oils, generic body scrub, body wash and body lotion. All of the products use natural ingredients and are paraben free.

DETAILS:

Mandarin Hotel & Spa

Nebovidská 459/1, Malá Strana

Prague 1, 11800 Czech Republic

+420 233 088 888

Useful Articles and Links for Spa & Wellness Travel in the Czech Republic

Note: I was hosted by the spa however all opinions expressed are entirely my own.

Renee Blodgett

Renee Blodgett is the founder of We Blog the World. The site combines the magic of an online culture and travel magazine with a global blog network and has contributors from every continent in the world. Having lived in 10 countries and explored nearly 80, she is an avid traveler, and a lover, observer and participant in cultural diversity.

She is also the CEO and founder of Magic Sauce Media, a new media services consultancy focused on viral marketing, social media, branding, events and PR. For over 20 years, she has helped companies from 12 countries get traction in the market. Known for her global and organic approach to product and corporate launches, Renee practices what she pitches and as an active user of social media, she helps clients navigate digital waters from around the world. Renee has been blogging for over 16 years and regularly writes on her personal blog Down the Avenue, Huffington Post, BlogHer, We Blog the World and other sites. She was ranked #12 Social Media Influencer by Forbes Magazine and is listed as a new media influencer and game changer on various sites and books on the new media revolution. In 2013, she was listed as the 6th most influential woman in social media by Forbes Magazine on a Top 20 List.

Her passion for art, storytelling and photography led to the launch of Magic Sauce Photography, which is a visual extension of her writing, the result of which has led to producing six photo books: Galapagos Islands, London, South Africa, Rome, Urbanization and Ecuador.

Renee is also the co-founder of Traveling Geeks, an initiative that brings entrepreneurs, thought leaders, bloggers, creators, curators and influencers to other countries to share and learn from peers, governments, corporations, and the general public in order to educate, share, evaluate, and promote innovative technologies.