As I lie on my back looking up at the sky, a golden oak leaf dances above me whipped up by the wind. The burnished gold of the trees looks glorious set against the blue sky, with just a few fluffy white clouds floating by. A couple behind the trees at the edge of the hotel grounds walk arm in arm, wrapped up in winter coats, woolly hats and scarves. I’m just wearing my swimsuit as the steam rises up from the surface of the pool, where the water is a cosy 30 °C. I’m spending a day being pampered at the Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa by the coast in West Sussex with Red Letter Days. If you are looking for an experience gift for a loved one this Christmas, look no further!

From a hot air balloon ride or an adrenaline- fuelled track day driving a Ferrari, to a chocolate workshop or an indulgent escape at a luxury spa, I found it hard to decide which Red Letter Day experience gift to pick, but in the end the thought of a day being pampered from head to toe at one of my favourite spas won out.

This post is brought to you in association with Red Letter Days. Some articles in my blog contain affiliate links. You can find more information about these in my disclaimer.

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My Red Letter Day at Bailiffscourt Hotel & Spa

Bailiffscourt Hotel is just 20 minutes’ drive from my home. It’s a beautiful historic hotel that, surprisingly, was only built in the 1920s but has the appearance of somewhere much older. I’ve visited the spa before and know it to be first rate, with a wonderful team of therapists using Temple Spa products, which I love. The hotel is part of the Historic Sussex Hotels collection, three exceptional luxury hotels in West Sussex in the south of England.

Before my first treatment, a heavenly 55-minute massage, I had time for a swim. I skipped the indoor pool and headed straight outside. It was nearly December and there was a chill in the air, but within seconds of taking off my robe I had slipped into the warm water. It felt wonderful to be swimming outside at this time of year and I regretted not coming a little earlier so that I had more time to enjoy it as well as the sauna and steam room, not to mention the gym.

My Drift Away Massage was fabulous and it’s clear that my therapist, Laura, has trained to a very high standard. Her post- massage advice was invaluable.

Up in the members lounge, I tucked into my Sussex Stack lunch, a fabulous mix of flavours with pulled spiced pork, crab, shrimp plus a succulent nugget of Selsey lobster, salad and focaccia. It was just the right amount of food without being over filling. It’s a pricey £19 but it really was excellent, and as a one course lunch from the spa menu, it’s included in my Red Letter Day package, as is the massage, a facial and a traditional cream tea with a glass of bubbly as well as complimentary tea and coffee throughout the day. The facial was also superb and left my skin looking fresh and rejuvenated (my husband even noticed!).

After my facial, I couldn’t resist another swim before relaxing in the outdoor hot tub. Back in the lounge my cream tea was served. I’d bumped into a friend who is a member of the spa and shared it with her. I really don’t think I could have managed two scones.

My Luxury Spa Day at Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa via Red Letter Days cost £164. Bought individually, the services, facilities and treatments would have cost around £190.

 

The perfect present this Christmas

Red Letter Days are an easy gift to give. You can either select a particular Red Letter Day or buy a gift voucher valued from £20 to £500. A gift voucher makes unwanted presents a thing of the past. If you prefer to give something more specific, however, you can search by theme, special occasion or even personality type. There’s such a wide range of activities you’re bound to find the perfect fit. Most of us have far too many ‘things’ in our lives, so this Christmas why not give an experience gift instead?

For the ultimate treat I’d recommend a Red Letter Day luxury spa break at the Bailiffscourt Hotel and Spa in West Sussex.