I was just about at the end of my tether when I came across a website offering spa retreat packages. A combination of 60-hour weeks at work in the city, pressure from my boss to perform and a barrelful of family stress had finally taken its toll. Enough was enough – I needed a break.

But this time, a week or two on a beach was just not going to cut it. Countless holidays to the Spanish coast and Greek islands had taught me that I needed something more luxurious in order to fully unwind.

I needed somewhere completely isolated, peaceful and scenic to make sure I experienced total relaxation, without any chance of being bothered or hassled. I didn’t want to hear music, I didn’t want to hear children playing in the pool, and, for sure, I was turning my mobile phone OFF.

Eyes on the horizon

Some of my friends that had been travelling to the far corners of the earth returned home speaking of deserted, white-sand beaches and azure waters, but the thought of going somewhere far away and exotic seemed difficult and potentially dangerous for a lone female.

Plus, I knew that, while they had had a fantastic time, I couldn’t have gone without my straighteners and 12-hour moisture cream for a day, let alone a whole holiday. I had nothing to be ashamed of – I just wasn’t the backpacking kind of gal.

So, a spa retreat was the perfect solution. This way, I got to experience one of the most beautiful places on earth, without having to organise and negotiate my way around a strange country in an unknown language. In short, I was able to see all of the things my friends had seen, experienced all that they had experienced, but without the crowded hostels, tiresome backpacking and disagreeable bathroom arrangements.

Taking a breath

From the moment I decided to book a spa retreat package holiday, the only difficult thing I had to do was to decide which destination to choose from the dozens of breathtaking locations on offer. I eventually picked a stunning retreat perched on pine-clad hills in the lofty heights of Bhutan – somewhere I had always wanted to go, but never imagined I ever would, or could.

From here on end, it was easy. The online company took care of everything. From flights and transfers to yoga on the deck and relaxing massages, I was completely catered for, ensuring that I didn’t have to lift a finger for the duration of my retreat.

The best thing about my trip was that I was able to really take some time for myself – something that was in short supply back home. I would recommend booking a spa retreat online to anyone: it was so easy, and it gave me the well-deserved break I had been promising myself for years.