Spa review: Espa, Ritz-Carlton Macau - two hours of bliss

Espa has just opened at The Ritz-Carlton, Macau. It has 10 pristine treatment rooms and three couples' suites, as well as a very interesting relaxation room, kitted out with birdcage-like dividers between beautiful wingback brown leather chairs.

My Thai therapist Anita has fingers of steel and stamina to match and makes short work of the 120-minute Macau Body Smoother Ritual. It combines a body wrap and massage, which it claims restores balance to body and mind.

The treatment starts with a rubdown with a fairly stiff brush to remove dead skin. This is on the cusp of being painful.

The decor throughout is dark wood with fabric on the walls and wooden floors. There are elements of Chinese and Portuguese architecture, too, which reflects Macau's cultural heritage, albeit subtly.

My back and front were scrubbed, first with the brush, then with Espa's exfoliating body polish made with apricot seed kernels and spearmint. After this I'm covered in some mineral-rich marine mud.

My body is then wrapped. This is followed by a shower before the massage begins. A head-to-toe massage with fitness body oil, an aromatherapy massage oil that contains Indian bay leaf and clove bud oils, finishes the two-hour treatment.

The Macau Body Smoother Ritual is available at ESPA Macau and costs 2,200 patacas on weekdays and 2,400 patacas at the weekend.

3/F, The Ritz-Carlton, Macau, Estrada da Baia da Nossa Senhora da Esperanca, tel: +853 8886 6868; galaxymacau.com