Situated on Port Hercule in Monte-Carlo, Thermes Marins Monte-Carlo could not be any closer to the sea. You are immediately attracted to the gorgeous pink marble building and its stunning view overlooking the port. Everything about Thermes Marins has been thoughtfully designed, from the way the light reflects in from the Mediterranean to the beautifully complimentary colours that work so well as interior meets exterior. Enter the spa and look straight out to sea, and as you walk around all the levels you will be surrounded by lots of light, sapphire, turquoise, a pristine white decor with silver mosaics, it is a relaxing and tranquil space that you just want to spend lots of time in.
I was kindly invited to try out the Cyro Chamber at Thermes Marins Monte Carlo in the heat of the summer, maybe the best time to consider going into a room at minus 110 degrees for 3 minutes! Why would you do that to yourself is what you might be thinking? There are so many benefits to this treatment I had to try it, so I could experience it and see why so many top athletes around the world were using this extreme method to help with any injuries and maintaining a healthy body. Imagine going into a cold sauna, but there is no relaxing on a bench, you are in and out within 3 minutes, and you are ready to push that door open to leave I can assure you, but then you want to do it again because you feel so good afterwards.
What does it do for you? The use of extremely low temperatures can treat symptoms such as tissue damage, decrease inflammation, increase cell rejuvenation, improve skin tone and reduce signs of ageing, it can even speed up metabolism and help with weight loss. After my first treatment I did notice an improvement to a shoulder injury I had been nursing for a while and so I tried another treatment the next day and it really did seem to help. Now I am home I feel like I would need to use the Cyro Chamber regularly to really see better results, but it shows how only after 6 minutes in total you could see an injury improve.
The spa is the first in France and Europe to offer cryotherapy freezing technology, a treatment largely used by high-level athletes for recovery and performance improvements. Their cryotherapy sessions last three minutes, temperatures need to be -110° to see results and each session contributes to the treatment of muscles (including the heart), inflammation conditions, great for recovery from jet-lag, sleeping problems, and it has an anti-ageing effect. I would really recommend you try it the next time you are in the South of France, especially if you workout a lot and have sore muscles or any persistent injury.
To ensure my limbs were thoroughly warmed up I had a seaweed body wrap and a full body massage at the spa, this was the most relaxing way to spend an afternoon. With my robe back on, thermal gloves and socks off I was cocooned in my seaweed wrap, to further help with my detox process for 20 mins before heading off for an hour-long massage. Both of my therapists were so friendly and made me feel so relaxed and welcome at the spa I really had the best experience and if they had offered me a room I would have just stayed the night I felt so zen. My massage was the perfect combination of firm around my neck and shoulders where I needed it and ended with a lovely soothing head massage, a great therapist and a wonderful way to spend a day.
Make sure you book in to the restaurant L’Hirondelle for lunch to complete your experience at Thermes Marins, the food is superb a perfect combination of healthy choices with just the right amount of delicious treats like the fig tart I had as my dessert, it was so good! It is open daily for lunch and you can just book to eat at the spa without being a member or having a treatment. It is a really popular destination lunch spot, so I would make sure you book ahead.
Spending a day at Themes Marines is such a lovely treat, look on the site for a full list of packages, facilities and prices for treatments.