Emma Deighan got the Princess treatment recently in Limavady. Here's her report.......

HAPPINESS... is a luxury mini coach filled with seven women bound for Limavady's Radisson Roe Park Hotel,where nothing other than a whole day of pampering and over-indulgence lies ahead.

I couldn't decline the Northern Ireland Tourist
Board's invite to experience one of the northwest's
most hospitable establishments, especially when it
took place during what is officially the most
depressing month of the year - January.

Pringles
While most people in Northern Ireland were suffering
from SAD, financial instability and a spare tyre of
weight courtesy of Quality Street and Pringles, I tried not to feel guilty as I put on my fluffy
Daz-white dressing gown and accompanying slippers that greeted me in my spacious hotel room - along with a contemporary vase holding very pretty orchids.

Oh, and did I mention a bottle of champagne?

It turned out, Limavady wasn't that far away - little over an hour's coach journey, probably about the same time it would take you to travel three miles in Belfast during the rush hour!

When we arrived at the hotel which occupies a large historic house and is surrounded by acres of green
pastures, we were welcomed by the Radisson Roe Park staff and shown to our rooms.

They were big - probably too big for all 5'1 of myself - with a bed that could have hosted a night's sleep
for a small family, and there were nice details that made my time there extra special.

There was a plate ornately decorated with fresh fruit,
two bottles of water and a nice welcome pack detailing
all the hotel's offerings, along with an envelope
filled with Dermalogica products.

Gratification
We met for lunch in one of the hotel's two
restaurants, before embarking on a day of
self-gratification.

The Coach House is the more casual dining area, but the food is far from laid-back. We were served an
outstanding three-course lunch that comprised Caesar salad in a parmesan basket, fresh fish on a bed of
marinated peppers and a guilt-free yoghurt dessert in a peculiar glass that I was given as a gift.

After having our appetites satisfied we headed to the spa area where our day of promised 'Princess'
treatments were to begin. Mine started with a facial, neck and back massage.
This lasted about one hour and made me feel so relaxed that I was in danger of being horizontal for the rest of the day. I honestly felt so chilled out that I wanted to sleep for two weeks, but I couldn't, because
more pampering was to follow.

Celebrity
A facial at Fairway's Health and Beauty Salon starts at £17 for an Express Dermalogica facial, with the
most luxurious facial available costing £45; The Celebrity Facial includes a whole hour of facial - a
20-minute back and neck and foot and hand massage. I had an hour's break between my first and second
treatment which allowed me to explore Radisson's leisure area.

Fairways Leisure Club here flaunts all the facilities you'd demand when having a Spa break.

These include an indoor heated pool, sauna, steam room, jacuzzi, fitness suite, a children's play area
and for those who are as chilled as a jar of Hartley's jam, then there are loungers to just laze on. And the
staff will wait on you with smoothies and a selection of fruit juices.

I lay on the lounger reading an up-to-date magazine that I'd picked up earlier from the beauty area during
my relaxed state. You see, it's things like magazines that can tell a lot about a hotel's service. Too many
times I've lifted a girlie mag in a hotel, turned to page two and read about some split in showbiz that
happened 10 years ago when fashion must-haves included puffball skirts - all because the staff were hoarding the March 05 edition of In Style or Company.

But Radisson did not fall into that category and I can reveal that all the reading material on offer was bang up to date!

Smile
The staff went out of their way to please guests, and everyone from the chambermaids to the manager of the bar and marketing lady were welcoming, with a smile adding to what was already a very relaxing break. Reflexology has been around for years and years now - I'd read all about it, and had an idea of what it involved, but I never entertained the possibility of having a treatment myself.

I lay on a bed while the reflexologist explained what would happen within the next 45 minutes. I was to pay attention to what parts of my feet felt 'funny' or uncomfortable when touched, and this in turn would
give out information on delicate parts of my body. Well it only turns out that my 40 minute walk to and
from work everyday in four inch heels was playing havoc with my lower back, according to the arch in my
foot.

And the reflexologist was able to tell me about the three week cold I'd suffered over Christmas too, as
informed by my toe. I was amazed that this traditional Chinese therapy actually worked, not that I'd no faith, but I just couldn't get it round my head that my little size threes said so much about my lifestyle rights and wrongs.

Reflexology at Radisson Roe costs £25 and lasts about 45 minutes. It uses light compression massage
techniques releasing stress and tension from the feet.

Unconventional

Reflexology is only one a many anti-stress treatments available. Some of my group availed of the
unconventional Reiki treatment administered by Aaron Mullan. This treatment apparently focuses on your
'energy' spots and without laying a finger on you Aaron could tell a lot about his patients - even their
personalities - which is something to think about next time I head up north.

I'd learned a lot at Radisson Roe. Firstly, I don't pamper myself enough. Secondly, I need to drink more
water.Thirdly, Limavady isn't a trillion miles away and fourthly, you really don't need to take a flight to
some far flung hotspot to get grade A pampering treatments.

Indulgence
And as if my head to 'touting' toe treatments weren't enough, Radisson had only gone and booked me in for a manicure and pedicure to end my day of pure self-indulgence.

I'm very proud of my nails, especially after reading an interview with some high powered, fabulously paid
lady who says she will only employ people with nice nails because presentation is everything.
Well I never forgot that, so I've always ensured my mitts are up to scratch.

Manicures and pedicures at the salon start at £12, with a file and polish only costing £5.50 - but if
your nails don't need professional help then it's worth checking out the other beauty sessions on offer:
Tanning starts at £10 for legs or body only, while lash tinting costs £4.50.

A lash and brow tint and eyebrow wax will only set you back £10, while leg waxing starts at £10 - with a full leg wax (for the brave) costing £17. For anyone who wants more permanent hair removal, electrolysis here starts at £8.

I got ready for dinner, trying not to smudge my pearl pink nails, and made my way to Greens - the fine
dining area of Radisson Roe.

Petit fours
I have a list of my top five eating experiences and Greens had just become a new entry.

The four course dinner was something else. I chose the soup, venison, peanut butter-flavoured dessert and got greedy and squeezed in some indescribable petit fours.

The staff, many of whom were of different nationalities, were very helpful and nothing was too
much for them - so all in all it was a very favourable end to possibly the most relaxing day of my life.

Radisson is home to a challenging 18-hole golf course which is one of the best in the Province - it can
offer golfers a floodlit driving range, and is open all year round for even the most enthusiastic golfers.
It can flaunt the title of Golfing Centre of Excellence in Northern Ireland and prides itself on
its calming and aesthetic surroundings that are Lough Foyle and the North Sea - not forgetting the Sperrins mountain range that dominates the southern view from the hotel.

The complex offers bliss and relaxation at close proximity and the beds, in the end, wouldn't have
accommodated any family when you sleep star-shaped after 12 hours of extravagant beauty treatments and meals fit for royalty.