There are moments in life when you feel tired and exhausted from the stress of daily life, perhaps also from work and family pressure. And you want to get away from it all, but you also want to try something different. You don’t want to go to the same beach or mountain retreat or even your favorite spa. You also want value for money and not have to pay exorbitant prices.

I felt like this a few weeks ago. Since I was going to be in Paris on business, I thought: why not go to a Thalassa in France near Paris? Internet search suggests Quiberon, a coastal town in Brittany, northwestern France. The choice was confirmed by knowledgeable French friends who said this was the first place to develop Thalassa and remains one of the best.

This is how my husband, Roberto, and I spent a happy week at the Sofitel Quiberon Thalassa. Our journey began at the Gare de Montparnasse, a major and unimpressive train station in Paris. After three and a half hours on the elegant TGV (very high-speed train), we disembark in a town called Auray and take a 30-minute taxi to the Sofitel Hotel, which is connected to the Thalassotherapy Institute.

So what is Thalassa?

Thalassa is an abbreviated term for Thalassotherapy, which means ‘sea’ and ‘treatment’. It uses the healing and beneficial properties of mineral-rich seawater and marine products rich in trace elements and antioxidants for your health and well-being. A visit to a thalassa is a similar experience to visiting a spa, except that the treatments are not just for relaxation and beauty, but also for healing. As a thalassa has to be located near the sea, expect invigorating sea air as well.

This particular Institute offers a number of packages. We chose a package called Harmonie that offers five seawater treatments and a massage every day. The use of algae is a very important part of the treatment. Treatments last about two and a half hours, either in the morning or in the afternoon. I left the place strengthened, feeling that I was once again ready to face the world.

Evaluation

The service is good and efficient and the therapists are professional. That’s all good. Being used to giving massages in Thailand, I was not too impressed with the daily massage at the Institute. We were on a half board package with the hotel and found the food to be exceptional. We gain instead of losing weight despite intensive treatments. Next time I will take your weight loss program with a special menu and caloric control.

The highlight for me was meditating on a rock. In the silence of my mind, I could hear the sound of the waves around me and the flapping of the seagulls’ wings overhead. I could feel the sun on my face and the spray of the seawater and taste its saltiness. That was a magical moment to remember and savor.