The first thing you realise when you enter the Emporio Valenti spa is just how big it is. It's a city spa and the general expectation is that if it's conveniently in the city, then surely with all the competition for prime locations, it should be tiny.

But no, Emporio Valenti is huge. And it's white all over so it's calming at the same time.

Must fit it all in somewhere

When you finally learn what they offer you realise just how appropriately sized it is after all. First off they have a nail bar. It's arranged as two stations and it's where you can get your nails done using the acrylic and gel nail systems.

Hairtastic

Then there's the hair salon. It would be a pity if you went to a spa and received great treatments and left with your hair looking ho hum. So the hair salon on the premises is a great idea, even if you are going for a mere blow and dry. If you want something extra ask for the hot oil treatment. They have a machine that conditions the hair right from the scalp to the very end, like a giant comb emitting nutrients with each brush.

Drag your man no more

The men's retreat room will give you a bit of a laugh. It's designed for those men who flinch at the sound of the words, beauty treatments. There's a television and the promise of a few beers in this room. It's a great starter kit for the sport obsessed gentlemen with an aversion for spas but an affinity for calluses that need to be addressed pronto.

Room for two

Another way to bring an unwilling but totally in need of a massage and a few other treatments partner into the action is to drag them to the tandem room. It's where couples or friends can share their spa experience. You know, chat loudly to each other while getting massaged or just enjoy the treatments in silence while your friend is there.

Tan and what...?

Ladies, you'll love the tanning room. It offers regular spray tanning and an upright sun bed. But then there's a genius gel that you'll love that comes with the sun bed option, a bronzing cream that also fights cellulite. You might develop an addiction.

The rest of the rooms include the lounge and the cloak room.

The spoils...

The treatments are not just scrubbing and smelling good, they are paramedical in nature. That simply means the somatologists look at the specific problems your skin has; acne, ageing lines, pigmentation, sun damage or scarring and they provide a custom made treatment that also includes a homecare prescription.

Though I didn't specify my skin problems ( I didn't think I had any but I think it would have been appropriate to address an oily skin problem... there's always next time I guess), I left wondering why I never have these kinds of skin treatments. It was astonishing having so much feeling on my face, like suddenly noticing it's there. And it was nice to notice the disappearance of a few blackheads.

The thing about Emporio Valenti is that it's convenient. It's nice to know you can get to spa within the city (one that has views of Table Mountain too) and get so many treatments under one roof.

It's situated in The Spearhead building, just off the N1 near the V&A Waterfront.

Cape Town has a lot more to offer. Just get one of our all inclusive packages (car rental, accommodation and flights) and visit. Then you can have your spa treatments and much more the Mother City.