It gives me a warm feeling to find a truly fabulous spa — because excellence can be hard to come by. Aquarias is the most indulgent and luxurious of spas, and hard to fault on any front. It does have the advantage of forming part of the five-star Whatley Manor Hotel at Malmesbury (complete with Michelin-starred restaurant), but you get the feeling that a huge amount of thought, time and effort has gone into making the spa a star that shines on its own.

Its special ambience is based on the cutting edge spa environment, the very high standards of service and treatments, and the general gorgeousness of it all!

And it is not so far to Malmesbury (in Wiltshire), especially when you know that the ultimate chillout zone lies at the end of your journey. It shouldn’t take more than an hour at tops (and probably considerably less if you are not, like myself, chatting nineteen-to-the-dozen with your friend, resulting in a lack of attention to the sat-nav instructions!).

You can get a bit blasé about spas, because often there is nothing that makes them stand out. Therein lies the allure of Aquarias — it is different. One thing that I really liked was the invigorating salt scrub showers. You take a large scoop of the salty, soapy, lemony mix, head for the power shower, then scrub yourself all over. Watch out for any scratches because this stuff stings, but I emerged buffed and polished to perfection. Skin like silk in fact.

Then there is the thermal scented cabins — each offering a different experience.

Become enveloped in the array of fragrances, from the camomile steam grotto which you just know is doing your hair and skin good, to the intoxicating Maracuja perfume of the ‘tropical rain’ shower.

Lying on the warm tiled and sculpted couches in the tepidarium, we revelled in the cocoon-like heat while we waited for our therapists to whisk us off for our facials.

We both chose the Aroma facial massage and were shown into large, calm, neutrally-decorated treatment rooms by our therapists. Another first for me was the high-tech treatment couch — sculpted to support the body perfectly and adjustable at the touch of a button. I have often had facials spoilt by having to lie completely prone for an hour or more. While you usually get a pad to support the head, there’s no support for the arch of the back or under the knees. No problems along those lines at Aquarias, the treatment couches are as cutting edge as the rest of the place.

My therapist decided that the rejuvenating facial would be most appropriate for me — there was also a choice of balancing, nourishing or sensitive — so I laid back for an hour of blissful massage. Many facials involve complicated application of a variety of creams, serums and masks, but this one concentrated purely on massage, and was immensely relaxing.

Aquarias is the only La Prairie Five Star Art of Beauty centre outside of London. These are only found in the most exclusive spas around the world and are a sign of outstanding quality. You can revel in a range of indulgent La Prairie treatments including the 90-minute Radiance Gold Facial, which contains 24-carat colloidal gold to gently firm and rejuvenate the skin.

After our massage we enjoyed lunch in the spa cafe — a delicious chicken panini, fresh from the kitchens of Whatley Manor, and a reviving glass of wine.

After a while we returned to the hydrotherapy pool, which is designed for relaxation and leisure rather than swimming and exercise. It featured a whirl tub and some really good body jets, variously designed to both soothe and stimulate.

One third of the pool, heated to 34ºC, runs outside, so we bobbed about in the bubbles out there enjoying the views of the woodland and river valley below.

After relaxing poolside on the comfortable loungers, we tried the Wave Dream sensory room, a hypnotic water art installation.

Aquarias exudes luxury and is scrupulously clean with piles of fluffy towels at every turn — such an improvement on a spa that gives you one towel that you are expected to carry everywhere with you! You can also help yourself to fresh fruit, chilled water and icy facecloths. Really, there’s nothing left to want for at Aquarias Spa.

A one-night stay at Whatley Manor costs from £290 per room including bed and breakfast, plus use of the spa. Treatments cost from £80 for a 60-minute treatment. Aquarias Spa, Whatley Manor, Easton Grey, Malmesbury, Wiltshire SN16 0RB, call: 01666 822888 , www.whatleymanor.com