Casa Mia Health Spa Review - Eastern Cape, Addo

Review by Kimberley Porteus

Being situated a few minutes outside of Addo Elephant Park should be enough to tempt you to spend time at this idyllic get away. (Whoever has become negative about the public service must breathe in Addo Elephant Park – a public sanctuary – reminding us that the smallest of creatures (from the ‘Dung Beatle’) requires our care if we are all going to grow and thrive.)

As you drive into this transformed farm, your insides will start feeling something that has become far too unfamiliar in many of our daily lives ... peace. As you move truly beyond the noise of your life, you will begin to hear again. My ears immediately heard the frogs. They were making their frog sounds. Reminding me simply, that it was a beautiful day.

As I walked out of my own hectic life into Casa Mia a voice deep inside said something simple – ‘this is beautiful.’ From the earth tones to the mosaics to the warmth of the greeting at the door it calms the most busy of minds. I should know. If my mind can be taken to another world, anyone’s can. And within only a few minutes, my day to day world was left behind.

Casa Mia has come to life out of the vision of its founder, Suzette Meyer. And like any four year old, Casa Mia has magic, and warmth. It is authentic, simple and of beauty. When I asked Suzette what kind of experience she was trying to create here, she did not hesitate – personal touch. And she has succeeded. Words that come up for me are wholesome, beauty, authenticity, care – ‘another-world’. Casa Mia has achieved the balance of beauty without ostentation, professionalism with intimacy, personal touch with respect for personal space. The physical space is earthy, with deep earth tones complimented by multicoloured mosaics.

I was greeted by Suzette and her team. Casa Mia has six treatment rooms, and three full time therapists. Each of the therapists are highly qualified. But more than that, they love what they do. You sense that they truly love to serve, and they see you as a human being, rather than as simply a ‘client’. And through the time you sense not only that they enjoy what they do, but that they love where they work. They know that they are blessed to work at such a special place.

I was exposed to the ‘Anti Aging’ package. The experience was wonderful. I suppose what made it special and different was its flow and integration. When it comes to a massage, I am like a cat ... when it is done with care, I just purr from deep inside. My initial thought was that the package seemed to be more about ‘beauty’ than about ‘purring’, and I was a bit skeptical – while I like beauty, I think I like purring even more. But if I was skeptical, I was wrong. The entire package – from the body exfoliation, to the hydro bath to the facial, to the manicure was all interwoven with caring massage. As they were focusing on the health of my skin, I was purring. How much better can it get? The treatments are integrated and each are guided by a rhythm of care.

Casa Mia is set up both for day treatments and overnight stays. They have recently expanded and now can cater to conferences and workshops of up to 30 people, including dining facilities.

The experience continually suggests healthy living, without being heavy or overbearing. Part way through the day you remember how much the body loves to drink water with fresh lemon and mint. The food is lovely, light and oriented toward health, supplemented by fresh vegetables grown at the farm.

The most important thing you can say about Casa Mia is that it is a get away – a little paradise that allows you to cosy away from the noise of the world – for an afternoon, or several days. It is a perfect place for an afternoon retreat into a world of pampering and care. It would be a special place for a personal getaway, a silent retreat, or a rejuvenating escape. I can imagine it a great place for a weekend with girl friends. It would be a romantic place for couples. They specially cater for couples, with a special treatment room for simultaneous treatments and care.

The value for service is very high.

Casa Mia is an obvious choice for day treatments for people living in the Nelson Mandela Metro / Port Elizabeth area. Given the value for money, Casa Mia should be in the minds of many more. Less than a two hour flight from Jozi, Cape Town, and Durban, Casa Mia is an accessible destination place for those needing a little bit of space from the noise and pace of our urban centres.

My only advice is this. This is the place you have been trying to find. Find time during the holiday season to spend a day (or three) at Casa Mia. Go to your 2009 diary, and, using indelible ink, identify a few days where you will either alone or with loved ones spend time at Casa Mia. (Do this, stick to it, and you will love me later.)

And another idea. As we go into the season of giving, think of the people who serve you, your loved ones, and others. Think about the people who work hard to somehow make this world a better place – the teachers, the nurses, the child minders. And book them for an afternoon or more at Casa Mia. It is a gift of pure gratitude, pure love.

When most people envision the perfect spa experience, I have a sense they imagine something like Casa Mia.

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