Saltwater, seaside strolls and soothing spa hotels in Bournemouth

The Chine Hotel is a classic seaside escape. Unwind here by exploring its three acres of tranquil gardens, overlooking the ocean. Meander past beautifully maintained lawns, tall oak trees and leafy shrubs, as you make your way down to the golden sands of Boscombe Beach.

For a serene day with your partner or the girls, take a rejuvenating trip to the hotel spa where indoor and outdoor swimming pools, sauna and Jacuzzi await. Drift away in the gently bubbling water of the whirlpool, amid marble pillars, classic Roman statuettes and Italian paintings reminiscent of ancient mythology. Afterwards, make your childhood dreams come true with a mermaid lesson in the elegant indoor pool – you’ll be provided with a shiny tail and learn some mermaid moves (charge applies). There are also gym and fitness classes for keeping active. If it’s a spot of pampering you’re after, the Bath House Spa offers a carefully curated range of beauty treatments, including delicate mani-pedis and rejuvenating facials.

Conclude your day of indulgence with a traditional British meal in the plush surrounds of the brasserie. Book a table by the window for far-reaching views across the treetops to the sea. There you can tuck into a sumptuous three-course meal, and choose from soups, terrines, pork belly and risotto. Treat yourself to a nightcap, perhaps an amaretto, before strolling down the corridor to reach your romantic bedroom. These are located in the west wing of the building, which dates back to the Victorian era. With high ceilings, bay windows and a traditional style, they have a real old-fashioned charm.

Sitting proudly by the town’s 7 mile stretch of seafront, the Hallmark Hotel Bournemouth Carlton offers all the benefits of beach life. Inhale the fresh sea air, before making your way indoors to absorb more wellbeing boosts at the thermal spa, which sits inside a glass-walled garden room. You can revitalise with a session in the indoor swimming pool or spa pool. Treat tired muscles to time in the sauna and luxuriate in the soothing water of the hot tub. If you’re visiting with your other half, why not book a relaxing couples massage to rest, recharge and rejuvenate?

Who says an indulgent weekend can’t be a healthy one? The restaurant here offers a selection of nourishing food to complement your endorphin-boosting time in the spa. Feel virtuous, as you take your pick from a seasonally-inspired menu that includes superfood salads and tarragon-baked chicken. Mid-afternoon, venture outside and take the plunge into the 80 ft long outdoor pool for a few laps — or simply float and stretch your muscles. Dotted with palm trees, the pool area has a distinctly tropical vibe.

Retire to your cosy bedroom, decorated with striped wallpaper, tub chairs and brightly coloured throws. Climb between the crisp sheets of a freshly made bed, replete with plump pillows and comfortable mattresses. With classic Victoriana décor throughout the building, it’s easy to imagine the holiday-makers of 150 years ago doing the same thing after a bracing walk on Bournemouth’s sandy beaches – a comforting thought as you drift off.

Set sail on a nautical adventure at Captain’s Club Hotel and Spa – charter the hotel’s 34ft motor cruiser and feel the breeze in your hair, as you glide through the heart of the Dorset countryside. You’ll depart from the hotel’s pontoon and make your way down the tree-lined waters of the River Stour, before sailing out to sea. Spend a few blissful hours on the open waters of the Solent, and let the crew pop open a bottle of champagne for you and your partner.

If you really want to push the boat out, book lunch at the 2 AA-rosette restaurant, with its elegant Table d’Hôte menu, featuring fresh dishes such as local crayfish. Make yourself comfortable on a tasteful grey sofa, as you experience fine dining to the sound of live piano music.

Bring the whole crew: this riverside bolthole has spacious suites, designed with families in mind. Snug corner sofas and thoughtful extra touches, including a state-of-the-art BOSE audio system and a handy Nespresso machine, make for the ideal holiday hideaway. Gaze out of floor-to-ceiling windows, which offer views across the gently rippling waters of the River Stour.

To recharge, wander to the spa, where you can sink into the warm water of the hydrotherapy pool. Spend a few moments in the pine-walled sauna before indulging in a relaxation-inducing dry floatation treatment, complete with a nourishing scalp massage. If you’re there with your mum or friends, you can explore a range of calming treatments including facials, massages, wraps and exfoliation. Or, if you’re getting ready for a night out, head for a makeover and treat yourself to a manicure and pedicure, waxing and tinting, or a spray tan.

Positioned on Bournemouth’s West Cliff and just moments from a sandy beach, Best Western Plus The Connaught Hotel is well-located for exploring all that the coastal resort has to offer. Savour breakfast on the hotel’s palm tree-lined garden terrace, which offers views across the carefully manicured lawn to the neighbouring Victorian villas. Later on, you can indulge in afternoon tea, where you’ll find a collection of treats, such as freshly baked scones, sandwiches and pots of steaming tea.

The ivy-clad exterior conceals a Mediterranean-inspired spa, with an azure blue swimming pool at its centre. Give your body a full workout at the hotel’s resistance and cardiovascular gym, then wind down with a dip in the swimming pool or spa pool. Warm your muscles in the eucalyptus-scented steam room, before treating yourself to a thermal stone massage, with natural Temple Spa products made from pure botanicals. Drift into a state of deep relaxation, as the therapist places warm basalt stones on key acupressure points on your body, before massaging away your aches and pains. After a blissful treatment, climb into the whirlpool and feel the powerful jets of water release the last remnants of tension from your body. To reward your hard work, head to the massage and beauty suites for a microzone or Dermalogica skin treatment.

Discover a welcoming bedroom, decorated in warm tones, with a bold crimson feature wall, dark brown upholstery and timeless mahogany furniture. If you’d like to add a hint of romance to your stay, why not book a balcony room? Wake up before dawn, take your coffee outside and watch the morning light dance on the landscape as the sun rises over the town.

If you’re both a yoga fan and a beach lover, you’re in luck because at Haven Spa you can practise your sun salutations on the seafront with a beach yoga class. Feel the sand between your toes, as you lie in savasana and listen to the waves crashing upon the shore. Continue your relaxation at the tranquil spa, with its thermal suite that allows you to journey through a pine-scented sauna, invigorating steam room and refreshing plunge pool. Have a massage, wrap or scrub, or choose a facial or reflexology treatment. You can also indulge in a luxury manicure and pedicure, enhance your eyebrows and eyelashes with a tint or top up your tan with a St Tropez. Wrap yourself up in a soft waffle robe and wander outside, where you’ll find a sun lounger-lined swimming pool overlooking the ocean, along with an inviting sea-view hot tub.

Retreat to your nautically-inspired seaview Deluxe Room, which comes with a chic decked balcony for views across the sheltered bay and a bath to continue your relaxation time. Fall asleep to the sound of lapping water in anticipation of a new day packed with possibilities – like afternoons exploring Dorset’s rocky coastline and vibrant West Bay and Lyme Regis waterfront towns.

After an exhilarating day out, it’s certainly worth heading back to the hotel for dinner – the restaurant here has two AA rosettes. Sample a changing menu made from local seafood and sustainable ingredients, such as spicy cod croquettes or fillet of sea bream with rosemary roasted new potatoes. The wine cellar is packed with world vintages, from rare Italian gems to much-loved Dorset specials, so you’ll have a treasure trove of bottles to choose from.

Located close to the water, the Christchurch Harbour Hotel is a luxury spa retreat amid serene Dorset landscape. With impressive views across the estuary to the saltwater marshes in the distance, this hidden gem is a dreamy place to while away a weekend. Inside the stone-walled spa, you’ll find a collection of HarSPA and ESPA facials, massages and body treatments, alongside specialist therapies for men and pregnant women.

Explore its crystal steam room, salt grotto and hydrotherapy pool, and wind down on comfortable leather daybeds. Treat yourself to a soothing lava shell massage and allow yourself to relax, as the warm shells penetrate deep into your muscles, easing tension and reviving tired skin. For that finishing touch, invest in a special-occasion makeover, an eyebrow and eyelash tint, a manicure and pedicure, or a wax.

For an extra-special experience, sample the six-course tasting menu at its award-winning restaurant, the Jetty. With intricately prepared delicacies that include a carpaccio of pork, sizzled scallops and wild mushroom risotto, this series of dishes epitomises good living. Run by a Michelin-star chef, the upscale eatery offers a catch of the day, with local specialities, such as Poole Bay rock oysters and Mudeford Quay shrimp.

Check into a light and airy bedroom, with thoughtfully chosen little luxuries, including crisp linen bed sheets, an iPod docking station and a glorious stash of White Company bath products. The rooms have a chic coastal feel, many with blue and white striped upholstery, bright white shutters and glossy freestanding lamps. The hotel’s Best Harbour View Rooms come with a shabby chic four poster bed and roll-top bath, plus views across Christchurch’s 7,000-year-old natural harbour.

Experience a few days of rest and recuperation at the achingly cool Hilton Bournemouth. Unwind in the modern spa, amid stone-coloured walls, sleek silver pillars and stylish wicker day beds. Let the outside world become a distant memory, as you detox in the humidity of the steam room, before cooling off in the 65ft long pool.

Recharge your mind, body and soul at Hilton’s eforea spa and health club. There you’ll find a range of treatments personalised for your lifestyle, like massages, facials and scrubs. You can also add polish with an eyelash and brow tint, eyebrow shape or full-body self tan. Access the salon’s PhD waxing system for a range of waxes, or choose a classic manicure or pedicure. The spa offers an appealing range of treatments, including aromatherapy massages with aromatic Elemis products.

Your stripped-back, seaside-inspired suite is replete with a host of quirky details, including kitsch wallpaper featuring Bournemouth’s old-world pier. Decorated in cool, calm tones and offering panoramic views, suites here provide the ideal place to relax after a tranquil day. Gather your thoughts from the comfort of the overstuffed blue sofa, before freshening up for dinner in the spacious bathroom, complete with black-and-white geometric tiles and retro canvas prints.

Ride the elevator up to the eighth floor, where you’ll find an opulent sky bar, with deep charcoal, teal and gold walls. Sit back on a pale grey armchair and let the mixologist prepare you an Above the Clouds cocktail, while you browse the menu of dishes made with handpicked ingredients from Dorset’s finest purveyors of meat, fish and poultry. Don’t forget to save space for a sweet pudding, prepared in the chef’s lively open kitchen, which sits at the centre of the room.