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This luxurious Tuscany retreat combines wine and wellness

Kassia Byrnes Kassia Byrnes
This Tuscan hotel is offering a full rejuvenation retreat combining luxury, wellness and wine.

Some of the best wines in the world, picturesque rolling hills and an unrivalled artistic legacy: Tuscany has earned its reputation as one of the most beautiful and sophisticated places in the world. But what if you could combine two of its best features into one luxurious retreat? Enter the Wine & Wellness package at The Club House in the heart of Chianti Classico.

This sensory experience combines Tuscany’s deep-rooted wellness practices with the incredible food and wine this region is famous for. Guests embark on a journey that combines tailor-made holistic treatments, vine-based rituals, exclusive tastings at the nearby Vallepicciola winery and delicious dinners.

Most importantly (if you ask me), wine is at the centre of every element during the stay: from tastings, to Tuscan cuisine, to beauty rituals.

view from The Club House hotel
This Wine & Wellness retreat is the perfect way to experience Tuscany.

The accommodation

The package includes a two-night stay at, of course, The Club House: a boutique, adult-only (14+) hotel. Stay in one of just 15 rooms, converted from an old farmhouse. The building’s heritage is kept intact, with earthy tones and quaint decor epitomising the essence of the region. Outside the rooms, discover shared spaces for relaxing,

Either opt for total relaxation, or choose to move in a well-equipped gym, a dedicated yoga space, the tennis courts, a golf range and e-bikes for rental. Dive into the indoor pool – a bright oasis with hydromassage areas and heated water. Outside, another pool offers panoramic views of the surrounding vineyards and rolling hills.

The Club House Outdoor Pool
Dive into gorgeous views. (Image: Mattia Aquila Photography)

Wellness

Also on-site, is The Club House’s Wellness Sanctuary, which Wine & Wellness package guests have full access to. Dedicated to wellness, this 400 sqm retreat is designed to restore harmony to body and mind as soon as they walk in the door, starting with a relaxing atmosphere and delicate scents.

Unwind in the tepidarium (the lukewarm room in Roman bathhouses) with a salt mist to purify and relax the body. Spend time in the sauna and experiential showers stimulate and revitalise. Or brave the ice fountain and Kneipp therapy to boost circulation. Take time before, after or in between to sip herbal teas in the wellness lounge.

The Club House Wellness Sanctuary in tuscany
Relax in the Wellness Sanctuary.

The package also includes a 60-minute ‘wine therapy’, harnessing the rejuvenating properties of grapes (and don’t worry, you’ll also get to harness those rejuvenating properties in the form of wine – more on that later). Wondering how that works?

Start with a relaxing drink and a personalised consultation. Then move onto a grape jam exfoliation to stimulate microcirculation, and then a nourishing massage using grape seed oil for deep hydration of the skin. A mist of grape water enriched with red vine extract ends the treatment, although guests can opt for an aromatic bath with vine leaves.

Spa sessions can be complemented with yoga, meditation or facial treatments.

Wine & dine

interior of Osteria Il Tuscanico
Enjoy two meals at Osteria Il.

What is a wellness retreat without also treating your taste buds? The Wine & Wellness package also includes two Tuscan-inspired dinners at Osteria Il Tuscanico (by chef Daniele Canella, who also runs Il Visibilio, a fine dining restaurant awarded a Michelin star). Enjoy Tuscan cuisine classics, from Pici Cacio e Pepe to Ombrina alla Livornese (Livornese-style sea bass) to Tagliata di Manzo (grilled Chianina beef).

Also enjoy a private tasting at Vallepicciola winery, nestled in the Tuscan hills. Maybe even take home some housemade wines, Champagne, spirits or oils when the tasting is over.

Wondering what else to do in Tuscany? Discover our guide to five unforgettable days in the region.

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Kassia Byrnes
Kassia Byrnes is the Native Content Editor for International Traveller. She's come a long way since writing in her diary about family trips to Grandma's. After graduating a BA of Communication from University of Technology Sydney, she has been writing about her travels (and more) professionally for over 10 years for titles like AWOL, News.com.au, Pedestrian.TV, Body + Soul and Punkee. She's addicted to travel but has a terrible sense of direction, so you can usually find her getting lost somewhere new around the world. Luckily, she loves to explore and have new adventures – whether that’s exploring the backstreets, bungee jumping off a bridge or hiking for days.
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5 things every hotel needs for a more restorative stay

    Kate Bettes Kate Bettes
    Continue
    Wellbeing means different things to different travellers. Here’s how to pick a hotel that gets it right for you.

    The best wellness holidays aren’t necessarily spent wrapped in a spa robe. Sometimes they’re found around a dinner table in Cambodia, on a hiking trail in New Zealand or after finally beating jet lag on the other side of the world. The hotel you choose is what makes them happen.

    1. Easy access to good food

    meals from Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20
    Taste delicious meals at Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20.

    One of the quickest ways to derail healthy habits on holiday is to spend half of it working out where to eat instead of digging into the culture around you. Thankfully, Novotel has done much of the hard work already, with chefs building menus that lean into the flavours, ingredients and traditions of each destination.

    In Sihanoukville, Cambodia, Korkor soup – often dubbed ‘Cambodian ratatouille’ – sits alongside raw blue crab dressed with lime and chilli, best enjoyed with views across the Gulf of Thailand.

    In the lovingly chaotic city of Bangkok, the presence of food cranks up the sociability. At Novotel Bangkok Sukhumvit 20, you can settle in with mango sticky rice and stranger-turned-friends beside the pool at Sky on 20 rooftop bar, or bring them along to tackle river prawns and stir-fried crab with holy basil at the buzzing Crab Paradise Dinner Buffet.

    Then Novotel Dubai Al Barsha welcomes you with a laidback twist on the level of indulgence the Middle Eastern city is best known for up on Deck Se7en. Looking towards Burj Al Arab, the rooftop lounge has everything from Mediterranean-style dishes like seabass ceviche to Italian prosecco sundowners.

    At the other end of the scale, in the hills that surround the Novotel Bali Ubud Resort, calm comes from nature. At Siralada restaurant, Balinese traditions shape the menu while thunder rumbles over the surrounding jungle – proving the setting is as nourishing as the food itself.

    While at Novotel Nha Trang, chef Kieu Thi My Hanh and her team showcase Vietnam’s knack for balancing freshness, texture and fragrant herbs. Pho remains a favourite, while seafood salad with pomelo and mango brings those flavours together in one bright dish.

    It’s all an approach backed by partnerships with expert food creators such as Alfie Steiner, whose plant-forward recipes prove healthy food should never taste plain.

    2. Better sleep options

    Novotel Bali Ubud Resort room
    Sleep deeply with Novotel.

    There are few travel experiences more disappointing than arriving in a new country, determined to seize the day, only to fall asleep fully clothed by 3pm.

    For Australian travellers, jet lag is often an unavoidable part of the journey. That’s one reason Novotel runs sleep-focused initiatives that help guests adjust quickly without compromising on health. We’re talking partnerships with Sydney-based sleep specialist Olivia Arezzolo, known for her advice on everything from better sleep habits to beating jet lag, alongside features like pillow menus, in-room yoga content and tailored sleep guidance.

    The sooner you’re operating on local time, the sooner you can get back to more pressing matters – like deciding which spa treatment to book.

    3. More ways to move

    woman hiking around queenstown new zealand
    Stay at Novotel Queenstown Lakeside and explore local hiking trails. (Credit: GettyI mages/ naruedom)

    Every place in the world has its own way of getting you moving: whether that’s hiking up ice-bitten mountains before a sauna or gentle stretching by the pool before a facial. From fitness centres to spas, Novotel recognises that wellbeing rarely looks the same.

    At Novotel Queenstown Lakeside, activity is inescapable. Here, hiking trails, ski fields, bungee jumps, and white-water rafting have made the region famous. The hotel’s location on the shores of Lake Wakatipu means less time spent organising yourself and more time out there experiencing them. To top it all off, you can book a private hot tub for the evening before heading back into the wilderness tomorrow.

    Bali, of course, takes a softer approach. At Novotel Bali Ubud Resort or Novotel Bali Nusa Dua, movement is less about conquering a mountain and more about a dance class between the tropical gardens and lagoon pools. Afterwards, the spa takes over, with traditional treatments like a Lulur body scrub: a combination of rice, turmeric, sandalwood, ginger and jasmine that’ll soothe muscles already relaxed by the Balinese heat.

    4. Better connections

    Novotel Sharm El Sheikh
    Kids will love a stay at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh.

    One of the best things about travel is that it gives your family stories you’ll be telling for years. Novotel helps create them with activities that bring everyone together, whether that’s trying something new, learning a local skill, or simply spending more time together.

    Go for a distinctly Thai twist at Novotel Phuket Vintage Park, where many of the family activities draw on local culture. Kids can try everything from beginner Thai boxing and language lessons to umbrella painting and – a pastime beloved by children the world over – pool foam parties. Everyone is welcome to join in, whether that’s getting splashed, covered in paint, or simply watching their children discover a new side of Thailand during the dedicated Family & Kids Day.

    A different adventure awaits at Novotel Sharm El Sheikh. Kids could be perfectly content with discos, drawing classes and new holiday friends, but the Red Sea has other ideas. Sitting on the edge of Naama Bay, days here might involve snorkelling colourful reefs, taking a boat trip to Ras Mohammed National Park or heading into the desert by quad bike or camel for a Bedouin-style dinner beneath the stars.

    5. Location is everything

    Surin Beach, Choeng Thale, Thalang District, Phuket, Thaiföld
    Explore Phuket’s gorgeous beaches. (Credit: Bence Biczo)

    Everyone’s idea of wellness looks a little different. With more than 600 hotels across 65 countries, Novotel gives guests the freedom to choose the destination that suits them best. Whether that’s a beachside escape in Phuket, an alpine expedition in Queenstown or a city break in Bangkok, there’s a good chance a Novotel isn’t far away.

    All that’s left? Choosing your version of wellbeing.

    Discover stays to inspire your everyday at novotel.accor.com.