Croatia Follow in the footsteps of the Wags - Frank Lampard, Joe Cole and partners are said to have been among the first guests at a relaunched 19th-century spa hotel owned by former Derby and West Ham player Igor Stimac. In addition to its 109 rooms, the Hotel Therapia in Crikvenica on the Adriatic has a wellness and fitness centre with sauna and steam room, two pools and mini-golf and tennis courts. Treatments include hot stone massage and thalassotherapy from €28. Rooms from €80pp, half-board. therapia.hr.

Slovakia The newest cure-all spa treatment is cryotherapy, the process of being 'chilled' in liquid nitrogen down to temperatures of -60C to -120C for three mintues, under medical supervision. New centre AquaCity is in the High Tatras, five minutes' from Poprad airport. Three nights' half-board costs £279pp including flights and transfers. Cryotherapy £15 per treatment or £40 for three. Through Czech Travel (01733 327766, czechtravelonline.com).

Spain Stretch, cycle and paint your way through a long weekend break (Oct 19-24) on the Costa Blanca. The trip costs £280 for three nights at the Hotel Alahuar in a small village, four hours of yoga a day, guided walks and picnics. Lotus Journeys (020-8965 5727, lotusjourneys.com).