My plans for a trip to Tenerife were cancelled due to a sudden family bereavement at the end of January. Hopefully I’ll visit the island another time to sample its natural beauty and upcoming spas.

Just in case you’re planning a holiday on Tenerife this year, here are three hotels with lovely spas to whet your appetite!

Gran Hoel Bahia del Duque Resort

Abama Resort

Hotel Botanica

2010 has got off to a quiet start, as I’ve not visited any spas since returning from Namibia in December – just been writing up my travels for Spa Wellbeing.

At the end of January I’ll be reporting from sunny Tenerife, where I plan to catch up on the latest spa news and developments on the island.

February will see me in Spain again, this time taking a look at spas on the lovely Costa Blanca – so watch this space!

In the meantime, I wish all our readers good health and happiness in 2010. Don’t forget to send feedback on your recent spa visits.

Now enjoying a short break in sunny Spain after a particularly hectic week with lots of travel related activities. I’m not visiting any spas this trip, but plan to do so when we come out again either at the end of the year or in 2010.

World Travel Market (WTM) at London’s Excel was busier than ever. For travel writers like me, WTM offers an unprecedented opportunity to meet and gather information from with representatives from national tourist offices, hotel groups, airlines, tour operators and other interesting people from around the world.

When I first attended WTM (well over a decade ago!), the event was held at Earls Court and the spa boom was just beginning. How different everything is in 2009, where spas are an integral (and profitable) part of every quality resort and five star hotel – not to mention the sensational spas at sea.

I had interesting appointments with Costa Cruises who are launching a fantastic new ship in February, as well as meetings with representatives from Switzerland, Bermuda, Malaysia, Arizona, Singapore, Tunisia, Namibia and Sri Lanka.

There were so many other people I wanted to talk to as well, but the time ran out – so apologies to Raquel, Ursula, Rachel, Lucy and Greg – I’ll catch up with you all in the next month or so!

Following WTM, I also met with Anna and her daughter Ewa, who together with Dr Elisabether Treskow formed the consortium Healing Hotels of the World. I’ll be writing more about the company and their members in Spa Wellbeing.

I also met the charming staff from the Kasbah Tamadot in Morocco, which uses the divine Aromatherapy Associates products in the Asoufou spa. This being Morocco, the spa has a traditional hammam and is definitely on my list of must see places!

We’re now on the Costa Blanca. Unfortunately, the glorious sunshine on the Spanish costas last week has come to an abrupt end, replaced by grey skies, torrential rain, thunder and lightning. The accompanying power cuts have necessitated using candles occasionally  -   a bit miserable but dramatic at the same time.

Surfers at wet Arenal beach

I’ve had no opportunity or inclination to continue with my ‘natural thalassotherapy’ on Javea’s Arenal beach, which looked forlorn and deserted  when we went for lunch yesterday. It was so wet and windy, we were almost blown into the restaurant.  Only the surfers were enjoying the windswept conditions – riding over the waves on their boards, protected from the chill by their wetsuits – a surreal scene considering last week’s heatwave.