There may be weddings, other family gatherings or birthday parties to attend, as well as copious other opportunities to have fun and let your hair down. Of course, attending social events does tend to involve the prior purchase of a present of some sort – be that a birthday, anniversary, wedding or other special gift.

And there’s no getting away from it: choosing gifts can present a bit of a headache. However, happily, a panacea for such headaches is close at hand. Thanks to the ubiquitous Internet, alternatives to the predictable perfume, jewellery, flowers or toasters (for newlyweds!) can be bought quickly and easily online in the shape of gift vouchers.

It is perhaps not surprising that spa gift vouchers are enjoying unprecedented popularity in an age where we are all acutely aware of the importance of adopting a healthy lifestyle. As the whole ethos of the spa world is based on wellness, it is only natural that we should want to share such a beneficial treat with our loved ones.

By giving your friends or family a gift such as a spa voucher, you are opening up a host of pampering possibilities. Gift tokens for health resorts are the perfect way to soothe your stressed sister, cosset your favourite cousin or remind your dear ol’ mum how much she means to you.

Monetary vouchers from the UK’s leading spas come in a range of attractive gift packs and are generally valid for a year from the date of issue, giving lucky recipients plenty of time to plan their spa visit. Vouchers are an affordable and flexible gift, and can be used towards a spa day or spa break or to pay for extra treatments if a visit has been booked already.

This versatility is one of the best things about spa vouchers, making them highly personal gifts that are always well received. And they’re great from the giver’s perspective too, as there’s no hassle and no headache!

But we mustn’t allow all this negativity to spoil what remains of this year. For the sake of the nation – not to mention our own well-being – we need to shake off any lingering negativity or despondency, and instead make plans for a pleasant and positive summer and autumn ahead.

One prospect guaranteed to cheer everyone up is holidays. So where are we Brits going on holiday this year?  Well, try as we might to forget the past six months, it would appear that niggling doubts still remain about the vagaries of volcanic ash. Added to that, we all seem to be exercising Brownesque prudence when it comes to spending our hard-earned cash.

All of the above explains why staycations are definitely the “in thing” this year, with many singletons, couples and families alike electing to remain at home and visit local tourist spots, or UK destinations which are further afield but don’t involve an airport.

It would certainly appear that UK holidaymakers in their thousands have taken the decision to eschew travel outside UK shores this year, thereby banishing the spectre of long or short-haul flights being cancelled at the last moment and leaving them stranded – whether on this side of the Atlantic or the other.

Spa holiday packages are proving particularly popular at the moment amongst increasingly health-conscious British adults, not least because spa health resorts offer all the benefits of luxury hotels paired with the “clear conscience” factor. This comes from the fact that the focus of a spa holiday is unashamedly on wellness.

Of course, wellness comes in many guises, and that’s where a spa package comes into its own, allowing you to choose a bundle of treatments and activities that suit your physical, spiritual and psychological needs.

For example, if you’re in need of a detox, leading health spa Ragdale Hall has the perfect spa day for you – The Pure Detox Day includes a Full Body Massage, Energising Detox Therapy and a Foot Conditioning Treatment.

Alternatively, if you’re just looking for the ultimate in luxury, why not try The Luxury Three Night Spa Break, which includes a Natural Harmony Facial including Hand Massage, Tension Release Scalp Therapy, Body Exfoliation and Nourish, Back, Shoulder and Neck Massage.

A fruit bowl and welcome tray are also included in the package, not to mention a copy of Ragdale Hall’s Guide to Healthy Living, detailing how you can maintain the healthy start you have made and setting achievable targets for your return home.

If all of this sounds far removed from the traditional package holiday – which conjures up images of crowded beaches, diplomatic incidents over sun beds by the poolside and unrelenting noise – then that’s because it is. Spa package holidays are a world apart.

With money belts the length and breadth of the UK having been tightened on several occasions over the past year, any self-respecting spa tourist will be keen to ensure they’re getting value for money.

With that in mind, it’s essential to check out how well your chosen spa hotel fares in the travel destination ratings and whether its services are award-winning before making that all-important booking.

Certainly, few spas can hold a scented candle to Ragdale Hall in the spa award stakes, with the idyllic rural Leicestershire resort topping prize-winners’ lists year after year and currently scoring an inspiring 4.5 out of 5 on the Trip Advisor scale, making it one of the best spa hotels in the UK.

Regular Health Spa of the Year Awards are just one example of how well regarded Ragdale Hall is within the travel and spa industry. The prestigious Health Hydro and Thermal Spa has won one of these much-coveted industry awards every single year for over a decade now, and that’s just the tip of the spa iceberg…

In 2007, Ragdale was voted Best Destination Spa in Europe, and in 2008 the acclaimed health spa resort picked up another two accolades in the Heart 106 Lifestyle Awards – not to mention being the Employer of the Year in the Professional Beauty Awards during the same year.

So far in 2010, Ragdale Hall has won an impressive five awards, including the prestigious Condé Nast Traveller Readers’ Spa Awards 2010 Favourite UK Spa Retreat.  Moreover, the popular health resort continues to retain its much-coveted Good Spa Guide 5 bubble status.

This enviable status – the highest possible – is only awarded to health resorts that meet (or, better still, exceed) the Good Spa Guide’s strict criteria in four areas: customer care; cleanliness; quality of treatments; and value for money.

Anyone who has been fortunate enough to spend even a few hours in the restful ambience of Ragdale Hall’s superb spa hotel will understand instinctively why this inimitable health resort ticks all four boxes with ease.

Once you’ve experienced the unadulterated luxury and basked in the blissful indulgence that abound behind the doors of Ragdale’s beautifully maintained Victorian mansion house, submersed your stressed self in the stunning blue waters of the lagoon pool or drifted off as one of the professional therapists massages your cares away, you, too, will be smitten!

One of the main attractions of specialised spa hotels such as Ragdale is that they offer outstanding value to spa-goers. Whether you’re visiting for a day or weekend break, or for longer, as a Ragdale guest you’ll enjoy full use of all facilities during your stay.

This will include breakfast served in your room, a three course buffet lunch and three course dinner (spa breaks only) or a healthy three course buffet lunch (spa days only).

Ragdale guests are offered a daily programme of over 18 exercise classes and group activities, plus they benefit from unlimited use of an air-conditioned gymnasium as well as unlimited use of the Thermal Spa including Candle Pool, Indoor/Outdoor Waterfall Pool and a series of heat and water experiences.

There guests can bask in the 25 metre indoor swimming pool with whirlpool, cascade and massage jets and take advantage of the indoor exercise pool with aquagym equipment.

They can also choose from a daily programme of water exercise sessions, plus enjoy the use of the outdoor pool (summer months only) and of Mind Gym – a mental agility room, mountain bikes, boules, pitch and putt and much more.

Better still, you will be able to choose from an extensive and enticing selection of beauty and spa treatments whose fascinating names already hint at the pleasurable experiences that await you.  Who could resist the allure of delicious-sounding pampering treats such as Avocado and Lemon Reviver or Banana, Papaya and Strawberry Body Polish and Float?

Not I, for one.

Perhaps it’s no coincidence that “s” is also for spa, an idyllic place where all these elements combine to create the ultimate stress-free summer holiday in a haven far removed from the outside world. Here you can enjoy as much exercise as you’re comfortable with, then simply relax in the garden or by the lagoon pool, with a serene smile on your face.

A summer getaway weekend at a spa will allow you to do all this – and a lot more besides…

Compare this idyllic scenario with the uncertainty of relying on an aeroplane to transport you to a holiday location abroad.  Judging by the recent antics of a certain Icelandic landmark, you might not know till the last minute that your flight is grounded by an ash cloud – leaving the first day (or more) of your precious holiday in ruins.

Given all the above, it’s not difficult to work out why thinking “s for spas” this summer is guaranteed to be far more relaxing than worrying about the potential consequences of “a for ash… or aeroplane… or abroad”.  Better still, a staycation (note the “s”!) at a local spa means far fewer miles to travel into the bargain.

If you book into one of the country’s top spas this summer, there will be ample time and opportunity to try out an exotic beauty treatment or two.

Be warned though – you’ll find yourself spoilt for choice when it comes to deciding between treatments such as Decleor’s Prepare to Bare and the temptingly named Sun Soother, or between Fake Bake’s Self Tan and an Elemis Modern Skin Facial.

Fortunately, decisions don’t come any tougher than this within the protective confines of the luxury spa environment, where everything is geared towards your comfort, relaxation and wellness.

If you’re in the mood for exercise, simply sign up for an energetic class. If you’re not, then the extent of your exertions need be shuttling between the steamy sauna, the heavenly hot tub and the pleasantly cool pool. And if even that becomes too much, then you can always indulge in a little siesta – coincidentally another “s” word.

Yet, although most of us mums experience the inevitable ups and downs in our relationship with our darling daughters, fortunately such episodes tend to be few and far between.

Moreover, the special bond that bridges the gap between the two generations is one that generally matures and improves across the years – especially once daughters grow up and have daughters themselves.

Suddenly, the reasons behind all the unreasonable things that your dear old mum used to say and do become crystal clear as you lock horns with your own quarrelsome young diva about skirt length (or lack of it…), over-zealous eye make-up application or regularly broken curfews.

Strangely enough, the sudden realisation of the responsibilities of motherhood often draws daughters closer to their mothers as nothing else can. Though, sadly, our hectic everyday routines don’t always allow us to spend as much time together as we’d wish, whether mum and offspring live next door to each other or at different ends of the country!

Together time – a complete break away from the constant demand of partners, younger children, university courses, bosses etc – is incredibly precious. So when you do get the chance to meet up, you’ll want your mother-daughter rendezvous to be at a venue that allows you time to talk at leisure and simply to enjoy being in each other’s company.

Some spa resorts offer special spa breaks for mums and daughters, offering the perfect opportunity to indulge in some precious “girly time”, far away from all the stresses and strains of the outside world. In the soothing, luxurious ambiance of leading modern-day spa resorts, peace and quiet prevail, and reality seems to be temporarily suspended.

That means you and your mum or daughter (or even both!) will have all the time you need to talk about everything and nothing as you laze by the pool sipping a cool drink, stroll round the beautiful grounds of a rural spa or relax while the tight knots in your neck and shoulders simply melt away under the firm yet gentle hands of a professional masseur.

Pampering will be the order of the day down at the spa, with Professional beauty therapists on hand to administer a refreshing Pure Bliss Facial or Relax and Rehydrate body treatment – not to mention a wealth of other beauty treatments with exotic names such as Caribbean Fruit Wraps or Banana, Papaya and Strawberry Body Polish and Float.

After a fabulously relaxing mum and daughter spa break, those dreaded days when you spent your time together arguing about unsuitable boyfriends (whether yours or hers!) will seem like a hazy memory…

Just as elated to hear that final bell of the academic year will be the thousands of teaching staff and classroom assistants whose job it is to ensure that pupils of all ages and abilities fulfil their academic potential against a backdrop of ever-tightening budgetary constraints and ever-dwindling resources.

As a profession, teaching in the 21^st century is arguably more challenging than ever before, with disruptive and unruly pupils (whose parents have never disciplined them, but expect teachers to work miracles) causing didactic dilemmas on a daily basis.

Add to that the pressures of league tables and inspections, not to mention internal school politics, and it is no surprise that teachers need an extended summer holiday just to be able to face setting foot in a classroom again. And no surprise either that teachers appreciate a little TLC at the end of term.

The sanctuary of a spa is the perfect place for a luxurious and indulgent pampering experience, as the gentle and relaxing ambience is in stark contrast to the tensions and stresses of the relentless school routine and the cacophony of the classroom.

Weary teachers are only too happy to trade a squeaky whiteboard marker for a soft white towelling robe, exchange scrawled-over jotters for a skim through a glossy magazine, and swap the characteristic, all-pervasive smell of sweaty feet for the sweet aromatic scent of massage oil.

A soothing Equilibrium massage, Back, Neck and Shoulder massage or Indian Head massage is guaranteed to work its magic, leaving you relaxed, refreshed and in the right mood to start those much-needed holidays.

Spa visits are the perfect end-of-term pick-me-up, refuelling teachers’ and lecturers’ batteries before the summer break begins in earnest – which is probably why pampered pedagogues give spa breaks full marks every time!

Their hesitance to embark on a journey abroad is eminently understandable, with tales abounding in the press of spiralling accommodation and transport expenses, people sleeping on the streets due to “no room at the (holiday) inn”, and queues of exhausted travellers waiting patiently to get back home days – even weeks – after their planned return.

Safe to say, the thought of travelling abroad again on holiday is probably very far from the minds of these unfortunate folk, whose travel plans were thrown into disarray by Mother Nature in such spectacular fashion.

If and when they do venture away from their own backdoor this summer, they are much more likely to book pleasant weekend breaks within the UK at destinations such as luxury hotels with health resorts and spas.

These bastions of wellbeing provide the perfect opportunity to indulge in some much-needed rest and relaxation rather than stressing over potential flight delays and refunds.

If you revel in being pampered and cosseted, the beauty treatment menu awaits for your delectation and delight.  If you prefer to exercise and get out and about, there are fitness classes and cycle tracks aplenty.

Alternatively, if you simply want to lie by the pool, watching the world go by and saving your limited energy supplies for the occasional non-strenuous saunter to the sauna, that’s perfectly permissible, too.

Weekend breaks are a panacea for all the stresses and strains of modern-day living.  You can turn your back on the office politics, forget the housework for a couple of days, abandon the kids to the tender mercies of their grandparents, and escape the seemingly endless stream of professional and domestic dilemmas by chilling out in style at a spa.

And talking of chilly things, provided you’re travelling to your healthspa destination by car, bus or train, you won’t need to worry about what’s happening in Iceland either!

As yet another chapter in Britain’s long and chequered parliamentary history opens, many of us are certainly more than ready to forget the stresses of the pre-election frenzy, and are keen to return to normal life without all the political posturing.

For electoral candidates – whether successful or unsuccessful – life will return to a more even keel and they can take things a little easier as they recover from those relentless, punishing hours on the campaign trail.

The truth is, though, that even without an election on the cards or a particularly stressful assignment on the horizon, none of us – neither the politicians nor the people they serve – finds it particularly easy to take things easy.

It’s certainly hard to relax when you’re stuck at home – surrounded by constant reminders such as piles of washing needing done or outstanding DIY tasks accumulating – or in the office, contemplating the countless challenging assignments that await our attentions.

What we really need, to be able to relax thoroughly, is a complete change of scene – a move to an environment which truly inspires rest and recuperation, and where the emphasis can be on doing absolutely nothing, if that’s what you so wish.

And what better place to escape the domestic drudgery and inexorable deadlines than the hallowed shrine of peace and pampering offered by the UK’s leading spas.  The healthspa environment is the epitome of all that is calm and serene – from blissfully soothing music to the relaxed comfort of luxury towelling robes and the complete and utter absence of urgency.

It’s no exaggeration to say that spa days can be the happiest days of your life.  Being free from the cares of the outside world gradually works its magic on even the most stressed of spa guests, as the magic of “pamper-power” gradually unleashes built-up tensions and refreshes body and soul.

Whether you’re an active gym bunny – never happier than when you’re spinning or rowing with gusto – or a beauty parlour poodle with a penchant for pampering and preening, spending even a day at a spa will leave you feeling more able to steer a course through the choppy waters of life and less susceptible to being buffeted by the winds of change.

Amongst other things, a soothing spa visit can restore your energies, boost your immune system and inspire you to a healthier lifestyle.  And if that sounds like a manifesto for the “spa party”, then that’s because it is!

Even now, the non-football-loving WAGs of thousands of UK soccer fans are no doubt dreaming up ways of spending as much time as possible away from home during what will inevitably be several weeks of obsessive viewing by their beloved partners.

Wide-screen TVs will spontaneously combust with over-use; houses and flats all over the country will reverberate with “helpful” advice shouted at players on screen and amiable (!) sofa-based discussions of the off-side rule with visiting fellow fans. And the quality of life for the long-suffering WAGs will deteriorate by the day.

Unless, that is, they too have something to look forward to – such as a few days basking in the football-free haven of a luxury spa, for example…

Several of the country’s leading spas have already identified the huge demand for a “great escape” from all things footie-related this June and have put together special offers for spa breaks guaranteed to help ease the pain of poor beleaguered partners of football fanatics.

If you’re not sure whether the concept of a two-night “Escape the World Cup” spa break really appeals, perhaps you need to think again!

Instead of football, think facial. Instead of man-on-man marking, think man-icure. Then imagine, too, a lagoon-like spa pool, a luxury sauna, leisurely breakfasts, lunches and evening meals with – crucially – not even the faintest whisper of football talk. Sounding more tempting?

Better still, you could plan your Escape the World Cup break to coincide with a game that you expect your partner to find particularly frustrating. That way, when the goals go in (to the wrong net…), you’ll be far away – relaxing poolside in a comfortable towelling gown or sipping an exotic cocktail in a shady corner of the wonderfully peaceful spa gardens.

So while your other half is busy plotting his sofa-based world cup campaign, you can relax safe in the knowledge that – for a couple of precious days at least – you will be blissfully ignorant of anything that’s happening at Ellis Park, Nelson Mandela or any of the other world cup stadiums.

Better still, the only green turf that you’ll have to contemplate will be the neatly manicured lawn surrounding your idyllic spa hideaway.

Exposure to sunshine can be just as hard on your skin as the lip-chapping, moisture-sapping winter winds – albeit in a different way. Which is why there is no time like the present to start planning your skin protection strategy…

There are various ways in which you can best prepare your skin to ensure it’s ready to greet the rays of sunshine that (we hope!) will soon be making their warming presence felt the length and breadth of Great Britain.

Firstly, make sure that you incorporate twice weekly exfoliation treatment into your beauty regime – especially once the weather really begins to heat up, as your skin will produce more perspiration and oil, thus accelerating the build-up of dead cells.

Also, ensure that you cleanse properly each night and that you choose a suitable make-up that nourishes and protects your skin. Your local beauty spa is almost certain to stock modern mineral make-up boasting an SPF factor of 15-20, and this level of protection can be augmented by wearing sun lotion under the make-up.

Another essential tip for successful skin protection during the summer months is one that many staunch tan-seekers notoriously fail to heed: cover up!

If you are planning to be outside on a glorious summer’s day – whether you’re busy gardening, lazing at the beach or getting some much-needed exercise, experts suggest that you don’t leave your vulnerable skin exposed to the sunlight for more than ten minutes.

Hats and long-sleeved shirts generally cut out harmful radiation better than suntan lotion – but don’t forget to apply cream to your hands and feet, as you’re unlikely to be wearing gloves at this time of year unless you’re in the garden.

To protect your eyes, choose a pair of sunglasses that offer suitable protection – the vast choice of fashionable and affordable sunglasses these days means that no one could reasonably claim “But sunglasses don’t suit me.”

Finally, remember to drink plenty of water so you stay hydrated. Even skin that is not directly exposed to the sun will dry out and look scaly and dull.  The ideal recommended liquid intake is 5-8 glasses of water a day – plus plenty of fruits and vegetables, since they are also a good source of hydration.

By planning ahead and making slight changes to your routine in good time, you can ensure that your skin looks good this summer – come rain, hail or shine.