In the space of a decade, SHA Wellness Clinic has become a veritable myth in the field of health tourism. As owner Alejandro Bataller recently told us, SHA is much more than just a spa hotel. SHA’s main aim is to inspire its customers to take charge of their health and improve their quality of life in a sustainable way. What makes the SHA method so successful? Pascal Languillon, CEO of Luxe Wellness Club, gives us the full story of his two stays there in 2020 and 2022, after following the “Rebalance” program, which aims to restore general well-being, and the “Advanced Detox” program, which aims to detoxify the body.
A very useful mobile application throughout your stay
As soon as their stay is booked, customers are invited to download a mobile application dedicated to SHA Wellness Clinic. The first step is to complete a health questionnaire and define the objectives of your stay. You will then receive a notification once the consultation and treatment schedule is ready. Here you can order additional treatments from an impressive list, both in terms of medical care and natural therapies. A few days before the trip, notifications are sent with advice on how to modify one’s diet to better prepare for the cuisine offered on site. A mobile application that I found very well developed and which will become my companion for the duration of my stay.
Rooms: spacious, comfortable and functional
I stayed in a Deluxe Suite with a sea view. Please note: the sea is a little far away, but that doesn’t detract from the beauty of the view. No surprise, the bed is ultra-soft (I had previously chosen the type of mattress and cushion I wanted via the mobile app). The sofa in the living room is very comfortable, and the terrace is large (but in the end I hardly used it). I also appreciated being able to work from the desk and the very good wifi connection. A nice touch: there’s a yoga mat in the room so you can stretch out early in the morning.
A privileged location for getting back into shape
One of SHA’s indisputable assets is its hilltop location, with breathtaking views of the mountains and the Altea bay. The beautiful Albir beach is a 15-minute walk away, but most guests prefer to stay in their own wellness bubble, enjoying the magnificent infinity pool and multiple outdoor relaxation areas.
For a medi-spa, it’s huge, because SHA has around a hundred rooms and suites, and a very spacious “wellness clinic” area. Perhaps more surprisingly, it also boasts a boutique with a wide selection of healthy products, a library, its own cinema, an art gallery, and even a chapel for those in need of a little spiritual well-being!
Dietetic cuisine of Michelin-star restaurant quality
It’s almost paradoxical for a detox hotel, but my first big crush at SHA Wellness Clinic is the food! The SHAMADI restaurant serves extremely tasty gourmet and healthy cuisine. Three menus are available: the KUSHI menu, reserved for the strictest dieters, the BIOLIGHT menu, also recommended for weight loss, but a little fuller, and the SHA menu, for the hungriest. Since I don’t really have a weight problem, I chose the SHA menu most of the time, to the delight of my taste buds.
Here’s a sample menu. Appetizer: Avocado gazpacho and shrimp tartar. Main course: fried sea bass, celeriac purée, cashews and sautéed turnips. Dessert: Granny Smith apple mousse with basil and fennel ice cream.
These menus change daily, both for lunch and dinner, and, with the help of expert healthy eating consultants, are personalized and tailored to the particular needs of each guest.
The chef gives pride of place to vegetables, fruit, seeds and seafood. Totally excluded from the kitchen: meat, sugar, dairy products and eggs. In its early days, the restaurant served macrobiotic cuisine. Nowadays, this is a mainly alkaline menu, designed to rebalance intestinal flora and counteract tissue acidity. Menus are based on the latest advances in nutritional research.
Perhaps most surprising for me were the desserts. Real symphonies in the mouth, with subtle blends of mousses and crunchy cookies, and all without sugar! Only rice syrup or agave syrup is used, with a much lower glycemic index.
A word about breakfasts. They invariably start with a delicious miso soup. This is followed by a small platter containing porridge, hummus and two or three fruits, or a small compote depending on the mood of the day, all accompanied by a detox juice. Coffee is also replaced by a wide range of teas and infusions. These sugar-free breakfasts are addictive, and I even made myself some miso soup this morning when I got home before typing this story!
Europe’s most impressive Wellness Clinic?
Let’s face it, you don’t go to SHA just to enjoy three massages, a yoga class and relax by the pool. No, SHA is not just another spa. If you come to SHA, it’s to take charge of your health and get real results. The minimum stay is 4 nights out of season, but we recommend a one-week or even better, two-week program. Each stay begins with medical consultations, invariably with a general practitioner and a nutritionist, and depending on your needs, an energy doctor, an anti-aging doctor, an osteopath…
The Wellness Clinic is the epicenter of the SHA method. It measures 6,000 m² and has 90 treatment rooms, which are divided into several areas: the “Occident Room” for Western medical treatments, the “Orient Room” for traditional Asian treatments, the “Balance Room” for hydrotherapy treatments and the “Harmony Room” for energy treatments… The whole design is very modern and futuristic.
The hydrotherapy area covers 2,000 m², with two indoor pools, sauna, steam room, Jacuzzi, ice fountain…
When you go to SHA, you’re never idle. A detox has to be earned, and it’s all about taking advantage of several treatments a day. Among the high-quality treatments I received, I particularly enjoyed the hydroenergetic detox cure and the SHA detox massage, both of which are designed to deeply detoxify the body. I also really enjoyed all the Chinese medicine treatments, especially the energy diagnosis and the acupuncture treatment, which managed to relax me completely.
I love Icoone, which helps sculpt the body and eliminate cellulite deep down. With its dual massage head, the Icoone stimulates deep down and works the tissues without damaging them. Its microalveoli suck in and massage the skin for a sensation similar to that of palpate-rolling. Not the most pleasant treatment, but one of the most effective!
Even more impressive is the EM Sculpt machine, which can reshape the figure without surgery .
For facials, SHA uses the American brand IS Clinical, as well as some products from our favorite brand EvidenS de Beauté. The enzyme treatment I received helped me regain my baby-like skin, or almost…
I also really enjoyed the fitness and jogging sessions with a private coach, as people also come to SHA to work out. The fitness room is large and well-equipped. There are also several hiking opportunities, including a guided walk to discover a lighthouse in spectacular scenery. The walks along the beach a really pleasant.
While the body is in the spotlight at SHA, we mustn’t forget the mind. In addition to a wide range of yoga and pilates classes, you can also enjoy meditation sessions in a beautiful Asian-sounding room.
At the end of my stay, there was no doubt that SHA really is an exceptional place! I feel in great shape, with a flat stomach and a body detoxified like never before. Will I come back? Of course.
The promise of SHA is to change your life. Did ir change mine? Absolutely, because I learned a lot about nutrition and physical activity during my stay, with advice that I have continued to apply in my daily life. My progress has been measured scientifically, because between two SHA stays I was able to see that I had replaced 2 kgs of fat with 2 kgs of muscle.
As I get older, I think it’s the excellent anti-aging program that will get my full attention.
Finally, a word about the staff. I found the whole team very smiling, available and friendly, which is essential for an excellent stay.
Our feeling
Our verdict on SHA Wellness Clinic is that its reputation is far from fake. This place is a true utopia, the dream of anyone who wants to get back into shape with a medicalized approach, and a cuisine that is both dietetic and delicious. With a skincare range unrivalled in Europe, we have no doubt that SHA will continue to set the standard for many years to come!
Luxe Wellness Club
My SHA Wellness Clinic videos
Below are the videos I shot at SHA during my various stays, so you can see what the hotel really looks like… But to feel all the benefits of this exceptional hotel, you need to experience it for yourself, which I invite you to do by contacting us 🙂
Book SHA Wellness Clinic
Rates: From 400 euros per night for off-season accommodation for one person, 500 euros per night minimum in summer, plus the cost of health programs (from 1800 euros for 4 nights). Allow at least 6,500 euros for a single person for a week, and around 6,000 euros for a couple. We recommend booking a few weeks in advance, as the establishment is often fully booked.
Exclusive benefits for Luxe Wellness Club guests staying a minimum of 7 nights: free room upgrade subject to availability, free 50-minute massage per person, possibility of arriving earlier and leaving later than the official check-in/check-out time.
Take advantage of our expertise and advice to book a stay at SHA Wellness Clinic :
Call us for the USA on: +1 (646) 980 6652 to discuss your travel plans, or for the UK on: +44 20 4577 3258.
