The perfect festive gifts for anyone who needs a moment of calm

Every Christmas, we all tell ourselves the same thing: this year we’ll slow down, we’ll enjoy the season, and we won’t let the festive rush sweep us away. But then the inevitable happens. Shopping lists get out of hand and parties pile up. By the time New Year’s Eve rolls around, most of us feel more worn out than refreshed.

So, this festive season, why not do things a little differently? Instead of another round of last-minute presents, give the gift of calm and mindfulness to yourself or someone you love. A V SPA experience at Verdala Wellness Hotel is an invitation for anyone to step away from the season’s chaos and truly unwind.

At Verdala, we’ve curated wellness journeys for every need, and we’ve handpicked a few of our favourite treatments that make perfect presents. These are the types of gifts that say, “I see you, and I know you need a moment.”

Explore how you can wrap up wellness in a luxurious gesture this holiday season.

The Verdala Signature Massage is one of our most-loved experiences. This full-body ritual uses traditional Maltese-inspired herbal oils to soothe tired muscles, boost circulation, and leave you feeling gently recharged. Over 75 blissful minutes, our therapists blend deep, intuitive touch with slow, grounding movements that help release physical tension and ease emotional overwhelm.

It’s especially perfect for anyone who carries stress in their shoulders, jaw, or mind (so… most of us by December). Whether it’s gifted or self-gifted, this massage is a beautiful way to reset and start the new year in a better headspace.

This is the treatment you choose when someone truly needs looking after. This deeply comforting ritual begins with a gentle dry body brush, boosting circulation and encouraging lymphatic flow. Your therapist then moves into a warm, enveloping Signature Tuscan Candle Massage, using a blend of argan oil, shea butter, and notes of vanilla, rose, and oud wood to soften skin and melt tension. A restorative body wrap infused with shea butter and oil follows, hydrating and soothing the skin at a cellular level. To complete the experience, an Express Facial delivers a burst of radiance, leaving your complexion glowing.

Rooted in ancient healing philosophies, the 5 Elements Therapy is a holistic ritual that helps rebalance your body’s energy using techniques aligned with Earth, Fire, Water, Metal, or Wood. Your therapist begins with gentle guided breathwork before moving into deep, stabilising strokes and a soothing aromatic herbal infusion tailored to your elemental needs. This 90-minute treatment is grounding and perfect for anyone feeling overstimulated. You’ll leave feeling centred and steady, like your body and mind have finally landed in the same place.

If your skin’s been looking a little tired (or just in need of some serious love), this high-performance facial delivers instant results with long-lasting impact. Our Reverse Signature Facial blends cutting-edge molecular skincare with ancient techniques for a glow that goes beyond the surface.

It begins with detoxifying oxygen therapy using the award-winning Black Magic, followed by a myofascial and Gua Sha massage to lift, tone, and release facial tension. Then comes a powerful double-mask treatment, featuring The Golden Dew and its advanced delivery system, supercharged with our Light Source therapy. It’s all finished off with a cooling Cryotherapy massage that tightens and depuffs. This is 90 minutes of rewind time.

Rooted in ancient Mediterranean tradition, the Hammam is all about the release of tension, toxins, and anything you’ve been carrying too long. At VSPA, we’ve reimagined this timeless practice into a luxurious, experience designed to leave you feeling deeply relaxed.

It begins in the steam-rich warmth of our traditional Hammam chamber, where a blend of Sicilian sea salt and nourishing shea butter is applied to exfoliate and purify the skin. Soothing essential oils ease the senses, while the heat opens pores, stimulates circulation, and allows every ingredient to work deeper. The ritual ends with The Bath Therapy, a calming rinse and hydrating cleanse that seals in softness.

The above are only a tiny selection of a vast V SPA menu brimming with treatments, classes, and other calming activities. And of course, any treatment is only part of the gift. When you visit V SPA you enjoy a true escape, a whole day calmness for special you-time. At every turn, there’s something beautiful and soothing to take in from panoramic views of Rabat’s peaceful countryside to the earthy tones and gentle flow of the spa interiors.

Beyond the treatment experience, you can breathe deeply in the salt cave, stretch out in The Nest with a cup of calming tea, or float weightlessly in the heated indoor cave pool, surrounded by soft light and natural textures.

And when hunger calls, a slow, nourishing meal at The Griffin Brasserie is the perfect way to round off the experience. With menus designed by Michelin-starred chef Victor Borg, it’s the kind of indulgence that tastes as good as the day feels.

From mums who never sit down, to partners running on fumes, to best friends burning out after a long year, this is the gift they deserve. You don’t need to know their schedule or what they’d choose from the menu. Just know that whatever they pick, it’ll leave them feeling calmer, lighter, and a little more like themselves.

V SPA gift cards are now available for any treatment or custom value. You can purchase them online, at our reception, or get in touch and we’ll help you find the perfect package.