Review: Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel spa review

Set the scene
From a distance, one could be forgiven for mistaking the Longevity Health & Wellness Hotel in the Algarve for a hospital. Perched on a secluded hilltop overlooking the coastal town of Alvor, its sinuous, white exterior bears the hallmarks of a top medical institution. And that’s because it partially is. Longevity Alvor has raised the wellness tourism game to new and robust heights, partnering with a hospital group to produce a spa that brings full meaning to ‘holistic’. Its state-of-the-art diagnostic facilities draw mid-lifers wanting in-depth health MOTs for early-stage niggles or for intense detox, or to treat existing diseases. 

For the younger crowd, there’s the lure of complimentary spa facilities, chilled vibes, organic food, and fitness and beauty treatments under glorious Mediterranean sunshine that leaves one feeling cleansed and re-energised.

What's the backstory?
Owners Longevity Wellness Worldwide have partnered with the HPA hospital group to create a 5-star medical spa – a first in Portugal – that vies with Spain’s SHA for supremacy in the Iberian peninsula. It is the third and newest of Longevity Group’s three health retreats in the region: while their Vilalara Thalassa Resort and Vilamoura sites focus on medical and wellness respectively, Longevity Alvor does both on a dialled-up level. 

What’s the wellness concept?
As its name suggests, anti-ageing though prevention and diagnosis are the aims here at Longevity. It looks at how genetic, environmental and lifestyle factors may affect long-term health. Using a personalised approach, it combines a variety of treatments to combat stress, and detoxify and regenerate the body.

Its hospital connection means there’s state-of-the-art equipment to offer a plethora of diagnostic tests, including genetic screening to measure telomere length of chromosomes (to gauge cellular ageing, which is linked to cardiovascular diseases and cancer). Guests may be whisked away for an electrocardiogram (ECG) immediately on arrival before even being shown to their rooms. There are also osteopathic examinations to assess vertebrae function to deal with the neck and back problems. 

Solutions for any imbalances run the gamut from osteopathic massages, to intravenous therapies for detoxing and re-energising; to teeth whitening, face sculpting, and anti-cellulite lymphatic massages. All this is combined with holistic lifestyle advice, which guests can apply in their everyday lives to prevent the onset of diseases.

What are the signature treatments?
Longevity is the only spa in Portugal that’s licensed to give intravenous treatments, including ozone and oxygen injections for immunity boosts, and glutathione infusions to hike up energy levels. These and other personalised detox strategies are designed to combat a range of autoimmune conditions.

On the aesthetic side, the Venus Legacy machine tackles cellulite, and there are cryotherapy sessions to burn fat, and manual lymphatic drainage to remove excess fluid and toxins from the legs.

Which therapist should I book?
Internationally renowned osteopath, Ricardo Rosa, who counts the Kuwaiti royal family among his international clients, uses surface electromyography (sEMG) to measure the relative electrical activity generated when muscles contract. Red bar graphs on a computer image of the torso show areas of excess muscle activity on the back and neck. Rosa then manipulates those regions with dramatic improvements/effects – and stays that way. Rosa’s magic touch is accompanied by advice about root causes, such as lifestyle and psychological considerations.

Longevity’s Clinical Director Dr Joana Santos specialises in aesthetics, anti-ageing and integrative medicine. Her know-how ranges from face sculpting to providing chemical peels and telomere-length evaluations, and treating mineral deficiencies based on the results of blood analysis.

What makes it different?
Alongside the unique intravenous treatments, a biophysical evaluation scans the palm of the hand to identify health markers such as visceral fat, skin elasticity, levels of antioxidant protection or heavy minerals in the blood. High-tech gadgets include a thermography machine for genetic screening, an infrared Iyashi Dome sauna that rids the body of toxic heavy metals and helps shed weight. 

What else do they offer? 
The food at the rooftop Pure Café is organic Mediterranean fare that aims to combat autoimmunity by being low glycaemic and gluten-free (and washed down with local, organic wine). Most dishes are vegetarian but the chefs also cater to committed carnivores; vegan dishes can be ordered off-menu too. The menu allows some gluten-free naughtiness like chocolate brownies and panna cotta. 

The ground-floor restaurant, Mediterrânico, opens in high-season and offers a segregated space for guests on shake diets who might be tormented by the lure of solids. 

A conscientious diet can be complemented by sessions with a fitness instructor who creates a personalised plan that includes guided walks in the vicinity, plus yoga and meditation. For those wanting to dip back into the real world, Alvor fishing village with its seafood restaurants and beach, lies just one mile away. 

Where do you stay? 
The largely whitish interiors channel the reassuring clinicality of a medical spa but are softened by taupe and blue accents. The effect is a neutrality that tranquillises the senses. This, and an adults-only policy, makes for a notably calm atmosphere in all spaces, be it the sun-drenched garden by the basement spa area, or the Pure Café, whose floor-to-ceiling windows flood its interior with glorious sunlight and views of the hills. Adjacent to the dining area a rooftop infinity pool merges into the twinkling waters of Alvor Bay, which curves ruggedly into the distance. It all makes for stunning sunsets.

Anything else to mention?
There’s a holistic therapist who doubles as a physio and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) practitioner, with qualifications in acupuncture.

Final word
A few days of adults-only sunshine mixed with organic, gluten-free food will certainly leave you feeling rested and re-energised. Two osteopathic massages eased my neck and upper back stiffness significantly and, armed with an exercise plan, I felt able to keep it that way in the long-term. I came away with a more holistic, in-depth knowledge of my body, and methods of dealing with the deficiencies. This is an excellent one-stop place for stressed midlifers looking for fixes to problems with the body and mind before they turn into serious, long-term malaises. 

Healing Holidays (healingholidays.com/condenast) can arrange a five-night Osteo Rebalance programme from £2,879pp, including transfers, full board and treatments.