Carisma Spa & Wellness

Carisma Spa & Wellness has a spa at the AX hotel in Qawra, a lively resort pocket of St Paul's Bay on the north-east coast of Malta. It is one of eight Carisma venues around the island, and it follows the same idea as the rest of the group: book a massage, facial or other treatment and spend the rest of the afternoon in the pools, saunas and steam rooms rather than leaving straight away.

For UK visitors this is a practical option because the spa is open to people who are not staying at the hotel. Whether you are based in Qawra, Buġibba or Mellieħa, you can book a single treatment, a couples session or a full spa day. On VisitMalta.co.uk the spa is listed in our directory of spas in Malta, and the rest of this page explains what the group offers and how to ask about a booking.

About Carisma and its Turkish roots

Carisma was founded in 1990 and draws its philosophy from Turkish wellness traditions, in particular the hammam, a warm steam bath where heat, water and touch are used to cleanse the body and quiet the mind. The brand arrived in Malta in 2010 and also works with hotels abroad, which explains why its spas sit inside hotels rather than on the high street.

In Malta the group has grown to eight venues. Its treatment rooms are staffed by certified therapists, and the massage and facial menus are built around a handful of named traditions rather than a single generic treatment. Skincare throughout the group comes from Phytomer, a French marine range, and Carisma is the brand's only spa partner on the island, with therapists trained directly by Phytomer.

The Qawra venue and the wider Carisma group

The Qawra spa is at the AX hotel, with its address given as Dawret il-Qawra, San Pawl il-Baħar. The wider group includes the InterContinental, Hugo's H Hotel and Hyatt Regency in St Julian's, the Grand Hotel Excelsior in Valletta, Novotel in Sliema, and Ramla Bay Resort and Riviera Spa Resort in Mellieħa. Every venue offers the full treatment menu, although the facilities differ from one to the next.

Across the group you will find combinations of indoor and outdoor pools, Finnish saunas, steam rooms, jacuzzis, salt rooms, relaxation lounges and couples' massage rooms. Because the line-up varies, it is worth asking exactly what the Qawra venue has before you book. If you are also exploring other parts of the island, the Valletta guide and the Mellieħa guide are useful for planning days around a spa visit.

Massages and bodywork

The massage menu covers sixteen options. Signature techniques include American hot stone, Indian Ayurvedic, Hawaiian Lomi Lomi, Balinese, Thai and Japanese Shiatsu, each taught by therapists trained in the original method. Lighter or more practical choices include anti-stress, therapeutic and deep tissue, and the Carisma Signature is a 110-minute ritual combining Indian head work, Japanese neck and shoulder therapy, Lomi Lomi for the arms and legs and Balinese foot reflexology, finished with a detox tea.

Full sessions run for 55 to 110 minutes, and every one includes complimentary use of the spa facilities, plus robes, towels and lockers. Express treatments of 30 minutes, such as face and décolleté, a Japanese neck and shoulder session, Indian head massage or foot reflexology, include three hours in the facilities. Prices are shown as starting points: express sessions from €59, full-length massages from €99, deep tissue from €109 and the Carisma Signature from €149. Prenatal massage is also on the menu.

Specialist therapies at selected venues include osteopathy, lymphatic drainage, reflexology and cupping, so ask which of these are available in Qawra when you enquire.

Facials, HydraFacial and laser hair removal

Facials use Phytomer products and are tailored to your skin, with options for dehydrated, sensitive, dull, blemished or ageing skin, plus a range designed for men. The menu includes a hydrating facial, a pollution shield facial for city skin, an anti-acne treatment, a brightening facial and an extended youth treatment. The longest, the 110-minute Carisma Signature facial, finishes with a back, hand and eye treatment. HydraFacial, a serum-based cleansing and hydration treatment, starts from €99 and includes a three-hour spa facility pass. Facial packages combine a treatment with facility access, a spa kit and a detox tea or prosecco.

Laser hair removal is offered on an Alma Soprano system that combines three wavelengths with a cooling feature intended to keep sessions comfortable. It starts with a free consultation of 15 to 20 minutes, including a patch test, after which a practitioner plans a course of sessions, usually six to eight a few weeks apart. Prices begin from €25 for small facial areas, and six-session memberships are sold in three tiers by session length. The treatment is not suitable for everyone, for example very light, grey, red or white hair, so the consultation is where suitability is decided.

Carisma also runs a medical aesthetics service, and the group offers a free consultation for it. If you are comparing venues, the Athenaeum Spa at Corinthia is another hotel spa in our directory.

Spa days, couples, after-work and gifts

Packages are where the facilities come into their own. The group sells spa day packages, couples' packages, hammam packages, a spa day with lunch, spa parties and corporate options. The Turkish hammam ritual, with a traditional body scrub, is something the group promotes as unique on the island, and it can be paired with a massage or booked privately for two. Pairing it with a dip in the pool and time in the sauna makes a relaxed half day.

After-work packages are designed for weekday evenings. A 25-minute treatment is priced per person and a 50-minute treatment costs more, available between 5pm and 7pm, with tea, a spa kit and facility access included. The evening facility access runs from 5pm to 8pm, Monday to Thursday, and groups of four or more can receive a discount.

Gift vouchers can be bought for a set amount or a specific treatment, personalised with a message and delivered by email, and they work across all eight venues. Members pay for unlimited facility access, a monthly massage, monthly guest passes and priority booking. A weekend or couples' session is easiest to arrange in advance, and 24 to 48 hours ahead is the usual advice.

Planning a visit to Qawra

Qawra is a well-served resort area with plenty of places to eat, sea views and boat trips, so a spa afternoon fits easily around a break. Visitors staying nearby can browse hotels in Qawra and St Paul's Bay, and our guide to things to do in Malta has ideas for the rest of the trip. If you are choosing between a beach day and an indoor one, check the Malta weather guide and the best beaches in Malta before you decide. Anyone planning a longer stay can start with our Malta holidays overview.

Bring nothing but yourself: robes, towels and slippers are provided, and guests are asked to arrive 10 to 15 minutes before an appointment. Swimwear is optional in the private hammam. Walk-ins are welcome subject to availability, but evenings and weekends are busy, and for a couples' session or a spa party it helps to give notice.

To start, tell us which treatment or package interests you, the dates you have in mind and how many people are coming. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to the spa, who will reply to you directly.