The Secret Day Spa

The Secret Day Spa sits in the middle of Xagħra, a village on the plateau of Gozo, and it has been welcoming visitors and locals since December 2013. It was founded by Tracey as a small family business and has grown into one of Gozo's best-known places for a massage, a facial, a manicure or a romantic afternoon for two. The idea is simple: pause for a few hours and keep the price friendly. On VisitMalta.co.uk it appears in our spas in Malta directory.

For a UK visitor, it makes a useful addition to a Gozo trip. The island is quieter than Malta, and a spa afternoon fits neatly around a morning at the Citadel or a swim, as our Gozo guide explains.

About the spa and M Spas Gozo

The spa has recently joined M Spas Gozo, a family-run collection of beauty, wellness and fitness businesses on the island. The same team, atmosphere and standards continue, and the collection includes Kate's Haven Spa, with M Spa Wellness and M Spa Fitness planned. The group is a Gozitan family business, so booking here supports a local operation.

Inside, the spa has treatment rooms, a private jacuzzi and a sauna that guests can book for themselves or as part of a package. The therapists work with a number of professional brands, among them Thalgo, a French marine skincare line founded in 1964, Herbelia's Handology skin and body range, Coolifting, Skin Generics, Harley Waxing from the UK, BPro nails and FeetCalm for pedicures. Some of the skincare is also sold in the spa's online shop.

Massages and facials

The massage menu is straightforward and reasonably priced. A back, neck and shoulder massage costs €25, a 55 minute relaxation massage €45, a Swedish massage €50, a 55 minute aromatherapy massage €50, a muscle pain massage €45, a 55 minute deep tissue massage €55 and a hot stone massage €60. Reflexology is €40. Prices are as printed on the website and may change.

Facials are available alongside the massages, and a shorter express facial appears in several packages. Treatments are shaped around what the client needs, whether that is tension relief, stress reduction or gentle relaxation, so tell your therapist what you want when you arrive.

Couples' packages and private spa time

Couples are the spa's speciality. The Couples Special costs €110 per couple and includes private use of the jacuzzi and sauna, a 55 minute side-by-side relaxation massage, prosecco and chocolates, with about two hours at the spa. The Side by Side Spa Experience costs €190 per couple and adds a 55 minute couples' facial for roughly three hours in total.

Other combinations include a back massage and express facial for €150 per couple, taking around two and a half hours, and a relaxation massage with a manicure for her and a pedicure for him at €160 per couple. Couples' massages can also be booked alone: a 55 minute relaxation massage is €85, and aromatherapy, deep tissue and hot stone options run from €95 to €105. Longer 70 and 85 minute versions are available. Adding private jacuzzi and sauna time with prosecco and chocolates to any couples' massage costs €25 for the couple.

Many of these packages are sold as gift vouchers, and the spa also arranges tailored packages for anniversaries, hen parties and birthdays.

The all-inclusive spa day

The All Inclusive Spa Day is aimed at groups of two to six adults and costs €150 per person. It combines a spa session with a set menu at a partner restaurant and private transport around Gozo, up to three trips: from your pick-up point to the spa, from the spa to the restaurant and back again. If you are coming from Malta, the spa collects you from the Mgarr terminal. The ferry or fast ferry ticket and any extra drinks are not included.

You choose between two treatment options. Massage Bliss offers private jacuzzi and sauna, a 70 minute full body massage, warm eye masks, chocolates and a glass of bubbly. Rejuvenation Duo offers private jacuzzi and sauna, a back massage, an express facial, chocolates and a glass of bubbly.

Lunch is served at Zafiro in Xlendi, which sits above the beach. For dinner, the choices are Zafiro, the Olympic Wine Bar and Restaurant in Xagħra square, The View in Żebbuġ square and Xin Yun, a Chinese restaurant in Mġarr. A glass of wine is included at most of them. The suggested plan for lunch is to catch the 9am ferry and arrive at the spa at 10am, and for dinner to take the 2.15pm ferry and arrive at 3pm. Final times are agreed when you book. The voucher is valid for six months.

Hands, feet, waxing and body treatments

Beyond relaxation, the spa offers classic and luxury manicures and pedicures (a luxury manicure is €28 and a luxury pedicure €30), gel polish at €20 for hands or toes, and a deluxe FeetCalm pedicure for dry or cracked skin. There are men's and children's treatments, paraffin hand treatments, hard skin removal, waxing with Harley Waxing products and professional make-up for weddings and evenings out. Kids' spa parties and mother and daughter packages are offered too.

For body goals, the spa runs slimming and toning programmes including a CoolCell cellulite treatment at €120, a Thalgo Cryo Sculpt body treatment at €80, muscle toning at €30 and Herbelia muds at €80. The Body Project offers five programmes, such as Body Reset at €304 and Drain & Define at €360. CryoIQ cooling, laser hair removal and home-care kits are also listed. Anyone with a health condition should ask the therapists whether a treatment is suitable.

Making a day of it in Gozo

A spa visit pairs well with the rest of the island. Gozo has its own coves and rock pools, and our best beaches in Malta list shows where to swim before or after a treatment. Boats to Comino and the lagoon leave from the Gozo and Malta sides alike, and our Blue Lagoon guide explains how a day trip works, which makes a massage the ideal reward for a busy morning on the water.

If you are travelling as a couple, an afternoon booking followed by dinner is an easy plan, and the all-inclusive day already builds one in. Families can ask about mother and daughter treatments and kids' spa parties, while friends celebrating a birthday or a hen weekend can ask for an ad hoc package. Because the spa tailors sessions, mention any injuries, allergies or preferences when you book so that the therapist can plan around them. Arriving a few minutes early lets you enjoy the jacuzzi and sauna before your treatment, and the spa advises sharing your massage preferences with your therapist for a completely tailored session. Prosecco and chocolates are part of the couples' packages, and the shower facilities mean you can freshen up before dinner or the ferry home.

Getting there and planning a visit

Xagħra is in the middle of Gozo, and the spa is on Racecourse Street, in a quiet street with limited parking. Gozo is reached by ferry from Ċirkewwa, and visitors staying on the island will find places on our hotels in Gozo page. For the wider trip, see our UK flight guide to Malta and our list of things to do in Malta. Time your beach days with the Malta weather guide, and if you want to see the capital too, read our Valletta guide.

When you are ready to book, tell us the treatment, your date, how many people are coming and whether you would like transport. Use the VisitMalta.co.uk enquiry form on this page and we will pass your message to The Secret Day Spa, who will reply to you directly.