It certainly wasn’t on the To Do List when I landed in Mauritius… but after a lazy morning baking on the sun lounger at Le Meridien Ile Maurice, there was only one thing for it – a ten-minute burst in the island’s first and only snow room!

And the unusual new addition to the Explore Spa certainly didn’t disappoint. Yes, it was an icy shock to the system – but a welcome one that I braved far longer than my wife, who was back out in the heat within a minute.

The hot-cold therapy has many health benefits, including improvements in joint and muscle function, blood circulation and immune system. 

But I was glad I did it just to get out of the scorching heat.

And it was a fitting way to end a trip of phenomenal weather contrasts. The blazing sun and clear blue skies were regularly – and quickly – replaced by awesome, intense tropical downpours, especially late at night, explaining how the island is so lush, green and fertile.

We were always going to feel spoiled on our first holiday in Mauritius, with the sensational sandy beaches, tempting turquoise waters and sweeping views of the Indian Ocean. But there was icing on the cake – our five-star hotel’s £50million refurbishment. 

Le Meridien Ile Maurice – positioned along a kilometre of sandy beach in Pointe aux Piments on Mauritius’s  northwest coast – is one of the island’s leading resort destinations with 261 newly designed guestrooms and suites, that world-class spa and fitness centre, three pools and a choice of four restaurants and three bars.

For those who don’t want to be surrounded by kids, Nirvana is the adults-only wing of the resort housing 51 guestrooms and suites, with a private infinity swimming pool and pool bar, a complimentary poolside tea, coffee and soft drinks service, and daily sunset cocktails and canapes.

A mouthwatering prospect, along with the main dining options. 

For international dishes there’s Nomad, with its open kitchen, expansive terrace, and 180-degree panoramic views. Whilst for Mauritian flavours, head to the beachfront Zoli Mamzel.

This restaurant was where we spent an hour cooking a traditional Mauritian curry, with the wonderful chefs helping me produce a colourful dish that suited even my delicate taste buds.

Other cuisines on offer include Italian at Paparazzi Restaurant and perfectly spiced Indian fare at Kumin restaurant. Or dine on the hotel’s jetty under the stars, with the lapping of the waves providing the perfect accompaniment.

For those with a yen for excitement, there’s so much to do. Guests have access to a huge range of complimentary activities including kayaking, pedal boating, snorkelling, windsurfing, beach volleyball and tennis.

Or you can go further afield on the island, with the memorably friendly resort staff able to organise activities including catamaran cruises, dolphin swimming, fishing, water skiing, scuba diving and mountain biking.

• The Zen Day Spa in northern California was not licensed to have a jacuzzi to start
• Health officials are warning all patrons who got sick to be tested for Legionnaires
• READ MORE:  Family contracts ‘potentially fatal’ bug after using a resort hot tub 

By Cassidy Morrison Senior Health Reporter For Dailymail.Com

Updated: 13:35 EDT, 8 August 2023

As summer draws near, you might find yourself thrashing about in the bed covers, trying to get to sleep.

When it is too hot, our bodies can struggle to cool down, disrupting the relaxation process and making it difficult to fall asleep. 

And a recent study found that getting a good night’s sleep is more urgent than ever because it can lead to a 40 percent lower chance of early death.

Experts have revealed some lesser-known tips for staying cool through the night.

Use a hot water bottle

Using a hot water bottle in summer might sound counterintuitive, but sleep expert James Wilson recommends a tepid bottle on your feet to raise your core temperature slightly. 

Then when you go to bed, your core temperature will drop.

This is an important part of your body falling asleep and helps trick the body into thinking it is cooler than it is. 

Submerge your feet in water

Like a hot water bottle, submerging your feet in a bowl of lukewarm water offers long-lasting coolness.

But watch the temperature of the water — using ice-cold water can shock you awake and make it harder to fall asleep.

Make your own cold air

A bowl of ice placed in front of a fan will generate a cold breeze rather than circulate existing warm air around the room.

Freeze your pajamas

Popping your pajamas in an air-tight bag in the fridge or freezer before bed for a few minutes can give you a cool treat.

You could also put your pillowcase in the freezer to help keep you cool in the night. 

Don’t sleep naked

As tempting as it may be to strip off, a UK psychologist recommends against the practice.

Suzy Reading told UK bedding company Kudd.ly: ‘I wouldn’t recommend sleeping naked, as much as this might appeal, because sweat then collects on your skin rather than being absorbed by the fibers of your clothing and cooling you down.’

She instead suggested wearing ‘loose-fitting, airy, light garments in natural fibers,’ like cotton, silk, eucalyptus or bamboo, ideally in lighter-colored shades, the New York Post reported.

Leave hair damp

Putting down your hairdryer and leaving your hair wet after showering will leave you feeling cooler for longer.

Breathing techniques

Sitali breathing is a yoga breathing practice known for its cooling ability. 

Try doing it seated. On inhalation only, curl up your tongue like a straw and sip in your breath 

Avoid spicy foods

What you eat can also have an impact on how well you sleep. 

Ms Reading warned against eating anything spicy while you are winding down.

‘Be careful with fermented foods like teriyaki or soy sauce, tofu and miso, also citrus fruit, cured meats and aged cheeses,’ she said.

‘These contain the amino acid tyramine, which can increase brain activity and make it harder to fall asleep.’ 

Our bodies take more energy to diagnose a large, rich or heavy meal and produce  more metabolic heat.

A light evening meal in summer will counteract this. 

Don’t share covers

If you sleep with a partner, you should consider using separate blankets. 

While snuggling up to your significant other might be tempting, their body heat will only transfer to you.

Ms Reading said: ‘A simple way to more effectively optimize your personal sleep environment is to use separate coverings so you can tailor it to your preferences and reduce the possibility of bedtime tug-o-wars.’ 

Use aloe vera

California meteorologist Jodi Kodesh said that using aloe vera before bed trumps taking a cold shower because she claims it absorbs into the body four times quicker than water.

She recommends lathering up all over your body just before bed for a cooling effect.

Urgent summer health warning over killer disease that can spread in hot tubs

• Not cleaning hot tubs and shower heads can cause Legionnaires’ disease 
• The life-threatening bacteria has symptoms similar to pneumonia

By Rebecca Whittaker For Mailonline

Updated: 07:52 EDT, 15 June 2023

Britain is in the midst of the first spell of unbearably hot weather for the year but it could be just a taster of what’s to come in a few decades. 

Scientists predict that temperatures across the UK in 2080 will be high enough to trigger ‘wide-scale mortality’, much like the European heatwave of 2003. 

In a single summer week in 2080, temperatures will hit 41C (105F) in London while weekly averages will be 28C (82F) in large parts of southern England. 

This compares to London’s peak summertime temperatures of 31C (87F) and southern England’s weekly averages of 20C (68°F) in the 1970s.

Manchester, meanwhile, will push past 38C (100F) at least once a week during a 2080s summer, and Plymouth and Glasgow will likely hit 35C (95F) weekly.  

Last year, the UK set a new temperature record of 40.3C (104.5F) – but multiple regions will push past this on a weekly basis by 2080, the predictions show. 

Temperatures in the biggest cities, namely London, tend to be hotter than the rest of the UK – and will continue to be so in the 2080s – due to densely-packed buildings and more concrete and tarmac that absorb heat more quickly. 

The study was led by Professor David Coley at the University of Bath’s Department of Architecture and Civil Engineering, who stresses that it is in the extremes of weather, not the mean climate, where much climate change risk lies. 

‘Climate change is normally discussed in terms of seasonal averages, as this is what is meant by the word climate,’ said Professor Coley. 

‘I believe this a possible mistake, as few of us naturally grasp how even small differences in climate imply hugely different worlds.’ 

The team cite the European heatwave of 2003, which killed 14,000 people in Paris alone, showing the dangers of extreme temperatures rather than average temperatures. 

In the last 20 years alone there has been a 54 per cent increase in heat-related mortality in people older than 65, with a total of 296,000 deaths in 2018. 

‘It’s such heatwaves and cold snaps, and a lack of preparation for them, that will increasingly kill people,’ said Professor Coley. 

‘We need to think about climate change in terms of changing weather.’

For their study, Professor Coley and colleagues produced a series of detailed weather projections for 11,326 UK locations at 3-mile-square intervals for the year 2080. 

Using weather generator software and a newly developed algorithm, the team built upon Met Office climate predictions to create the projections.

After inputting the climate prediction data into the software, the weather generator produced 3,000 examples of possible weather forecasts for 2080. 

By then looking for heatwaves and examining how they changed over time, they discovered that there will be heatwaves of similar form as the 2003 Paris event.

However, these will be ‘with even higher temperatures’, suggesting the likelihood of ‘largescale mortality’. 

The authors say climate change has the potential to undermine many of the gains in public health over the past 50 years, which will ‘exacerbate existing inequities’.

Vulnerable populations, such as the elderly or those with pre-existing medical conditions, will be disproportionally affected. 

‘Exposure to high temperatures impact individuals via various routes from heat stress and heatstroke to exacerbations of respiratory and cardiovascular disease,’ they write. 

What’s more, the UK is badly prepared for temperature increases as buildings and infrastructure are not heat-resistant enough. 

‘No temperature record exists of the internal conditions within the buildings in which the 14,000 deaths occurred in Paris in 2003,’ the team say. 

‘The predicted situation in London is similar to that found in Paris, but with the peak temperature being higher in London and the night-time temperature in London being considerably higher. 

‘It would therefore not be unreasonable to conclude that in the future the UK can expect events with moralities of similar number as Paris suffered.’ 

Weather files containing the extreme weeks for 11,326 locations have been prepared by the academics and made available online, while the study has been published in the journal Building and Environment.

These days, most smartphones are kitted out with facial recognition technology, multiple cameras and wireless charging systems. 

But back in the 90s we were much more easily impressed, with handsets causing a stir if they had a camera at all. 

However, classic phones are having somewhat of a comeback with Gen Z users, who have dubbed the simple devices ‘dumbphones’. 

Amid this retro revival, Nokia has launched a new, hot pink flip phone called the Nokia 2660 Flip. 

Its launch comes exactly 25 years on from the launch of Nokia’s first ever flip phone back in 1998.

Nokia first announced the new phone last year, but has released it in two new colours today – Pop Pink and Lush Green – to celebrate the 25-year anniversary.   

‘There’s been a surge of interest in flip phones, and we believe that the interest is coming from a need to take a break from the constant flow of incoming digital notifications, social media posts and more,’ said Lars Silberbauer, Chief Marketing Officer from HMD Global, the home of Nokia phones. 

‘People want more simplicity, more face-to-face time, more time to think, and time to have an uninterrupted conversation! 

‘I’m sure we all have examples where a beautiful life moment has been spoiled by a distraction or notification. 

‘That’s why we are re-introducing the Nokia 2660 Flip, to give people these important beautiful life moments back.’

The Nokia 2660 Flip features a clamshell design and is just 4.25 inches long when folded. 

It flips open to reveal a 2.8-inch display alongside large physical buttons, without a touchscreen in sight. 

While it does feature a rear camera, this is just 0.3MP – significantly lower than the iPhone 14’s 48MP lens. 

However, Nokia hopes this will be one of the greatest selling points for the phone, claiming the low quality camera is perfect for ‘lo-fi Y2K style pictures.’ 

The phone may also appeal to festival-goers, thanks to its whopping 26-day battery life and drop-proof polycarbonate shell. 

And before you panic, thankfully Nokia has confirmed that its fan favourite feature has been included in the Nokia 2660 Flip – the classic Snake game.  

The Nokia 2660 Flip will be available to buy in Pop Pink this week and in Lush Green next week for £64.99 ($80.24).

Retro phones have been making a comeback since 2017, when Nokia released a new version of the 3310 phone, 17 years after the original version was launched.

That same year, Motorola revealed that it was bringing back its iconic RAZR phone, joining forces with British firm, Binatone, to create the Binatone Blade.

Experts claim that one of the biggest draws of these basic phones is the nostalgia associated with them, as well as the significantly lower price tag than smartphones.

People are also finding they don’t need all the functionalities offered by more expensive smartphones, and would rather have the simplicity of a paired-back device. 

Speaking to CBS Philadelphia, Darren Zygadlo, creator of onecutreviews.com, said: ‘I think there’s a lot to be said for a product that makes you nostalgic.

‘We’ve hit a point where we can pretty much do everything with these phones and I think some people are finding themselves saying, “What do I need all that for?”‘

Check your heating is turned off and make sure your none of your lights run in the daytime.

They are just two ways to avoid falling victim to the heat this summer, according to the Government’s top health experts.  

UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) chiefs today issued a 13-step checklist on how to gear your home up for the sunny weather.

Hot homes can worsen existing health conditions and be fatal, the quango warned. Risks are especially high for the elderly, the severely ill and kids. 

But critics today mocked the UKHSA’s tips, calling them ‘indispensable’ and joking: ‘I wish I’d seen this advice earlier.’  

Split into two sections, the advice covers how to prepare your home for hot weather and what to do once the Caribbean-esque temperatures have already hit.  

Under ‘things you can do to prepare your home for hot weather’, the UKHSA advises ensuring your ventilation system — if you have one — is operating in summer mode, and checking that your fridge or freezer works. 

Other recommendations include installing internal blinds or curtains, growing plants outside to provide shade and storing medication appropriately. 

Meanwhile, UKHSA advice for what to do ‘in your home during hot weather’ includes checking ‘your heating is switched off’. 

Turning off the lights and electrics not in use will also ‘reduce heat generated in the home’, it said. 

Cooking at cooler times during the day and moving to a cooler part of the house — especially when trying to sleep — is also advised.  

Christopher Snowdon, head of lifestyle economics at the Institute of Economic Affairs think-tank, told MailOnline: ‘The government’s advice to turn off the heating and open some windows when the weather is hot could be a game-changer for me and millions of others this summer.

‘Other tips, such as checking your fridge works by seeing whether the food is cold, are also indispensable.’ 

He added: ‘I only wish I’d seen this advice earlier.

‘My usual practice on hot days is to put on a thick jumper and eat lots of salty snacks, but this year — if summer ever arrives — I’m going to try it the UKHSA way.’ 

The tips are designed to reduce the risk of a home overheating.  

Dr Agostinho Sousa, head of extreme events and health protection at the UKHSA, said: ‘Our analysis shows that in the summer of 2022, there were an estimated 2,803 excess deaths for those aged 65 and over due to extreme heat.

‘Evidence shows that hot weather increases the risk of heart attacks, strokes, lung illnesses and other diseases, particularly amongst the most vulnerable. 

‘Evidence also shows some settings are at risk of overheating. 

‘It’s therefore our responsibility to publish advice on how to prevent these illnesses and excess deaths in order to reduce unnecessary pressure on health services.’

During spells of high temperatures, health officials urge people to stay indoors with curtains closed and to avoid caffeine and alcohol and physical exertion in the hottest parts of the day. 

The UK faced record breaking heatwaves last summer as the mercury surpassed 40C (104F) for the first time ever. 

At the time, health chiefs warned the UK must adapt to living safely with even hotter summers inevitable in the future as a result of climate change. 

It also saw Britain’s deadliest ever summer, with 2,800 extra fatalities logged over the five heatwave periods. 

Hot weather can cause dehydration, which causes blood to thicken. 

It also lowers blood pressure, making it harder to push blood around the body. 

This can lead to blood clots and strokes.

Overheating could make symptoms worse for anyone battling heart and breathing problems.