The Vale Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort

Wales' premier Hotel, Golf and Spa Resort, The Vale Resort, Nr Cardiff, has become one of the first in Wales to sell the revolutionary new FitFlop – the flip flop with the inbuilt gym. Along with a range of initiatives and advice from fitness experts on how to shape up and get fit for this summer.

The FitFlops will be available to buy through the leisure shop at the Resort, plus in the Resort's sister company, Leekes department store in Llantrisant.

Created in the UK, over a two-year collaboration between former Bliss spa entrepreneur Marcia Kilgore, senior lecturing biomechanist Dr David Cook and a team of footwear engineering technologists, FitFlops were initially designed to help modern women squeeze a little more exercise into their increasingly hectic schedules.

Engineered with a multi-density midsole, FitFlops challenge hard to reach muscles and help tone and trim legs while you walk – with the added benefit of reducing joint strain and absorbing shock. And they look good too.

The Vale Resort Health and Racquets Club is one of the UK's premier health and fitness clubs, recently being awarded the prestigious title of Club of the Year 4000+ members in the UK wide Fitness Industry Association FLAME Awards. Opened in 1998, it now has one of the largest private health club memberships in Wales, with almost 5,000 members.

The decision to stock the innovative shoes comes alongside a host of improvements and investment in the club. The large gymnasium now features the very latest computer-aided fitness equipment including the revolutionary new Power Plate® that are designed to have sports performance and beauty benefits through to medical and rehabilitation advantages.

Opening soon will be a brand new holistic studio that will create a spacious and harmonious atmosphere for up to 25 members at a time to enjoy yoga, pilates and other relaxation classes.

Meanwhile the recently opened Vale Grill and adjacent Café area allows members to relax in style. Providing a choice of locally sourced main meals, through to light snacks, salads and children's meals. In addition, the adjacent soft play area with a walled chalk board,TV and toys a plenty, allows parents to enjoy their meals while the children carry on playing.

Mandy Boulton, The Vale's Leisure Operations Manager said: “At the Vale we want to focus on the total wellbeing for all our guests and members, along with their individual fitness and health goals. We are constantly looking at new and innovative ways in which we can offer this - be it introducing new products, new technology or improvements to the facilities and the environment in which people work out and relax in.

“The FitFlops really are a fun, easy and affordable way to help stay in shape and we have already a waiting list of people – from staff to members who are keen to buy a pair and get walking.”