Travel With Me to: Thermal Spas
Few things are more soothing to tired muscles than sinking into a pool of hot, bubbling water.
Travel With Me to:
Thermal Spas
Feelings felt: luxurious, healthy
Few things are more soothing to tired muscles than sinking into a pool of hot, bubbling water. When that soak comes with an incredible view – even better. And easing into the bath knowing that mineral-rich water has been heated not by a machine, but by the very core of the earth – magical! Any time I’m in a region with thermal bath spas, I make a point to stay an extra day and take advantage. Today I’ll highlight three, each with entirely different vibes but all with the same healing powers.
(You may have noticed that my posts to date have been mostly centered around UK experiences. This is the first era when I’ve had time away from a day-to-day job to write about travel; since my Fulbright placement brought me to the UK, I wanted to feature British sites while here. This post, however, expands our boundaries “a bit” further! In compromise, we’ll still start with a spot in England.) ;)
Thermae Spa, Bath UK
Bath is aptly named, for, you know, the baths! I’ve had the luxury of taking the waters twice this spring and am planning an upcoming trip with guests. I will certainly explain how you can also take part, but first I’d like to urge you to take a tour of the actual Roman Baths before your own dip. Pop over to my post detailing the Unesco city and ruins here.
So, let’s talk about how you, too, can take the waters! Thermae Bath Spa offers a modern version of bathing, fed by the same geothermal spring the Romans used. The water is luxurious and has been associated with healing properties for centuries.
For morning visits, I like to start with a dip in the rooftop pool, offering steamy views over Bath’s gorgeous rooftops and countryside. In the evening, I prefer to finish here, where the pool backlighting and sparkling lights of the town are stunning. There is a second, indoor pool, with propulsion zones, hydro therapy jets, and a convivial (and loud!) vibe. Two steam rooms offer different fragrances for relaxation, a dry sauna adds to the ambiance, and an ice room refreshes. I like to wrap everything up in the celestial dark room.
Practical Info:
https://www.thermaebathspa.com/
Towels & robes are provided on loan; flip flops can be purchased for a small fee. Sessions are booked for 2-hour increments. Making a café purchase gets you an extra 30 minutes! Phones and cameras are not allowed – visitors must lock them away, so be aware. (My collaged photos are courtesy of the spa site and hotel magazine, Postcards: https://postcardmagazine.co.uk/)
Blue Lagoon, Reykjavic
Next stop: Iceland! In Nordic countries, saunas and baths are a way of life. The area around Reykjavik offers a number of spots where you can enjoy thermal waters, ranging from local “get the job done” venues to famous tourist draws. The spa I visited definitely falls into the latter category but was still worth a visit. At Blue Lagoon, visitors are treated to stunning volcanic landscapes on the drive out, plus stunningly blue waters as they approach the facility – photo ops in themselves!
Once inside, make your way to the large lagoon – pro tip: find a quieter corner and settle in with a drink and some people-watching. Be sure to stop by the mud bar to try out the facial masks! With a regular package, you’ll be given silica; I recommend the Premium package, to try three choices: silica, algae, lava, &/or mineral. Don’t worry about looking silly – everyone shares a ghost-like appearance, and it adds to a fun atmosphere! I would recommend wearing old/cheap sunglasses, as the paste will likely scratch your good lenses.
My beau and I also opted to purchase in-water massages. Wow! My masseuse helped me onto a floating mat, which she periodically pressed into the water to make sure I was constantly surrounded by warmth. Meanwhile, she used amazing, scented body oils to soothe my muscles. I nearly fell asleep!
We wrapped up with a light lunch in the cafe, then headed out to the nearby volcanic fields to stand in awe! A volcano was actually actively erupting prior to and during part of our visit, so we had to take a driving detour, right through the overspill. Incredible.
Practical Info:
Towels & robes are provided on loan. Visitors can carry phones. A number of extra packages and treatments are available by booking ahead. (The line for regular access is also much shorter by booking ahead!) (News photos in top of collage courtesy of Getty.)
Les Thermes, Saint-Gervais-les-Bains
Much further south but at much higher altitudes stands the village of Saint-Gervais, France. I recommend a visit to Switzerland first, whence departs the glass-topped Mont Blanc Express train. Travel through the Alps, with breathtaking scenery completely surrounding you. This little train will deposit you into le Fayet to catch the cog railway up to the village. (I believe there’s also a newer elevator.)
Stay in a quaint inn for a taste of timeless mountain village life. Life’s pace slows down, after-dinner walks are the norm, people chat with neighboring tables at restaurants, there are always LOTS of ways to enjoy warm, gooey cheese…!
The next morning, I recommend you take care to stay on the proper, somewhat-accessible path down the mountain valley to reach Les Thermes. *We* hiked down the mountainside, through a via ferrata zone (quite by accident – that’s a whole other post!) and had an adventure. The spa was well-deserved after that experience!
At Les Thermes, visitors can move at leisure through a number of spots, indoor and out. The setup is similar to Bath’s Thermae setup, so I won’t detail each step. But the views from the outdoor pools feel completely different! Guests are isolated, with peaks of the Alps surrounding all sides, breathing in the fresh fragrance of mountain air. In 1815, a doctor catalogued diseases he treated by the waters and was the first to provide scientific proof of their effectiveness on skin and lung conditions. Victorian visitors flocked to the area specifically seeking healing. Prior to that, the region mainly drew locals and shepherds, who counted on the lush landscape to fuel their sheep. Stop by the in-house spa to take some of their well-known skin care products home.
Practical Info:
https://thermes-saint-gervais.com/
Towels & robes are provided on loan. Sessions are booked for 3-hour increments. There is no restaurant on site, but there is an herbal tea bar.
West Baden, French Lick
Special Side Feature
I grew up in a hilly, midwestern region of the U.S. Not far from my hometown sits French Lick, Indiana. In the 1800s, West Baden resort modeled itself after the great European healing spas of the day, famously marketed healing Pluto Water, both for drinking and bathing. The resort differs from my other features, in that the healing water is cold mineral water! The water features shut down after the Great Depression and remained closed for 75 years. I have often visited the resort but never taken the waters, so I’m happy to know that they are once again available and heated for bathing. I’ve added it on my “to do” list Maybe you will, too!
Practical Info:
https://www.frenchlick.com/west-baden-springs-hotel.htm
Let me know if you have any other ideas for my next thermal springs stops! ~M