I say nothing worst but the Mercure in Bournemouth had half of the facilities advertised and the Jacuzzi wasn’t filtering out the old water, meaning not only did my end up with a rash on the back of her neck where she had been resting; but I also caught a stomach bug from the dirty water for 24hrs and couldn’t eat anything! Makes the Nobu look positively heavenly.
On that note let’s talk the bests so far…
Starting with Sweden.
Centralbadet Stockholm, Sweden
This spa was a surprise it was underneath a park and buildings but was large with from memory at least 6 types of sauna’s and about 3 steam rooms. The pools were huge too and surprised me as I originally thought that was the whole place till went through a door into the spas. Honestly it’s a bit of a maze. It was reasonably priced from what I remember too. I would talk about Finland, Iceland and Norway but I haven’t been to any which are as good as this one in Sweden.
As it’s Scandinavian, I think there aspects of being naked but it was a long time ago so can’t remember exactly. Pretty sure like liquidrome to come, the pools are clothed and spas are naked.
Another aspect of this spa is it’s just around the corner from Urban Deli too if you are hungry. We need more of this type of setup in the UK.
My next big one is the one which got me into spas back in 1999.
My good friend who was born in east Berlin took me to liquidrome and I was kinda blown away. Every time I head to Berlin I find time to visit liquidrome, especially because it’s open till 1am on the weekends. It took a while to get over the naked spas, dripping only on to your towel etc but now it’s just not a thought. It’s changed over time but currently 4 saunas, 2 steam rooms, dive pool, outdoor pool, juzuzzis and best of all the sea water pool where you float with ambient music & lights above and below the water. It’s incredible!
I have been to Amsterdam so many times and only been to a spa for the first time in 2023 and it was a hotel spa Corendon Vitality Spa). Then Margaret last year clued me into Zuiver!
This is not a spa it’s a bloody retreat with about 8 steam rooms, 8 Saunas, 3 juczzis, steam baths, swimming pools and so much more inside and outside! Also open till late and like liquidrome. There is even a restaurant if you get hungry! All not super far from Zuid station.
Just like liquidrome there is some naked aspects. Twice a week they have naked days and for some reason I just seemed to end up picking those days due to conference days.
I can’t tell you how amazing it was being in the warm water wood barrow looking up at the night sky and seeing the stars. Then wondering over the huge sauna to get the full effect of the communal sauna (as I first experience in Oslo’s Salt) Next time I’m in Amsterdam I’ll be there for sure, hopefully with my partner too. Can’t believe it took me so long to explore the Dutch spa scene.
I sound a little down on Hotel spas but that’s not completely true. For example the Oasis spa in Barcelona and Serena spa in Lisbon were great for different reasons.
The Hyatt’s Oasis spa was just excellent in so many ways, I could have spent all day there. Not so many spas but each one had the touches which make for a great spa. Free water, free fruit, seats in the right places, lots of space and perfectly placed ice room, etc.
In Lisbon, I wanted to note Serena Spa for the best treatment I have had. Myself and my partner were treated to a special couples treatment called the 4 seasons. 1 hour of different flavours, smells and levels of impact. From the careful ice cold touches to the warm embrace of a hot towel and the leaves and vapour! Just amazing like they were experimenting with some new and exciting things.
i would give a thumbs up to the Onsens in Japan but when I compare them to the best I have in this list, they just don’t compare for what I’m looking for in a spa. It didn’t help that I didn’t feel comfortable wearing unfitting clothes and being stared at by groups of business men.