To not understand spa days

[shivermytimbers]

Just seems like an overpriced way to sit in a swimming costume and then have some cream/ oil slapped on your face/ back. Am I just missing the point? 🤔

Do you have children?

Yes. Three of them. If I get time off, I'd always rather do something a bit more exciting

Suppose it depends on what you like. I like the aqua sana spa at centre parcs though as they have different rooms and experiences etc.

Yep, aqua sana is awesome!

I'm so with you. I love swimming. Love hot tubs and saunas but dislike the whole idea of someone smearing smelly gunk over my face or back and rubbing it in whilst making banal conversation. My husband can do that for free. Some 'treatments' are just plain odd. Cupping. Hot stones. Seaweed wraps. What's all that about?

I don't get it either OP. Certainly wouldn't be my idea of a nice way to spend time but each to their own!

I love a massage or a facial so YABU. What's not to like.

Quite Crumbs!
What are the experiences? Isn't it just more sitting about in your cossie but with slightly different lights or temperature?

I don't really get it either - surely if you go with friends you don't really get to see them?

I don't have children and I can't seem to find any childfree spaces that aren't spas!!

I don't care about treatments and such but I'm keeping an eye out for those offers of places set in nice grounds so I can have a nice walk in some nice grounds, and use a pool, that's not full of bleeping kids. Even as a childfree person, they are impossible to escape except in bars, which I don't find very relaxing or quiet

I can't think of many things that are worse to me than a spa day.

Perhaps nuclear war. At a push.

Yes. Three of them. If I get time off, I'd always rather do something a bit more exciting

It's not suppose to be exciting though. It's just a way to relax, leisure time etc

Not sure, there's 'spas' and then there's spas!

A proper spa is an amazing day but lots of other places not so much there's a world of difference.
I'd say go to a luxury one then if the best hasn't changed your mind you'll know it's definitely not for you

And no offence meant to anyone who likes them! I've just had invites to 2 celebrations that involve them and I'll go cos I love the people going but I'm not feeling the spa vibe!

I thought you were going to say 'no kids'. Then I would say that a spa makes a nice change to running down the road and sitting in the bus shelter to get away from chaos at home

I like spa days, but not so much the treatments as such. Depends on the spa, but the one I go to is amazing. Dim lighting, lovely smells, jacuzzi to wallow in, steam room, glass of fizz. Wonderful....

I find them so boring and yes I have children.

Would rather spend the day doing some retail therapy and a pub lunch with a couple of vino's.

I don't really get it either - surely if you go with friends you don't really get to see them?

Why would you assume that?

If you go on a spa day a treatment isn't usually included. You'll be paying £30+ for a treatment. Something that lasts 1 hours.

Most people spend most of the day in the spa, have lunch. So yes you do spend majority of the time there with your friends.

Some people clearly don't know how to relax. Spa days are my favourite thing in the world. I start with a little swim, on to the jacuzzi then into the steam room to open up my pores and cleanse my skin. Then onto a lounger (preferably heated) in a robe for an hour or so reading and sipping a beverage. Then treatments always a luxury facial a back massage and a mani/or do before relaxing for another hour or so under a blanket in a warm room with soft lighting flicking through a magazine and listening to the quiet bubble of that tinkly spa music they have on. I never want to leave! somewhere in between all that il have a lovely lunch too.

I went with my sister to a spa day. I ended up joining in an aqua aerobics class and then running on the treadmill.

I am not very good at relaxing in the sitting still type way!

I've only even enjoyed one, and that was when I did an overnight stay.

If you just go for a day it feels a bit 'hurry up and relax' - by the time I've properly unwound, it's time to get dressed and go home again.

Niamh that sounds like my idea of hell. I even passed a gift card that I was given for a manicure on to someone else because I can't stand to have my nails messed with.

Experiences = for example, one is a tyorlean sauna, one is a Japanese salt spa.
But yes, sitting in swimwear in differently decorated rooms with different smelly stuff

I love a spa day.
I love the peace and quiet, I love having time to read and relax, I love the pampering.
I guess it all depends on what you like. Aqua arobics and time on a treadmill definitely doesn't come high on my wish list.

YADNBU. I'd been to a rather expensive spa day many moons ago and it was the most boring, tedious, waste of time I've ever gone to. I got back wishing I'd just gone to work instead (I worked as a care assistant) for a 12hr shift cleaning bums and colostomy bags.

Think it depends what spa you go to! As someone else has said, some of the cheaper ones literally are a pool and that's it. If you go to a good one where you have proper hydrotherapy pools, aromatherapy steam rooms, ice rooms etc they're awesome.

Also, argh no wonder you don't like massages, Crumbs1, if your therapist talks to you throughout it! Can't think of anything worse than having to make conversation during a massage. It's about winding down and not having to make polite chat!

All that said, I appreciate that spas will just never be some people's cup of tea, in the same way I'd never choose to go rock climbing or to any sort of organised 'activity' to relax!