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? 🤔

Fortunately, being male, I am exempt from these things :)

Thank god though, because I am certain I would hate them - and not know what to do.

In the right circs, I like a good Sauna, Jacuzzi, Steam room combo though.

I have a membership at 5* spa and go after work a couple of nights a week for a quick nap in on the heated loungers or the relaxation room. Wearing the big fluffy robe whilst people bring me cups of tea puts me in relax mode after a busy day. If I take a friend, we make a day out of it and have a long lunch, possibly with cocktails before we leave.

I have, however, been to some really boring spas. Crewe Hall, anyone?

'IRL everyone I woman I know loves a spa, '

I must not be a real person, or my climbing and hillwalking mates. We're all fake.

I'm with you but we are in a minority. I don't like Prosecco either so I'm well and truly fucked.

I mustn’t be a proper woman either expat

I never get the assumption that all women (or all men) will like something!

This thread shows that people have a mix of different things they find relaxing. To me doing nothing is far from relaxing because my brain has a tendency to go into hyperdrive and I make lists of things to do or mull over the latest problem. Being active is much more relaxing for me!

I said every woman that I know, not every woman in the country. It's only on mumsnet that I see regular threads about hating spa days, never hear it in real life. Most people just don't go on about stuff they don't like I guess, they just leave people to it and don't do it themselves.

Btw, I also like hiking and climbing. You don't have to like outdoor activities or spa days, you can like both if you want.

5* hotel room, hot stones massage, room service, swim, huge comfy bed all to myself, wine, books and no electronics - heaven.

I go to the Woodland Spa in Burnley a couple of times a year and it is amazing.

I never have any treatments, just laze around in all the Jacuzzis, including outside. Once it was a hot sunny day and it was like being on holiday. It's £63 including lunch with wine and well worth it.

I used to be like this before I had children but now I am so tired that I would happily pay not have to wash my own face.

It really just depends on the spa! I defy any of you not to emerge from the Gleneagles spa feeling as relaxed as a sloth 🤗

I love going to the spa and using the sauna, steam room, pool, hot tub etc for an hour here and there. I would never get any 'treatments' done though! And I'm shocked to hear that people would spend an entire fucking day in there. I would be bored out of my mind.

I was never really too keen on spa days that I had been to before until DH booked an AMAZING day!
We had our own room where we had a couples massage and I had a facial, we had our own sauna and steam room in there too. Went for a swim and a jacuzzi. Had A wonderful lunch with champagne and a lovely afternoon tea sitting out in the grounds in the sunshine. It was perfect and I had the best night sleep that night. (Probably because we had no kids too)
We are actually booked to go back this Saturday and I can't wait!!

We don't have to enjoy the same things, that's what makes us interesting! Can you imagine how boring we'd be if we all liked the same of anything?

Over many years I've enjoyed

Spa breaks
City breaks
Cruises
Driving holidays
Beach holidays
Canal boat (ok I admit I HATED that one and would rather stick knitting needles in my eyes than do That Again!
Skiing
Disneyland

We've never had a bad holiday (except Canal boats 😟) just some we enjoyed more than others

Safari next

The only handover I've had in about 15 years was at a spa on my own ... had a really good table at dinner and we just kept ordering more wine

Well, this has been eye opening. I'd assumed that most people would think IABU but looks like real mixture of love them and hate them. It has definitely cheered me up knowing I'm not the only one to not 'get' spas though!

Yanbu

I am not into spas. I get how in theory it might be so nice and relaxing but I don’t like being touched or handled too much so found the treatment really awkward. I went once for a work thing when I was pregnant, purposely chose the facial rather than a full body massage thinking it would be less intrusive - the treatment lady still said to me take all your clothes off and lie on the thing. I just said no!! But I found it awkward, and then I puked loads after either due to all the over powering spa scents or food poisining from the “healthy lunch” that had been provided. Not in a hurry to repeat that experience. I’d maybe have an express manicure or something, that’s about it!

If they're not your cup of tea, by all means don't go. We don't all have to like the same things! But just wanted to say, in response to the bit in the OP about 'having to make conversation' with the person doing your massage / treatments: I've NEVER experienced this. They've always left me to enjoy blissful silence! I wouldn't do it if you had to chat while having things done.

If you don't like treatments, don't have them . It's not compulsory.

I like to try out all the bubbles, go for lunch, have a snooze, float around the floatation pool, more bubbles, sit and read, shower and home.

Yeah I hate them. I have panic attacks during massages etc so no good for me at all. I've been to a couple of lovely ones but I just get bored.

The neatest I get to being pampered is when I go to get my hair cut and blow dried every eight weeks. I love the way my hairdresser washes my hair! But I really couldnt spend a whole day of it.
As for getting away from the children - I'd rather just go for a meal out and cinema with my DH. ( Mine are all grown up now, so just coming home from work is getting away from the children -at school!!)

YABVVVU. Love a spa day. On my own though; not with friends.

I am an introvert and have a daughter with HF ASD who never stops talking. Exhausting.

It's quiet, relaxing. The one I go to has huge beautiful grounds to walk around if that's your thing. Mimimal talking. Just relax and listen to the plinky plonky music. Not a massive treatment lover but quite like a scalp massage. Heaven!

Depends. Been on one but had treatment once at another in germany. The one i went on was with my sister. We chatted, swam, read books, did lunch. It was amazing day. The one i had treatment at the time i throught waste of time and money. I did hot stones. Now until then id always struggled to keep warm wearing gloves etc. Since then almost 10 years ago now im warm and rarely need gloves even in the winter. Vvv glad i did it now even if felt waste of time at the time. Im not someone that can sit at a swimming pool for more than 10. Minutes unless i have a good book in which case id manage an hour before needing to walk, explore. Think it depends on who you with and the spa op.