Spa days. What is the appeal?

[Mumoof3]

I went on one with my DMIL at the weekend. Found it a bit of a rip off to be honest.

Average treatment, obnoxious other guests in the pool - taking photos, someone in the loungers area talking really loud on the phone about private matters. The food included was underwhelming.

This was a well rated and expensive spa too.

I often see them get high praise on here, so wondering if it’s just me?

I love them and go on my own!

Not you, you just clearly went to a shit one

Pointless waste of a day imo but some people love them. We're all different.

I had a massage, swim/spa few hours and that's probably enough for me - bli valued the peace and quiet without kids to constantly nag me for something... wasn't a fan of the hen dos having a giggle next to me in the relaxation room but at least I could actively ignore them without mum guilt!

I was given a spa day as a Christmas present a couple of years ago. It was a top-rated one and I hated it.

That one does sound grim, I would have complained about loud and unpleasant guests.

No one has to like them, but if you go to a decent one, the treatments are just as good as any salon, the food is just as good as any good tea room.

If you can't find the time to go away for a week, it's one day with facials, massages, time to read a book and have a swim, does wonder when you are stressed and achey. I don't go that often, but always go for a long run before the spa day, so it's bliss and I don't feel guilty about doing nothing for a few hours 😂

I think the definition of ‘spa’ is often stretched a bit by hotels with a pool.
I have been to brilliant luxury ones where you wouldn’t get away with the load phone thing, and some very mid ones that put a few voile curtains up around an old jacuzzi and call it a spa.
Last one I did two men who were obviously work colleagues likely coked up and downing pints at mid day in the infinity pool getting louder and louder was not cool.
It really should be a complete indulgence and an escape from the madness, not an excuse to get pissed up.

Generally find them very boring.

I love them personally but I tend to go to ones I know and they’re quiet, relaxing, loads of different types of steam rooms, relaxation rooms. Different pools. Multiple of everything f and fabulous 3 course meal at lunch time … wherever you went sounds pretty awful

I have discovered through trial and error that I prefer booking a day off work when my kids are in childcare, having a massage and reading a book in bed to a spa day.

There are spas and there are spas 😆 hotels with spa facilities versus destination spas.

I have been to both. The hotels ones with pools and some sauna/jacuzzi treatment rooms still allow children in the pools, so it can be noisey and IMO not relaxing.

If you go to a destination spa, a good one will be a total break from the real world. Lots f different saunas, steam rooms, relaxation rooms and generally have low noise levels even among the adults.

I love a spa day. I have only experienced people being loud and taking selfies on one occasion when a group of young people were there drinking. Every other visit has been really relaxing, very good food at a couple of them too.

I go on one with a friend occasionally if we get a deal. It’s a massage, facial, lie around on the hot chairs, sauna and jacuzzi. Help yourself to fruit and iced tea. Very relaxing. Sounds like you went to a shit one!

If you like lying on a lounger next to a pool in a holiday resort (I do), then I think a spa is like that but works in cities and in any temperature. Ideally fairly peaceful for reading a book or chatting and swimming. Plus the different pools, saunas, treatments etc which can be pretty relaxing.

Live a busy life, a day swimming, chatting, reading and having a massage is a lovely break for a day.

Spas can be lovely, either to chill out on your own or have a good catch up with someone, but IME they are often ruined by other guests either being too loud and inconsiderate, especially if they are hen groups, or by the spa just allowing too many people in at a time.

I think this is right

I don't like sitting on a lounger by a pool and so similarly I don't really get the spa thing

I was talking to a lady the other day and we came to the conclusion that it’s just that you’re out of your house so you can’t be tempted to start cleaning/ doing something as you put your feet up/ chill, there’s nobody to ask you to do something and you get to wear comfy robes and slippers! Sigh …

My gym is a health spa type place, I absolutely love going to the hydro pool after a work out and using the other facilities. What I cannot stand is people chatting nonsense in the quiet areas, filming everyone and everything for Instagram and people sitting in the restaurant in their swimwear.

Ooh I love a spa day! The ones I've been to have been lovely - relaxing treatments, lots of lying around on comfy loungers reading, herbal teas and iced water. Usually ends with a lovely dinner or an afternoon tea with a few glasses of bubbly! Sounds like you just picked the wrong place 🤷‍♀️

I go to a spa occasionally, they don't allow phones in the wet areas. I would complain about that

I get a soak, scrub, and massage and spend time in the saunas and eat yummy vegetarian Korean food.

Oooooh I love a spa day. And I'm fat and hate hanging around in a swimming cossie. However I have NEVER been to one where people were taking photos! I just love getting hot then cold then hot then cold again then lying about then breathing steam then bubbling in a bath. the best are the ones with the showers that pretend to be a tropical storm with birdsong and thunder, they make me laugh so much. And everybody wafting around all flary nostrils. Love it. I don't bother to eat though and I don't know how people can drink booze.

I like going to one with different pools (warm, cold, salty etc)/saunas/steam rooms. Possibly a massage, definitely a swim. Delicious light meal/snack, unlimited fruit tea/juice, and same again in the afternoon.

I go to an outdoor community sauna with a friend and that has a hot sauna, a steam room, and two ice plunge pools. Plus a beautiful garden to relax in and drink tea. It is bliss, and far better for catching up over 90mins than a coffee shop. And only costs £10. Also love Harrogate Turkish Baths for a couple of hours of relaxation.

I wouldn’t want one which was just a hotel pool with a jacuzzi, and somebody doing facials and nails in a separate area. I agree I wouldn’t find that very relaxing, or good value for money.

Depends where you go. You get what you pay for.

I’ve decided hotel spas are a bit blah but centre parcs spa is just lovely.

I love CP spa! I’ve been to the one in Sherwood. there’s a place called Eden Hall in Nottinghamshire that’s fab, and Ragdale Hall is meant to be great too