Spa alone?

[JustMeHello]

Hello. I'm tired and fed up and middle aged. I ache all over etc. I work term time only and after next week, have 8 weeks off, so I've booked myself into a spa (Buxton, it's near me) for a morning the Monday after I finish for the year.

I have been to a spa before, but it was over 20 years ago and I went with my mum, who didn't really like it. This time I'm going alone and I'm hopeful that a monday morning will be nice and quiet. I'm assuming nobody will give me funny looks for going alone...

Does anyone have any specific tips for doing a spa alone please? I'm not going to have any treatments, just pootle around the pools/steam rooms etc. Can I take a book in to some of the rooms, or my phone? If so, do people take a bag round with them too? I'd need my glasses if I'm going to read...

I've been on a few. Take a book and relax. The only variable thing I've left behind during swimming/sauna etc is my phone and tbh it's nothing fancy anyway so I'm not concerned about it being stolen.

It can get a bit lonely and it would be nice to go with someone but nobody I know either wants to or has the money so I go alone.

Nobody has ever given me the side eye but even if they did, so what. I'm a grown adult doing entirely normal things.

Yes! I’ve done this many times and it’s surprising what fits in your robe pocket! Take a book and just chill. It’s fab

I’ve been and felt a bit self conscious I was on my own…however no one really speaks to each other that much in my experience so in reality it was more in my head. I had a book and my phone which I had in a canvas bag that I hung outside of whatever experience I was in.

Best way to do it. You can do what you want when you want which is the entire point IMO.

I prefer a solo visit to a spa as I’m not a particularly chatty person and being with someone else makes me feel under a bit of pressure to make conversation. Going alone is wonderful- proper headspace. Enjoy!

I've been to the Buxton Crescent, if that's where you mean, I always go alone because why wouldn't you?

The fewer people who see spas as a social space the better IMHO. They're supposed to be peaceful and relaxing, so there's nothing worse than people who 'go for a catch up' aka talk non stop for hours.

You can take a book/phone and many people do, although I don't know if there's any phone signal, a lot of it is underground. But I find that due to there being a lot of water around that gets into everything so it's probably best avoided and this is the main reason why I have a waterproof Kindle. Although there's loungers and saunas that are dry so you could read there. I just put my Kindle in my robe pocket when I'm not reading it.

I've never been to Buxton but I've been many, many times on my own to another spa. I take my book, pootle around, do what I want when I want to, read all through my meal... it's wonderful - enjoy!

I spa alone often. I take my book or my kindle and just potter and lounge depending on how I feel. I do have a little bag I use for round the pool with glasses, book etc in

I much prefer a spa on my own. You’re going to relax, and groups of chatting people are not relaxing. You can also go round at your own pace. Take a book or magazine, I don’t take tech as I always worry about the water. Have a wonderful time!

I love going to a spa alone! It’s almost better tbh

I love doing this. I always take a book so I get a digital detox too. Enjoy!

I recommend taking more than one swimming costume. So you can change into a dry one for lunch or relexing

I go alone all the time. Dh sometimes comes but mostly only for me. I'm actually going next week for our anniversary. I'm having a treatment and dh is going to the pool. We'll convene a few hours later. No-one will bat an eyelid. Bring a good book, earphones for afterwards and enjoy the peace.

This! My gym has an attached spa so I often visit alone, very happily. The amount of people who go there to catch up and talk non stop is so annoying!

I take a little bag for water bottle, book, (phone/ereader), glasses while I’m not reading. Good if it has a strap/handle so you can hang it on a hook in wet areas. Enjoy!

Thanks everyone. I'll leave the phone in the locker and take a book. I'm looking forward to it, feels a bit indulgent but hey ho.

Yes phone in locker is a good idea! I went to the Turkish Baths at Harrogate and was in a lot of trouble for using my phone, even though I wasn’t taking calls or pictures

Much prefer going on my own. I can truly relax without having to make small talk with someone else.

A lot of places discourage technology for privacy reasons also because it's supposed to be about relaxation and switching off. The Harrogate Baths state this in their T&Cs.

Also the performance 'making memories' insta crowd are really making a nuisance of themselves posing around, getting in everyone else's way.

Spastic aren't my thing but, if they were, then of course I would go alone. Surely you go to relax? So how can you relax if you have someone with you, jabbering away? It will be full of people on their own.

@JustMeHello not the exact same but as part of our gym membership we have private pool access, jacuzzi, steam room, sauna. I go alone all of the time as I do gym classes rather than use the weights and nobody ever bats an eyelid. I go and do my thing and that is it. Hours swim and pool with maybe 10 min trips to each of the steam and sauna rooms, long hot shower afterwards, do my hair and makeup etc there and always feel leaving fantastic. No phones and would not bring a book as the place I go to is a members gym really so not lounging areas but I have been to places like that and brought a book and just took the time to enjoy my solitary life. Do not worry what if anything anyone else thinks, it is your time, enjoy it as you please. Hope you have a great time :)

I absolutely love going to a spa on my own and I agree with the various comments about annoying loud talking and people using their phones. Should be banned! 🤣