As I predicted in my Spa Trends for ILTM Spa 2013 & The Insider, the water part of spas is taking over in parts of the world like Quebec but the US is just now trying to catch up with a few trends in 2014. Take a look at the Hottest Trend Worldwide (sorry) Hot Springs! Yes they have been around for centuries, but now they are becoming fashionable again. Stay tuned as I visit Baden-Baden, Germany this year and refresh in some of the original hot spring spas.
Hot springs are a geothermal phenomenon resulting from the natural heating of groundwater as it rises above the earth crusts. Often associated with volcanic activity, hot springs can be dangerous: at 70 °C, you wouldn’t want to swim in Yellowstone’s Grand Prismatic Spring! Thankfully there are many more hot springs all around the world that flow at luxuriously toasty temperatures. These natural wonders provide the perfect spot for bathing, relaxation and restoration. Why did I start thinking about them today? Well here it is spring, but feels like we are back in winter again. Heat was really on my mind this morning, so I thought soaking in a hot water spring spa would be divine!
Don’t miss my original photo above of my trip to Bath, England a few years ago. So lovely to know that from long ago, others were enjoying the benefits of hot spring spas.
The city of Bath in Somerset, England containing beautifully preserved Roman architecture including the famous bath and temple complex. The same thermal springs that the Romans bathed in thousands of years ago now fill Britain’s only hot spring spa, Thermae Bath Spa. The water, which flows at a comfortable 33.5°C, contains over 42 different minerals and trace elements including sulfate, calcium, chloride, sodium, bicarbonate, magnesium, silica and iron, and are said to promote good health and well-being. Visitors to Thermae Bath Spa may also opt to indulge in a facial, body treatment or massage.
For something a little further from home, consider New Zealand: it is safe, and travel insurance is available for European travellers. Rotorua, the geothermal heart of New Zealand, is a vibrant city brimming with volcanic attractions including geysers, craters and boiling mud pools. After a long day’s sightseeing, the Polynesian Spa is a great place to relax and unwind. The Polynesian Spa hosts a series of mineral-rich thermal pools at different temperatures, with separate areas for families, adults only and even private pools. To further enhance the experience, try one of the spa’s signature treatments which incorporate thermal water and mineral mud.
Iceland is famous for its hot springs, the most popular of which being the Blue Lagoon spa in Grindavík. Blue Lagoon consists of a beautiful man-made lake which is filled with natural geothermal water. The water and mud of Blue Lagoon are rich in silica and sulfur minerals, which leave the skin soft and healthy. Psoriasis sufferers have even reported improvements in their condition after visiting Blue Lagoon.
Pamukkale, in Turkey’s Denizli Province, is known for its spectacular, other-worldly limestone terraces and 17 hot springs. Rich in calcium minerals, these thermal waters attract thousands of visitors from around the world every year. Accommodation is available at the Spa Hotel Colossae Thermal, which has its own thermal spas and offers a range of pampering spa treatments.
