What is a Spa Hotel?

A spa hotel typically offers luxurious and beautiful spa facilities, drama like personal tea service, signature spa treatments you can't find anywhere else, and a higher level of amenities and customer service. In exchange, you pay a premium. Prices at spa hotels tend to be much higher than the average day spa. And the more luxurious the hotel and the spa, the higher the price.

Spa hotels usually have facilities like steam, sauna, fitness facilities, and a swimming pool. Regular exercise classes are unusual, but some spa hotels have them. You might also be able to hire a personal trainer or yoga teacher for a private class.

Spa hotels are open to locals as well as hotel guests. However, locals may not have full access to all the facilities a hotel guest would, like the pool or fitness facilities, or you may have to pay extra for a day pass.

Make sure to ask if that's important to you. Sometimes spa hotels have special loyalty program for locals or offer discounts in in off-season.

Both spa hotel and spa resorts are different from destination spas, also known as health spas, where the focus is on a healthy, engaged vacation full of exercise and spa cuisine.

Spa hotels tend to have luxurious room, fine dining restaurants, and a luxurious spa that is all about rest and relaxation. It's a good choice when you're visiting a city, either as a tourist or a business traveler, and want top-notch spa treatments as part of the experience.

To make the most of your time at a spa hotel, arrive at the spa 45 minutes or so in advance. This gives you plenty of time to get changes, shower, enjoy the amenities and atmosphere, and relax, so you're already relaxed when you're treatment starts.