Well, I have taken the first steps towards setting up an overview of all sauna's / wellness facilities my partner and I have visited in Europe over the past years.
Quite easily by adding a figure denoting how the experience was valued of past postings.
But there are still many facilities left to review, which due to reasons that these places are not geothermal related, have not been merited with a posting.
So I'll start off with a review medley.
The first medley will concern the Flemish part of Belgium.
This part of Belgium has a peculiar mix of sauna set ups. Currently in vogue are three types of wellness setups: private small rental sauna's, smaller sauna's in (often in need of renovation) and blinking new spa walhalla's.
I have never had any experience with renting a private sauna; seems to defeat the purpose: public wellness places which due to their bigger size simply offer more facilities to enjoy as well as additional catering.
Rituals
So concerning slightly older (the majority) public and / or smaller sauna's. Starting with the province of East Flanders:
The Asanti wellness complex is located in Destelbergen (east of Gent). It's a mid-size public facility (3-4 sauna's, indoor/outdoor swimming pool, hammam, smaller jacuzzi); the overall set up is not too bad. As I remember the Aufguss ritual was also pretty good. Reasonable size outside pool. And catering was quite good.
Somehow I had the impression that quite a bit of concrete has been used, which is not helped by the outside area also being able to hear the nearby motorway.
For comparison purposes I'll include more objective reviews (where available). Note all references to reviews are from the beginning of November 2022.
Concerning Asanti with no specifics to add: Google: 4.3 stars (239 reviews), Facebook: 4.4 stars (139 reviews) and Tripadvisor: 3.5 stars (28 reviews).
Figure to be given for my 2019 visit: 7
Not far away from Destelbergen, in Nazareth (south of Gent) the Saunate sauna is behind a tall wall on an industrial park. Roughly same size and facilities as above (5-6 sauna's, hammam, indoor heated pool (outdoor not), a jacuzzi).
Again the Aufguss was very good, but the set up and way the sauna's and baths are set up, renders this to a six (point five?); also visited 2019.
Other reviewers highlight the slightly tired facilities (I have to agree), in general the reviews of Saunate vary wildly; so maybe expectations are different? Google: 4.2 (232 reviews), no Facebook reviews and Tripadvisor: 3.5 stars (75 reviews).
Projected
Heading to West-Flanders.
A bit off the scale, the larger Thermen R is a big=beautiful sauna outside of the city of Roeselare. Six sauna's, large indoor / outdoor pool, two hammams (and assorted). The changing rooms were cramped (and seemed a bit weary), hopefully this has improved since (2018). The indoor sauna facilities themselves were quite special: a sauna overlooking a pool with beyond on the wall nature documentaries which were being projected. Good catering, large Himalayan salt grotto. I'd give it an 8.
Reviews Google: 4.1 (470 reviews), Facebook: 4.5 stars (318 reviews) and Tripadvisor: 4 stars (510 reviews).
A more special loaction, a former grainery named Sileau, near the small village of Snaaskerke, itself part of the local Gistel community (just behind the Flemish coast). The canal lined grainery has been neatly restored with industrial touches remaining. A sauna and hammam inside and two sauna's outside. A cooler indoor pool. No catering beyond a drink or two.
Reviews: Google: 4.7 stars (93 reviews) and Tripadvisor: 4.5 stars (19 reviews).
My own figure: 7.5, visited 2020 (Corona affected).
Good way to begin your sunday 🧘♀️🔥🛁#sileau #sauna #hottub #relaxtime #couplegoals #enjoyyoursunday #wellness
Slightly less obvious in this medley, I've included the wellness facilities of Le Plat Pays, an excellent and peaceful B&B just beyond the outskirts of Brugge.
In essence, the wellness section comprises just a small barrel type sauna, a barrel type hot tub. With the possibility of natural swimming pool usuage in the more public section. As it's dark (when you use the wellness), the latter should be no problem for other (non-)users.
Not really special, based on our most recent (summer 2022) visit a 7. You really need to be able add firewood for both, but not too much ... Other reviews (with reference to the wellness use) are not common; but otherwise the review figures for a stay border on perfect!
So there it is: the first review medley. Not too exciting I know, but let's just see how this evolves.
What stands out are the lack of wellness and nature: it's mostly all nondescript industrial surroundings, the backround even in some circumstances walled out. Non of above even try to emulate any natural specifics.
Otherwise public reviewers tend to give high markings for a wellness visit, clearly they meet or are better than expectations.
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