Leave treatments to the end: five dos and don’ts of visiting a hotel spa

Checking into a hotel can feel like such a treat – you get to leave life’s stresses behind and have all those annoying tasks, such as making the bed, cleaning up and cooking, taken care of by someone else. Ah, just the thought of it is calming. But how often do we opt for complete relaxation, and treat ourselves to a trip to the hotel spa? It’s the ultimate indulgence, and doesn’t always need to cost an arm and a leg.

So how can you make the most of your spa experience? Here are all the dos and don’ts you need to know before checking yourself in.

Don’t … wear inappropriate swimwear
Guests are usually provided with a robe when visiting a spa. But what should you wear underneath? “Appropriate swimwear only!” says Abbie Flower, spa and health club manager at Hilton Bournemouth. And it’s important to keep outerwear, especially shoes, in the changing room areas only – slippers are usually provided, so make sure you wear them while on the spa grounds. “We ask people to always shower before using the facilities,” says Flower. “And also after using the sauna and steam room if they plan to head to the pool.” A top tip is to take a towel into the sauna to sit on, as it can get very hot. And if there are already several people in there, wait a bit, says Flower. That’s because many hotel saunas and steam rooms only seat a handful of people at a time as it can become uncomfortable to be crammed in.

Do … be an early bird
Yes, the early bird catches the worm, but he or she also catches their preferred booking slot for a treatment. “We would advise booking up to a month ahead,” says Vanessa Paine, head therapist at Hilton Bournemouth. “We’re consistently busy on weekends – basically, from Friday through to Sunday afternoon.” The best way to book is usually online. And if you want total peace and quiet, getting up early will reap rewards. “Our facilities open at 6am,” says Paine. “So we get a few people who use them before breakfast or work.”

Don’t … bring your phone
It’s tempting to take a few #spaselfies to show all your friends how much fun you’re having, but you’ll get much more out of the experience if you leave your phone in the changing room locker. “People are constantly on their phones these days, but this is your time,” says Paine. Plus there’s an increasing body of research showing how mobile phones interfere with our ability to relax. One study found that even checking the time on a phone could cause stress.

Do … leave the treatments to the end
There is a natural order to spa proceedings, and it’s usually best to leave the beauty treatments to the end. “We always suggest guests use the steam room, pool, sauna first, so they can start relaxing properly, which gets them in the right frame of mind for their treatment,” says Paine. “You don’t want to do it the other way round, particularly if you’ve had a facial, as all the products will melt off, and you want everything to really sink in and nourish the skin.”

But is there a correct order for using the other facilities? “It depends on whether you plan to do some exercise first,” says Flower. “Some people want to get straight into the pool, do some lengths, feel the burn, pummel their aching muscles in the bubble pool, then sweat it all out in the steam room and sauna.” One study into the myriad benefits of sauna bathing found that it can temporarily help you feel less sore, making it the perfect way to end an intense workout. But a trip to the sauna and steam room doesn’t need to be accompanied by exercise as it’s a powerful relaxation tool all by itself. “We get some people who don’t swim at all – they just pop in and out of the sauna, go for a quick dip, then relax on the lounger, and repeat.”

Don’t … worry about kids
“We have kids-only swim times,” says Paine. “A lot of our guests want to come and relax in the morning or after work and in the evening, so we allow kids to come between 8am and 11am, and 3pm to 6pm. That helps everyone – kids can run riot between those times, while adults know that between 11am and 3pm, and after 6pm, they can enjoy the pool.”

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