All thermal pools are kept at a good temperature of upto 36degC. When you enter you’ll find the indoor pool to be surprisingly large with no shortage of in pool massage seats facing out through the curved glass wall to the outer pool, which is directly linked via a channel through the wall. It’s a similar story in the outside pool with a variety of different water jets and seating to help you relax and watch the clouds go by. There is also a really good whirlpool inside by the main pool and a non-thermal tub to cool off in. If no one told you otherwise you would think that although extremely well designed and maintained there was really thing more to Therme Geinberg. Start exploring though and you’ll discover that it is actually very substantial complex. There is a thermal salt-water lagoon with a poolside bar and artificial beach lagoon for lounging around in summer months.

There is also outdoor sports pool for more energetic swimmers, but the highlight is the Thermen Kaskade, hidden away at the far end of the complex. The beautifully crafted stainless steel infinity pool, split on two levels is quite simply stunning, with plenty of space to drift around and enjoy the views of the pleasant green surroundings. For a really surreal experience, stop under the bridge in the channel entering the Thermen Kaskade at night, and look out into the darkness with the steam rising from the top of the deep blue glow of the infinity pool. It’s a truly memorable sight.

Other facilities:

Therme Geinberg has a restaurant within the bath complex, as well as one in the adjacent Vitalhotel that is open to the public. There is also a sauna welt that you can enter for an extra fee and you can also get an enormous range of massages and treatments, within the centre, ranging from alpine therapies to Indian Ayurvedic massages. All of this comes at an extra cost to the main thermal bath ticket, which literally lets you access the baths. It is however very good value for money and if you go in the evening after 5pm (or again after 7pm) the tickets are reduced and allow you to stay until closing time.

Summary:

Therme Geinberg is a real dark horse in the world of thermal baths, with an extremely well presented and substantial complex, delivering far more than you expect and much more than you feel you’ve paid for. If you want to get away from it all and relax both body and mind, then there can’t be many better places than Therme Geinberg.

Top Tip:

Look at the map of the complex. It will be easy to visit the two main pools and go away thinking you’ve seen everything when in fact you’ve missed some of the best bits like the lounge and Kaskade. There are same maps dotted around in the corridors and it’s in the brochure that you get for free from the reception.

Best thing:

Without a doubt the Thermen Kaskade infinity pool is a masterpiece, and even more spectacular after sundown.

Worst thing:

There really isn’t anything bad about Therme Geinberg, but if we must find a glitch then the communal showers may be a little uncomfortable for anyone not used to the customary continental nudity.

Rating:

Where to Stay

Luxury – Vitalhotel Therme Geinberg ****

Midrange - Hotel Bayerischer Hof ***

Budget - Geinberg Suites

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For more information, visit: www.therme-geinberg.at

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The main spa area is housed inside a large glass dome, making it extremely light and the opening of roof takes the indoors out in good weather. There is a large indoor pool that is nice and warm and has a series of powerful jets hidden around the edges. If you are looking for a good time with friends then the indoor bar serving alcoholic and non-alcoholic cocktails is a nice touch, even if it is a bit overpriced. If you’d rather do something healthier, you can work off your cocktail at one of the regular aqua aerobics classes in the main pool.

The indoor pool leads directly through to a large out door pool, which keeps warm even in the very cold weather. While you’re outdoors you must check out the Schwefelquelle, a slight smelly and milky looking hot tub with water temperatures ranging from 0 – 45degC. You should only stay in a few minutes, but when you get out you’ll feel warm standing outside in your swimmers even when it’s snowing. It’s claimed that the heat and minerals have therapeutic qualities, particularly for conditions such as arthritis. Even though its relatively new complex, its architecturally nothing special and feels more like a theme park than a spa with its artificial rocks and palm trees, but it is very well maintained and has a very relaxed atmosphere.

Other Facilities:

There is a whole more to Therme Erding than just a couple of good pools. There are two thermal hot tubs hidden inside artificial caves, both with different mineral contents, aswell as a cave adjoining the main pool with powerful waterfalls that are perfect for head back and shoulder massages. There is also a 100% humidity steam room, a footbath with hot and cold water, and a couple of good whirlpools and a decent lazy river.

The baths can get extremely busy even on a mid week in low season, but if you want a quieter more relaxing spa experience you can pay a premium to enter the VitalOase with its own thermal pool and a range of treatments available. Just be aware that the VitalOase pool is designated for nude bathing after 6pm.
The sauna paradise has a range of good sauna facilities as you’d expect for the extra entry fee, but the real unexpected highlight is the adjacent Galaxy water-park included in the main entry fee. Inside you’ll find what is probably one of the best water parks in Europe, with a huge range of waterslides to suit absolutely everyone. You can enjoy small gentle slides, try to set a speed record at over 65kph or get yourself an inflatable ring and ride a slide that actually goes uphill in places.

Summary:

Therme Erding is an excellent thermal bath with plenty for everyone to enjoy. It may not be the most relaxing or classy thermal bath, but it probably is one of the most fun and really stands out as different from other thermal spas with its wide range of pools and activities to keep the whole family entertained for hours.

Best Thing:
The outdoor Schwefelquelle at a roasting 40-45degC

Worst Thing:
There’s no getting away from the fact that it is a bit tacky.

Top Tip:
Check your timings before you go. At time of writing, the Galaxy water-park opens at 2pm, the VitalOase is nude after 6pm and the main thermal pool is reserved for ladies only on Tuesday afternoons, coupled with the fact that it can be a very busy even off-peak, some advanced planning can help you get the most out of your visit.

Rating:

Where to Stay

Luxury – Hotel zum Erdinger Weissbräu ****

Midrange - Hotel Nummerhof ***

Budget - Ama Apartmenthotel

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More Information

For more information, visit: www.therme-erding.de
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The pools themselves are fairly straightforward, but nicely presented with a variety of blue dichromic mosaics throughout. The main indoor pool is a saltwater pool with reclined seating in the water along one edge aswell as massage and bubble jets, but at only 32° C it is not particularly warm and with its standard rectangular design is a little underwhelming. The adjacent saltwater whirlpool is much more pleasurable with a range of different bubble sequences including tingly fizzing effect. It’s a little warmer at 34°, but this is the hottest pool in Bad Ischl, so it’s no surprise that it can get a little crowded.

There are two outdoor pools, accessed separately from the indoor pool. The main outdoor pool is also saltwater and kept at 33°C, which although not particularly hot is comfortable for an outdoor pool. It’s a nice place to sit back and enjoy the mountain air, just watch out for the near invisible internal walls and steps hidden beneath the surface of the water, or you could end up with some nasty bruises. The other outdoor pool is far more interesting though. As the resort itself says, the lazy river is THE water attraction, and in this case it’s more of a rapids than a lazy river, with children and adults whizzing around the track. There are a few pit stops along the way with calm areas to relax and enjoy some bubble therapy, including a very cosy salz grotto. You can keep hopping between stations and when it’s time to go home, you will be sure to go for one more lap.

There are also small but nicely presented indoor and outdoor children’s pools for those with family. The basic four hour ticket costs 13Euros at the time of writing, and you can get a 10% discount if you carry a Gastekarte from a hotel in Bad Ischl with you.

Other Facilities

The baths have a pleasant canteen style restaurant with decent quality and value food, and plenty of gallery areas with loungers if you want to take a break from the pool during your visit. Any food or drink can be recorded on your digital wristband so you don’t need to carry money with you into the pool areas. If you want saunas or spa treatments then you’ll need to purchase an additional ticket for the adjoining sauna welt, which would then allow you to move freely between the two areas.

Summary

The Eurothermen Resort in Bad Ischl is a very pleasant and well presented complex, where you can spend time relaxing and have some fun in the lazy river. However, it fails to take advantage of its location with quite poorly conceived architecture that feels like an upmarket swimming pool complex, but not the world-class facility that it ought to be. The water is not particularly warm either for a thermal spa, but if you go in with realistic expectations, you should have a good time.

Best Thing

The lazy river is the clear highlight, with a long track, powerful current, and three different relaxation areas along the way.

Worst Thing

It’s just not particularly warm. Some may enjoy the slightly cooler pools but a thermal spa of this size, really should have at least one genuinely hot bath to avoid disappointing visitors.

Top Tip

Wherever you see a white nozzle on the side of the lazy river, put your hand over the jet directly below it underwater. Hold it there for a couple of seconds for a fun surprise.

Rating:

Where to Stay

Luxury – Hotel Goldener Ochs ****

Midrange - Alpengasthof Hotel Anlager ***

Budget - Haus Strutzenberger

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For more information, visit: www.eurothermen.at

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As you enter the Aqua Dome in Längenfeld, under its curved ceiling, a sense of calm falls over you before you even reach the baths. Inside, two large thermal pools sit behind an enormous glass wall framing the panoramic views of the valley. The stainless steel pools have a cool modern aesthetic, contrasting with the hot water (with one pool at 34C and one pool at 36C). The hot pool has a range of jacuzzi seats and jets, while the cooler pool has powerful massage jet for the head and back.

From the indoor pool, you can swim through a gateway into the fresh alpine air, where a channel of warm water leads you to a quick moving lazy river and then on to the outdoor pools. There are three circular outdoor thermal pools suspended from a central stair tower. From these pools you are able to truly appreciate the scale of the surrounding mountains. The first pool up the tower is a pleasant whirl pool, but it gets really exciting as you climb up. The middle pool has a central fountain that intermittently releases a jet of sulphur water direct from the thermal spring. The hot sulphur has the inevitable smell of eggs but the jet gives a powerful massage and its claims to have health benefits. The top pool at first glance seems like the least remarkable, until you discover that it is a brine pool and has music playing under water. It’s also the hottest outdoor pool at 36C. Tip your head back, and relax with your ears in the water. You’ll be amazed just how relaxing this can be and you’ll need to watch out that you don’t drift off to sleep.

Other Facilities

The Aqua Dome has a good restaurant, which will credit you with extra time in the baths if you eat there. There is also large Lounge Area where you can relax out of the water, a warm room with heated stone benches. The thermal baths also part of a larger spa complex which includes sauna and steam rooms, treatments, fitness facilities and a hotel, though access to these facilities is not included in the bath entry fee.

Summary

The Aqua Dome is nothing short of stunning. Beautifully designed in a magnificent location, a few hours here may well be the most relaxing of your life.

Best Thing

Views of the mountains from the indoor and the outdoor pools.

Worst Thing

You can’t stay forever!

Top Tip

Go to the top outdoor pool, lie back, spread your legs wide and hook your ankles over the edge of the pool. Then tip your head back and listen to the gentle underwater music while the clouds drift by overhead.

Rating:

Where to Stay

Luxury – Aqua Dome Hotel ****

Midrange - Gletscher-Landhaus Brunnenkogel ***

Budget - Camping Oetztal

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For more information, visit: www.aqua-dome.at

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