To get 2018 off to a good start, a hot spring holiday will make you feel good while also bestowing restorative qualities. Soaking in naturally thermal waters can do wonders for body and mind, much needed in the post-Christmas period. Best of all, these natural spas are all open to the public and considerably cheaper than your typical 5-star hotel spa.
Treat yourself at one of these top-rated natural spa destinations, according to global travelers.
Ruisui, Taiwan
The water in Ruisui is particularly rich in iron, thus cleansing and revitalizing for the skin
What makes the hot springs in Ruisui particularly special is their natural carbonated quality, so you’ll be spared the sulphuric smell of most other geothermal spas. The water here is rust-coloured and rich in iron (among other minerals), so it’s not only soothing but also cleansing and revitalizing for your skin.
Enjoy the silky-smooth feeling of sinking into
a steaming hot bath at the The Silence Manor an enviable 5 star hotel which features a year-round outdoor pool, hot spring bath, steamroom, garden and terrace.
The ideal places to relax and unwind after a busy day.
Kaga, Japan
The hot springs in Kaga are widely regarded as the best in Japan
The Japanese word for a hot spring is onsen and there are thousands to choose from all over the country. But many believe that those found at Kaga are the best; four natural spas found in the mountains – Yamashiro, Yamanaka, Katayamazu and Awazu. You can access the heavenly water via soyu (public baths), which are traditional Japanese wooden buildings with thermal pools draped with weeping willows and flowers.
Kissho Yamanaka is located in Yamanaka Onsen of Kaga hot spring village, featuring two natural hot spring baths SHIRASAGI-NO-YU, an open-air bath tub along the mountain stream and KIKU-NO-YU public baths.
Also partake in Kaga Japanese Cuisine while enjoying the scenes of the four seasons, such as fresh greenery, autumn color and snowscape.
Quesada, Costa Rica
Hot springs are found deep in the jungle in Quesada
In the valley of the San Carlos plain, Quesada is a launch pad for volcanic Costa Rica’s multiple hot springs. Deep in the jungle, thermal rivers are guided into jade-green, cloudy pools amid the ferns and palm trees. Indulgent spa houses have cropped up in the area too so visitors can now book mud wraps, exfoliations and other pampering treatments.
Hotel Termales del Bosque eco hotel is situated in the exuberant rain forest. Here you'll find a beautiful stream with refreshing waterfalls that run straight from the volcano hot springs creating relaxing natural pools with thermo-mineral water.
A place full of nature ready to be enjoyed for family and friends
Strelcha, Bulgaria
This humble Bulgarian spa town has been a centre of healing since ancient times
The humble Bulgarian spa town of Strelcha, with its old stone churches and rustic houses, has several hot spring spots in the surrounding countryside. Knowledge of the water’s curative nature dates back to antiquity, so sanatoriums and health centres are ubiquitous. But taking a dip by yourself will be enough to detoxify, ease muscles and all-over tension, with the Sredna Gora Mountains and their thick coat of forest forming the blissful backdroP
Hotel-Restaurant "Sredna Gora" has 2 apartments, 3 triple rooms, 9 double rooms, conference hall, parking. Each room has cable TV Bulsatcom, mini-bar, internet, air conditioning, private bathroom, mineral water, terrace. The guests can use a swimming pool and sauna, which operate year round. There is also a beautiful summer garden where you can enjoy unforgettable summer evenings.