Escape to Paradise: Belgian Sauna Spa Getaway in Charming Waimes
Escape to Paradise? More Like a Belgian Sauna Saga! (A Waimes Whirlwind Review)
Okay, so the brochure promised "Escape to Paradise: Belgian Sauna Spa Getaway in Charming Waimes". Did it deliver? Well, buckle up buttercups, because this is one messy, honest, and hopefully slightly useful review. Forget the polished travel blogs, we're going full-on unedited experience here.
Let's break it down (or maybe just break things down, like my sanity after the second sauna session).
First Impressions & Accessibility: Not Always Smooth Sailing
- Accessibility: Right off the bat, I'm thinking, "Is it actually accessible?" Considering it was advertised to be a spa getaway and there are some elderly and wheelchair users, I wanted to check the accessibility of this hotel. The brochure looked promising, but let's be real, you never know. Sadly, the info on Wheelchair accessible features here is nonexistent. The website didn't do a good job of portraying what the accessibility was really like. I can tell you that the elevator existed, which is a HUGE plus. I saw Facilities for disabled guests mentioned, which is promising, but I'd recommend you call beforehand if accessibility is essential for you.
- Check-in: The Contactless check-in/out was a definite plus, made things so much easier. The Front desk [24-hour] was great and staff were very accommodating, but I'd have to rate the check-in process as being okay.
- Getting There: I did not ask for Airport transfer so I can't speak to that. I went up via Car park [free of charge] was pretty good and made life easier. There was **Car park [on-site] and there was also *Valet parking*, both of which were great.
The Spa & Sauna Spectacle: Hot, Humid, and… Slightly Weird.
Oh boy, where do I even begin? The whole raison d'être of this so-called “paradise” was the spa, right? And that, my friends, was a… mixed bag.
- Sauna, Sauna, Sauna: The sauna. It was everything and nothing I expected. The scent, usually promised to be invigorating, was a bit… medicinal. Like a doctor's office, but instead of a checkup, you're slowly baking. They have various types of Sauna. And the Steamroom was a solid experience. I found myself wandering from one to the next, trying to figure out the optimal "sweat-to-relaxation" ratio. It was an exercise in endurance, really. I'll admit, in the end, it was great and I felt the stress melting away.
- The Pool with a View: This was where it got interesting. They advertised Swimming pool, and Swimming pool [outdoor]. My first thought was "perfect!" Sadly, the outdoor pool was closed during my visit which made me sad. But the indoor Pool with view was a game-changer. You'd see the snow-covered hills, and you can take your dip, take a moment to appreciate your inner peace and not be bothered by the outside world.
- Things to do, ways to relax: They also provided areas to have a Body scrub, a Foot bath, Massage, Spa, Spa/sauna.
- Gym/fitness: I got to go the gym!
Food, Glorious (and Sometimes Questionable) Food:
Let's talk fuel, shall we? A spa experience is no good without decent sustenance.
- Dining, drinking, and snacking: The hotel offered a variety of options. There was A la carte in restaurant, Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Bar, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Coffee shop, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Room service [24-hour], Salad in restaurant, Snack bar, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant. I tried the Breakfast [buffet] once and it was good! It was not bad, but it was not something I would rave about. They also had a Poolside bar which was nice after the Sauna. One thing I really liked was that I could have Coffee/tea in restaurant. I am a huge coffee person. I tried the Happy hour one time and enjoyed it too.
- Breakfast in room Breakfast takeaway service These were lovely little extras that added a touch of indulgence.
Cleanliness, Safety (and the Ghost of COVID): Was It Truly Safe?
Okay, COVID is still a thing, so this is important.
- Cleanliness and safety: Okay, so points for effort. I noticed Anti-viral cleaning products, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment.
- Things that were a little less perfect: Some areas felt a bit… thorough, but not quite clinical. Like they’d done the minimum required. Like the cleaners were on a timer.
The Room: A Cozy Cave or a Cramped Cell?
My room was okay. Not spectacular, not terrible. Just… there.
- Available in all rooms: Air conditioning, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathroom phone, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, In-room safe box, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens.
- The good: The Blackout curtains were a lifesaver. The Extra long bed was great. I was happy for the Internet access – wireless. The included coffee/tea maker was a definite win.
- The not-so-good: The room didn't feel particularly spacious. I missed a Additional toilet.
- Stuff I didn't care about at all: The Alarm clock, or the Wake-up service.
Hidden Gems & Quirky Bits:
- The terrace: The Terrace was amazing, overlooking the Belgian countryside and seeing the beauty of nature was so peaceful!
- The staff: The staff were generally friendly and helpful, always smiling and being polite.
Final Verdict: Paradise Found? Maybe Not, But a Decent Getaway.
So, did I escape to paradise? Nah. But did I have a relaxing getaway? Yeah, mostly. It's a decent option. The spa experience, while a bit uneven, was ultimately enjoyable. The food had its ups and downs. The room was adequate. The cleanliness was… good enough. I'm going to rate it a solid 3.5 out of 5 stars. The [Hotel Chain] should probably tighten up on a few things.
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Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because this itinerary ain't gonna be your pristine, color-coded Pinterest board. This is real life. This is WAIMES, BABY! And let's face it, my holiday home is a lovely place. More like "potentially lovely, if I can stop forgetting where I put the bloody remote" type of lovely.
Day 1: Arrival, Anticipation, and the Great Sauna Dilemma
14:00 - Touchdown at the Lovely Holiday Home (LHHO). Okay, so the GPS took us on a scenic detour that involved a very close encounter with a particularly grumpy-looking cow. Let's just say I now know the official Belgian language is "MOOO". Unpacked. Found the key. Victory! The place is… surprisingly spacious. Might need to leave a breadcrumb trail to find my way back to the kitchen.
14:30 - Sauna, Sauna, Burning Love? This is the moment, right? The whole reason for the trip. I've envisioned myself, a serene goddess emerging from a cloud of eucalyptus-scented steam… Reality? The sauna door is stuck. For ten minutes I was wrestling with it while mumbling under my breath. Finally, with a satisfying CLUNK the door came open. But now I'm drenched in sweat just from the effort. Not exactly the zen I had in mind.
15:00 - Inventory and Panic. Okay, so the welcome basket is… sparse. No champagne, no gourmet chocolates. More like "a bag of generic chips and a suspiciously old-looking apple." Panic sets in. Did I remember to pack the good coffee? (Spoiler alert: I didn't. Curse my scatterbrained tendencies!).
16:00 - Exploring the Surroundings (and the Supermarket). Waimes. Populated by very, very stoic-looking locals. Found the local supermarket. It's… a sensory experience. The cheese section alone could be its own museum. Purchased enough provisions to survive a zombie apocalypse. Also bought a ridiculously oversized Belgian waffle. I justify it.
18:00 - Sauna Round 2 (The Redemption Arc). This time… success! Actually got the sauna up and running. Stepping in was pure bliss. But then… the timer started beeping. The instructions were in French, and my French is… "Bonjour." I'm pretty sure I spent half the time frantically trying to turn it off before the fire alarm went off…
Anecdote: I swear, the sweat was dripping off me like a leaky faucet! But the feeling… pure, unadulterated relaxation. I emerged, feeling like a new woman. Or at least, a less stressed one. Then I knocked over a bottle of water in my attempt to get dressed, and the serene goddess feeling quickly vanished.
19:00 - Dinner and a Beer (Maybe Two). The local restaurant across the street. It's got creaky wooden floors and a menu in Dutch. I point and hope for the best. I'm pretty sure I ordered a plate of what seemed to be fried potatoes, a massive piece of meat, and a side of… more fried potatoes. Delicious. With a local Belgian beer, the world is good.
21:00 - Early to bed to prepare for tomorrow's schedule.
Day 2: Spa & Beyond
- 9:00 - Awakening, or the morning of bliss. The sun streaming through the window and the gentle hum of the fridge. Time for coffee. (I remember to go back for it this time).
- 10:00 - Spa Time! So, I decided to hit the local spa for a massage. It felt amazing, pure bliss.
- 14:00 - The Waimes Wanderer. Packed a picnic (mostly cheese and bread. And possibly a second oversized waffle). Decided to go for a nature walk and took the wrong trails and got lost. I ended up in someone's backyard. The only reaction to have by me was, "oops!"
- 16:00 - Spa Round 2 (The Return of the Enthusiast). Seriously, for my peace of mind, I have to go back to the spa. Rambling: Did I mention there was a jacuzzi and a hot tub? I will return later! I want to experience the pleasure!
- 19:00 - Dinner. The best food of the trip. Opinion: The food was delicious, for sure. If I had it my way, I would eat it again and again. It was perfection.
- 21:00 - Early to bed to prepare for tomorrow's schedule.
Day 3: Departure (And the Great Packing Fiasco)
- 9:00 - The Morning After… Coffee, and a Deep Sigh. Coffee, and then a deep sigh. Because packing. The most dreaded part of any trip. Where do you bring a big suitcase to? Oh, yes. Packing. I'm pretty sure I'll be leaving with more than I came with.
- 10:00 - One Last Sauna Farewell (and the Great Towel Hunt). Gotta squeeze in one last sauna session. Then realize I can't find my favorite towel. Searched everywhere. Found it… in the car. Figures.
- 11:00 - Cleaning/Packing. The less said the better. Let's just say I'm not exactly Marie Kondo.
- 12:00 - Departure. Waimes, You Were Weirder (and Way More Wonderful) Than I Expected. Started the car. Took one last look at the house - it's perfect. Let's book another one!
Epilogue:
Waimes, you quirky, cheese-laden, sauna-filled paradise. You tested my patience, challenged my navigation skills, and gave me a healthy dose of relaxation. I'll be back. And next time, I'll remember the coffee, the cheese, and the towel. This isn't goodbye; it's "see ya later, you beautiful weirdo!"
Scheveningen Dream: Luxury 3-Room Apartment Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Belgian Sauna Spa Getaway in Waimes - FAQs (and My Slightly Unhinged Reactions)
Okay, so… Waimes? Sounds… Belgian. What's the *vibe*?
Is this place REALLY an "Escape to Paradise"? Like, actual paradise?
The Saunas! What are the sauna experiences *really* like? I'm a sauna newbie, you know.
Speaking of the plunge pool… Was it REALLY as bad as you hinted at?
What about the food? Is it worthy of a Belgian getaway?
What should I pack? Essentials?
- Multiple Swimsuits: You'll need one for wet areas, they also have a nude area.
- Lots of towels: They have them there, but take a few of your own.
- A good robe: You'll be living in this thing.
- Flip-flops or sandals: For stepping around.
- Water bottle: Hydration is key!
- A book/Kindle (if you can relax enough to read): I ended up just staring at the ceiling, contemplating the meaning of life while slightly pickled in heat.
- Maybe some earplugs: If you're a light sleeper, because relaxation can equal snoring.
- The secret to good mental health: Because you will need it.
Is it a good place for couples? Or friends? Or… solo?
Any tips for surviving the Aufguss ceremonies? They sound… intimidating.
- Sit strategically: Closer to the door means a quicker escape route.
- Hydrate beforehand: You WILL sweat buckets.
- Breathe deeply: Seriously, it helps.
- Don't be afraid to tap out: Pride is a killer. Or burns. Or both.
- Embrace the feeling: It's supposed to be intense!
- Think of waffles! Seriously, it'll get you through. Maybe.
Would you go back? Despite the whole… waffle and plunge pool situation?
