therme | Talk to me about Austria

Aqua Dome is a 140-room, four-star-plus hotel and spa complex in Tirol Therme Längenfeld, the Tyrollean Alps in Austria. The altitude must have had an effect on the planners and designers because the place is out-of-this world heavenly.

The services are impressive and the facilities absolutely beautiful although somewhat counterproductively named with words too difficult to pronounce unless you speak German – which one can learn ;). The dome ceiling, glass-walled thermal spring hall Ursprung (Origins) is the main indoor area with two pools and a huge waterfall. From there, you swim via two canal pools to the amazing outdoor area, Talfrische (Freshness Valley). With its illuminated structures and steaming vessels it resembles the potion-making lab of a gigantic but friendly sorcerer. The two canals lead to a cone-shaped illuminated tower. From there you proceed to the three bowl pools that look like gigantic martini glasses. Bobbing in one of these 8 meter high bowls that are 12 to 16 meters in diameter, you can gaze upon the Alps and contemplate your good fortune.

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The beauty center and spa are known as Morgentau (Morning Dew), the rest room (not a bathroom but a room for rest) is called Besinnung (Reflection) and the view terrace is called Umsicht (View). Gletscherglühen (Glowing Glacier) is the impressive “sauna world” with various Finnish saunas from earth lodge and hay sauna to a loft sauna, a steam cathedral, a salt water (they call it brine) grotto, herbal bath, ice pool and a panorama whirlpool. The fitness center called Gipfelsturm (Peak Push), the kids’ area called Alpen Arche Noah (Alpine Noah’s Ark), the medical center (Medalp 4health) plus several restaurants ensure that everyone’s needs are met.

Aqua Dome is one of the six VAMED Vitality World resorts, all located in Austria.

People from all over Europe come to Austria on a regular basis to enjoy it’s Thermen culture!

We Austrians are seriously big on Wellness, Saunas and all that good stuff. Every year we try to at least make one or two vacations for a few days (or over the weekend) to one of the countless beautiful Wellness Hotels in Austria. Austria’s Wellness culture is a culture of its own and just as popular among Austrians and surrounding European countries, as it is for Finish People to go to Finish saunas!

The Austrian Spa’s we are talking about are called THERMEN in German, or singular THERME. And believe us when we say, that you cannot compare the American spas to Austrian ones. It is something completely different.

There are literally hundreds and hundreds of Thermen throughout Austria. Part of the reason which makes the Austrian Thermen so popular throughout Europe is that pretty much almost two-thirds of landmass in Austria consists of the Alps, and as a result, 95% of the Thermen you can go to in Austria stem from Natural Healthy Mineral Hot Springs ;)!

In addition to that, the hotels are top end at a reasonable price. Whenever we go to a Therme, it is all about relaxation – in every way, and just enjoying life. Top-notch cooks from all over the country work at those Thermen and the food that you get to taste there is just as amazing as the Thermen Experience in itself. They usually have a bunch of fitness programs at every Therme, as well as hair stylists, masseurs/masseuses, skin experts, you name it! It’s all about Wellness.

In Austria we are furthermore pretty open about our bodies. So in contrast to some American Spas or Korean ones, to which we’ve been to, you will find that the genders intermingle in Thermen and that there is no separate male and female area in Austrian Saunas.

However, we do distinguish between naked and non-naked areas, so you can decide whichever one you prefer. A little tip though on the side in case you do want to enter the naked area that usually has the coolest and newest technology Saunas, Steam Rooms and other nice things: no one has ever asked us to leave the naked areas when we wore a bikini or bathing short. However, in most Thermen there are signs where it says that it is not allowed to wear any kind of swimwear. Why? Because the material of swimwear is supposedly not good for your skin when you enter steam rooms, saunas, etc.

Though what you can do in case you feel a little uncomfortable about the glances from the people around you who are walking around naked, just try and wrap a towel around you and just use the Therme like that ;).