Spa Holidays in Germany - Do as the Romans Did!

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With its long history of spas and health-giving hot springs, Germany is the place to go for a short break to unwind and pamper body and mind. The Romans made full use of the hot mineral springs at Baden-Baden, and down the ages these great natural resources have been synonymous with health and wellness. In the 18th and 19th centuries, the royalty and aristocratic classes of Europe would meet at the great German spa resort towns - and these days business is booming for great spa regions such as Baden-Wuerttemburg. Germany has nearly 900 spa resorts, including mineral and mud spas, climatic health resorts (known for fresh air), sea resorts, and hydrotherapy spa resorts.

Some of the best spas in Germany are located in Baden-Wuerttemburg. This state in the south-west of Germany has a large number of hot mineral springs, making it Germany's leading destination for spa holidays. And because Baden-Wuettemburg borders on France it enjoys the same tradition for great food and excellent restaurants - and so you can eat really well here.

Of course the great highlight for spa-lovers in Baden-Wuerttemburg is Baden-Baden, the famous historic spa town. Set in the foothills of the picturesque Black Forest, the elegant spa resort of Baden-Baden is an idyllic haven of peace and tranquillity. There are the classic hotel locations for those with extra money to spend and the desire for total luxury is paramount, but it is also easy to get exceptional value superior 3-star hotels such as for example the Hotel Merkur which has been recently renovated and blends a sleek and stylish finish with a warm, welcoming ambiance. It's modern Caracalla Spa is the perfect place to relax, offering unique wellness opportunities and many spa treatments.

Other excellent resort spas here are the Hotel Bareis, Traube-Tonbach, and the extraordinary Bad Duerrheim which is known for its salt water, fango treatments and a fantasyland "sauna world". (Igloo rooms, open fires, chamomile steam rooms a Finnish sauna). The capital city of the region - Stuttgart - also boast many hotels with spa facilities which make full use of the Canstatter spring complex. Hotels such as Le Meridien, Mo Hotel and Steigenberger Graf Zeppelin all feature excellent wellness centres.

For city breaks in other parts of Germany, spa facilities also abound. Excellent examples are Hamburg's Furst Bismarck or the 5-star Grand Elysee with its redesigned and expanded 1000 sqm wellness area with pool, whirlpool, sauna village with steam bath, bright resting area, roof terrace all included in an affordable daily room rate. Or Berlin, the city so revitalised in the past 2 decades where an example of a superb spa facility is Centrovital, a stylish 4-star hotel set close to Spandau Lake, just outside Berlin's city centre. The hotel, with 4 restaurants, an indulgent wellness centre and fully-equipped gym, provides a welcome respite from the buzzing capital. Here you can treat yourself to a revitalising Thalasso massage and, before heading out for a night on the town, or try out some of the spa's pampering beauty treatments, such as facials, manicures and pedicures.

The promise of Germany's spas is to let you leave your hectic pace behind you and improve your quality of life. With the range of traditional treatments on offer and easily accessible, tension is relieved and you have a chance to restore your general health. Far away from the day's stress you can completely relax and let your imagination take over - which after all, is what a short break is all about.