Adele Miner checks out the Aqua Sana Forest Spa at Center Parcs in county Longford.
What’s the closest you can feel to being back inside the womb? For me, I would say it’s rocking gently on a heated water bed at Longford’s Aqua Sana Forest Spa at Center Parcs. It’s in this exact situation I find myself when I enjoyed a day at the spa earlier this summer.
A handy 90-minute drive from Dublin, the spa is one of the largest I’ve been to in Ireland with 21 experiences to spend the day working your way through. The spa is split up into four distinct zones and includes features like the Lava Sauna, tropical rain showers, mineral caves, an outdoor infinity pool, and the Nordic Sauna and steam room.
Kicking my day of R&R off with a 50-minute luxurious VOYA Escape Ritual, the treatment was a warming back massage and exfoliation and a glow facial, which loosened me up and perfectly set the tone for the day. After that, I joined my cousin, both gowned in our robes and set off to tick off all 21 experiences.
One of my favourite elements of the spa is that you’re asked to leave your phone in your locker before entering. Signs are also dotted around the spa reminding you to switch off from the digital world, so I popped my Kindle in my pocket and took the day as an opportunity to get through my latest read. As much as there are saunas, steam rooms and various shower experiences, there are also plenty of chill out zones to park yourself in for as long as you fancy.
Without the presence of phones, many people opted to quietly chat, read, or nap. In fact, it was inside the aforementioned water bed room that felt like an adult nursery, where most inside the room fully embraced nap time – with gentle snores echoing throughout the room. You would think the sound of other people snoozing would be bothersome, but you’re so Zen that it really doesn’t matter.
Choosing a favourite zone is like choosing your favourite child, an impossible task. Each area is well worth dedicating some time to, which if you book a full-day package, you can fully immerse yourself in each. And, speaking of children, there are none around. Although I myself am childfree, I noticed quite a few mothers and those staying in the resort with family enjoy a few hours sans kids. The minimum age for access to the spa is 14 years but any guest under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a paying adult.
There are also different classes and experiences to take part in too. On the day I visited, there was a class on skincare and a sound bath. My only gripe with the experience is that the sound bath wasn’t displayed on the board telling you the time of each class, which meant we missed it. Perhaps this was a one-off mistake but we were disappointed to miss it regardless.
Lunch was included in my package where inside the Vitalé Café Bar we ate a chicken Caesar salad and potatoes, washing it down with a crisp glass of Coke. The perfect way to refuel after all those calories burned off in the saunas.
Would I recommend a visit?
Absolutely! If you’re looking for some child-free bliss as a guest of Center Parcs it’s a no brainer, but I would also recommend taking the trip from wherever you are in Ireland for the day as the experiences and facilities should be experienced at least once. Packages start from €69, check out aquasana.ie for more.
