Bath Houses

Are there any published critic rankings of spa%26#39;s or bath houses tell of best in area of Hot Springs?

Bath Houses

I don%26#39;t know if there are published rankings or not but here%26#39;s my tip. When I do the baths I go to the Arlington and get a room there for this reason: you take the baths first and then they oil you up for the massage. You do not get a bath or shower after the massage so you%26#39;re running around town afterwards feeling very greasy. I%26#39;ve had friends complain about the same thing so they too prefer the Arlington for that reason. Know this wasn%26#39;t your question but maybe it will help anyway.

Bath Houses

Hello :)

I live in Hot Springs and I own a business downtown. Visitors ask me questions all day about bath houses %26amp; spas... and I%26#39;m happy to give out what info I can :)

Here are some basic facts to help you pick which may be right for you:

Bath houses and Spas are two different things here...

1. The Water

A. bath houses services are regulated by the national park and they buy/use the natural spring water that is protected by Hot Springs National Park.

B. Spas do not use this water. (this is not a good or bad thing... it%26#39;s just not natural spring water, but the city water here is pretty darn good)

2. Services

A. bath houses all have about the same basic routine: 20 mins in a private tub with whirlpool jet, steam or sauna room, shower off, relax on a %26#39;cooling%26#39; table (this really means getting wrapped up like a mummy with hot packs under you!) and then go for your massage.

note: check with the bath house because it%26#39;s more common to see some extras that can be added on... and that%26#39;s a good thing.

B. Spas are more ala%26#39; carte so you can mix %26amp; match and add a lot more things onto your visit.

3. Bathing Suit?

A. bath houses most people strip down to the puff and are given a large sheet or towel to cover themselves as they move from point A to B. But it is just fine in you are more at ease I want to wear a bathingsuit. (But do yourself a favor... lose the suit!! nobody cares %26amp; they are not going to see anything anyway)

B. it is common in Spas to get the fuzzy robe and slippers

4. Cost

A. last time I checked on the bath houses it was somewhere around $50-60 for the whole thing... which lasts around one and a half hours.

B. all kinds of prices

5. Call ahead!!

A. %26amp; B : you can get lucky with just walking in to a bath house or a spa but I always make an appointment so I don%26#39;t have to wait... even if it%26#39;s only an hour before.

other notes:

to learn more about the bath houses please visit the visitors center for the national park which is in the middle of bath house row in the The Fordyce Bathhouse. it%26#39;s wonderful, lots of info and it%26#39;s free.

http://www.hot.springs.national-park.com/

The only bath house on %26#39;the row%26#39; that is still operating is the Buckstaff, BUT there are more bath houses!

this link has both houses %26amp; spas listed:

www.hotsprings.org/things_to_do/default.asp鈥?/a>

personal comments:

many of the locals (including me) like the bath services at the Arlington Hotel. Really like the girls there and it%26#39;s easy to valet park and come %26amp; go.

we have lots of spas... you almost can%26#39;t go wrong!

but here is a little info:

Ablution A Day Spa %26amp; Salon was just voted %26#39;Best Of%26#39; and I know they do a really nice job. It%26#39;s located out on Lake Hamilton.

Turtle Cove Spa is outside of Hot Springs at Mountain Harbor Resort and a very very special place...

one more thought...

think about what your plans are after your bath or spa treatment!

don%26#39;t plan on walking or climbing up the mountain!!

and be careful how much you drink, alcohol seems to get in your system faster after a bath ;)

GOOD NEWS: look forward to next spring (2008) to having the Quapaw Bath House open and operating on the row!!!

Hope this helps people to ENJOY Hot Springs :)