Evaluate: Aqua Dome Resort & Spa (Austrian Alps)

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At present: Evaluate of Aqua Dome Resort & Spa (Austria)

As Austria’s largest vacationer undertaking so far, Aqua Dome is positioned within the lovely Ötztal Valley, surrounded by the Tyrolean Alps and near tiny Austrian city of Längenfeld. Right here, in 1997, a borehole tapped thermal water from a depth of 1,865 m (6,118 ft) for the primary time. A subsequent funding of greater than 70 million euros put Längenfeld and the entire of Austrian Tyrol on the map of thermal spa tourism in a single go. What adopted is successful story that continues to at the present time. Aqua Dome is arguably probably the most iconic thermal spa in Austria, if not your entire Alps. The thermal spa and resort have welcomed nearly seven million friends within the twenty years since opening. Aqua Dome boasts futuristic trying spa and health amenities with a variety of swimming pools, saunas and a small play space for youngsters. Company of the resort even have unique entry to Spa 3000 (a premium spa throughout the spa).

Aqua Dome options in my high 10 checklist of the finest lodges in Austria.

Have you ever ever stayed at Aqua Dome? In that case, what was your expertise? Go away a remark.

On this overview (extra information and photographs under my YouTube video):

PROS & THINGS I LIKE

The structure of Aqua Dome – which consists of two linked websites (the spa and the resort) – is completely suited to the encompassing mountain panorama. The resort itself includes a conventional but trendy Alpine structure. Using wooden, stone and huge home windows within the resort’s façade and terraces has been rigorously introduced collectively by expert architects, with a purpose to spotlight the pure fantastic thing about the Ötztal Valley. In distinction, the spa – which is positioned barely uphill from the resort – boasts an attention-grabbing, futuristic structure with a glass-domed design. Right here, a conical quantity connects three bowl-shaped swimming pools which appear to levitate above the bottom’s floor, nearly creating the look of a space-ship. The jagged roof of the principle spa constructing echoes the formation of the encompassing mountains in form and materiality.

On the within, the Aqua Dome Resort includes a heat Alpine decor, mixing basic, modern and native farmhouse design. The foyer’s open-plan structure, wooden panelling and earthy tones seize the character of the Ötztal mountains. On the coronary heart of the foyer is an impressive bar space, full with a piano, mirrored ceiling and a glass wall stocked with wonderful wines and charcuterie. The passionate and educated bar staff has chosen properly over 100 sorts of gin, taking even connoisseurs into an entire new world of taste. Proper behind the bar, as an extension to the foyer area, is a comfy lounge centered round an open hearth, with a number of snug seats organized round espresso tables (the proper spot for an aperitif after a day exploring the mountains or stress-free within the spa).

Aqua Dome Resort options greater than 200 lodging, all fitted with an Alpine decor that creates a homey ambiance with out sacrificing consolation. Starting from cozy double rooms to panoramic suites with fireplaces to spacious “Raumwunder” household suites with a number of rooms and loos, the rooms look enormously inviting due to crimson components and wooden accents combined with heat earth tones. Throughout my go to, I stayed in an Auszeit Double Room, which includes a queensize mattress, a sitting space, and a panoramic terrace with a view of the mountains. The ensuite lavatory was outfitted with one was basin and a bath (which additionally doubled because the bathe). The mini-bar was stocked with complimentary non-alcoholic drinks (juices, glowing water and nonetheless water).

Proper behind the foyer is Aqua Dome’s single restaurant, which was just lately modernised in a brand new model, with a glass extension and large panoramic home windows, bringing the character of the Ötztal Valley inside. The restaurant is a gigantic area, divided into 4 completely different eating rooms, every with their very own distinctive furnishing ideas. Impressed by the alpine environment, vibrant grass inexperienced and darkish cranberry crimson dominate in two of the eating places. The panoramic extension of the ‘Enzian’ space connects the indoor and out of doors space, whereas a flowered bench within the ‘Blumenwiese’ winter backyard invitations friends to remain some time. Every morning, the eating places presents a superb breakfast unfold, from freshly baked deal with and smoked delicacies to all kinds of alpine cheeses. At evening, the restaurant serves a five-course gourmand dinner, which is mixture of a buffet and à la carte dishes, reminiscent of Ötztal trout in alpine caviar, breasts from farm geese with French mountain thyme, and alpine lamb marinated in woodruff.

In all probability probably the most fascinating a part of Aqua Dome Resort is its location proper subsequent to the gorgeous spectacular Aqua Dome thermal spa, which presents greater than 10 swimming pools and dozens of wellness amenities. Staying within the resort is the easiest way to expertise this iconic thermal spa complicated (also known as probably the most iconic spa within the Alps). A heated, underground walkway connects the resort to the principle spa complicated. Resort friends get limitless entry to your entire thermal bathtub bathhouse, sauna world, and health middle in addition to unique entry to the two-story Spa 3000 and panorama rest room. Moreover, Aqua Dome resort friends get early entry (7 am) to the thermal baths, two hours earlier than the complicated opens to the general public (9 am). That signifies that resort friends can benefit from the floating basins and swimming pools in peace earlier than the non-hotel visitor arrive.

On the coronary heart of the Aqua Dome Spa is the Crystal Heart, an unlimited, three-level glass construction which homes two massive swimming pools with thermal spring water (one at a temperature of 93°F or 34°C, and one at a temperature of 97°F or 36°C), a solarium and several other quiet rooms. The spotlight of Crystal Heart is its big glass entrance that gives an open view of the mountainous environment of the Ötztal Alps – merely breathtaking! The Crystal Heart connects to Aqua Dome’s well-known out of doors swimming pools, which is assortment of three sorts of swimming swimming pools:
- A bubbly river pool – with a delicate present and a few rapids – takes friends from The Crystal Heart’s indoor pool to the spa’s elevated basin swimming pools
- A glass pyramid presents entry to 3 eye-catching pool basins that float over the opposite swimming pools like an UFO. Every basin has its personal particular enchantment. The only basin has a salt content material of 5%, with mild underwater music and lighting results. Pure sulphur spring water flows into the thermal waters within the sulphur basin pool each quarter-hour. The third basin – a therapeutic massage basin – is ideal for many who need to add vitality and vitality to their aquatic pleasure.
- A 25 m (82 ft) lap pool stretches underneath the basins and includes a nice water temperature of 78°F (26°C).

Reserved solely for friends staying on the Aqua Dome Resort, Spa 3000 is unfold throughout the highest two flooring of the principle spa constructing and presents magnificent views of the encompassing mountains. Its trendy design combining pinewood, granite and huge glass facades with panoramic views brings the uncooked fantastic thing about the Ötztal Valley inside. The cathedral-like inside of Spa 3000 homes amenities reminiscent of a bar, a rest space, a hearth room, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna, all opening to a big rooftop terrace with the perfect views within the Aqua Dome complicated. A centrally positioned staircase leads from Spa 3000’s higher ground to a decrease stage, the place one finds a number of extra rest areas, full with steam baths, a sauna and a small indoor pool, constructed alongside a pure moss-covered wall.

The Aqua Dome Spa can also be dwelling to a formidable garment-free sauna space, which options quite a lot of saunas, reminiscent of a loft sauna, a stone sauna, a sauna canyon, and hay barn sauna. The sauna additionally presents sauna Aufguss (sauna infusion), during which sauna masters swing their towel a number of instances a day or invite friends on a scented journey with glacier ice, mountain honey, Swiss stone pine magic or salt peeling. The sauna space can also be dwelling to a rest lounge, a cafetaria, steam baths, a number of indoor whirpools, in addition to a gorgeous 20 m (66 ft) lengthy out of doors pool, which is stuffed with 34°C (93°F) heat pure thermal water. From the sauna space, it’s only a brief stroll to the remedy space, which is positioned one ground under Spa 300 (on the identical stage because the health middle). Right here, there are 17 remedy areas, the place massages, scrubs, and facials make use of native honey, herbs, salt, and even wooden (it’s recommened to prebook your remedy to keep away from disappointment).

CONS & THINGS TO KNOW

Aqua Dome payments itself as a 4-star superior resort (and never as a five-star resort). IMHO, the resort may nearly move for a 5 star property: a lot of the resort’s communal amenities have an opulent ambiance (particularly because the current improve of the foyer) and don’t really feel that completely different from another 5 star lodges. Additionally, the service was glorious throughout my keep and the meals providing was fairly good as properly (each dinner and breakfast). Nevertheless, the one space have been the resort disenchanted me just a little have been the rooms. Whereas my room (an Auszeit Double Room) was clear, spacious and cozy, it felt a bit fundamental with dated furnishings, and lacked an opulent design (I suppose that’s why the resort sticks to its 4-star superior grading).

Most individuals keep on the Aqua Dome Resort to have entry to the Aqua Dome Spa subsequent door. It’s essential to emphasise that the spa is open to the general public, so it could really feel very busy and crowded, nearly like an amusement park. That stated, the resort does presents its friends early entry to the spa (two hours previous to most of the people), so in case you might be an early riser, you may benefit from the spa and its swimming pools in whole tranquility. The whole place additionally empties out within the late night, making this one other nice time to discover. As well as, resort friends have unique entry to the Spa 3000 – a spa throughout the spa – the place they will spend their time in serenity, silence and tranquility (away from the crowds).

With greater than 200 rooms, Aqua Dome is a very massive property. In case you are searching for an intimate property within the mountains, it’s best to undoubtedly keep elsewhere. Throughout my keep, the resort felt busy (particularly in the course of the meal instances since there is just one restaurant the place all resort friends have breakfast and dinner) however not over-crowded. To deal with the excessive variety of friends (each on the resort and the spa), all friends obtain a chip wristband at check-in. This wristband might really feel a bit bizarre at first nevertheless it’s a multi-functional instrument: it opens the resort room and grants resort friends limitless entry to all areas of the spa (e.g. thermal baths, Sauna World, Spa 3000, health middle); all extras (e.g. lunch, drinks and so forth…) will also be charged to the chip wristband.

MY VERDICT

Location: 7/10
Design: 8/10
Pool: 10/10
Rooms: 7/10
Meals: 8/10
Breakfast: 9/10
Spa: 10/10
Service: 8/10
Wow issue: 9/10
Worth for cash: 9/10
Total expertise: excellent – 8/10

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BEST TIME TO VISIT

Aqua Dome is a vacation spot that may be visited year-round.

HOW TO GET THERE

Aqua Dome is straightforward to achieve by practice (Ötztal railway station) and by airplane (Innsbruck & Munich). Street transfers between the airport, practice station and resort might be organized by means of the resort concierge.