4 ms·

Any kind of inappropriateness or sexual activity is usually both forbidden and frowned upon in textile-free spas - even staring is considered extremely rude. Th

by 9dev 3y ago

Any kind of inappropriateness or sexual activity is usually both forbidden and frowned upon in textile-free spas - even staring is considered extremely rude. That said, sure those things happen, but by any means are they not representative nor to be expected. If you go to a sauna, enjoy being allowed to just be for once, without any need to hide something. I promise you it’s transformative to see hundreds of other naked people at once, and realise your body is perfectly normal and okay.

xg15 3y ago
I think the boundary is somewhat fluid. Haven't seen actual inappropriate behaviour in a spa yet (and I think especially saunas are mostly spurring the imagination of people who never visited one: you're usually too exhausted from the heat and/or humidity to even want to do anything) However it's clearly a place for couples to go to and especially in the actual bathing area (i.e. not the saunas), you can whitness a lot of "public displays of affection". Whether this this upsets you or not, is something that everyone has to decide for themselves I guess.
- earthnail 3y ago
  Seems to depend on demographics. The more you go towards early 30s expat age, the more likely you are to find that behaviour. Went to a spa in Berlin where I thought your description was quite accurate. Otherwise I’d say it is actually precisely as parent poster described it. If you go to less “trendy” places, you’ll find you can really relax.
  - xg15 3y ago
    Yeah, I think my spa was one of the "trendy" ones. They did put up signs reminding people not to have sex in the pools, though they weren't at the "guards" stage yet. So I imagine there must have been some incidents. As I said, it was more an issue in the (textile mandated) bathing area, not so much in the textil free saunas though. It's good to know there are still other spas around.
esel2k 3y ago
Unfortunately it has become an issue in other places as well. In Switzerland we have also a saltwater tranquil bath with very little light and they had to put „guards“ because of the increasing amounts of couples enjoying themselves in these baths. Source: https://www.20min.ch/story/zu-viele-paeaerli-vergnuegten-sich-beim-wellnessen-nun-patrouilliert-security-216333670023 https://www.20min.ch/story/zu-viele-paeaerli-vergnuegten-sic...
- deanc 3y ago
  Also here in Finland [1]. I’ve seen it pretty much everywhere I’ve been in Europe. [1] https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/vantaa/art-2000009990317.html https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/vantaa/art-2000009990317.html
- bafe 3y ago
  Some of these spas (e.g 47 in Baden) would be perfect for relaxing with the caveat of avoiding weekends and school holidays. In these times they are crowded with families. Their idea of a good day at the spa are often at odd with mine... If you don't need a pool, the Stadtbad in the Volkshaus in Zürich is a great place for steam bath, sauna and relaxation
deanc 3y ago
I live in Finland. I’m well versed on sauna etiquette and my own body ;-)
- 9dev 3y ago
  Ah, my excuses then. This has been a recurring theme with American friends, many of which happen to hang around here :)

by 9dev 3y ago

xg15 3y ago

I think the boundary is somewhat fluid. Haven't seen actual inappropriate behaviour in a spa yet (and I think especially saunas are mostly spurring the imagination of people who never visited one: you're usually too exhausted from the heat and/or humidity to even want to do anything) However it's clearly a place for couples to go to and especially in the actual bathing area (i.e. not the saunas), you can whitness a lot of "public displays of affection". Whether this this upsets you or not, is something that everyone has to decide for themselves I guess.

earthnail 3y ago
Seems to depend on demographics. The more you go towards early 30s expat age, the more likely you are to find that behaviour. Went to a spa in Berlin where I thought your description was quite accurate. Otherwise I’d say it is actually precisely as parent poster described it. If you go to less “trendy” places, you’ll find you can really relax.
- xg15 3y ago
  Yeah, I think my spa was one of the "trendy" ones. They did put up signs reminding people not to have sex in the pools, though they weren't at the "guards" stage yet. So I imagine there must have been some incidents. As I said, it was more an issue in the (textile mandated) bathing area, not so much in the textil free saunas though. It's good to know there are still other spas around.

esel2k 3y ago

Unfortunately it has become an issue in other places as well. In Switzerland we have also a saltwater tranquil bath with very little light and they had to put „guards“ because of the increasing amounts of couples enjoying themselves in these baths. Source: https://www.20min.ch/story/zu-viele-paeaerli-vergnuegten-sich-beim-wellnessen-nun-patrouilliert-security-216333670023 https://www.20min.ch/story/zu-viele-paeaerli-vergnuegten-sic...

deanc 3y ago
Also here in Finland [1]. I’ve seen it pretty much everywhere I’ve been in Europe. [1] https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/vantaa/art-2000009990317.html https://www.hs.fi/kaupunki/vantaa/art-2000009990317.html
bafe 3y ago
Some of these spas (e.g 47 in Baden) would be perfect for relaxing with the caveat of avoiding weekends and school holidays. In these times they are crowded with families. Their idea of a good day at the spa are often at odd with mine... If you don't need a pool, the Stadtbad in the Volkshaus in Zürich is a great place for steam bath, sauna and relaxation

deanc 3y ago

I live in Finland. I’m well versed on sauna etiquette and my own body ;-)

9dev 3y ago
Ah, my excuses then. This has been a recurring theme with American friends, many of which happen to hang around here :)