First time at a Spa - What to expect and what you need to bring

What do I need to bring to a Spa, especially if its your first time at a Spa? Are you fully naked at a Spa, or are you still allowed to wear a Bikini (or Shorts for males)? Are there private rooms for everyone and everything, or are you sharing a Room with some stranger in a Spa? I had so many questions beforehand. But, I just did it: My first time at a Spa. While other women seem to visit Spa’s on a regular basis, I just have never made it. Facials, massages, baths and more is offered in a Spa. Relaxation and recreation, for a full day or just some time. During my recent visit to Lindner Parkhotel & Spa in Oberstaufen, I got to experience a ‘nourishing whey bath’ in the Hotels own Bergwiesen Spa. As the Hotel with own Spa is situated in the Bavarian Allgäu, surrounded by untouched nature and various herbs, all available treatments use self-cultivated herbs. My bath was indeed very relaxing and the next time I’m staying at a Hotel with own Spa I’m definitely booking another treatment!

Table of Contents of this Article

What you should know before your first time at a Spa

Clothing rules in a Spa

In a Spa, you have 2 ‘Outfits’, one in public areas and one during your treatment. If you are visiting the Spa with your daytime clothes, there will be a separate room to change into nothing or a bikini/shorts, and then either cover up in a towel or a bathrobe. For overnight guests at Lindner Hotel in Oberstaufen several towels, slippers and bathrobe are provided in the rooms for the course of the stay. Depending on the Spa you will need to bring at least a towel and slippers/flip-flops, but in this case, you will be informed about this. Usually, there are enough towels at a Spa.
So, for what to wear during your treatments it depends on what is done. Are you getting a (full body) massage, just a facial, a bath, or something different? No one will force you to be fully naked, but wearing a bikini (no swimsuit) or a shorter short is never wrong. Depending on if it will be wet, or not, regular underwear will be okay as well. Out of hygienic reasons you most probably will have to wear at least panties or boxers.

How to behave at a Spa

A Spa is an Oasis of relaxation, therefore everything and everyone is rather quiet and also walks slower with less noise. Also, everyone else will wear a bathrobe, so don’t laugh about others or feel weird or giggly about yourself walking around a Hotel in Slippers, a bathrobe and unkempt hair. Have respect, and just enjoy the experience!

What you should bring / What to not bring to a Spa

Everything you will need will be at the Spa, depending on clothes you can contact the Spa beforehand what’s necessary to wear to this special treatment. There are Towels, often Tea and Water or even Juices and there is actually nothing else you will really need. You don’t need your phone once you registered yourself at the counter, nor will you need anything else. You can bring a Book or magazine you want to read or headphones for relaxing music, but that’s already the maximum. Part of a relaxing Spa experience is also to not touch your phone for a certain amount of time and just switch off and enjoy the me-time. Also, Dogs or animals should not be brought to a Spa, if not necessarily needed.