Evaluate: Aqua Dome Resort & Spa (Austrian Alps)

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Right this moment: Evaluate of Aqua Dome Resort & Spa (Austria)

As Austria’s largest vacationer undertaking so far, Aqua Dome is situated within the stunning 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 a hit story that continues to at the present time. Aqua Dome is arguably essentially the most iconic thermal spa in Austria, if not your complete Alps. The thermal spa and resort have welcomed nearly seven million company within the 20 years since opening. Aqua Dome boasts futuristic trying spa and health services with a variety of swimming pools, saunas and a small play space for kids. Friends of the resort even have unique entry to Spa 3000 (a premium spa throughout the spa).

Aqua Dome options in my high 10 listing of the greatest inns in Austria.

Have you ever ever stayed at Aqua Dome? If that’s the case, what was your expertise? Depart a remark.

On this overview (extra information and pictures 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 contains a conventional but trendy Alpine structure. The usage of wooden, stone and huge home windows within the resort’s façade and terraces has been fastidiously introduced collectively by expert architects, so as to spotlight the pure great thing about the Ötztal Valley. In distinction, the spa – which is situated 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 primary spa constructing echoes the formation of the encompassing mountains in form and materiality.

On the within, the Aqua Dome Resort contains a heat Alpine decor, mixing traditional, 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 a powerful bar space, full with a piano, mirrored ceiling and a glass wall stocked with superb wines and charcuterie. The passionate and educated bar crew has chosen properly over 100 kinds of gin, taking even connoisseurs into a complete new world of taste. Proper behind the bar, as an extension to the foyer house, 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 enjoyable 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 tremendously inviting due to crimson components and wooden accents blended with heat earth tones. Throughout my go to, I stayed in an Auszeit Double Room, which contains a queensize mattress, a sitting space, and a panoramic terrace with a view of the mountains. The ensuite lavatory was geared up 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 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 house, 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 outside space, whereas a flowered bench within the ‘Blumenwiese’ winter backyard invitations company 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 night time, the restaurant serves a five-course gourmand dinner, which is mixture of a buffet and à la carte dishes, corresponding to Ötztal trout in alpine caviar, breasts from farm geese with French mountain thyme, and alpine lamb marinated in woodruff.

Most likely essentially 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 services. Staying within the resort is the easiest way to expertise this iconic thermal spa complicated (sometimes called essentially the most iconic spa within the Alps). A heated, underground walkway connects the resort to the primary spa complicated. Resort company get limitless entry to your complete thermal tub bathhouse, sauna world, and health middle in addition to unique entry to the two-story Spa 3000 and panorama leisure room. Moreover, Aqua Dome resort company 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 company 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 a number of other quiet rooms. The spotlight of Crystal Heart is its large 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 outside swimming pools, which is assortment of three kinds of swimming swimming pools:
- A bubbly river pool – with a mild present and a few rapids – takes company 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 attraction. The only real basin has a salt content material of 5%, with light 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 power and vitality to their aquatic pleasure.
- A 25 m (82 ft) lap pool stretches beneath the basins and contains a nice water temperature of 78°F (26°C).

Reserved solely for company staying on the Aqua Dome Resort, Spa 3000 is unfold throughout the highest two flooring of the primary 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 great thing about the Ötztal Valley inside. The cathedral-like inside of Spa 3000 homes services corresponding to a bar, a leisure space, a fire room, a Jacuzzi, and a sauna, all opening to a big rooftop terrace with the very best views within the Aqua Dome complicated. A centrally positioned staircase leads from Spa 3000’s higher flooring to a decrease stage, the place one finds a number of extra leisure 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 house to a powerful garment-free sauna space, which options quite a lot of saunas, corresponding to 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 occasions a day or invite company on a scented journey with glacier ice, mountain honey, Swiss stone pine magic or salt peeling. The sauna space can also be house to a leisure lounge, a cafetaria, steam baths, a number of indoor whirpools, in addition to a fantastic 20 m (66 ft) lengthy outside pool, which is crammed 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 situated one flooring 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 might nearly cross for a 5 star property: a lot of the resort’s communal services have an opulent ambiance (particularly because the latest improve of the foyer) and don’t really feel that completely different from another 5 star inns. Additionally, the service was glorious throughout my keep and the meals providing was fairly good as properly (each dinner and breakfast). Nonetheless, the one space have been the resort disillusioned me a bit have been the rooms. Whereas my room (an Auszeit Double Room) was clear, spacious and cozy, it felt a bit primary 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 vital 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 mentioned, the resort does presents its company early entry to the spa (two hours previous to most of the people), so in case you’re an early riser, you may benefit from the spa and its swimming pools in complete tranquility. Your complete place additionally empties out within the late night, making this one other nice time to discover. As well as, resort company have unique entry to the Spa 3000 – a spa throughout the spa – the place they’ll spend their time in serenity, silence and calmness (away from the crowds).

With greater than 200 rooms, Aqua Dome is a very massive property. In case you are on the lookout for an intimate property within the mountains, you need to undoubtedly keep elsewhere. Throughout my keep, the resort felt busy (particularly through the meal occasions since there is just one restaurant the place all resort company have breakfast and dinner) however not over-crowded. To deal with the excessive variety of company (each on the resort and the spa), all company obtain a chip wristband at check-in. This wristband could really feel a bit bizarre at first nevertheless it’s a multi-functional instrument: it opens the resort room and grants resort company 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 on…) may 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 succeed in by prepare (Ötztal railway station) and by airplane (Innsbruck & Munich). Street transfers between the airport, prepare station and resort may be organized by the resort concierge.