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ENG Aquaforum - Laces

Pension Sachsalber in Tarres
Pension Sachsalber in Tarres

 

A stay in Val Venosta

 

For the All Saints holiday we decide to test a Spa where we have never been, the Aquaforum. It is located in Laces, a charming village in Val Venosta. Browsing the site of the Spa (www.vivalatsch.it/it/aquaforum) we discover that a new outdoor space has recently been inaugurated, a 1000 m² garden with an artificial lake and a large sauna buried by about seventy places with a dual function: Meditation sauna (at 65 °C) in the early hours of the day, Finnish sauna (at 90 °C) later. The official inauguration of this new area dates back to October 28, just three days ago, so we will be among the first lucky guests. A pleasant surprise that we always discover from the site is that by booking a stay in a partner hotel or guesthouse you will receive a voucher to enter the Aquaforum free of charge.

Then, we browse the list of partner hotels and send some e-mails asking for information on availability and prices for a double room for two nights, from 31/10 to 02/11 for bed and breakfast. Based on the answers, we make our assessments and at the end we choose the Pension Sachsalber in the village of Tares, just one kilometer from Aquaforum. We arrive at the pension on the evening of October 31 at 19:00, we are welcomed by the owner, very courteous and helpful, takes our details and gives us the room clean and spacious, he gives to us  a bit 'of tourist documentation on the area and two Val Venosta Cards (which give the right to use public transport for free but unfortunately, given the brevity of our stay, we will not be able to use), then he fills in the two vouchers for the  tomorrow access to the spa.

Aquaforum entrance
Aquaforum entrance

 

Aquaforum

 

Given that it is holiday period, for the whole week the Aquaforum has special times, from 10:00 to 22:00 indifferently for the pool and sauna area. So, let's have our breakfast with calm and a few minutes before the opening, we descend to Laces by car, park (for free) in the dedicated area and enter. The cumulative daily sauna and pool rate is € 21.90 (sauna 18.70 only) on public holidays and weekends. By presenting the voucher from our pension at the counter, we do not pay anything. The cashier gives us the two bracelets that will be used to operate the turnstiles and pay for any drink or food, then informs us that to unlock / lock the locker will need one euro coin. The saunas area is located on the first upper floor, then climb the stairs to our left and immediately find the doors of the dressing rooms divided by gender, female left and male right.  The dressing room is not huge but is still clean and well maintained. The lockers are opened and locked and to unlock it, you need to insert a euro in the appropriate internal token box. At the back of the room, a second door leads directly into the saunas area.

Bio Sauna
Bio Sauna

 

Sauna area - Indoor

 

The saunas area inside the building consists of a first corridor along which on the left you will find in sequence the Turkish Bath, a small Kneipp basin and the Bio Sauna at 65 °, while on the right there is the ladder to reach the relaxation spaces on the second floor, then a large shower compartment and finally the Infrared Sauna. In front of you instead, starts a second corridor, shorter than the first and perpendicular to it, drawing a "T", in the center of which there is a panoramic sauna, a Finnish one that can hold 30-40 people, equipped with a large window overlooking the outdoor garden. Turning left is the door that allows access to the pool area (not naked area), while on the right another door leads to the outdoor garden.

 

Relax areas

 

They are 3, they all are on the second floor, directly above the saunas, accessed via the internal staircase. The first room is convivial, with some upholstered sofas and small tables in the center. It is possible to talk and socialize, possibly eat or even drink a hot herbal tea taken from the appropriate dispenser made available to the guests. On the opposite sides of this first room there are two doors leading respectively to a rest room with soft lighting and cushioned loungers, and to a much brighter room for relaxation (being above the panoramic sauna takes advantage of the same window overlooking the garden outside), perfect for reading.

View of the outdoor garden
View of the outdoor garden

Sauna area - Outdoor

 

This area is completely new, ultimated in mid-September and inaugurated only a few days before our visit.  To reach it you need to exit the door on the right of the panoramic sauna and descend a high iron staircase, like those installed later in order to be compliant with fire regulations. In fact it is not a properly aesthetic solution, but it is still valid for its practicality.

 

The garden is really well cared for, freshly cut grass, flowerbeds of young seedlings (freshly planted), gravel paths, some sunbeds. At the center of the garden, the main attraction is certainly the small representation of a water source that turns into a stream and then becomes a lake. At the spring guests can take cold baths at the lower ends, while the lake can be used for post-sauna heat shock.

 

The big "underground" sauna (Erdsauna)
The big "underground" sauna (Erdsauna)

The big outdoor sauna

 

It is a truly spacious sauna that can comfortably hold around 70 people. The temperature is set at 65 ° (Sauna Meditation) until a certain time, then becomes a 90 ° Finnish sauna. It is used for the aufguss alternately to the panoramic sauna located inside. Next to the sauna entrance, an automatic opening glass door allows access to the shower room. On the other side, the artificial lake where you can immerse yourself after the sauna to cool your body.

 

Aufguss

 

The program is that of holidays: it starts at 12:00 with the first in the panoramic sauna, then the others at a distance of more or less an hour and a half from each other. During our stay the management of the saunas area was held by a single operator, Richie, who also dealt with the execution of all the aufguss. However well done, with excellent essences and a good ventilation technique.

Swimming pool
Swimming pool

 

Conclusions

 

Our day at the Aquaforum is spent pleasantly and in perfect relaxation. Despite the holiday period, from 10 am, opening hours, until late afternoon, the structure has been perfectly livable as it is absolutely not crowded. We therefore enjoyed sessions in saunas in an almost optimal condition. Even the aufguss were held in an atmosphere of complete tranquility, extremely different from those frantic situations that are very often lived in other more noble centers, when you line up several minutes before the start of the exhibition in front of the sauna door with the goal of entering first and occupying the favorite places. We also took the opportunity to test the swimming pool area (textiles), giving us a bit of exercise between a sauna and swimming in the pool.

 

Overall, very satisfied.

 

(November 2017)


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