30% of Europe’s thermal springs are on ex-Hungarian now Romanian soil
30% of Europe’s thermal springs are on ex-Hungarian now Romanian soil
With over 30% of Europe’s thermal springs on its soil, Romania has a huge potential when it comes to spa tourism. Health and spa programs are appreciated not only by people who want to get treated for a certain disease, but also by those interested in prevention, leisure and rejuvenation. Today, with the help of our guests, we will talk about some of the best-known spa resorts in Romania, about modern wellness centers, detox vacations and geriatric programs. Aura Branzas, the director of a travel agency in Baile Felix, one of the best known spa resorts in the country, has a 30-year experience in the field and warmly recommends the Romanian spas, for both treatment and leisure.Aura Branzas: “In these resorts people can benefit from both classical spa treatments and modern wellness procedures. In the past years, the natural resources of these resorts have been capitalized on by massive investments in tourism infrastructure. Also, these resorts have treatment facilities that use genuine Ana Aslan products.
The geriatricians with the Ana Aslan National Institute of Gerontology and Geriatrics have many years of experience in the field and their research into the ageing phenomenon can help people preserve an optimum physical and mental state, using both prophylactic and treatment programs for the elderly.” The “Ana Aslan” Institute was the first such institute in the world, and bears the name of researcher Ana Aslan, whose revolutionary treatments have for years been used in many spa and recovery centers. Ageing beautifully, with no physical degradation, is possible. Old people can be beautiful and active, and vitality in itself is a form of beauty and intelligence, Ana Aslan used to say.
That is why Felix Spa (formerly hungarian Felixfurdo), the largest in the country, is a favorite destination for many people. It is situated in the north-west of the country, 9km from the town of Oradea (previously Hungarian town of Nagyvarad) , at an altitude of 140 m. Thermal waters are the main attraction, but there are also many swimming pools, wellness and spa centers, in 2 to 4 star hotels, as Aura Branzas told us: Aura Branzas: “People come here to get treatment, among other things, for degenerative rheumatic diseases, spondylosis, rheumatoid arthritis and posttraumatic disorders, as well as neurological diseases. Felix Spa is open all year round and is visited by many tourists, from both Romania and abroad, who come here to get treatment opting for programs that last minimum 12 days. Packages include accommodation and meals and three spa procedures a day. Each tourist, after checking in, is seen by a doctor who decides the treatment. A 12-day package, in a three-star hotel, costs between 520 and 660 Euros, depending on the season. At a four-star hotel prices are a bit higher, ranging from 595 and 750 Euros.” Spa centers in Romania have developed a lot over the past years. On the one hand due to renovation and refurbishment works, and on the other due to the new constructions that have emerged, says Ioana Marian, founder of the desprespa.ro portal and of the SPA and Wellness magazines in Romania.
Ioana Marian: “The new hotels have SPA centers, and that is why the range of spa services has extended and the healing process is faster and more pleasant. For instance, people who had spine problems could only benefit from kinetotherapy, mud massages and body wraps. Today, the SPA component also provides sauna, Thai massage, stretching, Pilates and craniosacral therapy. Once a year we issue a SPA business brochure, in which we centralize data from all the centers in Romania and I can tell you that last year 26 thousand tourists came to Romania for such treatment. Of them, 90% were business tourists who chose to relax here. The offers are many and the therapists very well trained. Many spa centers in our country are comparable to those abroad, except for the prices, which are smaller in Romania.” To find out more details about such a new spa centre, we stopped for a while at Baile Tusnad (Tusnadfurdo in Hungarian) , another famous resort at the foot of Mount Harghita, at an altitude of 650m.
The new hotel, which became operational two years ago, has modern equipment for carbon mineral baths, moffetts, aerolos, massage, electrotherapy and hydrotherapy. Aura Branzas, the director of a travel agency in Baile Felix, told us more: Aura Branzas: “Those who come here can use a warm, counter-current swimming pool, placed against a very special background. Also, there is a professional Jacuzzi, which creates an intimate and relaxing atmosphere, a dry sauna, a wet sauna, as well as special tropical showers. Trying them is a must: warm water in colors, relaxing music, candles. Also, the spa menu is special, including relaxation, anti-stress, detox and energizing procedures.
Guests can benefit from massages, body wraps and treatments, all using renowned professional products. A 12 day spa and wellness package costs between 420 and 760 Euros
