5 Spa Hotel Rules in Slovakia That Will Annoy You

If you want to stay at a spa hotel in Slovakia, there are a few things you need to know before booking.

First, you’ll have plenty of options, since Slovakia has more than 1,500 mineral springs (!!), so you can find proper health spas here, as well as wellness hotels.

Second, you’ll be able to do a spa hotel stay on a budget—if you pick well, because some things are still relatively cheap in Slovakia.

And third, there might be rules at the hotel that will annoy you.

Now, we know that nobody wants to be annoyed on their holiday, which is why, in this post, we’ll tell you the spa hotel rules in Slovakia to watch out for.

So here’s the deal.

You can get annoyed now, reading about these dumb rules and restrictions, and then have a stress-free, peaceful holiday. How does that sound?

Good?

Okay, then let’s get to it.

These are the spa hotel rules in Slovakia that will (most likely) annoy you.

This post may contain affiliate links. For more information, please read our Disclaimer.

Here’s a little bit about our journey, if you are new here! If you know us, feel free to skip this part.

After leaving our old life in Scotland in March 2022 (it rains too much there), we travelled full-time for almost 2 years. Sounds fancy, doesn’t it? Well, it was. If you think that carrying overpacked backpacks in 45°C heat around streets that aren’t even on Google Maps is fancy. And that’s just 1% of all the fun we had! 😆

During the 2 years we volunteered in Italy and Bulgaria (free travel while learning new skills, anyone?), explored other amazing European countries and backpacked Southeast Asia. Btw, even our secret wedding was more of an expedition than a wedding. 😅

And, of course, we researched and planned everything ourselves, because you gotta keep the budget low, right? If you are like us, you’ve come to the right place, because we want to share all the useful travel tips and info with you!

Excited? Good. Let’s get into it so you can go on your own epic adventures too!

Why should you trust our advice on spa hotel rules in Slovakia?

Wondering whether our advice on spa hotel rules in Slovakia is genuine?

Understandable, in this day and age of AI slop and fake experts!

You can rest assured—we are Slovak locals!

Mirka is actually from Slovakia and Daniel became an honorary Slovak over the years of visiting the country and, temporarily, also living there as an expat (this was when our full-time travels almost ended us and our health and us needed a break. Fun times!).

So we know a thing or two extra about the country that tourists who’ve only visited once don’t.

And we are here to share it all with you, because we want you to have a stress-free holiday. 

That is, sadly, sometimes difficult in Slovakia, because, as a Slavic country, it likes dumb rules, restrictions and overcomplicating life.

Fear not though, with our tips, you’ll have the best time.

Here are the spa hotel rules in Slovakia that you need to watch out for.

Spa hotel rules in Slovakia that will annoy you

We decided to write this post because of personal experience.

When we started travelling around Slovakia and staying in hotels, we couldn’t believe one thing.

The dumb rules and restrictions that came with wellness hotels!

We usually book hotels with at least a pool or a sauna—something relaxing to do after a whole day of sightseeing. 

Especially if you go to the famous Slovak mountains, the High Tatras, and are sore and done after a whole day of hiking. A spa hotel is a must there!

The problem?

The spa hotel rules in Slovakia that we absolutely did not expect.

Rule no. 1: The opening times

Okay, this is more of a restriction, rather than a rule, but 99% of hotels seem to only open their wellness and spa for a limited time each day.

For example, the shockingly bad 4* hotel we stayed at? Their spa and wellness section is only open from 2pm to 9pm (on weekdays).

And no, that isn’t why our experience there was bad – read this to find out what really happened.

These are pretty common opening times for spa hotels in Slovakia and we see people complain about it in reviews all the time.

Especially when they’re used to getting one more swim in before they check out. To be honest, we do this too, when possible. Just make sure you have a good waterproof bag with you to pack your wet swimwear into afterwards.

So, tip no. 1: Always check opening times of the spa and wellness section of your hotel and plan your itinerary accordingly.

Rule no. 2: The limited access

Now, this is the most mindblowing of the spa hotel rules in Slovakia for us.

When we were planning our first hotel stay in the country (since otherwise we stayed with family), we didn’t understand why some hotels kept highlighting that they offer unlimited spa and wellness access.

What else would they offer, right?

But then we went on our first holiday to the High Tatras mountains in Slovakia.

And at check-in got mini paper rectangles.

And were told that we can’t lose them, as they are our once-a-day access to the pool vouchers.

We were like: 😳😳😳

While Mirka’s parents, who were on the holiday with us, took their mini paper vouchers, and tucked them safely into their wallet, we just kept staring at the receptionist. 

“So, we can only go to the pool once a day?” we asked.

“Yes, what else did you expect?” Mirka’s mum replied.

Things can be worse 

This is not what we’re used to from other countries. As we mentioned in dumb rule no. 1, we like to get a last swim in before checking out. And definitely go to the pool more than once a day, especially if the weather is bad and there isn’t much else to do!

Then we discovered things could be even worse.

Many hotels not only restrict your access to one spa visit per day.

They even restrict how long you can stay there!

In fact, we even saw hotels saying that you get 1 entrance to the spa and wellness area per stay! 

To us, this is total insanity and the opposite of a relaxing holiday vibe, so we stay away from such hotels.

What should you do when staying in spa hotels in Slovakia

How can you avoid getting to your hotel and then discovering you can take 1 dip in the pool, one time during your entire holiday, between the hours of 7pm and 7:30pm? (Exaggerating, but wouldn’t surprise us if we found such spa hotel rules in Slovakia!)

• As with the opening times, check the spa access restrictions before booking a hotel
• Check the info on the hotel’s official website. Booking.com, while usually offering better prices, often doesn’t disclose these restrictions
• Look for places that explicitly state “unlimited spa and wellness”, like the great hotel we stayed at during our spring holiday in the High Tatras
• If you stay in a hotel with one-entrance-per-day rule, make sure you time it well. Don’t get into the pool only to discover you have to go back to your room for something. The spa receptionist might let you back in, if you need to pop out. But they might also be a total pain in the butt, like the one we came across during our free stay in the High Tatras. It’s best not to count on such kindness in Slovakia

Sometimes even spending nearly €500 for 3 nights (which is A LOT in Slovakia), will not guarantee you unlimited spa access. Nope, 3 hours per day max!

Rule no. 3: The fee

Think short opening times or limited access are the worst spa hotel rules in Slovakia?

How about the fact that some hotels have a spa and wellness area.

But will charge you extra for it?

Even though you’re a hotel guest.

Or they will let you use the pool.

But charge you extra for the spa area – the sauna, the jacuzzi etc.

Slovakia is famous for this. Charging extra wherever possible, so this is a bonus tip: watch out for extra charges. It’s not like in Italy, where you’ll be charged sneakily for the bread that no one ever eats in a restaurant, but there will be random charges you might not be expecting.

You’ll see the first example of this when you land at Bratislava airport—forget free water fountains. Overpriced water from a cafe only. (Thankfully, we have great hacks for that.)

We’re telling you this just to make you aware, not to discourage you from visiting. Slovakia is a beautiful country, with lots of cool things to do. You just need to know the right tips and you can find those on this website and our Instagram.

If in doubt, book a call with us and we can chat more about your Slovakia travel plans as well.

Don’t assume that just because you’re booking a wellness hotel, the actual wellness and spa services will be included in the price. Always check booking.com and official hotel website properly

Rule no. 4: The strangers

This might not be one of the surprising spa hotel rules in Slovakia for you. We know this happens in other countries too.

But, just in case you haven’t come across it before—most wellness hotels sell day passes to non-hotel guests, to use the spa facilities. 

Which makes sense for:

• the hotel, because they can make more money
• the locals, because they can enjoy spa and wellness without having to pay for a hotel in their own town or a village
• the people who want to enjoy fancier spa and wellness facilities, but can’t afford to (or don’t want to) stay in the hotel itself

But for hotel guests? It’s the most annoying thing.

Because you can travel during off season.

You can avoid school holidays.

You can sacrifice your days off work and do a trip during weekdays.

And yet the spa and wellness might still be totally crowded with “strangers”.

To us, that’s not very 4*. Or fancy. Or luxurious. 

What do you think? Should fancier hotels be open to non-hotel guests? Let us know your thoughts on this!

Rule no. 5: The naked people

Again, this is a pretty common rule in many spa places, but in case you haven’t come across it:

You’re expected to use the spa and wellness facilities without wearing your swimwear.

Not the pool, of course! There you absolutely must wear swimwear. 😅

But the rest?

The saunas? Ice pools? Even some jacuzzis? (If they’re inside a separate spa area, not next to the main pool).

You’ll most likely be expected to be either wearing a sheet (sauna) or be naked (everythign else).

Now here’s the thing.

Yes, that’s how you’re supposed to use a sauna, to get the most benefits out of it.

We know that.

But we are also the kind of people who don’t like to sit naked with strangers (who are also naked) on their holiday, and call it relaxing. Call us weird, but we think we’re the normal ones here. 😬

The issue in Slovakia

The thing is, even though this is a common rule around the world, we don’t usually see it enforced or respected (okay, other than in Scandinavian countries, but people are super unhinged over there! 😆).

In Slovakia though?

You will see the few people who clearly didn’t pass year 1 in primary and can’t read the signs wearing swimwear.

But most of the people? They will do as they’re told and strip out of their swimwear.

Now, this, thankfully, never happened to us, but we heard stories about corporate team buildings and everyone getting naked to get into a jacuzzi together… 

It might sound like the start of a porn movie, but in Slovakia it’s just a normal team bonding activity… apparently! 😅

What can you do if this worries you?

Here’s what we would recommend you do, if this is one of the spa hotel rules in Slovakia that is concerning you:

• Check out the hotel’s official website prior to booking to see if there are spa and wellness rules listed
• Read the signs at the spa and wellness area. If in doubt (or the signs are in Slovak), ask the staff (or other guests. Aim for the younger generation, they’re more likely to speak English)
• Observe others. Not in a creepy way, you weirdo! Just notice what they’re wearing in the different spa areas
• Is everyone wrapped in sheets like Greek gods, but you don’t have one? Again, speak to the staff or one of the guests to ask where you can get one
• If you want to take part in a spa activity, but don’t fancy getting naked in front of lots of strangers (e.g. dipping into an ice pool), wait till just before the closing time. Chances are most people will head for dinner and will be too full afterwards to use the spa, so you might find it less busy 
• Don’t get a job in a Slovak corporation. And if you do, come to team building activities at spa hotels prepared (prepared to see your boss like you’ve never seem them before 😬)

Speaking of doing weird things. Don’t make this next big mistake.

Don’t forget this when travelling to Slovakia

Continuing the theme of things that might come back to bite you in the butt on a holiday in Slovakia:

Don’t make this mistake, or you might end up wasting a lot of money.

Don’t travel without insurance.

Things can go wrong all the time ( for example, our 4* spa hotel had no light on the entrance stairs, if you can believe it! A perfect hack for breaking a leg!), and you want to make sure you’re covered by good travel insurance.

Key word: good.

Don’t buy just from anyone.

Find someone who is awesome and yet budget-friendly.

Want a tip for such a travel insurance company? 

True Traveller! We trusted them on our full-time adventures and they turned out to have not just cool features, but also to be mindblowingly good when it came to refunding our claim.

Check them out—it’s rare to find a decent travel insurance company that won’t cost you a fortune, so we are trying to spread the word about True Traveller.

Use this when planning your trip to Slovakia

One more dumb thing that you could do when booking your trip to Slovakia?

Not use insider info and tips from locals when planning!

We’ve got loads of posts on Slovakia on the site—you can see them all here.

If you cannot be bothered sifting through all the posts though, here are some highlights that will help you:

• Thinking of doing a spring trip to the High Tatras? We’ve got insider tips for you.
• Can you drink tap water in Slovakia or will you 💩 yourself? Upset stomach can really mess up a holiday, so make sure you check out the post.
• Speaking of safety, how safe is Slovakia? These are the things you need to watch out for.
• Tired of the same sights you can find everywhere? These are the 19 unusual things you can do in Slovakia. Add them to your bucket list!

And if you need help planning your Slovak holiday, give us a shout, and we can have a call together. That way you’ll avoid weird spa hotel rules or getting an expensive fine on the Bratislava airport bus.

What do you think? Are these spa hotel rules in Slovakia weird, or have you come across similar ones before? If so, tell us where—so we don’t get caught out next time!