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Tim’s Take: A 24-hour transit doesn’t just make you tired; it fractures your nervous system. Sherry heads straight from an overnight flight into QC Terme Milano to test whether a sprawling urban bathhouse can actually trigger an immediate, deep recovery.

It was one of those long, overnight, blurred travel days that only flight attendants truly understand.

After an overnight flight from New York to Milan, a long delay before we’d even taken off, and a sluggish ride through Milan’s traffic, my best friend and I finally reached our hotel at 3:30 p.m.

We’d been awake for almost 24 hours, but we had plans – we knew where we were headed straight out without sleep – to QC Terme Milano.

First Impressions of QC Terme Milano

Our colleague had mentioned it at the beginning of the flight, and something inside me said, “Yes, that’s exactly what I need today.” I booked our entrance tickets the moment we deplaned, grateful we’d managed to snag a last-minute spot at the spa.

We showered off the airplane grime, pulled our hair into buns, and ordered a cab. The spa was only about two miles away, but it felt like it was a world away. When we arrived, a grand old mansion stood to greet us.

In the entrance, the air was perfumed with a scent we couldn’t place, a lovely room that felt cozy, with plants and bookshelves. Without hesitation, a staff member greeted us, and guided us over to a sleek digital check-in screen.

We paid the cost, which converted to $142 USD each, and included a full-day entry, a 25-minute massage, and their “wellness journey,” which included a half-hour buffet of prosecco, fruit, cheese, and other nibbles. “Be in the dining room at 6:30 sharp,” we were told.

It was a Thursday, late afternoon, a perfect October day. The weather was in the 70’s and I longed to be outside. Fresh air doesn’t come as often as I’d like it to as an international flight attendant.

We paused to take in the grand hallway with marble floors and high ceilings, and a friendly young attendant pointed us to “upstairs for massages, downstairs for steam and sensory rooms, outside for the jacuzzi pool and train sauna.”

We were supplied with flip flops, and a robe, and changed into our bathing suits.

A Secret Garden in the City

As soon as we stepped outside, we felt like we were in a secret garden. Ancient Spanish walls encircled the property, with high rises looming above, feeling completely out of place.

Comfy couches sat under umbrellas, surrounded by the Darsena Gardens, a completely private place to relax. Closeby, a converted Porta Romana Tram transformed into a sauna, our first experience of the afternoon. Our shoulders relaxed into the warmth.

The Outdoor Pool

We then slipped into what looked like a large outdoor pool, a thermal bath, warm and bubbling. Around the corner, we’d found another whirlpool that we saved for the last experience of the day – the historic “thousand blue bubbles pool.”

We lost track of time as we floated, letting the heat loosen the knots in our backs. When we finally ventured inside, it was then that we realized that we had barely just begun our experience.

A Maze of Sensory Rooms

On the lower level, we started peeking into glass doors to see what the rooms had to offer, and there were a maze of sensory rooms – some starlit, one with softly moving waterbeds, a butterfly room, and rooms glowing with color.

There was a whimsical “birdhouse” room, softly filled with red, with birdsong playing and a circular couch made for sinking into.

The more we wandered around, the more we realized how many unique rooms there were, not to mention the ones we’d expected – the salt room, rainfall corridors, cascading waterfalls, and cold plunge pools.

What amazed me the most was the serenity. Even though the spa was busy, it never felt crowded. We often had entire rooms or the steam areas to ourselves. The eucalyptus smells in the steam room were divine, scents we found out later that they sold in their lobby shop.

The Buffet

At 6:30 pm, we made our way straight to the buffet, where flutes of prosecco and small jars of fruit, cheese, and small savory bites waited to feed our empty bellies.

We wandered through a few more rooms until 7:30 pm, when I headed upstairs for my massage. I’d only secured a 25-minute slot due to my late booking, but it was perfect. More tension dissolved from the flight, and I walked out floating, trying to decide what I wanted to experience next.

We left about 8:30 p.m., stepping out into the evening air with damp air and heavy eyelids. Back at the hotel, I fell asleep instantly, the faint scent of eucalyptus still clinging to my skin.

I went to the spa tired, curious, and running on caffeine. I left completely restored after just four hours, proof that the best travel moments aren’t always about chasing sights, but about finally slowing down enough to truly take it in.

Tips for Visiting QC Terme Milano

If you plan to visit QC Terme, there are many locations scattered throughout Italy. Visit on a weekday for a more tranquil experience.

Pricing is reasonable, with options to fit nearly any budget, and even the day pass alone is worth every Euro.

Be mindful of spa etiquette:

• Arrive on time
• Hang your robe in designated spots, and keep track of which one is yours
• Keep voices low, and move gently through the spaces
• Use the towel they provide to put down in the saunas before you sit
• Tip your massage therapist for exceptional service
• And lastly, be mindful of how you use your phone

The spa suggested you use the time for a digital detox, but also stated that, as long as you were mindful of other’s privacy, you could use your phone.

As a photographer, I couldn’t resist taking photos – it was too beautiful. But silence is golden. I never heard a phone ring, nor a conversation take place once.

QC Terme Milano isn’t just a spa: it’s a gentle reminder of how deeply healing stillness can be. For those of us who live in constant motion, measured in time zones and takeoffs, it’s a sanctuary worth seeking out, even if only for an afternoon.

Next time I touch down in Milan, I know where I’ll be headed. There’s a cascading waterfall waiting, whispering my name.

Tim’s Take: Western spas prioritize gentle isolation, but a true Moroccan hammam is a highly physical, somatic intervention. Samira enters Les Bains D’Orient to evaluate whether surrendering to this intense, ancient ritual can trigger a deeper level of recovery than standard modern treatments.

You never forget your first hammam! My first trip to Morocco was in 2017, and I was leading a group of 14 people on a yoga and culture style retreat.

I knew we had to try the hammam, and I am delighted that the first place our venue tried to book us was full, because Les Bains D’Orient has proven time and time again that they are my favorite. Let me tell you why.

Why Hammams in Marrakech Feel Different From Western Spas

I should start by saying that every hammam experience I have had in Marrakech has been excellent. Something about every Marrakech hammam has far exceeded any American spa I’ve visited.

The small riad hammams are often quiet, meditative spaces, where you can sink into the transportive luxury of neroli scent, steam, and body care. There are some hammams that have a much more reserved feel.

To me, they are more aloof, but some guests might prefer more reserved. Sometimes the hammam attendant is an auntie or cousin in the family who owns or runs the riad.

There is no licensing requirement in Morocco for these professionals, but I have always had exceptional experiences. Why is that? One might ask. Well, I will tell you!

The Cultural and Social History of the Hammam

The history of hammams evolves from Roman and Byzantine bathhouses. Long before homes had indoor plumbing, public bathhouses served as spaces for hygiene, ritual, and essential social connection.

Across the Arab and Muslim world, it has been usually practiced on Thursday night or Friday morning before prayers at the Mosque, as well as before important occasions such as weddings.

These neighborhood hammams are gender-separate spaces with men on one side and women and children on the other.

All are slightly different, but multiple spaces with hot and cold water, steam, banquette seating, or tables in the middle serve to create perfect bathing social spaces.

Everyone brings their own basket of supplies, which includes water-friendly sandals, a “Kesse” (scrub) glove, soap, or in Morocco, “savon noir” or “beldi”, a towel, hair tool, shaving implements, and more.

Family and neighbors help scrub each other down while exchanging news and gossip, and relaxing in a community of care. These neighborhood hammams still exist in Moroccan cities and villages, despite that most homes have the infrastructure and plumbing to render them physically obsolete.

So, the women who eventually go on to become professional hammam attendants have grown up with the practice from when they were infants.

From this basic understanding of the history of hammams, it’s easy to see how socially, culturally, and emotionally hammams serve a somatic healing purpose that an individual shower simply cannot replace.

My First Hammam Experience at Les Bains D’Orient

So, this brings us to my first hammam experience in 2017. With a group of 14, Les Bains D’Orient had to fit us four to a room instead of two to a room, and honestly? It made it hilarious and in some ways better due to the shared surprise and joy.

We got the Tresor d’Orient, which is a forty-minute hammam and traditional black soap scrub, hair treatment with argan oil, plus a one-hour massage.

As of December 2025, that package is 790 MAD. The laughter started in the dressing room where one guest put her disposable paper thong on backwards at first, and continued into the steam room when our attendants first splashed us generously with buckets of perfect temperature water.

Between our hammam and massage, we enjoyed mint tea and cookies on the rooftop terrace. For the massage, we got to choose from several scents of oil.

Two of my retreat guests were men. They were the only two in their room, and they also had female attendants.

Their disposable garments provided to them were more like paper shorts, and had more modesty than our thongs.

The gentlemen report that they ALSO had a fantastic time! Couples can also go together to enjoy the experience.

The Ritual: Beldi Soap, Kesse Scrub, and Argan Oil

The products used in different countries are often unique. In Morocco, it is traditional to use beldi, a black gel-like soap that is made from olive oil.

It has a mild olive oil scent, but is also often scented with mint, neroli, jasmine, or other local plants. What makes this special, and how is it used?

The process of making beldi brings out the fatty acids and stearic acid, which nourish and soften the skin, preparing for a very effective exfoliation with the kesse glove.

At the beginning of your hammam, your attendant will smooth beldi all over you and then leave you lying on the heated bench for about 10 minutes while the rich savon noir does its magic.

Then, when she comes back in, she will have her kesse glove and scrub you almost EVERYWHERE. Your attendant will move the paper thong aside to reach certain areas, and those are very small areas to begin with.

There is no room for modesty here. After that, she will rinse you, and while this is a simple process, there is something particularly luxurious about having buckets or bowls full of the perfect temperature water sluiced across you while laying in the perfect temperature steam room.

She will usually ask first if you want your hair washed, and after washing, she will soak it with argan conditioner. After a complete rinse, you proceed to tea and cookies before the massage.

The massage will be conducted with argan oil. Argan oil molecules are smaller than almost all other commonly used oils, which means it doesn’t sit on your skin, it absorbs. For this reason it is fantastic for dry skin, hair, and even nails.

Architecture, Design, and the Atmosphere of Moroccan Hammams

Traditional hammams are often close to the village bread baker, and the water is heated by the fires. They are also often found next to or close to the mosque.

They frequently include beautiful domes with small skylights that look like stars. Some have zellige (mosaic) everywhere, and others have tadelakt, which is smooth, water-proofed lime plaster, a naturally produced material that feels like luxurious carved stone.

Les Bains D’Orient is mostly made with tadelakt with neutral colors, aubergine, brass, and copper as accent colors. It is sophisticated and relaxed. Tadelakt is made with lime plaster, which is anti-microbial. It is the ideal surface for keeping a very clean environment.

Why the Ceremonial Experience Is Worth It

I have returned on every trip to Les Bains D’Orient and have certainly discovered my favorite menu item. If you are going to a spa in Morocco, I recommend getting the most luxurious option. You will not regret it!

Set aside a full two hours and 990 MAD (plus tip) for Ceremonial Les Bains D’Orient. You will start like usual with the hammam in the steam room, beldi soak, and then a kesse scrub down.

They will leave oil on your hair, wrap your hair in a towel, and bring you in your fluffy bathrobe to the rooftop terrace. While lounging on the chaise, you will be served tea and cookies. Then you get to lie back and have a face massage.

Your next indulgence will be soaking in a goat milk bath in a freestanding copper bathtub. Goat milk serves to soften, nourish, and soothe the skin, and the tub is foamed at the top with bubble bath and adorned with rose petals.

They have two tubs to a room, so you can enjoy this entire experience with someone else. Once you’ve finished your bath, attendants will rinse you off, including your hair, and then you proceed to your massage.

I recommend getting the Moroccan massage, which is done on low massage tables and includes some body pressure stretches, similar to those in a Turkish bath or Thai massage, and even some visceral massage, which they will ask permission to do first.

On this most recent retreat, my hammam partner Lauren exclaimed numerous times how utterly life-changing this experience was. The care with Moroccan warmth in hospitality is a somatic experience that transports one to a completely different heart and mind space.

Tim’s Take: Massive, world-famous thermal baths often cross the line from restorative sanctuaries into crowded tourist traps. Marissa tests the iconic Széchenyi Baths in the dead of a Budapest winter to evaluate whether the mineral depth of the water can still trigger genuine physical recovery despite the sheer volume of visitors.

My First Thermal Bath Experience in Budapest

I visited the Széchenyi Thermal Bath in Budapest, Hungary, with my husband. It was my first thermal bath experience, and it was incredibly relaxing!

I visited in December 2025 on a gloomy day. The warm thermal bath was the perfect feeling in the cold winter weather! I’ve started to look into natural healing and wellness options because of chronic pain I have.

The thermal water felt amazing since it’s full of calcium, magnesium, and bicarbonate, all known to help with joint pain and recovery.

We paid about 60 euros as a couple, and we booked online at Get Your Guide to skip the wait times. This made the process stress-free and simple, as we were able to book our preferred time slot, especially as we were traveling during the holidays in December.

Who Széchenyi Thermal Bath Is Great For

The Széchenyi thermal bath is great for first-time visitors (it’s iconic and good for all ages), couples who are looking for a romantic activity, families (kids love the water), and wellness lovers (there are massages and medicinal pools).

It happens to be one of those attractions that appeals to a wide range of travelers – whether you’re looking to experience a new activity, have a romantic getaway, or simply seek relaxation.

I would even recommend this place for solo travelers. It was a great place to meet people or just unwind in a historic setting.

Best Time to Visit for a Quieter Experience

Like with most activities, the early morning and weekdays will be your best chance at quiet times and the most enjoyable time with the least amount of people.

Think those Instagram-worthy shots and a peaceful oasis where you can really clear your mind. It was so easy to spend hours here – there was always something new to explore from the different pools, saunas, and steam rooms.

I was impressed with how massive this facility was. It felt almost overwhelming, like I just entered a wellness city within a city! It has three huge outdoor pools, 15 indoor thermal pools, and sauna/steam rooms.

The Indoor Thermal Pools

We started in some of the indoor thermal pools, which were architecturally just as beautiful as the outdoor pools. The beautiful columns, high ceilings, decorative tiles, and neo-baroque architecture made the interior feel elegant and historic, rather than your normal spa.

It felt like I was stepping back in time. The indoor thermal pool I really enjoyed had different medicinal water activities to do that helped target pressure points and pain.

The pools featured gentle whirlpools, underwater jets, and varying water temperatures, allowing you to move from one pool to another depending on how your body felt. I definitely enjoyed the indoor pools more than the outdoor.

I loved the small, quiet pool with bubbling and warm water where I could float and really feel my muscles letting go of any tension. It was truly meditative and a time of complete calmness, and I also felt like I was bathing in a palace!

The Outdoor Pools (Crowds, Atmosphere, and Winter Magic)

We then spent the majority of our time in the large outdoor pools. These were significantly more crowded and louder. Despite the crowds, it was a very lively and social atmosphere.

There was something about the warm water, the steam above the water, and the cold winter air that truly made this visit more magical and relaxing. It felt like a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I can’t recreate anywhere else.

Photo Tip: Bring a Waterproof Phone Pouch

My only regret and also recommendation is a waterproof phone pouch to get the perfect photos. I ended up taking my protective case off halfway through because it wasn’t taking clear photos.

The steam that rises over the baths made it tricky to take photos, but also created an ethereal and dreamlike scene that I’ll always remember.

Post-Bath Wind-Down: Palm House Upstairs

After enjoying the thermal bath, we went to enjoy cocktails and fruit bowls at the Palm House upstairs, which was included in our ticket price. The greenhouse environment was filled with palms and tropical plants.

It was a perfect blend of botanical beauty and wellness, and a nice escape from the cold outside. Sipping a cocktail surrounded by tropical plants felt very restorative.

It gave us a chance to sit, warm up, and reflect on our experience without being rushed. It was nice to slow down and appreciate our surroundings.

Guests are required to show up with their swimsuit and flip-flops. We rented bathrobes, and my husband rented a head cover. They have basic options to rent, so bring your own if you would like.

Our ticket included the locker rental, so definitely pack your own essentials to elevate your experience and minimize what you’re renting. Also, don’t forget to bring a change of dry clothes to change into – I definitely did!

Final Thoughts

Overall, I would highly recommend the Széchenyi thermal bath for any first-timers, and even experienced goers! It was definitely worth the price for a day trip for all the facilities offered.

This is easily a huge highlight of my Budapest trip. I felt relaxed, recharged, and ready to take on the rest of my trip.

I had a new appreciation for this combination of beauty, history, and wellness all in one place. It was truly an escape from reality, and I dream of returning one day!