Spring is in the air!! If the idea of dipping in and out of pools of different temperatures and pressures sounds like a relaxing time to you, I highly recommend going to AIRE Ancient Baths in Chicago! I went for a girls day this weekend, and it couldn’t have happened at a better time. I recently have been having major hip problems – talk about old grandma status – and an afternoon of relaxation and soaking was just what I needed! Read below for everything you need to know to make the best out of your experience.
The Basics
Chicago’s AIRE Ancient Baths is located in the River West neighborhood. The entrance is within an alley – don’t worry, there are clear signs to direct you – and features a cute photo op couch outside the main door. You will need to make a reservation ahead of time, online. There are different package options and time slots to choose from. We did the basic 90 minute Ancient Thermal Baths option, which consisted of having the freedom to dip in any of the pools during that time period. This service was $99 and is also the cheapest option available. There are no phones allowed in the bath area. You can only wear your swimsuit, provided robe, and provided water shoes outside the locker room!
The Baths
There are multiple different baths to try that consist of different temperatures, ingredients, and pressure. Some are really hot, some are really cold, and then there are also saunas to enjoy. You can go to any of the pools that you like, and stay in them however long you like, granted that it is within the 90 minute time period. There are hooks all along the walls to set your robe. We hung ours in the front to come back and get at the end. There are water stations throughout the baths – make sure to hydrate!
The “Dead Sea” Bath
We began our experience in a clockwise motion, starting with the “Dead Sea” bath. This pool of water has a high concentration of mineral salts, hence making it easier for you to float without much effort. It was fun to try and very relaxing! This was the first of the baths that we tried, and the one that we probably stayed the longest in. I’d say it was my favorite out of all of them!
The Saunas
If you love heat as much as I do, you’ll love the two saunas inside AIRE Ancient Baths. One sauna is hotter than the other, but both are super relaxing and so steamy that you can barely see your hand in front of you. In case you need a quick cool down, there is a small five by five dipping pool of what felt like 50 degrees inside the sauna. I tried this out and man it was cold! A good shock to the system, though.
The Salt Station
While I loved all of the baths and the saunas are always great, my favorite part of the experience was a salt station for exfoliation. As you can see in the image above from AIRE Ancient Baths’ Facebook page, the salt station at the Chicago location consists of a huge mound of salt on a round table that spa goers can rub all over their body before rinsing off with overhead showers. I really felt the benefits of this with my skin being super smooth afterwards and thought it was a great DIY perk. The salt station is a little hidden, so make sure not to miss it!
After Thoughts
The experience at AIRE Ancient Baths was sooo relaxing. I’d say it is a great activity to do with a girlfriend, your mom, or even by yourself! For sure going back soon. Massages are not my favorite, but they do have a lot of different massage packages you can choose from and the Himalayan Salt Massage caught my eye for possibly experiencing in the future. I liked how they offered pressed juices for afterwards. It was the perfect full circle to a detox morning!
What’s your favorite way to relax? AIRE Ancient Baths is defiantly on my list!
