Five Garden Hot Tubs You Can Afford Now


After our previous article about the Five Most Expensive Hot Tubs You Can Buy, we thought we should go to the other end of the hot tub world. So we've come up with a piece of Five Garden Hot Tubs You Can Afford Now.

We have two criteria: the hot tub must cost $1,000 or less, and it must be of high quality.

Now getting those two together might seem a very tall order. But we struck lucky and found a website that reviews portable hot tubs that meet exactly those criteria. We went through it and these are the top five we found and loved. We hope you enjoy them.

5. SaluSpa Siena AirJet

This is a really cool and quirky portable hot tub for 2 people. It's almost 8 feet long and 5 feet wide, so you can choose to lie one at each end of snuggle up close together. It's perfect for a romantic evening.

As a portable spa - also known as inflatable hot tubs - this model takes only minutes to set up, by attaching it to the all-in-one blower, heater and massage system that comes in the price. The massage system is a good feature, as well. Although not as powerful as a traditional hot tub, this hot tub costs around 10% of most traditional hard shell models, so it's a great saving.

This one comes in at about $500. A great bargain.

4. MSpa B130 Camaro

Now this portable spa is much bigger, and can seat up to 4 adults. It measures almost 6 feet across and is 28 inches deep. It's definitely a quality inflatable tub, made of super-strong PVC. It doesn't feel plastic-y, though. It's comfortable and quality for a small price. It's also got a powerful massage system, with 110 massage jets. Some owners says this is as strong as a traditional hot tub costing thousands of dollars. That makes this even more of a bargain, as the MSpa B130 Camaro also comes in at around $500. Superb.

3. Intex 85 inch PureSpa

Now this one is a super-large portable spa, measuring over 7 feet wide and 28 inches deep. Some manufacturers exaggerate how many people can realistically get into their hot tubs. But in this case, you can fit in exactly as many adults as the maker of this model say. That's 6 adults. Six fully-grown people who can sit in this portable hot tub and not feel cramped. Each can enjoy the extra-strong massage system which consists of 140 air jets. And the cost of all this? Under $500. That's almost unbelievable. But true.

2. Bestway Hawaii With Music Center

Now this is awesome. A square portable hot tub, measuring almost 6 feet by 6 feet, and 28 inches deep. Add on to that that you get a Bluetooth music center included in the price, and you're probably thinking this one is going to push our criteria of being under $1,000 to the max. Then add in that you get some other extras as well, including a drinks and snack tray, cleaning kit, and spare filters, and you've got to believe it's going to top the $1,000 mark.

The price? $700. Jaw-dropping.

1. Lay Z Spa Paris

We've been blown away by these blow up hot tubs (yeah, we said it. sorry!). But they really have been an eye-opener. Before we checked them out, we kind of thought they'd be overgrown versions of those inflatable paddling pools you had as a kid, with a weak blower making the water ripple at best. Yet we've seen they really are an awesome and affordable alternative to the traditional built-in, hard-shell hot tubs. So now, here's our #1 choice.

This portable spa wins our vote because it's a great hot tub with something special: an underwater LED lighting system. Featuring 7 different lights, you can choose one light, to fix the mood of your choice, or change it to pulse or slow-fade mode, with the colour changing quickly in party-mode or super slow in relaxation-mode.

Meanwhile, the hot tub is about six-and-a-half feet wide and has a good massage system made up of 87 massage jets.

Now surely all of this is going to push the price up? Uh-huh. $430. Really!

The Five Most Expensive Hot Tubs You Can Buy

Of course, money isn't everything - and buying an expensive hot tub doesn't necessarily mean it's better than one that costs much less.  In fact we have seen bespoke hot tubs that cost over $1 million dollars that reflected their owner's, shall we say, 'personal' taste, and we would not have had them in our home if you paid us a $1 million!

But apart from the hot tubs you can have made exactly as you wish - generally you need to be a rock star, movie star, or CEO of a Fortune 500 company - there are also some expensive hot tubs that you can buy direct from a top-end hot tub showroom.  Although these don't cost anywhere near $1 million, they will still make a deep hole in your pockets.

Here, then, are the Five Most Expensive Hot Tubs You Can Buy.

5. Hot Tug $21,000

This is a brilliant and quirky invention - a hot tub that is also a tug boat.  It was designed by Frank de Bruijn of the Netherlands, and it is made of glass fiber and polyester with a wooden surround.  

This makes it light enough to float but strong enough to withstand the knocks it might encounter when cruising on water.  It's big enough to hold eight people, and with a 2.4kw outboard motor, you and your guests can cruise around the lake, river, or harbor while enjoying the warm delights of your hot tub.

Brilliant.

4.  Big Chief $25,000

This deluxe, high-end hot tub, made by Platinum Spa, would be a welcome addition to any home.  

It's packed with amazing features, including powerful jets, light show, a lounging area, and waterfall.  And if that wasn't enough, it also has an entertainment system.  There's a Dolby Surround Sound audio system, and also a collapsible flat-screen television. 

Why would you ever need to get out of this beautiful model?

3. Luxema 8000 $26,000

Another unique and slightly quirky design.  The Luxema 8000 has two levels: the top level is a small swimming pool area, while the lower level is the jacuzzi hot tub. But it's not that simple.  

The top level pool has a powerful jet system, so that you can swim against the current and therefore get a really good workout.  Meanwhile, the hot tub area has six seats, neck pillows, hundreds and hundreds of massage jets, an LED light system, a built-in television and entertainment system, and there's even a small bar. Now you can see why it costs as much as a family car!


2. Jacuzzi J 470 $27,000

The Jacuzzi J 470 is a beautiful high-backed hot tub, packed with stunning and luxurious features.  

Easily capable of seating 7 adults in comfort, it has powerful all-over jet systems for your neck, back, legs and feet.  

There are also an LED light show, therapy seats, and dual lit waterfalls.  Stunning.

1. La Scala Whirlpool Bath $33,800

The Rolls Royce of hot tubs is the La Scala Whirlpool Bath, a relative newcomer to the high-end hot tub world - and straight in at #1.

This luxury home spa has an all-over, powerful and adjustable  body jet system, along with a state-of-the-art entertainment system, comprising an AV system, DVD player, CD player, AM/FM radio, and a 43 inch flat screen HD television.  

It also has a lighting system to enhance the experience and ambience.




Five Best Resorts With Hot Tubs in the World

Whether you like to really work yourself into the ground on vacation, hitting the slopes or visiting every site, market, classical building, museum, theatre and hot spot - or whether you just want to chill out and do nothing - one of the features that is going to round off you day is a hot tub.

It was the Romans who first learnt of the physical and mental benefits of slipping into bubbling warm water, in what they named the caldarium. A place where you went to totally unwind, to relieve the stresses, aches and pains of a busy day. Today, we have re-named it the hot tub.

Wherever you go these days, it is easy to find a hot tub for you to use.

It might be on a terrace overlooking the ocean, in your own hotel suite, on the side of a mountain with views of snow-covered slopes, overlooking a savanah in Africa, or on a white-sand tropical beach. Resorts, hotels and private villas are offering a hot tub for their guests. They realise the cachet of the tub and the joy of relaxation and enjoyment it brings.

So whether it's a Pacific Ocean private resort, a luxury villa designed for oligarchs, a private island, or s boutique hotel, we've come up with what we think are the Five Best Resorts With Hot Tubs in the World.

This is a highly personal selection, of course. For a start, even though we have visited hundreds and hundreds of resorts with hot tub facilities, there are hundreds and hundreds more we haven't been to. Yet! But these are the ten that stand out for us. 

We've used a subjective range of criteria in making our selection, including the location, the view, the quality of the hot tub itself.

But overall, it all comes down to one thing: How amazing the experience of being in the hot tub was. It had to be an oasis of relaxation, luxury, and perfection.

If you have any thoughts on our selection, or if you feel there's a place we have missed, please do get in touch with us and let us know. We're always happy to be proved wrong, especially if it means there is somewhere even better!

So, for what it's worth, here is our list of the Five Best Resorts With Hot Tubs in the World.

We have included a link to each place, to make it easy for you. We gain nothing from this link, in either income or kickbacks from the resort. This is simply our own list, for entertainment and fun.

Please click on the links if you wish or simply Google the resorts and make your own way to their sites. Either way, we hope you enjoy our offerings. Even more, we hope you get to enjoy at least one of these amazing places for yourself. If you do, drop us a line and let us know.  You can contact us by clicking on this link: Get In Touch With Us

Five Best Resorts With Hot Tubs in the World

Molori Safari Lodge, South Africa

The Molori Safari Lodge is located in the Madikwe Game Reserve, in South Africa’s North West Province. It's a beautifully secluded lodge, offering complete privacy, and you can enjoy stunning views from the six-person hot tub of the Dwarsberg Mountains and the Madikwe valley.  Relax back in the hot tub and spot elephants, zebras, even lions.

Check out their website here: Molori Safari Lodge

 

Amangani Resort, Wyoming, USA

This cliff-top hotel has staggering views of the nearby Teton and Snake River Mountains.  The 103F slate hot tub is directly adjacent to the resort's 35m infinity pool, so you can plunge from the chill waters of the pool straight into the warms of the hot tub.  Unbeatable.

To visit the resort website click on this link: Amangani Resort.


Blancaneaux Lodge, Belize

Blancaneaux Lodge is a luxury hideaway established by the film maker Francis Ford Coppola.  It's a magical place where waterfalls cascade into turquoise pools in a vivid jungle setting. You can explore the ancient civilization of the Maya before returning to your thatched roof dwelling, to enjoy the unique 11,000 gallon hot tub built of local granite.

Check out the Blancaneaux Lodge website by clicking this link:  Blancaneaux Lodge website


Banyan Tree Lijiang Resort & Spa, Lijiang, China

The Banyan Tree Lijiang Resort & Spa is 2,000m above sea level, near the city of Lijiang, rightly-called the Venice of the Orient.  Each Garden Villa at the resort has its own private courtyard with a 2-person hot tub, where you can sip Chinese tea or local plum wine while taking in the breathtaking views of Jade Dragon Snow Mountain.

Visit the resort website by clicking here: Banyan Tree website

Hotel Villa Honegg, Lucerne, Switzerland

The Hotel Villa Honegg is a glorious mansion perched on a hillside overlooking Lake Lucerne.  From the swimming-pool-size hot tub on the back lawn, you could gaze down at the lake or, in winter,  enjoy the white scenery of ice and snow shining in the sun on the peaks of nearby Mount Bürgenstock.

Visit the hotel's website by following this link: Hotel Villa Honegg website

5 Amazing Hot Tubs on Super Yachts You Have To Check Out

My brother-in-law landed his dream job about 10 years back, designing super yachts for the rich and famous.  As you can imagine, he gets to travel all over the world, meeting clients and discovering what it is they want on their yacht.  Some of these costs literally tens of millions of dollars, others are humbler (relatively that is!).  But no matter what, many of his clients ask for at least one hot tub - sometimes two: one inside and one on-deck.

We are both lucky enough to have been invited onto some of the yachts he has designed, and we've always thought the hot tubs are awesome.  So we thought we'd share some of the best ones we've seen - our Top 5 Super Yacht Hot Tubs (in no particular order, as they say)

Elixir

This 180' long boat has a spa on deck with a view to die for.  It's surrounded by glass panels and sits at the rear (aft!) of the boat, looking out over the ocean.  It's big enough to seat several guests in opulence, and if the sun gets to hot, there's an awning that can be activated to provide welcome shade.  The yacht's own luxury bar is only feet away as well, and just a raise of your hand will have one of the ship's 12 crew members bringing a cooling (non-alcoholic!) drink over to the spa side.



Reverie

The hot tub on the 97' super yacht Reverie is an eye-catching octagonal shape surrounded by sun loungers and sun parasols.  It's the perfect place to relax and catch some sun - or to enjoy a romantic soak and massage as the sun goes dinner before heading off to get ready for dinner.  The hot tub enjoys panoramic views over the ocean and endless skies.  And if you need a cooling drink as you soak up the rays and the view, or maybea pre-dinner aperitif, there's a bar literally behind the hot tub.  Bliss.

Pegasus VIII

This gorgeous hot tub comes with a night club attached.  Literally!  Once aboard the super yacht Pegasus VIII, you can slip into the spa on the upper deck, step out and walk through the doors onto the yacht's nightclub floor.  Made for partying, this 257' super yacht has everything you need to enjoy the high seas both day and night.  Although it's the nightclub space which is a big feature of this beautiful boat, with its raised dance floor, smoke machines, state-of-the-art sound system, and two bars - it's the hot tub that we love.  It's a great place to relax before hitting the floor - or a great place to recover after long night of partying!

Dream

In quiet contrast to the nightclub-theme of Pegasus VIII, the 197' Dream super yacht oozes calm opulence throughout.  This is personified in its elegant hot tub which is set on a sprawling sun deck at the very top of the yacht,which offers breathtaking views all around.  It's no surprise that this boat has won many awards for its design, and it really is deserving of the title 'super' yacht.

Highlander

The hot tub on the Highlander enjoys a spectacular setting and an equally spectacular view.  It was designed especially for the night, with its underwater multi-colored LED display, its playful fountains, and perfect vantage point for star-gazing.  It's one of the best hot tubs on a super yacht, and given that many famous people have enjoyed its waters and views, including Elizabeth Taylor and Mick Jagger, it obviously lives up to the highest of standards.

To check out more facts about these super yachts and also to see other boats which have awesome hot tubs on board, it's worth visiting the good people at Boat International, which you can do by clicking here.