Therme 51

We went from 4-6.30pm, and with only a few other people there, it was peaceful and quiet. Everything was straightforward inside, with clear signs for the baths and saunas, plenty of places to sit, and drinking water available. The decor was simple but smart. Swimsuits are required everywhere, which we prudish Brits appreciated. We booked online a couple of days ahead. The woman at the counter was very polite and welcoming. Private changing cubicles are available, lockers are free, and hiring both a sauna towel and a regular towel cost only 5CHFpp. This is such good value for a relaxing thermal bath visit in Leukerbad. I’d recommend it 100%.

The three outdoor pools at 36°, 38°, and 42° were lovely, and the thermal pools and sauna area are inviting and well designed. But the cleanliness and upkeep were really disappointing. I was shocked to see so much dirt floating in the ice bath, and nearly stepped in before noticing it, as did a few other people. After that I paid closer attention and could see dirt along the edges of the thermal pools where people rest their arms. The cleaning seems far below a reasonable standard, especially compared with the proudly advertised “Swiss quality.” It made me wonder how carelessly the staff were cleaning. In that respect, it was impressively bad.

I went to the spa hoping to relax, but the receptionist’s stress made the whole interaction difficult. I needed some guidance about how to access the spa and what to do. The older woman at reception wouldn’t take time to explain and said I couldn’t use anything without a reservation. Fair enough, but when I asked what I should do, she handed me a card and told me to sit down and book online. The website was in German, so I asked for help. She lost patience and said she didn’t have time for me. I think she should be in another role at the company, certainly not spa reception.

I booked a three-hour spa visit for 5:30, but only found out afterward that they close at 7:30. They still charged the full price. The place is small, though it has a good number of nice saunas. The downtown location feels odd, surrounded by people walking around and car parks.