SATAMA Sauna Resort & SPA

There's a wide range of saunas here, which makes up for having fewer pools than Spreewaldtherme. Some of the "rituals" go a little over the top, but they're fun and respectful. A very nice place, and I'll definitely return.

This is a great spot to relax with friends or family. I visited as a day guest for three days in a row and had a really enjoyable time. Keep in mind that this business is in the former East Germany, where most people didn't learn English or other foreign languages at school. Some younger staff and migrant workers in the restaurant spoke a little English.

The place is beautiful, but some basic details need attention. Reception staff are barely friendly, almost robotic. Even on a weekday, people had saved chairs with towels all day, so there was nowhere to sit. The chairs left free had bird droppings on them. The most surprising part was having no water offered as a courtesy in a sauna where people sweat and lose a lot of fluid. You have to buy mineral water, and I couldn't find any water stations to rehydrate. I've visited many places like this around the world, and this was the first one without them.

For an overnight stay, the experience is less impressive: there's no WiFi or sauna towels, and despite what the Google ad says, breakfast isn't free. The lake views at breakfast are magnificent, though. The spa itself is the best in Brandenburg, overlooking the lake with wildlife around it. It has outdoor saunas built from wood and stone, great aufguss treatments, and a quite nice restaurant.