Hotel Thermen Bussloo

The atmosphere felt both luxurious and laid-back, and the staff and other guests were all friendly and respectful. We spent one night here and had access to the spa for two days. It was a lovely stay, with no complaints. A great spot to relax and recharge, and I’d happily come back for a night, wellness, or a meal.

We left feeling ripped off, and probably won’t return. I have fond memories of the thermal spa itself, but nobody told us on arrival that towels and bathrobes would cost an extra 40 euros per person. The charge came as a nasty surprise when we were leaving, and was almost as much as the entrance ticket. We were also billed for a sauna package we never asked for. It included flip-flops, which we didn’t request or receive.

The grounds are huge and the facilities are nice, with plenty to choose from. Still, the way the administration handled things spoiled the stay, and we left more stressed than when we arrived. We’d booked two nights and came for a relaxing weekend. Since it was our first time at the resort, we didn’t know how things worked and assumed we could arrange massages during the two days ahead. Nobody called, emailed, or messaged us about the schedule. On arrival, we were told we’d missed our massage because we got there later than the time on the booking, and would still be charged. That would have felt fair if we’d known in advance. They offered a different massage that was half as long, and expected us to go right away, before we’d even properly checked in and while we were already stressed. Otherwise, they said, they were fully booked for the next two days. Later, the hotel administration told us it was no problem and could easily be sorted out by speaking with the resort administration. At checkout, though, the resort administration said we’d arrived late and should have called, that they had offered another option, and that we could have come by that day to ask about availability. Since we hadn’t done that, they said nothing could be done. We paid for a service we never received and were blamed for not being proactive enough in a place where you come to relax. If we’d had enough notice, I’d have been fine paying for an appointment we knowingly missed. We won’t be coming back. Thanks.

The spa complex is great, and the Ottoman hot water pool and saltwater cave were definite highlights. It’s tucked away, which gives the place a lot of privacy. The staff and guests were nice, and everything was well maintained. The restaurant, though, is very expensive for what you get.