“THERE MUST BE QUITE a few things a hot bath won’t cure, but I don’t know many of them.” How very true this line from Sylvia Plath’s The Bell Jar is, especially as the chill of autumn approaches and winter follows on its heels, preparing to lock us in its icy embrace. Still, Ms. Plath — would it not have been possible to be more specific about tile work what kind of hot soak is the best? As former head concierge at the St. Christopher Hotel, I always endeavoured to provide guests with precise information — which is what I’ve done here with my guide to the three best bath experiences in the world: Finland’s saunas, Turkey’s hammams and Japan’s onsens.
THE BASICS
Saunas and hammams involve copious amounts of steam and being indoors. An onsen, meanwhile, involves sitting indoors or outdoors in water — ideally sourced from a natural hot spring — that contains at least one of 19 officially designated minerals, or is 25 C or warmer.
THE BATHHOUSES
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ANIMAL XING
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