Hungary: Danubius Health Spa
by Roberta Sotonoff
The Spa: Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget utilizes three ancient thermal springs for its health and beauty treatments.
The Location: Margitsziget, Budapest, Hungary. The spa and its adjacent conference hotel sit on Margaret Island between Buda and Pest on the Danube River.
The Environment: The resort, located on a two-and-a-half mile-long island park, is surrounded by ancient chestnut trees, botanic gardens and second-century Roman ruins. Trails wind through rose and Japanese gardens. The island is a favourite weekend destination for joggers, stroller, bikers and those who just come to enjoy the scenery.
The Distinction: The facility not only concentrates on wellness and fitness but also has a medical facility with eye, dental and spine clinics, as well as diagnostics and cosmetic surgery. An on-site medical staff includes an internist, cardiologist, rheumatologist and physiotherapists. Besides the basics-massage, facials, wraps and beauty salon, treatments include electrotherapy, spinal programs, physical rehab, baleontherapy, which involves mud and thermal water for treatment of back pain, and the Dr. Kneipp cure – a combination of hydrotherapy, special diet and herbs.
The Experience: Upon entering the spa, I stop at the big wooden mineral water tap to sample the curative mineral water. Yuck! Hopefully its benefits will outweigh the bad taste. Oh well, I am sure my Hungarian Wine Cream Massage will compensate. It does.
My masseuse begins by having me inhale the massage cream that has been created from Hungarian wines. The balm is said have to relaxation properties. It smells as delicious as the Hungarian wines taste. The creamy, gentle rub lasts 50 minutes. I feel great.
After the treatment, I test the pools -- first a soak in the warm, and then a lap around the cold pool. I hop around the rocks and into the hottest pool to warm up and chill out. The hot and cold circuit is all part of the Dr. Kneipp cure. Back in my room, the bed looks awfully inviting. I just wish I could just cancel my dinner appointment and go to sleep.
Accommodations: The contemporary-styled Danubius Health Spa Resort Margitsziget is full service and connected to the spa by an underground corridor. Rooms are quite comfortable, each with a great view - either the island or the Danube - from individual balconies.
Where to eat: The hotel eateries include the Platán Restaurant, which serves a sumptuous buffet breakfast and Hungarian and international cuisine for lunch and dinner and Kamila Coffee Shop. It specializes in light meals and wellness menus. And, if you don’t have the energy to get dressed, there is always room service.
The Extras: With 35 exercise stations, an array of modern equipment, classes that include step, yoga, aerobics, Tai Chi and Tae-Bo the fitness center is as awesome as the rest of the facility. One of the more interesting spa therapies is the Salt Cave. Lounge chairs are set up in a dark, salty cavern-like room. The treatment, which originated in Transylvania, is supposed to benefit pulmonary problems. It cannot be undertaken without a doctor’s prescription.
The Cost: A 50-minute Hungarian Wine Cream Massage costs about US$65.50. Unlimited use of the pools is complimentary for hotel guests. All day spa and therapeutic packages are available, starting at about US$78. Editor's note: Prices reflect the time of our visit, please check with the spa directly for current prices.
Beyond the Spa: If you haven’t had enough of the water at the Danubius, check out the Szechenyi Pools (about US$13). It is where the locals soak. Built in 1909, the huge complex, complete with Roman columns and statues, has 20 pools, Turkish baths and treatments. A 30-minute massage is about $17. The water is warm, but even if the air is cold, there will be plenty of hearty Hungarians, clad in skimpy bathing suits, sitting in the water or alongside the pools sunning or playing chess.
Want to stay dry? Do some sightseeing. Get a fabulous view of the Danube and Buda from Fisherman’s Bastion in Pest on the east side of river or cross over to Buda and get up close and personal with the beautiful Parliament building and Beaux Arts architecture.
What I liked best: The indoor pools allow you to soak at the temperature - 32C (89.6F) to 38C (100.4F)- that is most comfortable. I also liked trying the Kneipp pool, which looked like a triangular cave. Though it is cold (4C or 39.2F), shallow and lined with rocks, walking around it two or three times is believed to increase your circulation.
Words to the wise: If you are planning to spend some time at the hotel, a spa package is much more cost effective than buying individual treatments.
For more information: www.danubiusgroup.com/thermalhotel
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Roberta Sotonoff is a freelance writer based in Glenview, Illinois and can be reached at rsotonoff@aol.com