Balnea is a fabulous SPA niched in the Pyrenees with fantastic views of the range of mountains…read more Even though it's May, peaks of mountains are still covered with snow. In the SPA, there is a series of basins to try out from Roman, Japanese, Inca, Amerindian offering variations of soothing water turbulence. Massages, esthetic services and more are also available by appointment only. Entrance fee is 19 euros for two hours of heavenly aquatic body and mind experience. No chlorine is used but instead ion treatment and pure water source, sulfuric water loaded with minerals.

Ahhh, now this is what it's all about!…read more After a day freezing your tush off on the slopes there is nothing quite like a few hours spent flapping and floating around some super warm bubbly water. Here everyone gets a plush bathrobe, towel and flip flips with their entrance fee (14E for adults and 8E for kids) for two hours of water heaven. While there are some treatment areas throughout the multi-level complex the main reason to go is for the "espace ludique." There you'll find a large super warm pool with overhead showers, underwater loungy areas to stretch out and soak, a bubbly fountain, hamman and sauna. But the jewel in the crown is the semi-secluded jacuzzi located under a dome with floor to ceiling windows overlooking the mountains. It's usually packed, but even so, it's heavenly.

We're talking geothermal sulphur baths here. All you need in twenty bucks and your bathing suit -…read more they supply the towels as part of the deal, and plastic flip-flops for 1.5 eur. You have a bunch of choices: If you choose "basin", you find yourself in a large thermal bath with other people; if you choose "bain", you have 15 minutes of thermal bath in a completely private tub, and during those 15 minutes there is a program of jets that do a lovely massage. That's what I chose, and it was well worth the 17.50 eur (flip-flops included). While you bathe, your clothes and valuables are in a locked cabinet, the key is on your wrist, and the attendants are very helpful and cheerful people. Besides the basic basin and bain (oh, there's also bain-for-two with side-by-side tubs !), there are numerous actual therapeutic thermal treatments for people with specific medical needs such as rheumatologic, orthopedic (trauma etc.), fibromyalgic, etc.... and these can run up to a hefty charge, may require several days, and certainly require a note from your physician. Anybody who's ever had orthopedic surgery followed by physiotherapy including a warm bath will appreciate what the thermal baths in Bareges can do to help the cure.