Short break for two

For a short break for two, look for an adults-only hotel that is easy to reach and has spa facilities that suit your weekend plans. What matters is how much time you have together between arrival and departure: can you still use the sauna on Friday? Is the massage you want available? And does the minimum age apply throughout the hotel? Decide how long you are willing to travel before choosing a hotel. A lovely room is little use if you spend half your break travelling or the spa closes just as you arrive.

Which region suits the time you have?

For a two-night stay, calculate your journey from your front door to the hotel. Driving time needs to include breaks and the final stretch to the hotel; flying also means getting to the airport, waiting and taking a transfer. Agree on how much time you want to spend travelling. Then check the journey for your actual travel dates. A convenient location on the map tells you little about when you will actually check in on Friday evening.

If you are setting off from within Germany, the adults-only hotels in Germany overview is a useful starting point. Bavaria and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are particularly well represented in this collection. Which direction makes sense depends on where you are travelling from. Compare journeys before setting your heart on a particular destination.

For Austria, start with adults-only hotels in Austria and then narrow your search by region. Tyrol features prominently in this selection, while South Tyrol, on the Italian side, also has suitable hotels. If you are looking for a child-free hotel near Salzburg, focus on the Salzburg region. Check the exact location: staying in the region does not necessarily mean staying in the city of Salzburg.

Mallorca and the Canary Islands are also included. For a short island break, your outward and return journeys need to fit your days off. Compare the time you will actually have at your destination. If you arrive late and leave early, an extra night may make more sense than trying to pack everything into Saturday.

How can you tell whether the spa facilities meet your needs?

Before you start looking, think about what a spa break means to you. Do you want to use the sauna several times a day, book a massage or mainly relax together by the pool? These preferences will not necessarily lead you to the same hotel. A spa does not necessarily include a sauna, and an infinity pool tells you nothing about whether you can swim indoors in bad weather. Check each of the facilities you actually want to use.

Hotel Via Salina in the Tannheim Valley combines a lakeside setting with a sauna, steam room and spa. There are also walking trails, giving you a way to combine time outdoors with relaxation at the hotel. Kurhaus Cademario Hotel & Spa in Cademario, Ticino, has a sauna, spa and infinity pool. Both are worth considering if you want spa time to be a regular part of your day.

Before booking, check the spa opening hours, what your room rate includes and whether treatments need to be reserved. If you want a massage together, explicitly ask for two appointments at the same time. Two available slots one after the other do not mean you can have your treatments together. You should also check whether you can use the facilities before check-in or after check-out.

If you want to focus your search on treatments and relaxation, explore the Wellness & Spa category and the Spa & Wellness Weekends for Couples collection. You can also read our magazine article A Spa Weekend for Two: Beautiful Spa Hotels for Couples.

What kind of hotel suits your weekend?

Agree on your priorities before comparing rooms. If one of you wants to spend all day in a dressing gown and the other wants to explore the city, both should be possible without too much planning. The guide below highlights the questions that can help you choose.

Hotel Can Cera in Palma de Mallorca is one option for combining a city break with a spa: the historic mansion has a roof terrace with city views, plus a sauna, steam room and spa. Fontsanta Hotel Thermal & Spa in Campos offers a different focus with its thermal waters. Choose according to how you would like to spend a free afternoon.

Maiers Kuschelhotel in Loipersdorf combines Jungle Spa and a sauna with half board. If you would like to eat at the hotel in the evening, this can make planning easier. Still, check meal times, especially if you will be arriving late. An included meal is only useful if you are there in time to enjoy it.

A common mistake is to assume that a special room feature is available throughout the hotel. If a whirlpool bath in your room matters to you, it needs to be included in the exact category you book. The same applies to a private pool or a particular view. Read the room description together once more before completing your booking.

What does adults-only mean for your stay?

Adults-only does not always mean 18 and over in this selection. Hotel Can Cera and Fontsanta Hotel Thermal & Spa, for example, have different minimum ages: Can Cera welcomes guests aged 18 and over, while Fontsanta welcomes those aged 16 and over. The selection also includes hotels with a minimum age of 13. If you want to stay exclusively with guests aged 18 and over, look specifically for adults-only hotels for guests aged 18 and over.

Also check where the age policy applies: throughout the hotel, in one building or only in certain areas. An adults-only area within the spa is not enough to ensure a stay without younger guests. If the description is unclear, ask the hotel to confirm where the policy applies before booking.

A minimum age does not guarantee complete silence either. Your room's location, events and proximity to the bar or restaurant can matter just as much for a restful stay. If you want to go to bed early or read on the balcony, ask for a room in a suitable part of the hotel. Explain what you want specifically, rather than simply asking for a “romantic room”.

What should you check before booking?

Compare your shortlisted hotels for the same planned weekend. This will help you see which one suits your plans. Use this checklist:

• Work out your travel times: When can you leave, when will you realistically arrive and when will you need to set off again?
• Check the age policy: Does the minimum age meet your expectations, and does it apply to every area you want to use?
• Check spa opening hours: Do the sauna and spa opening hours fit your arrival time and daily plans?
• Reserve treatments: Are your preferred treatments available, including at the same time if needed?
• Choose your room carefully: Does the category you are booking actually include a whirlpool bath, balcony or terrace?
• Plan dinner: Would you like to eat at the hotel, and will you need a reservation?
• Check departure arrangements: When do you need to leave your room, and can you still use the spa afterwards?
• Read the booking terms: How much flexibility do you have if your days off change?

Then deliberately leave some space in your schedule. A short break for two does not mean trying every facility or fitting in every excursion. Book the things that need a reservation and leave the rest of the afternoon open. That way, you can decide once you are there whether to head out again, have another sauna session or linger over a meal.