A high point of Maddie Salter’s visit to Lech am Arlberg was her trip to the spa at the Hotel Aurelio. Winner of a Relax Guide SPA Award in 2015, the state-of-the-art location includes a 23-meter swimming pool, experience baths, saunas, treatment rooms, and more while offering a wide array of rare amenities and tailored services.
The aim of Aurelio’s “SPA experience” is simple: total rejuvenation, unhurried and deeply enjoyed. That it combines this philosophy with effortless style is an extra treat. I was delighted by the sleek lines and immersive lighting of its indoor activity pool, the voguish multi-jet shower stations located by the hot baths, the wide lockers with sumptuous robes and slippers at the ready, and the body refreshers from St Barth’s line of moisture-rich products. Though compact, the spa had what felt like a sprawling layout, with its gym, lounge, saunas, treatment areas, and aquatics kept separate, so that each individual element could be indulged in as a complete experience. I savoured having the time to relax between elements, stealing a breath of fresh air on the outdoor deck and cooling off on the cushioned lounge chairs after an hour’s work on the elliptical.
While Lech brims with spa and physiotherapy options, Aurelio stands out with its promotion of total body wellness packages for men, women, couples, and even teenagers. Each spa package can be individually altered to suit an array of desires or to target specifically problematic areas. A typical retreat might include a morning in the Techno Gym with a personal trainer for a full body workout that accommodates athletes and sciatica sufferers alike. Afterwards, a fizzy cold kombucha tea and a rinse off in the showers enliven a visitor for a dip in the pool. Après workout, the aroma steam room or Finnish sauna are both excellent wind-down options, especially when combined with a relaxing soak in the herbal or acoustic hot baths.
For those looking for an afternoon of deep repose or specifically hoping to work out pains, strains, and kinks, Aurelio’s massage menu includes the indulgent Aroma Oil Massage, the vigorous Sports Massage, and the medicinal Individual Massage. All options can be stylized to include slimming, softening, or sensation oils to rejuvenate the skin. For profound skin renewal, a pampering facial at the Aurelio includes a consultation and treatments by celebrated dermatologist Dr Strum, whose anti-aging creams work on a molecular level. Dr Strum works with few spas internationally, and her scientific facial regiments focus on deep hydration, tissue stimulation, and skin tightening.
When a visitor is ready to face the world again (though the Aurelio spa really begs the question, why ever leave?,) the cosmetic rooms await to help guests take on the day, with options that include manicures, pedicures, waxing, lash and brow dying, hairstyling, and makeovers. Want to finish up with a spritz of St Barth’s perfume or cologne, and accessorize with a bit of topaz jewelry on your way out? Check.
During my stay I opted for an hour-long Sports Massage, targeted at my shoulders and lower back, where old injuries made the muscles tight. My massage therapist, Yasmine, did a wonderful job of working all extra summer sporting knots out of my body, rotating and stretching my limbs at intervals during the deep tissue reflexology, so that everything was remarkably loose and limber by the end. I made a habit out of visiting the gym facilities by nightfall, and became unashamedly attached to stealing away into the aroma sauna, preferring the exfoliation by wet heat to that of the dry Finnish sauna. It was addictive: the delicious crackle of cool water being tossed over the hot stones, the fragrant wood of the sauna beds, and spry feeling of weight lifting from my pores as they infused with the herbal cocktail on the air made for a venerable retreat.
Unfortunately, the skin specialist wasn’t available when I visited (a bit before Aurelio’s proper summer season came into swing,) but I was surprised to learn about the “blood cream” Dr Strum had on offer—facial moisturizers based on patient’s individual biology. Talk about lavish!
I was especially impressed by the individualised experience, with the spa catering to visitors on a personal level, altering menu options to fit the needs and inclinations of its guests. Guests include those not staying at Aurelio, with Day Spa hours running 9am to 3pm, at €80/per person (inclusive of a €35 treatment voucher.) For Aurelio guests, the spa stays open until 8pm.
For individuals looking to be truly cosseted, there is the option of having an in-home spa experience. The Aurelio Chalet, a private overnight cabin that can be booked for groups of up to sixteen, includes an exact replica of the Aurelio spa. Treatments can be booked from the comfort of your own cabin, and all amenities remain the same. Especially cozy for families, a projector cinema is included in the home spa, presumably so that guests can have one of the poshest Home Alone II viewings of all time. Oh là là!
Massages at the Aurelio spa start from €90/per person (45 minutes,) and facials begin at €160/per person (70 minutes.)
To read more highlights from my Lech adventure, check out the other posts in my Living Lech series.
Hotel Aurelio is located at Tannberg 130, A-6764 Lech am Arlberg, Austria. Learn more at aureliolech.com.
