Wellness holiday homes in Belgium

The combination of a private wellness area with the freedom of a holiday home is hard to beat. You have a quiet breakfast, head out for a morning walk, and slip into the sauna in the afternoon while the coffee brews. In the evening you unwind in the jacuzzi with a glass of wine. No dress code, no other guests, no waiting times.

Wellness holiday homes can be found across Belgium, but the highest concentration is in the Ardennes. The mix of nature, calm and private wellness is almost perfect there.

A wellness break in your own country has one big advantage: you are there quickly. The Ardennes are within an hour and a half of Brussels, Ghent or Antwerp. That makes a long weekend with sauna, jacuzzi and nature a realistic alternative to an expensive wellness hotel abroad.

Belgian owners have been investing more in wellness in recent years. What used to be a basic sauna in the cellar is now often a thought-through wellness area with an infrared cabin, rain shower and sometimes an outdoor jacuzzi on a terrace with a view.

Wellness in a holiday home goes well beyond a bath with bubbles. The range runs from a simple hot tub on the terrace to a fully equipped wellness area with a Finnish sauna, infrared cabin, steam bath and an indoor jacuzzi. Some of the more luxurious chalets even have a massage table or a small relaxation room with loungers.

When choosing, look carefully at what is actually included. A property that calls itself a wellness retreat sometimes has only an outdoor jacuzzi, while another offers a complete spa experience. The description and photos usually give a clear picture. If in doubt, ask the owner which facilities are private and available throughout the year.

The Ardennes have by far the widest choice of wellness holiday homes. Chalets, farmhouses and renovated country properties there increasingly come with a full wellness area, often overlooking the forest. Around Durbuy, La Roche, Spa and the High Fens you will find properties designed entirely around relaxation, ideal after a day walking in the countryside.