BALNEA Spa
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Summer 2011 has been absolutely magnificent! The temperature is perfect and a shower of activities has garnished our vacation agenda. After our vacation with the kids, my better half and I felt like a little getaway for just the two of us. So, we decided to head out and discover a spa we hadn’t been to before, but about which we had heard many good things: BALNEA Spa. A magnificent site on the mountainside; the perfect settings for relaxation!
Sweet Summer Pleasures for Just the Two of Us!
Upon arriving at BALNEA Spa, several new experiences awaited us. Indeed, on top of it being our first time to BALNEA Spa, it was also our first time to a spa and thermal reserve in the summer; something we had only experienced under winter’s snowflakes. We enjoyed being able to make the most of the advantages of hot and cold, and even if the piercing effect of icy water on our body after a stint in the saunas and steam baths was mildly diminished, it was still just as relaxing. I was enchanted by the number of saunas, baths and lounges featuring Zen and trendy décors. I particularly liked the sauna set up in a cave that makes you feel as if you are enveloped in the mountain.
BALNEA Spa
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My partner and I also tried the duo massage for the first time, during which two therapists massage the couple in a same room. Despite being together, the beneficial effects of the massage quickly drew us into our own bubbles. At the end of this massage, the therapist brings the hands of the couple together, as if to bring them back to each other. Entirely charming!
When Gastronomy and Relaxation Get on Well!
BALNEA Spa is hosting a most interesting event, the Summer of Chefs! This is a friendly gastronomic contest between ten renowned Montréal chefs who present an original, BALNEA-inspired dish every week. A jury is named to decide which dishes are the best and BALNEA guests, or clients at participating restaurants, also get a chance to share their opinion by participating in a contest that ends on September 10. When I was there, it was the chef Marc-André Lavergne from the restaurant Accords who was presenting a dish of smoked trout from Saint-Alexis.
An interesting little fact: it is possible to taste dishes from the Summer of Chefs at BALNEA’s beach club. Since only one dish is on the menu at a time, make sure you are interested in what the chef proposes. If you would then like to complete the dish with other delicious items, head to the BALNEA café for a great variety of salads, sandwiches and soups. In our case, the beautiful platter of fruit, along with a mimosa, was the perfect conclusion to our relaxation experience.
Thanks to the whole team at BALNEA Spa for their welcome, especially to Fernando and Jessica for a most relaxing duo massage.
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