Arab Baths in Spain
 

Has anyone recently been to any of the Arab baths in Spain? Our travel agent sent us brochures from Aire Arab and Hammam?

Saw some posts on this topic awhile back. Try a search.

Also, you might have a look at these links: http://www.medinamayrit.com/

Article from NYTimes.
http://tinyurl.co.uk/gorm

I went to one in Andulucia. It was so boring I don't remember where it was. The water was tepid and from the article Molloy95 mentions, "a whisper of steam", was right.
On the other hand, I was at the Gellert Bath in Budapest and I thought the water was a little cool there too. An young Italian woman thought it was almost too hot. It all depends.

I've been to the hammam in Granada twice. It's a fun experience: subdued lighting, shallow hot pool to soak in for about 20 minutes (maybe more like 30) -- you can alternate with a cold pool but I didn't -- and then a short (?maybe 10 or 15 minute) massage. Price was reasonable. I'm not sure why above poster would think an Arab bath would be NOT boring. I don't think the idea is excitement, it's relaxation, and we found it that.

And here's a peak into one in Sevilla, courtesy of sevilla5.com:
http://www.sevilla5.com/activities/s...s-sevilla.html

The one in Cordoba is supposedly the only one built in the ruins of a real Hammam. The ones in Sevilla and Madrid are owned by the same firm.

The food's not great btw. But if you do book one of the package specials be aware that all of the Spaniards get dressed up to look nice for the meal. Easy to spot the tourists - those with wet hair and sweatpants on after the bath :)

You must, must book in advance. This is a popular date activity in Spain.

Thanks for all of your replies . Do you have to wear a bathing suit? The brochure says you must! Anyone have any ideas?

Yes, swim suits are a must.

I went to the Hammam in Málaga and you had to wear a bathing suit, which meant bottoms only. So, we all wore our bottoms and it was fun except that there wer 2 very sketchy guys offering massage exchanges with all the girls in the place. Definitely nothing even comparable to the Hammams in Morocco (which are single sex and get you cleaner than clean), but a nice evening nonetheless. After the bath there is mint tea included upstairs, which is fun.

From their website, El Hammam in Malaga required you to wear a parea or bathing wrap. Is that not the case?

All in all did you think El Hammam was nice, clean, tranquil?

thanks

Well, the Hammam in Málaga was not much to my liking for a few reasons.

1) way too clean. Yes, I am into sanitation and everything, but I thought it was too overly sanitized. Then again, I had just gotten back from Morocco and visiting hammams every other day, so I was a little used to. . . something different.

2) it is mixed. I don't go to the hammam to get hit on and the fact that a few hornballs would not leave my friends and I alone really messed up the time (all couples were left alone, though).

3) They give you the sarong, but you don't have to wear it. I used it to lay on the floor and get a scrubdown.

I think that if you have never been to a real Hammam before and if you are traveling as a couple or in a group, it would be a wonderful experience, but as for me, I'll head down to Tangier to get really clean.