Are you looking for ways to unwind and reduce stress? Can’t find time for a day trip to Tremblant, but want to enjoy the health benefits of a nordic spa? Then you’ll wan to check out Hotel and Spa le Finlandais.
Located in Rosemère, only 30 minutes away from Downtown Montreal, Spa le Finlandais makes you feel like you are truly in another world. The peaceful natural atmosphere makes you forget that you are still located in one of Canada’s biggest suburbs. The multitude of thermal, arctic and steam baths; saunas and multi-sensory experiences, and relations areas makes it easy to see how Spa le Finlandais is one of the largest and most popular Nordic spas in North America.
Want a more in-depth experience?
One of our biggest lessons about Hotel and Spa le Finlandais was there are bargains to be had! We have great health insurance, so would always book a massage and get free access to the spa with our massage – make sure you tip your masseuse! But we wanted a bit more in-depth experience, so we decided to stay at the hotel (which is located across the street from the spa).
You can look around for deals on the ‘hotel’ itself (which then gives you access to the spa) or you can book through the spa & take advantage to any deals they may have.
For us this visit was just a quick parents getaway. The reality is that there aren’t many places where you can escape right in the city and feel a world apart! I HIGHLY recommend doing an overnight stay with someone special, girlfriends, I’d even take my mom if she was a spa-going kinda person. In fact, I plan on going again soon by myself just for a break.
Benefits of staying at Hotel le Finlandais
In addition to special rates on the hotel, guests of hotel le finlandas get an extra 15% off all wellness treatments. Hotel clients benefit from a preferential rate that includes access to the spa site, as well as free rental of bathrobes, towels, and a complimentary water for 24 hours (from noon on the arrival day until noon the following day). You can go in and out of the spa as many times as you wish during the day and since the hotel is located across the street from the hotel, it’s not too far to go.
For us, this meant during our stay we checked into the hotel, had supper and then got to check out the spa before sleep – which makes for a MUCH better sleep. The next morning, we went and checked out of the hotel before our massages (which again – now that we know, we would have booked treatments AFTER we booked out hotel to get the 15% discount!).
The Spa
We have been coming to the Spa ever since it opened. You can’t beat the proximity (just 10 minutes north of Montreal), and everything is always clean, professional and high end. Although they have had some fire damage in recent years, they have taken those opportunities to re-build and offer enhanced services.
Spa Finlandais claim to fame is that they have a ‘worldy-inspired’ spa. One of the problems is that unless you are aware and plan in advance, there are so many offerings you may miss many of them! They used to have charts up around offering suggestions on order to experience the different baths, saunas and features, but I am guessing they weren’t aesthetically-pleasing enough, so they took them down.
Oriental Inspirations
From the Oriental Inspirations – the World Tea lounge (next to the Himalayan salt room) always has great tea & it’s a good reminder to hydrate. While there on the lower floor, check out the exfoliation room with showers and the Moroccan lounge – a place for quiet reflection & no talking.
Asian Inspirations
Asian inspirations seem like they are everywhere, but I soon realized it’s just an overall feeling of zen you get when there. There are plenty of places to tap into a zen vibe in the lounges, swings and corners throughout the spa. One of my favorite is the Himalayan salt lounge! It’s zen, but it’s also just so pretty!
For this one, I had to look up what a Japanese Sauna is.. “Hot spring baths, or onsen, are essential parts of the Japanese bathing culture. The water in hot springs must contain a certain amount of minerals and naturally-occurring chemicals to be considered onsen.”
Arctic Inspirations
From the arctic, the waterfall & Neptune’s cave is nice, but honestly almost every time I have been there Neptune’s Cave has been a make-out spot for young couples.
MUST TRY: The arctic bath is something that you must try! If you are a fan of most mindset mentors and motivational speakers, they suggest having cold showers every morning or at least making cold dips a regular part of your life for mental clarity, focus and just a general body rejuvenation.
For those of you wondering what the difference between the Russian sauna or Banya, versus Swedish or others. In terms of technical differences, a Russian steam room/sauna is much more humid (around 40–70%) than a sauna (3–15%). This level of humidity means that the conditions in a Russian sauna feel more natural. In turn, the heating is less aggressive but it has a deeper effect.
Scandinavian Inspirations
Now we come to one inspirations that my family enjoy often as they cling to their Finnish roots! Out of the Scandinavian inspirations, I’m not sure why they are Helsinki, but the ‘bubbles’ are just fancy chairs that you can sit in and ‘hang-out’ in a pool. These are great on warmer days, I’ve actually seen people reading in them sometimes too. BUT if you are gong on a super cold day, you may not want to have half your body outside the water. Also, if your looking for silence and meditation, this is another area where groups sometimes hang out & chat.
Here you’ll notice again 2 Sauna types. And again I had to go look them up!
A Finnish sauna is generally wet, steamy, sometimes smokey, an important part of the national identity (listed on UNESCO:s List of Intangible Cultural Heritage), – meaning it’s part of most Finns’ weekly hygienic routines. For Swedes, the sauna is generally dry, more of an odd, exotic pleasure, and usually not something you have at home.
Americas Inspirations
The last is one of my favorite areas. I haven’t come across the multi-sensory experience and since I usually go in winter the only outdoor lounging areas I want are the ones close to fire pits! Out of the America Inspirations, and the spa, the Temazcal Mayan Sauna is one of my favorite places in the whole spa. Temazcal is an indigenous invention from Central America that combines the physical benefits of perspiration with spiritual well-being. Among the Mayans, this hut was the site of ceremonies dedicated to purify body and mind. Basically you sit, sweat and watch projections on the walls as you listen to music. Usually my husband doesn’t make it the whole 15 minutes or so it takes, but I enjoy it.
If you haven’t been to a thermal spa before check out out guide below for lots of tips and tricks.
First time visiting to a thermal spa
If you have never been to a thermal spa, you will want to check out my Beginners Guide to Visiting a Thermal Spa. You’ll also find a great checklist of order of things to do, so you can get the most out of your visit to the spa.
If your a bit confused and want to just know what is available to plan a great visit, the spa has made lists of baths, saunas, lounging areas, and of course the restaurant.
Before you go to Spa Le Finlandais
- You will want to check out their rates and packages (you’ll notice most services are cheaper during the week, check their Facebook page for the latest deals, or subscribe to their newsletter to see if they have any introductory offers.
- Check your insurance! Most insurances cover massages, so book a massage and your visit if free!
- Bring your water bottle! You won’t realize how dehydrating it can be – make sure you hydrate for 24 hours following your visit.
Have you visited Spa & Hotel Le Finlandais? Let us know how your visit went in the comments below.
