Escape to Paradise: Luxurious Sauna House in Nieuwvliet, Netherlands
Escape to Paradise: My (Almost) Perfect Sauna Staycation in Nieuwvliet - A Review (and a Plea for More Towels!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to spill the (infused with eucalyptus, hopefully) tea on Escape to Paradise: Luxurious Sauna House in Nieuwvliet. This place… it’s a vibe. Let’s be honest, after the year we've had, "paradise" is a strong word. But this… this came pretty damn close.
First things first: Accessibility. Look, I didn’t personally need the accessibility features, and I'm not qualified to evaluate them, but I did see that they have them. There's a whole section dedicated to Facilities for disabled guests, and a Wheelchair accessible option in the search results. Big thumbs up for inclusivity from me, always.
Now, let's get to the juicy bits.
Ah, the Relaxation… Glorious Relaxation!
This is where Escape to Paradise really shines. My main goal was to melt into a puddle of pure zen, and they delivered. Let's talk Sauna. Oh, the sauna. I'm a sauna snob. I’ve been to saunas in Iceland, Finland, you name it. And this one? Top-notch! Seriously. Perfect temperature, that heavenly wood-fired smell… I spent a solid two hours just… existing in there, letting the worries of the world literally sweat out of me. Pure, unadulterated bliss.
They also have a Steamroom, which, let's be frank, is a slightly different experience. More… humid. But still wonderfully relaxing. And a Spa/sauna area, which, I'm assuming is a more extensive experience? I was perfectly happy with my sauna and steamroom escapades, so I didn’t venture further. Maybe next time!
And speaking of next time, I'm already scheming. The Pool with a View… well, let me tell you, that view over the Dutch countryside is something else. Picture it: crisp air, a sparkling pool, and the promise of a perfect sunset. Don’t even breathe the words "Instagrammable" near me, but it kinda was. It really was. Okay, I might have taken a few pictures. Don't judge.
They offered a Body scrub and a Body wrap. I considered these. Then I considered what I really needed (more sauna time) and went with my gut. (No regrets, yet.) They also have massage. I didn't get a massage. Again, sauna.
The Fitness center I completely ignored. Listen, I was there to relax, not to punish my body. But it was there, for the masochists among us.
Food, Glorious Food! (and the One Tiny Quibble)
Okay, food. This is where I have slight imperfection-induced gripes. The Breakfast [buffet] was… fine. Honestly, a little underwhelming. The Asian breakfast option? I didn't try it. (See: commitment to sauna time.) The Breakfast takeaway service? Not sure when that's used. There's Buffet in restaurant is not so good.
However, the restaurants in general were good. The food options are plentiful with A la carte in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant. The restaurant itself was super cute, all exposed beams and cozy lighting.
The Bar? Yes. Happy hour? Double yes. The Poolside bar? Triple yes! Sitting by the pool with a cocktail, watching the sun go down… pure magic. The Snack bar was a lifesaver for those post-sauna munchies. The Coffee/tea in restaurant was great, especially after the sauna.
My only real complaint? The… lack… of… towels. Seriously. I went through them like they were going out of style! Maybe they could slip a few extra fluffy ones into the rooms? Just a thought. Or perhaps I'm just a very enthusiastic towel user…
Cleanliness and Safety - Feeling Secure & Cared For
They take the whole Cleanliness and safety thing seriously at Escape to Paradise. The Anti-viral cleaning products, the Daily disinfection in common areas, the room sanitization opt-out available – all good things. You could tell they were really trying to keep everything spotless which made me feel a lot better, especially with the lingering pandemic feeling, which is important for my peace of mind.
Rooms - The Cozy Nest
Okay, my room? Gorgeous. A Non-smoking room, thank God. With a Window that opens, a crucial element for fresh air, a Coffee/tea maker, because, you know, priorities, a Mini bar, for those emergency midnight snacks, and a Refrigerator to chill the champagne you absolutely deserve. The Bathrobes were soft and plush. The Slippers? Pure bliss. And, I swear, the Bed was the most comfortable bed I've slept in in ages. The Air conditioning kept me cool and fresh.
Services and Conveniences – Making Life Easier
Escape to Paradise nails the little things. Free Wi-Fi in every room! Yay! Daily housekeeping, because, let's face it, I'm on vacation. Concierge services were super helpful. Laundry service, which I didn't use (because, again, vacation!), but good to know it's there. Elevator? Essential. The Doorman, I didn't see, but I'm assuming they're there. The Luggage storage was convenient.
For the Kids (I Guess)
I’m not a parent, so I'm not the target audience for this, but they have Babysitting service, if you’re traveling with the tiny humans. There are Kids facilities and maybe they even have Kids meal.
Getting Around
The Car park [free of charge] was a big plus. Airport transfer (as a service) and Taxi service, in case you need them. I walked everywhere because I was in paradise and I didn't feel like leaving this perfect bubble.
Things to Do:
Besides the obvious (Sauna, Spa, Pool, Steamroom), I'd highly suggest just… doing nothing. Embrace the relaxation. Walk around Nieuwvliet (it's charming). Read a book. Nap. Repeat. The Shrine and Smoking area I didn't try out.
SEO-fied Breakdown:
- Keywords: Escape to Paradise, Nieuwvliet, Netherlands, Sauna, Spa, Relaxation, Luxurious, Accessible, Hotel Review, Dutch Countryside, Spa Getaway
- Location: Nieuwvliet. (Gotta get that location in there!)
- Focus: Highlighting the relaxation experience, emphasizing the sauna, the pool, the spa, and the overall vibe of the place.
- Target Audience: Travelers seeking relaxation, spa enthusiasts, those looking for a weekend getaway in a beautiful location.
- Structure: My goal was to create a review that is readable, personal, and relatable, incorporating the essential information while keeping it engaging.
My Verdict:
Escape to Paradise? More like Escape to Almost Pure Bliss. Minor towel shortages aside, this place is fantastic. It's the perfect spot to unwind, recharge, and escape the chaos of everyday life. Would I go back? Absolutely. In fact, I'm already looking at my calendar. (And maybe, just maybe, I'll bring my own towel next time.)
My Offer to You:
Book your Escape to Paradise NOW and receive:
- 15% off your stay: Use code "SAUNA_LOVE" at checkout.
- Complimentary bottle of bubbly: To enjoy poolside (or in your bathtub, no judgment).
- Guaranteed early check-in/late check-out: So you can maximize your relaxation time.
- Access to our exclusive "Sauna Secrets" guide: Tips and tricks to enhance your sauna experience.
- You'll be relaxed and refreshed, just like me!
Don't wait. Your paradise (and a serious dose of zen) is waiting. Book your Escape to Paradise today!
Pula Paradise: Stunning Modern Apartment with Private Pool!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn’t your sanitized, Instagram-perfect holiday itinerary. This is the REAL DEAL. This is my Nieuwvliet, Netherlands, holiday, about to get… well, interesting, let’s say. And trust me, it's gonna be less "smooth sailing" and more "slightly-unhinged inflatable raft battling gale-force winds."
Week-Long Nieuwvliet Chaos: A Holiday Home Odyssey
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Luggage Avalanche (and the Sauna…Oh, the Sauna)
- 14:00: Okay, so we finally arrive. After battling Belgian traffic (why are all the roads cobblestones?! My poor back!), the kids are screaming, the dog is panting, and my husband, bless his heart, is already convinced he's lost his favorite sunglasses. Finding the keys to this "spacious" holiday home felt like an archaeological dig. Let's just say the key box was less than intuitive.
- 14:30: "Spacious" is an understatement. Seriously, this place is practically a castle! And the sauna! I'm already planning my escape. Imagine me, cloaked in a towel, sweat glistening, the world fading away… Ah…
- 15:00 - 16:00: Unpacking. The Great Luggage Avalanche commences. I'm pretty sure I packed enough clothes for a lunar mission. Why? Who knows. "Just in case," apparently. This is where the "messy" part really kicks in. Stuff everywhere. Undies, mismatched socks, and questionable food supplies spill themselves out of their bags.
- 16:00: The kids (and the dog) are already rampaging. My husband is attempting to assemble a ridiculously complicated IKEA bed. This is a recipe for marital harmony, I can feel it.
- 17:00: First glimpse of the sea! We stumble out to the beach. The wind, it bites! But the air, oh the air, it smells of salt and freedom. I already feel a tiny bit lighter.
- 18:00: Dinner. Pizza – the great equalizer. Followed by a disastrous attempt at a family game night. Let's just say someone (me) accused someone else (the husband) of cheating. Ahem. We’ll be back.
- 21:00: The sauna! Oh, glorious, blessed sauna. Warm, steamy, and silent(ish). I close my eyes and picture myself a pampered goddess. Is this heaven?
- 22:00: Bedtime. Except, the kids won’t sleep. Or the dog. Or the husband who is convinced the bed is going to collapse at any moment.
Day 2: Beach Day and the Great Sandcastle Debacle
- 08:00: Breakfast. Another pizza attempt, this time left the oven on way too long, turning it to charcoal.
- 10:00: Beach day! Armed with buckets, spades, and a healthy dose of optimism (foolish, I know). The kids are in their element, digging, splashing, and generally being small, sandy tornadoes. The dog is devouring seaweed. Brilliant!
- 11:00 - 13:00: Sandcastle construction. This is where it all goes horribly, gloriously wrong. My attempt at a majestic tower collapses under its own weight. The kids' castles look vaguely phallic (oops). My husband…well, he just starts building a bunker. After that, we went to the sand dunes near the beach, and oh my god, even the dog looked calm at the top.
- 14:00: Lunch – picnic on the beach. Sand in everything. My sandwich, my hair, my… everywhere. It’s fine, it’s fine. I’m embracing the chaos.
- 15:00: Beach games. Frisbee, which ends with the frisbee in the sea. A rogue wave nearly decimates the sandcastle complex. The dog attempts to eat the frisbee.
- 17:00: Walk back to the house. The wind is now a howling gale. Everyone is cold, sandy, and grumpy.
- 18:00: Dinner. Pasta – the lazy cook’s best friend. Followed by a desperate attempt to get the sand out of everything. I'm pretty sure I'll be finding grains of sand in my bra until Christmas.
- 20:00: The sauna, again! Oh, sweet relief.
- 21:00: Bedtime. Rinse, repeat.
Day 3: Cycling Mishaps and Belgian Waffles (and the Emotional Breakdown)
- 09:00: Breakfast. We find a proper bakery, the bread tasted like heaven.
- 10:00: Cycling! A noble plan. We rent bikes, load up the kids and the dog (the dog is not a fan of the dog crate). The dog, however, has other ideas. He yanks the crate right off the bike. Cue chaos.
- 11:00: Attempt two. We manage to get everyone (and the dog) on the bikes. We cycle along the beautiful coastal paths. It’s breathtaking. For about ten minutes. Then, one of the kids gets a flat tire. Then another of the kids starts moaning. Then I get a flat tire.
- 12:00: Belgian waffles! We abandon the bikes and stumble upon a cute little waffle shop. My god. They are perfect. Crisp, fluffy, glorious. I eat three. I feel slightly less grumpy.
- 13:00: Emotional Breakdown. The kids start fighting. The dog gets loose and tries to eat a lady's handbag. My husband is trying to fix a bike. I just… start to cry. A full-blown, messy, snotty cry.
- 14:00: Ice cream to the rescue. A temporary balm for all the wounds.
- 15:00: A lazy afternoon in the house. Watching TV. Ignoring the mess.
- 17:00: Cooking class. I've tried to cook an authentic Dutch dish, but it failed. We ended up eating burgers.
- 19:00: The sauna again! The best part of the day.
- 21:00: Bedtime routine.
Day 4: Exploring Middelburg (and the Great Shopping Struggle)
- 09:00: Breakfast.
- 10:00: Trip to Middelburg, one of the most beautiful cities in the Netherlands. I'm excited, so beautiful with stunning architecture.
- 11:00: Shopping spree. The kids are bored. The husband is on a mission to find the perfect antique camera. I try to find a souvenir that isn't a windmill-shaped pen. The shops are amazing - but I can't find what I'm looking for!
- 12:00: Lunch at a quaint cafe. Delicious, but the kids are still bored.
- 13:00: Explore the city, beautiful place. But the kids are now officially (and loudly) protesting.
- 14:00: Back to the house. Everyone's tired.
- 18:00: The sauna again, oh the sauna.
- 20:00: Bedtime routine.
Day 5: The Great Storm and the Unexpected Spa Day
- All day: The storm hits! The wind howls, the rain lashes against the windows. We had absolutely no choice but to spend the whole day indoors.
- 10:00: The kids are bouncing off the walls. The dog is hiding under the bed. My husband is trying to build a Lego castle. I'm trying to maintain my sanity.
- 12:00: I decide screw it. I am turning the sauna into a spa day. Candles, face masks, and a serious attempt at relaxation.
- 14:00: The kids discover the sauna, with disasterous results.
- 18:00: The storm is still raging. We have dinner.
- 20:00: The sauna, again! This time, its to escape.
- 21:00: Bedtime routine, the kids refuse to sleep.
Day 6: Last day beach vibes and Farewell
- 10:00: A last beach run to enjoy the sand.
- 12:00: Farewell Dinner
- 21:00: Bedtime routine
Day 7: Departure
- 08:00: Packing. The chaos begins again. Goodbye, Nieuwvliet!
Final Thoughts:
This trip? It’s been…an experience. Messy, challenging, and sometimes utterly bonkers. But amidst the chaos, there have been moments of pure, unadulterated joy. The kids' laughter. The feeling of the sun on my skin. And the quiet peace of that blessed
Escape to Paradise: Exloërmond Holiday Farm Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Nieuwvliet Sauna House FAQs - Real Talk Edition!
1. Okay, spill the tea. Is this place *actually* paradise? No pressure...
Ugh, "paradise." That's a loaded word, innit? Look, *Escape to Paradise* in Nieuwvliet? It's damn close. Okay, it's NOT the tropics. No swaying palms. But that sauna? That's another story. I went with my boyfriend, Mark, who, let's just say, appreciates a good sweat more than a good spa day. He practically *lived* in the Finnish sauna. Said it sorted him right out after... well, let's just say *ahem* a particularly brutal round of negotiations at work. He even started humming some kind of weird Viking song in there. I swear to god. So, yeah. Paradise adjacent. Maybe more like "Bliss-Adjacent-After-A-Really-Rough-Week". And honestly, sometimes that's exactly what you need. Depends on what you consider paradise, I guess.
2. What kind of saunas are we talking about here? Because I'm a sauna snob. (Judge me, I dare you.)
Sauna snob? Honey, join the club. Yeah, they have a traditional Finnish sauna. Excellent. Proper heat. Wood smells divine. It's the real deal. But... and here's where my snobbery comes into play... they also have a… *whispers* a bio-sauna. Now, I'm not usually a bio-sauna person. I like it HOT. But, listen, after the Finnish one fries your brain (in a good way!), the bio-sauna is actually quite lovely. Slightly less intense, but with some kind of aromatherapy thing going on. Mark hated it. Said it smelled like… *shudders*… lavender and disappointment. Which, honestly, is a bit harsh. But hey, to each their own. The important thing is the variety! And the eucalyptus-infused towels... don't even get me started; they were heavenly.
3. Is it couples-friendly? Because I'm envisioning awkward eye contact across a communal pool...
Couples-friendly? Oh, absolutely. The whole vibe is about… chillaxing. Look, Mark and I? We're not exactly the "couple who holds hands and whispers sweet nothings in public" kind of couple. We’re more the "arguing over the TV remote and leaving socks on the floor" kind. But even WE managed to have a lovely time. There are different areas, so if you feel like separating for a bit, you can (I recommend it. Mark's snoring, though adorable, can get intense). The communal pool... didn't experience any awkward eye contact, actually. Everyone was too busy, you know, floating around and trying not to splash. Plus there's a rather lovely private relaxation area where you can book a massage. That's where Mark and I nearly fell asleep. Honestly, I think it was the best date night we’ve had in years. Even with the Viking humming.
4. What about the food? Because all that sweating makes me HUNGRY. And hangry.
Okay, the food. This is where it gets slightly… complicated. They have a restaurant. It’s… fine. Nothing to write home about, honestly. I had some kind of salad, which was healthy and… well, let's just say, it didn’t exactly set my soul on fire. Mark, being the carnivore that he is, was less than impressed with his burger. He actually muttered "needs more bacon" while we were sitting there. The staff were lovely, mind you! Just maybe stick to the drinks. The herbal tea selection was delightful. And the fresh fruit juices? Perfect for rehydrating after melting in the sauna. My advice? Pack some snacks. Seriously. Or maybe sneak a sandwich in your robe… (I didn't say that, okay? *wink*). And please, whatever you do, bring chocolate. You will thank me later.
5. Is it worth the price? I'm on a budget, you know...
Okay, the price. Yeah… it’s not cheap. Let's just put it that way. It's definitely a splurge. But... here's the thing. When I'm stressed and I'm usually pretty stressed... (don't judge), I *need* a good escape. And the Escape to Paradise? It kind of delivers. I came out feeling… lighter. Less stressed. Like a whole new woman (or at least a woman who had spent a comfortable afternoon in a very hot room). If you can swing it, and you really need to unwind, then yeah, it’s worth it. Think of it as an investment… in your sanity. Plus, the memory of Mark humming that Viking song... that's priceless. And honestly, that alone might be worth the price of admission.
6. Any tips for first-timers? I don't want to look like a complete idiot.
Okay, listen up, newbies. First, hydrate. WATER. All the water. Before, during, and after. Trust me. Second, embrace the *naked*. It's part of the experience. Just… try not to stare. Unless you're into that. (No judgment, again.) Third, take it slow. Don't be a hero. Start with a shorter sauna session and work your way up. Fourth, listen to your body. If you feel dizzy, get out. Fifth, don’t be afraid to strike up a conversation. People are generally friendly. And finally… bring a book! Or a crossword puzzle! Or maybe just stare at the ceiling and let your brain turn to mush. That’s perfectly acceptable.
7. What was the *worst* part of the experience? Be brutally honest!
Ugh, okay. The worst part? Easy. Mark’s inability to turn off his phone completely. He kept sneaking off to check his work emails. I mean, come on! We were ESCAPING to PARADISE! And he’s checking spreadsheets? I almost lost my mind. At one point, I actually *hid* his phone in a basket of fluffy towels. He found it eventually. And then there was the slightly-too-loud music in the relaxation room. I prefer silence. Or maybe whale sounds. Not that upbeat pop stuff. Other than that… Honestly? I loved it. Even Mark. (Although, as I write this, I'm still slightly tempted to replace his phone with a rubber ducky).
8. Would you go back? Really?
