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Balnea Spa
Categories: Beauty and Spas Day Spas Beauty and Spas Massage Day Spas, Massage [Edit]
319 Ch Du Lac-GaleBromont, QC J2L 2S5
(450) 534-0604
- Hours:
Mon, Wed 11 am - 8 pm
Thu 11 am - 9 pm
Fri-Sat 10:30 am - 9 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- By Appointment Only:
- No
3 reviews for Balnea Spa
3 reviews in English
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Review from Mike V.
1/3/2011
One of the best winter spa experiences in my life. Hands down.
Just look at the pictures on the site. it's amazing how close this place is to Montreal.
I went with three friends (two couples), it was lightly snowing the whole time and we stayed past 9:30 PM (at least).
The views of the snow-covered lake from the outdoor spas through the rising steam were unreal.
The food and fresh fruit they give you after your massage and the tea are amazing.
I think my favorite room was the fish room (tiered stairs with lots of pills and two huge tropical fish tanks.) SO relaxing.
There's also the cold plunge, dry and wet saunas, and a huge cold waterfall pool (see website).
Don't forget the warm room outside. it's like a stone cave/igloo sauna. Definitely worth a brisk "jog' from the lower Jacuzzis.
One of the outdoor Jacuzzis also has a little cave/overhang. Not quick the PB Mansion, but the snow does add a little something extra.
Also, our couples massage was amazing (whether my luck or design, both women spoke English).Listed in: Montreal, Mon Amie
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Review from Oleg R.
2/13/2012
Balnea was highly recommended by a fellow spa-goer.
I haven't tried many Montreal spas (just Scandinave Tremblant, Scandinave Old Port, and Bota Bota).
I'm Eastern European, so I'm used to all kinds of spa treatments outside of Montreal. I've been to Finland, so I've tried their real Finnish spa. This was followed by Japanese onsen in Takayama and Kyoto, Turkish baths in Antalya, and some real Russian "banya" - spa with 100% humidity, snow-diving, frozen-river-diving, and being beaten up by angry Russians with birch-tree brooms (yes - exactly the way you saw it in Eastern Promises).
Anyways, the drive to Balnea was not long, which is a major plus, as compared to Scandinave Tremblant. Plenty of road signs to Balnea Spa made it easy. As we are driving up through picturesque country side I'm getting excited. Suddenly I see an awesomely looking iced lake. Obviously they are going to have lake/river winter diving, just like in Tremblant, right? Guess what! Nope. Fail.
We park, walk into the lobby. Not bad for spa lobby. I really liked high ceilings. There was a crowd. I don't mind crowds. However this one was way too Jersey, actually I mean South Shore, if you know what I mean. Beefy "situation"-looking dudes, more tattoos than IQ points, crispy-fried-snookie-style-chicks, you get it. First thought - FML.
So, we get our keys, towels, and immediately get warned that replacement robe or towel is $5. So don't get them wet. I'M IN A SPA! I'm supposed to be wet! And dry myself with a towel. And hopefully not pay for doing that.
We get into the dressing rooms. Guys' one... lacked hand soap. And tissues. Fine. More Jersey Shore. They could totally film one episode at Balnea.
Following my friend's advice, I requested a guided tour of the facility (by pressing a button on the wall. Balnea is very high tech.) After waiting for about 15 minutes on Structube-comfortable acid-blue chairs, our guide shows up.
Balnea spa facilities include:
2 outside jacuzzis of the same temperature.
2 inside finnish spas (eucaliptus and orange flavors)
1 cold shower
1 cold indoor pool (extremely inaccessible. Due to recent events I'm with a cane now, and there was no way I could get into that pool). I tried. And tried. Whatev.
1 outdoor semi-cold pool.
1 turkish bath
Besides spa, you will also find 5-6 resting areas that totally look like Structube or Ikea showrooms. In general the whole place seems to be designed by one of those super cheesy Montreal night-club designers. Acid-blue chairs are next to doors, covered with white leather puffy stuff (like in mental institutions), log-looking coffee tables are right next to BRIGHT-red 1960 leather office chairs, basically no coherent taste what-so-ever. Outright posh, screaming colors everywhere that do not give you that relaxed blissful state of mind, that you look so much for at a spa retreat.
There are 2 extra facilities outside. Fake-cave-like outside semi-warm sauna where you will chill at about 20c after walking for 50 yards at -30c. Fine.
Next to it there is... wait for it... yes FAKE IGLOO WITH A FAKE FIREPLACE AND FAKE BLANKETS!!! Yes you heard me. Igloo is made of an igloo-shaped red tent. Inside, there is an ethanol fireplace that doesn't give that warmth, sound, or even smell of a real fireplace. Around the fake fireplace you will find bunch of day beds with beanbags on top of them. And acrylic fur blankets. Oh yes. Those. Anyways, fake igloo was a major fail. Don't go.
By the time we tried all of this splendor, it was time for food. I did not have any massage booked (this was a last minute decision), so can't comment on their massage quality.
We get to the cafeteria. They have about 12 choices of food and 3 choices of wine. Will start with wine. $5.50 Mission Hill Pinot Blanc was not bad for a dep wine. So was my friend's chardonnay. A little bit incongruent with an upscale spa setting. H-anyways.
Food: I asked what is the server's top choice. Puzzled with wide selection of 3 choices, he suggested a chicken and apples sandwich with cream of spinach soup for me, as it was the thing that all guys ordered. My companion got some thai shrimp soup.
Food took some time to prepare. After about 20 minutes, it was graciously delivered to us on Ikea trays. Very good presentation. Food was pretty much Presse Cafe level. Don't think they prepare it onsite. Conclusion - don't go to Balnea for gourmet experiences. There is an A&W around the corner, just in case you arrive or leave hungry.
Summary:
Good: not far from Montreal, awesome views onto the lake, potentially awesome sun bathing in summer, cheap wine, friendly staff, A&W around the corner
Bad: not enough spa facilities, tacky design, Jersey Shore crowd, mediocre food, no jumping in the lake, no snow bathing...
PS. Turkish steam bath had no steam. We spent good 20 minutes looking for a steam release button, remote control, some turks to make some steam. None of that was present. -
Review from Teena D.
9/26/2010 4 photos
I have a sale conference in the area this week so came early to spend some time at the spa.
It's on a lake ... this time of year the leaves are changing and the colours are gorgeous.
There are lots of hot tubs, whirlpools, saunas, etc. Everyone wanders around in bathing suits and white robes and does their own thing.
I had two services ... a moisturizing head massage with Corrine and a 60 minute full body massage with Marie Josee (her massage was different than I've had in the past and amazing!).
A couple complaints:
It would be nice if there was a supply of towels in the change room. You are issued one towel when you check in and that's it. Having a cleaner drier towel would have been nice after I took a shower rather than using the one I dried off with after using the hot tub. Plus I like using two towels (one for my hair).
Also, there were no supplies like QTips, cotton balls, etc. in the change room like I've seen in other spas.
Finally, though everyone was nice, most of the instructions/messages around the spa are in French (not all are in English too). With my high school French, I was able to figure out which was the shampoo/body wash and which was conditioner.
If I'm ever in the area, I'd go back.
Specialties
BALNEA: When relaxation becomes an art form.
BALNEA is a celebration of nature, a captivatingly bold sanctuary, in reinvented ritual and quintessential luxury inspiring us to unwind and recharge. A sensuous thermal spa experience that will take you to another time and place.
Day admission to the spa and thermal reserve facilities: panoramic saunas, turkish bath, outdoor jacuzzis, beach club, forest basin, thermal falls, sweatlodge, solarium, igloo, lounges, terraces, movie lounge, relaxation areas, café, bar, private lake and hiking trails. The availability of facilities may vary by season.
History
Established in 2005
BALNEA from 2005-2010
Five years of encouraging our clients to dream. 60 months of coming up with innovative treatments and designing new spaces. 1,825 days of renewal and imagining out-of-the world experiences. Together, they represent the many moments during which the creative minds and talents of our employees transformed a multitude of ideas into the reality that is BALNEA.
