As we've done in the past few years, we'll be releasing our December bookings (up to 1st January) at once, including our Christmas and New Year's bookings, at 7am on Friday 1st November. Bookings for 2nd January onwards will be released 4 weeks in advance as usual. Please set your reminders to avoid missing out! Here's how to book: 'Christmas Sauna': Christmas Eve, Christmas Day & Boxing Day 'New Year's Sauna': New Year's Eve & New Year's Day 'Festive Communal Sauna': communal saunas on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day, New Year's Eve, & New Year's Day In case you've missed out on the day or time that you were looking to book, please get in touch via email at hello@thesaltwatersauna.com to be added onto our waiting list for cancellations. Any time slots that become available will be offered to the waiting list first.

Please note, we do not take bookings prior to 4 weeks in advance to keep the booking process fair for everyone. We reserve the right to remove / change any time slots prior to releasing them on the website. The sauna is bookable 4 weeks (28 days) in advance, to the minute. This means that, for example, an 8:15am time slot on a Saturday will be available to book on the website 4 weeks before on a Saturday, at 8:15am. No bookings are released at midnight. Our booking calendar is responsive to the bookings that come in on the day, and therefore time slots may move around depending on whether previous time slots have been booked for 35, 65, 90, or 120 minute sessions. For example, if an 8:15am time slot is booked for a 35-minute private sauna, this moves the next time slot to start at 9am. However, if the 8:15am time slot is booked for a 65-minute private sauna, the following time slot will start at 9:30am. Our bookings are available on a 'first come, first served' basis; the system doesn't reserve bookings until all details have been completed and the booking paid for. You can see all our available time slots on the online booking system; simply choose your experience and continue to the booking calendar for that experience. If you're unable to choose a time slot on the booking calendar, it's likely the date or time is simply not available to book yet (i.e. further than 28 days away). If the booking calendar shows no availability at a certain date or time, we may be fully booked of closed, or the time slot may have been reserved for a weekly communal sauna or an event.

If you're looking to book multiple spaces for a communal sauna (maximum 4), you can do this by choosing the number of participants on a drop-down menu when browsing on a computer (unfortunately this option isn't currently available on the mobile version). Where no option to book multiple spaces is available, this means there is only one space left. Please check the number available before booking. To ensure an inclusive communal sauna experience, we kindly ask that no more than 4 out of the available spaces be booked by a single individual, promoting an open and shared environment for all participants looking to book onto a communal sauna. Please note your communal sauna booking is personal and cannot be shared / split with another person during the session - any person wanting to use the sauna will need to book an individual space.

Please log into your member account on the website to cancel / reschedule your upcoming bookings within our cancellation policy (48h). Cancellation Policy 48h+: cancel on your account for full refund or reschedule for an alternative available time slot in the 4-week booking window 48-24h: although no credit is guaranteed for last minute cancellations, we'll always do our best to fill the slot to be able to offer credit / reschedule your booking within the 4-week booking window; please email us to cancel / reschedule within 48-24h before your scheduled booking -24h: unfortunately we're unable to reschedule / offer credit with less than 24h notice We do not offer credit for ‘no shows’ All sauna sessions are transferable, if you are unable to attend; you can gift your session to a friend / family if you're unable to attend last minute. The Saltwater Sauna operators reserve the right to refuse admission to intoxicated persons or for other reasons that may be deemed a health and safety risk. Refunds will not be offered to anyone refused admission.

You can use your voucher towards any of our experiences, at all our locations, directly on the website by entering the voucher code to the 'Enter a promo code' box at checkout. All our vouchers can be used towards private bookings or spaces in a communal sauna (unless stated otherwise) but please note the voucher code is a 'one-time-use' code and cannot be used multiple times, and therefore doesn't retain any money left on it. All our vouchers are valid for 1 year from purchase (or from booking cancellation, if you're receiving credit) unless otherwise stated / agreed prior to expiry.

To ensure your question hasn't already been answered, and to avoid unnecessary admin for our small team, please read through the rest of the FAQs before getting in touch. For any further enquiries, please email us at hello@thesaltwatersauna.com.

Please log into your member account on the website to cancel / reschedule your upcoming bookings within our cancellation policy (48h). Cancellation Policy 48h+: cancel on your account for full refund or reschedule for an alternative available time slot in the 4-week booking window 48-24h: although no credit is guaranteed for last minute cancellations, we'll always do our best to fill the slot to be able to offer credit / reschedule your booking within the 4-week booking window; please email us to cancel / reschedule within 48-24h before your scheduled booking -24h: unfortunately we're unable to reschedule / offer credit with less than 24h notice We do not offer credit for ‘no shows’ All sauna sessions are transferable, if you are unable to attend; you can gift your session to a friend / family if you're unable to attend last minute. The Saltwater Sauna operators reserve the right to refuse admission to intoxicated persons or for other reasons that may be deemed a health and safety risk. Refunds will not be offered to anyone refused admission.

You must not use the sauna if you: suffer from high or low blood pressure or any heart or circulatory disorder or suffer from epilepsy or diabetes; are pregnant; or are prone to dizziness or fainting. If you are pregnant or have any underlying health problems, please seek advice from your doctor before booking. Listen to your body, take lots of breaks, and keep hydrated. Remember to sign our waiver form before arriving for your session.

We regret that children under the age of 16 are not permitted to use the sauna under our insurance policy.

As our saunas are located on public beaches, swimwear is compulsory for all our experiences - nudity is not permitted in the saunas. We ask that every customer sits on a towel at all times in the sauna.

For health and safety reasons, please refrain from bringing your own products and oils for the session as these cannot be used in our saunas. Essential oils that haven't been approved for in-sauna use may react to the heat and release toxins, ignite on the stove, or create slippery surfaces inside the sauna. Our own essential oils have been approved for in-sauna use, please ask our on-site sauna host for aromatherapy for your session.

Alcohol is not permitted in the sauna. The Saltwater Sauna operators reserve the right to refuse admission to intoxicated persons.

If you’re feeling unwell and / or have tested positive for Covid, please get in touch via email. If closed due to Covid restrictions, a full refund or credit will be given at any time. In the event that we have to cancel a booking, you will be notified by email and helped to find an alternative time slot / refunded / credited. Sufficient sauna ventilation is one of the most integral aspects of an authentic Finnish sauna. A constant source of fresh air ensures the hot air is well circulated and used air removed before it becomes stagnant. Our sauna and changing room are also be cleaned between each group for everyone's health & safety.

The easiest way to find us is on Google Maps, simply type in 'The Saltwater Sauna' for our exact locations on the beach (Sandbanks & Avon). Please do not follow the postcodes, these do not show an accurate pinpoint location. Sandbanks If you're walking over from Sandbanks Car Park, simply make your way to Sandbanks Beach and walk towards Bournemouth. We're located next to the volleyball nets, a 3-minute walk from the car park. Avon If you're walking over from Avon Run Road Car Park, simply make your way onto the promenade using the stairs and turn right towards The Noisy Lobster. We're located next to the 'occasion huts', a 2-minute walk from the car park.

Our saunas are always staffed, so no keys / codes are needed to gain access to the saunas. You'll be welcomed and briefed by a staff member on site upon your arrival.

Please allow enough time before your booking to find parking; arriving late will shorten the duration of your experience. SANDBANKS The closest car park is the 'Sandbanks Car Park' (Banks Road, BH13 8QJ), located adjacent to 'Sandbanks Crazy Golf' (3-minute walk to our beach-side location). Alternatively, park on Banks Road, where you can pass through the sand-dunes (2-minute walk). AVON The closest car park is the 'Avon Run Road Car Park' (Avon Run Road, BH23 4AN), located behind the saunas (2-minute walk to our beach-side location). Alternatively, park at 'Avon Beach Car Park' (Christchurch BH23 4AN), located adjacent to 'The Noisy Lobster' restaurant (3-minute walk).

Recommended for our regulars' 'quick fix' sauna immersion, limited to 5 people (available only at Sandbanks). To gain the full benefits of hot-cold exposure, spend up to 10-15 minutes in the sauna, before dipping in the sea or enjoying a chilly beach-side shower - and repeat. For a 35-minute experience, you'll have time for 5 minutes changing on arrival, 1 x 15 minute sauna or 2 x 8 minute sauna, a quick dip in the sea, and changing afterwards before your booking comes to an end. Please note all our experiences include time for changing. If you'd like to use the changing room towards the end of your session, please be mindful of the next booking and do this within your booked time slot.

Recommended for those looking to gain the full benefits of authentic Finnish sauna culture, for up to 8 people at Sandbanks, and up to 7 people at Avon. For Finns, going to sauna is not just about relaxing and getting physically clean, but also about enjoying conversation and nature. For our 65 / 90 / 120-minute experiences (90 & 120-minute experiences available at Avon on request), you'll have ample time to change, and to fully immerse in the experience, both in and out of the sauna. Please note all our experiences include time for changing. If you'd like to use the changing room towards the end of your session, please be mindful of the next booking and do this within your booked time slot.

Due to limited space, we advise bringing minimal personal belongings with you. You'll need: Swimwear A water bottle Two towels; one to sit on in the sauna, and one to dry off with at the end Swim shoes recommended for bookings at Avon (available to purchase at The Noisy Lobster store); please note all swim shoes / flip flops will need to be removed prior to entering the saunas. For the winter months, we advise bringing warm, loose clothing to change back into post-sauna.

Due to limited space, we advise bringing minimal personal belongings with you. You will be able to leave your belongings in the changing area at your own risk. There are no lockers, but you'll have your own hook to hang your belongings on and a shelf for smaller items. Any overflow of belongings that don't fit in the changing room will need to be left outside.

Please arrive promptly at the time of your booked sauna slot to allow time for briefing. Changing times are included in your booking; arriving late will shorten the duration of your experience.

There is a small changing room as you enter the sauna, separated by a frosted glass door, providing privacy and a heat barrier for the sauna room, as well as an area for you to leave your belongings. Please note all our experiences include time for changing. If you'd like to use the changing room towards the end of your session, please be mindful of the next booking and do this within your booked time slot.

YES! For an authentic Finnish experience, customers can manage the 'löyly' (the steam that rises from the sauna stove), allowing control of humidity and intensity of the heat. Although adding water over the rocks humidifies the session, and is one of the best aspects of an authentic Finnish sauna, please remember not to dump water on the rocks. Instead, drizzle water on with a ladle intermittently until the heat reaches an appropriate level. Drizzle, don't dump! Dumping water on the stove will make the sauna feel hotter momentarily, but is actually counteractive in increasing the temperature of the room as the excessive water will cool down the sauna rocks. If you'd like the sauna to be hotter, please ask our member of staff on site and we'll be happy to assist. A trained member of staff will be nearby at al times for any queries and support you may need managing the heat and the water on the rocks.

Any lost and found items will be stored at the sauna for 14 days. If not collected within this time, any items will be given to charity / discarded. If you think you may have left behind any items, please get in touch via email to see if we can locate the item and store it until you're able to collect (within 14 days).

Discount Details: 25% Off Restaurant Bookings Monday to Sunday: Valid for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner (available now through 20th December 2024) Excluding events and special menu days (eg. Steak and Lobster Tuesday lunch and dinner deal) How to Redeem (Please note the discount is only available with Avon sauna bookings): Book your table directly through The Noisy Lobster (this is separate from your sauna booking) Show your Avon sauna booking confirmation at The Noisy Lobster on the day of your visit to receive your 25% discount Enjoy your meal and sauna experience!