Hot Tub Holiday Checklist: What to Ask and Check

Use this list while you compare quotes, again the week before you travel, and once more when you arrive. Most of it takes a minute. The questions in the first section matter most when you book with a private owner or through a booking platform, because those listings give you the least detail by default.

Before you book

Ask the operator or owner, and keep their answers in writing.

• Is the tub yours alone? Forest Holidays and Away Resorts both say their tubs are private to your party. If a listing only says “hot tub access”, ask whether other guests use it.
• Is the tub included in the price? Some listings charge for heating or fuel apart from the nightly rate. Add it to the calculator.
• Will the tub be hot when you arrive? Ask whether it is heated ready for check-in, how long it takes to heat if it is not, and whether wood-fired or electric heating is charged apart from the nightly rate.
• When was the water last changed? The HSE guidance for rented tubs says the water should be changed after each rental or each week, whichever is shorter, and the tub drained, cleaned, refilled, disinfected and drained again after each hire.
• How often is the water tested? The same guidance expects water clarity, pH and the disinfectant level to be checked at least twice daily, depending on the risk assessment and use. An operator that cannot say how it tests the water is a warning.
• What is the total price? Ask for it in writing: accommodation, cleaning, booking fee, heating, linen, dogs and any local charge.
• Which parts are paid now and which on arrival? The CMA guidance expects a “pay now” and a “pay locally” amount when part is paid at the park.
• What are the cancellation terms? A lodge for set dates carries no automatic 14-day cooling-off right, so the booking terms decide.
• What are the dog rules? Fees, numbers, breeds and which lodges accept dogs vary. Forest Holidays accepts pets in some cabins only, and Away Resorts does not allow some breeds.
• Who do I call if the tub fails? You want a phone number that someone answers in the evening.

Who should check with a professional first

Forest Holidays tells guests who are pregnant or have a medical concern to speak to a midwife, another healthcare professional or their GP before using the tub. Do that before you book rather than on the deck. If you are unsure whether the tub suits you, ask your GP.

What to pack

• Swimwear for everyone, and a spare set, because a wet costume is cold in an autumn evening.
• Towels for the tub, unless the lodge provides them. Ask whether linen and towels cost extra, and add it to the calculator.
• Flip-flops or slippers for the deck and a dressing gown for the walk back inside.
• Plastic cups or bottles. Glass is banned around the tub at Forest Holidays.
• A waterproof pouch for your phone, if you want one near the tub.
• Dog bedding and a lead if a dog is coming, as dogs may not go in the tub.

When you arrive

Before anyone gets in, take two minutes on the deck.

1. Look at the water. It should be clear. Cloudy, green or smelly water is a reason to report it before use.
2. Check the cover and the surround. The lid should close and the deck should be clear of debris.
3. Find the controls and the rules. Read any card or sign. Ask who to call and when the tub was last drained.
4. Photograph anything wrong with the time shown. Tell the operator straight away.
5. Check the tub is hot and running. If it is cold, ask how long heating takes, and write down the answer.

In the tub

• Keep food out of the tub, as Forest Holidays asks.
• Keep children under four and pets out of the tub, as Forest Holidays asks.
• Get out and cool down if you feel unwell.
• Replace the cover when you finish so the water stays clean and warm.

If something is wrong

Tell the operator at once, by phone and then in writing. Say what the fault is and what you want: a repair, or a price reduction if it cannot be fixed. The rights guide explains what the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives you, and the cost calculator helps you put a figure on what you paid.

Good to know: The checklist covers lodge hot tubs only. For the larger picture, start with the guide to UK hot tub holidays.