I tried to do my trip to Lithuania in a day, but the drives and the caves and skiing took too much time to really do it, so I opted for a 24 hour trip instead. I need a place to stay for the night, and the Vilnius Grand Resort seemed to fit the bill: affordable price (100€) per night, not too far from the airport, had a spa, and most importantly, the spa was open late into the night so I wouldn't miss when coming back from my tour.
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June 2026, Vilnius Grand Resort, Vilnius, Lithuania
Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam)
Meiko is a lake and a natural protection area in Kirkkonummi, Finland. There's ample hiking routes, I took the 4.5 kilometer Kotokierros route, very nice across multiple small lakes. When I returned I walked to the Meiko lake itself for a dip in the lake.
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June 2026, Meiko, Kirkkonummi, Finland
Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Lake); Hiking
A pristine beach, likely no one else visiting when you are. Even in the middle of the hottest tourist season. So pristine that marine life -- such as starfish or sea urchins -- like to hang out there. Still, the beach is easily accessible. This is Rogačić beach, a couple of kilometers north from the town of Vis on the island of Vis.
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June 2026, Plaža Rogačić, Rogačić, Vis, Croatia
Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Sea, Beach)
Another after-work evening activity: visiting Aulanko's spa (hosted by the Scandic hotel Aulanko). This is a historic spa location, the old spa building is still there but today's spa visits are in the new fancy building. I had also heard about "bear cave" in the adjoining Aulanko nature park.
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May 2026, Kylpylä Scandic Aulanko, Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland; Karhuluola, Aulanko, Hämeenlinna, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Outdoor, Waterbody-Pool, Water); Sauna (Normal, Infrared, Steam); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Granite, Man-Made); Urban-Exploration (Other)
Two spas, separated by one block and two thousand years. One you can't swim in because it is dangerous, and one you can swim in. If you are a guest at the hotel, that is.
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May 2026, Roman Baths, Bath, United Kingdom; The Gainsborough Bath Spa, Bath, United Kingdom
Swimming (None); Urban-Exploration (Ruins, Historic); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam, Infrared)
I'm at a health rehab this week, in chose the place so that I could enjoy the nature at the same time. I'm in Hotel Kruunupuisto, on the national landscape of Punkaharju where thin sandy ridges cross lakes. The Finnish "road of the century" runs along the ridges, lined up with pine trees and the water. Wonderful place. I also tested the hotel spa, the hotel beach, and biked around the the area.
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May 2026, Kruunupuisto, Punkaharju, Finland; Kruunupuiston uimaranta, Punkaharju, Finland; Vuosisadan tie, Punkaharju, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Infrared); Swimming (Outdoor, Water, Waterbody-Lake); Biking (Bike-Road, Outdoor, Track-Road)
I was returning from my trip to Punkaharju and again wanted to stop by interesting places on this four-hour drive. I picked two interesting caves south of Savonlinna, and a swim at Savonlinna's "PikkuSaimaa" swimming pool. Right by the lake, and where you can see Olavinlinna (Olavi's castle). Overall a very nice tour, even if the caves turned out to be mostly shelter caves not proper tunnels under the rock.
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May 2026, Haukkavuoren Lippaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Haukkavuoren Halkeamaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Myllylahden Linnalouhen Iso Lippaluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Myllylahden Linnalouhen Kolmioluola, Savonlinna, Finland; Savonlinnan uimahalli PikkuSaimaa, Savonlinna, Finland
Caving (Basic, Rock, Morphology-Crack, Morphology-Erosion, Surveying); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal)
I managed a Mother's Day trip with a visit to see my mom, but also to ski a closed ski hill, hike to see a cave, and swim at a new swimming hall.
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May 2026, Kokonniemen hiihtokeskus, Porvoo, Finland; Kolisevan Pirunpesä, Iitti, Finland; Kuusankosken uimahalli, Kuusankoski, Finland
Skiing (Outdoor, Snow, Lifts); Caving (Basic, Rock, Rock-Unknown, Morphology-Crack, Morphology-Erosion); Swimming (Water, Waterbody-Pool, Indoor); Sauna (Normal)
BiBi BAZENI is a small swimming hall in Belgrade, Serbia. No fancy things, just swimming. Can be rented for your group of four, for private use. The main pool is a bit shallow, however.
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April 2026, BiBi BAZENI, Belgrade, Serbia
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool)
Tampere. I was just here for a cottage visit ... but this time in a conference, staying at a hotel ... and visiting the hotel sauna and a local swimming pool for fun. Nice trip. Always love Tampere!
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April 2026, Hotelli Scandic Tampere Asema, Tampere, Finland; Pyynikin uimahalli, Tampere, Finland
Travel; Sauna (Normal); Sauna (Normal); Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool)
By now, it is VERY hard to find swimming places under two hours driving distance from me. But now I found one, in Töölo, in the city center of Helsinki!
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April 2026, Forever Töölo, Töölö, Helsinki, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool)
So, I'm still out of nearby swimming pools and have looked into gyms with pools and saunas... a few days ago the visit to Forever Töölö was wonderful (link, alt. link). Today I went to the Fressi gym chain's Leppävaara site. They have a pretty extensive gym setup with group exercise rooms, exercise machines, and yes, even a sauna and a small pool. Friendly place and staff!
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April 2026, Fressi Leppävaara, Leppävaara, Espoo, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal)
Corendon hotel, near the Schiphol airport in Amsterdam. A six-hour layover requires something else than sitting at the airport seats. So I found a spa at the Corendon hotel. Nice, small spa with a sauna and a steam room, a nice curving pool and small baby pool. As I was floating in the pool, the realization stuck me: a 747 was starting me straight from the window.
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April 2026, Corendon Amsterdam Schiphol Airport, Amsterdam, Netherlands
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam); Flying
It is a small one. The pool is just 16.67 meters long. But there is another pool, the therapy pool. And that pool has a fireplace next to it. Cute!
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April 2026, Padasjoen uimahalli Jokihelmi, Padasjoki, Finland
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal)
Iltalehti had an interesting article about the prices of swimming hall visits. Ranging from 20€ to 3€, but mostly around 6-7€.
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March 2026, House Arkko, Kauniainen, Finland
Swimming (None); Sauna (None)
Hotel Pessets Restaurant & Spa is located in Sort, in the Pyrenees mountains, at the northern border of Spain and near Andorra.
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March 2026, Hotel Pessets Restaurant & Spa, Sort, Spain
Swimming (Indoor, Water, Waterbody-Pool); Sauna (Normal, Steam)