Cheapflights.ca Offers a Steamy Reprieve From Winter

TORONTO--(Marketwire - Feb 12, 2013) - With winter in full throttle, many Canadians are in need of some warming up. And, with Family Day long weekend coming up, the travel experts at Cheapflights.ca, the online leader in finding and publishing travel deals, suggest taking a vacation that combines warmth and relaxation at one of their Top 10 Thermal Springs from around the world. Thermal hotspots have been around for centuries and, besides being the ideal spot to rejuvenate the senses, they are also known for the reported health benefits of their healing waters. They are great options for warming your bones and your soul whether you are taking a break from the slopes or a break from winter altogether.

Based on Cheapflights.ca's recent survey on Vacation Habits, Canadians would love to travel to Australia and New Zealand. So highlighted below are two thermal springs in Australia and New Zealand to make our list along with closer-to-home hot springs in Canada and the US.

• Waikite Valley Thermal Pools, New Zealand - Clean and green New Zealand offers a truly back-to-basics spa experience at the lush Waikite Valley Thermal Pools surrounded by the fresh country air. Experience the 'Living Waters' of Te Manaroa Spring (the largest source of pure boiling water in New Zealand). The pure spring waters cascade into the main splash pool at a 35-38°C, the soak pool at a steamy 38-40°C, and the luxurious tranquil garden pool. Waikite Valley is a family-friendly facility and also offers wheelchair access. The pools are open every day from 10:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. (except Christmas Day). Entry is NZ$15 for adults, NZ$8 for children up to 15 years old and NZ$3 for children younger than five. You can also rent a private pool and camp on site.
  
  
• Strawberry Springs, Colorado, USA - Just outside Steamboat Springs, Colo., nestled alongside Hot Springs Creek in the beautiful Colorado forest, you'll find the stone pools of Strawberry Park Hot Springs. These spectacular mineral springs will warm you to a wonderful 40°C, and if you're here in winter when the famous Champagne Powder snow settles, you'll never want to leave. The pools are perfect for relaxing after a long day of skiing, boarding or hiking, or simply to warm your bones. Strawberry Park is open year round 10:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 10:00 a.m. to midnight Friday and Saturday. Entry is US$10 for adults, US$7 for teens and US$5 for children.
  
  
• Peninsula Hot Springs, Victoria, Australia - You might not think there'd be a need for hot pools in the land of endless sunshine, but there's nothing like soaking away your troubles and staring up at a starry night sky or gazing out over the bush on a winter's day. Peninsula Hot Springs is a peaceful sanctuary just 90 minutes from the hustle and bustle of Melbourne. The thermal mineral water temperature varies from pool to pool ranging from 36°C to 43°C, though cooler pools are available in the summer and for younger family members. The first natural hot springs and day spa centre in Victoria, Peninsula Hot Springs has more than 20 bathing experiences to offer with areas suitable for visitors of all ages including a Hilltop pool with 360-degree views, reflexology walk, Turkish steam room, sauna, cave pool and a family area. The Bath House is open from 7:30 a.m. until 10:00 p.m. daily and prices start at AU$30 for adults and AU$15 for children.
  
  
• Radium Hot Springs, British Columbia - Radium Hot Springs pool, located in Kootenay National Park, is Canada's largest hot springs pool. Its soothing waters and breathtaking setting in the Rocky Mountains make it the perfect place to relax and recharge. The mineral water at Radium is odourless, clear and rich in silica, magnesium, sulfate, fluoride, calcium and bicarbonate, making this a great hot spring for a relaxing soak. In winter, the pools are open from 12:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and 12:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. Friday and Saturday. Summer hours are 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m. daily. Entry is CA$6.30 for adults and CA$5.40 for children and seniors.
  

Europeans are well known for living well-balanced lives, so it is no surprise that five more of our favourites are found across the pond. To round out our list, go a little further to Asia and you can be part of the hot springs tradition in Japan. Our choices: Bains De Dorres, France; Wiesbaden, Germany; Therme Vals, Switzerland; Myvatn Nature Baths, Iceland; Heviz, Hungary and Takaragawa Onsen, Japan. To read the steamy details on Cheapflights.ca's complete list to Top 10 Thermal Springs, please visit www.cheapflights.ca/travel/top-10-thermal-springs.

About momondo Group
momondo Group is an online travel media and technology company that is driven by the belief that an open world is a better world. The group now serves travel search and inspiration to over 13 million visitors a month -- plus 6 million travel newsletter subscribers -- via its Cheapflights (www.cheapflights.ca) and momondo (www.momondo.com) brands.

Skygate began the sourcing of complex air-travel data in 1992, while Cheapflights pioneered the online comparison of flight deals for users in 1996 and momondo launched meta-search in the Nordic countries in 2006.

The Group has offices in London, Copenhagen, Boston and Toronto, with a consumer base across 16 core international markets but users all over the world.

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