For many families, the last week of October is a juggling act. School may be out, but work is very much in session. While children head off to camps, sports stages, or to the ever-welcoming arms of grandparents, parents are often left balancing deadlines with the subtle guilt of not taking time off. Yet the autumn half term can be more than a logistical challenge. It can be a quiet opportunity to recover, even if only for half a day, before winter begins its steady approach.
After the whirlwind of back-to-school and the first wave of autumn colds, many parents find themselves running on fumes. The crisp air and golden leaves might paint a romantic picture, but daily life often feels more like a marathon. It is exactly at this moment that slowing down becomes essential, not indulgent. Just outside Brussels, Thermae Grimbergen and Thermae Boetfort offer the perfect antidote: wellness escapes designed for real, tangible recovery.
A pause that truly restores
A brief pause can make a real difference. Sauna rituals that combine heat and cold are proven to ease stress, improve circulation, and give the immune system a welcome boost.
At Thermae Grimbergen, the concept of relaxation is elevated into an art form. Nestled in the leafy heart of the town, this wellness retreat blends history and modern comfort in a soothing environment where time seems to slow. Parents can drift between thermal baths, steam rooms, scrubbing rituals, and quiet relaxation spaces, all designed to reconnect body and mind. Whether opting for the public circuit or a more intimate private sauna, the day quickly unfolds into one of deep, mindful rest with no school pick-ups, no emails, and no multitasking.
Autumn offers to make slowing down easier
To mark the change of season, Thermae Grimbergen has launched a series of autumn promotions that make the idea of taking a day for oneself even more tempting.
1. Autumn offers Aurelia
This rejuvenating ritual includes a facial treatment followed by a nourishing body massage. The treatment not only softens the skin but also helps release physical tension, leaving guests feeling lighter and more centred as autumn settles in.
2. Autumn offers Bruma
Focused on inner balance, this option pairs a facial and back massages with full access to the wellness circuit. It is ideal for clearing away the fatigue that builds up in the first busy weeks of the school term.
Each of these packages includes access to the extensive sauna circuit, where alternating between hot and cold rituals strengthens the immune system, a natural defence that every parent appreciates during the colder months.
Beyond saunas: Grimbergen’s unique beer bath
Thermae Grimbergen also offers one of Belgium’s most unusual spa experiences, a beer bath inspired by the town’s centuries-old brewing tradition. Although you do not actually soak in beer, the treatment uses malt and hops extracts, ingredients rich in antioxidants and hydrating properties. Enhanced with the aromas of apple, lavender, chamomile, and pineapple, the ritual nourishes the skin and uplifts the mood. The experience concludes with a refreshing Grimbergen beer, a nod to the Norbertine monks who began brewing here in 1128. It is a playful yet grounding reminder that relaxation can be both sensory and cultural.
Boetfort: the gift of regular recovery
For those who want to make relaxation a long-term habit rather than a rare luxury, Thermae Boetfort, set in a beautifully restored four-hundred-year-old castle near Brussels Airport, has introduced two exceptional multi-visit promotions valid from 4 October to 4 November 2025.
The 20 plus 4 multi visit pass offers twenty four visits for six hundred and sixty euros, effectively bringing the cost down to twenty seven euros and fifty cents per session, compared to the usual thirty eight to forty one euros. This means a saving of up to three hundred and thirty six euros. The pass can be shared with family or friends and has no expiry date, making it a flexible and generous investment in ongoing wellbeing.
For even greater value, the 50 plus 10 multi visit pass provides sixty visits for one thousand three hundred and ninety euros, just over twenty-three euros per visit, with savings that can reach more than one thousand euros. Holders of either pass also receive ten percent off massages and facial or body treatments, adding another incentive to prioritise self-care.
Both offers can be purchased directly at the reception or ordered online. They are not tied to an individual, meaning you can share the experience with a partner, friends, or family, or even use the passes together on the same day. For parents, this flexibility is key, transforming the concept of personal time into something manageable, regular, and sustainable.
Autumn is a season of transition, inviting reflection and recalibration. Between the school runs, meetings, and social commitments, it is easy to lose sight of balance. But the body always knows when it is time to slow down; the trick is to listen. Whether it is a single visit to Thermae Grimbergen or a longer plan with Thermae Boetfort’s passes, the message is the same: rest is a form of resilience.
