Few things are more therapeutic than 15-minutes in a hot sauna. I finally had the chance to enjoy a mini-spa day from the Air France Lounge at Paris CDG, the subject of this sauna review.
Air France Sauna Review
I had planned to experience way back in December 2018 when I flew Air France first class, but you might recall that someone vomited in the lounge hours before my arrival and that meant it was closed for deep cleaning.
Although my layover was short in Paris, I made the most of it by darting to the Air France 2E, Hall L Lounge (full review, sans sauna, here) and asking if the sauna was available.
It was…
The ladies thought I was crazy since I was 30 minutes away from boarding and had to change terminals, but I assured them 15 minutes would be more than enough time for me to work in a treatment prior to my flight.
The sauna is actually a private suite located before door seven in the shower area. The door is always locked, but you can check on availability at the reception desk and if available, they will escort you there and open the door for you (and if full, you can be added to the waitlisted). The sauna is booked for 40 minutes at at time.
I was handed a plastic-coated card that explained sauna protocol. If I could sum it up in two words: use caution.
Air France Sauna CDG
Perhaps more impressive than the sauna itself was the huge walk-in shower (too bad my wife wasn’t along…). This is also the designated handicapped shower, so the sauna may be out of commission for that reason as well.
There’s a little changing area with a door that leads into the shower and sauna area:
The shower area:
The shower featured Clarins shampoo and shower gel.
Like the shower, the sauna is large enough for several people…
An hour glass timer helps you stay on schedule:
I’d say the only disappointment was that the sauna was only heated to 75ºC (167ºF). I prefer 85ºC (185ºF).
CONCLUSION
After a refreshing 15-minute sweat followed by an even quicker shower, I dried myself off and was quickly on my way to my gate. It was a bit more rushed than I would have liked, but totally worthwhile and very relaxing ahead of a transatlantic flight.
Next, I’ll compare the sauna experiences in Helsinki and Paris.
My only Air France sauna experience at CDG was when the air conditioning broke down on our bus (using one of their bus gates). I entered the lounge dripping wet. The ladies in the lounge looked at me like I was crazy when I said I already used the sauna on the bus and just wanted to shower.
Straight on, Joe. Those transfer buses at CDG from remote gates are something else. I can’t tell if they have no AC or if the drivers refuse to turn it on given the French dislike for air conditioning. Not to mention how poorly the terminals are cooled down. Of course, in the strange twist of Frenchness, it’s no better in winter as they then make sure to over heat everything!
I think the French bus drivers just like to see others suffering, as they too are suffering. Are you back home yet or still servicing your österreichische Kunden?
Back home. Missing Vienna but feel fortunate to have had a few trips with over a month there. What a difference it felt there. Made me realize just how stressed I was.
If you’re feeling stressed back here, I can recommend a fantastic massage spot near Dupont. Let the “full service” technicians do their thing, ya know?
Name? Open now?
@Joe LOL.
I wonder if there’s a genetic element to this fondness for saunas; IIRC, your forebears come from somewhere up north, in the region where these things originated…
How popular are saunas in Australia?
They’re uncommon, other than in spas. There was a brief popularity for home saunas about 30 years ago, now dwindled.
There has been an upsurge in ( genuine) massage places: it seems like there’s at least one in every suburban shopping strip ( usually Thai or Korean).