The Thermal Bathhouse & Spa at the Arlington — Local services in Hot Springs

Great bath but confusing. I wasn’t sure how long I was supposed to be able to stay in the bath. I got out to cool off a bit and then the attendant came in and guided me out to cool off. I would’ve gotten back in the water if I’d realized that was an option (which it seems to be!).

There was a surprise sauna option which was nice. I think I would maybe prefer the sauna before the bath because I didn’t want to get too sweaty after my nice soak. I brought a swimsuit and changed into it because I thought it was required. Then i realized that I could’ve gone without. After I finished, I waited almost 40 minutes for my wife to finish the exact same experience. She’s not sure if they forgot her in the bath or if you were just allowed to stay in that much longer!

It is also a bit confusing to find this place. It is easy when you enter the Arlington to see that it is on the third floor, but there’s also lots of signage that says hotel guests only past the second floor. But you don’t need to be a guest to go here.

Every bathhouse has a confusing check-in in Hot Springs. This one did too. At first they told us to come back at 3:00 or 3:30. We were having a bad day and eventually made our way back here at 2:30 HOPING we could get a bath after being turned away from the Quapaw and Buckstaff. We were able to get in with basically no issue at 2:30 after waiting in line. I’m not sure if we would’ve gotten in had we showed up at 3:00/3:30.

All of that said, the water was great, they had openings when the quapaw and buckstaff did not, and the hotel itself as well as the stores in the bottom level were all pretty cool. We also enjoyed the little extras. I just wish there’d been more clarity and a nicer chair in the lobby to wait for my wife...

It was a unique experience, but the unorganized staff makes this place a 2 star spa. I cannot recommend booking any type of group activity here, it’s extremely unorganized. It couldn’t be more unorganized and unprofessional trying to make reservations and getting the staff to call you back, or confirm things. Nothing was set up on time. The food and mimosa spread pictured for 10 people we paid $400 for was not worth the money, and looked slapped together. When I got out of my bath I saw half my party waiting in an area and I asked them why they weren’t in the party room, we’d already been there for 1.5 hours. They said they were told it wasn’t ready yet, then it was that 5 people needed to finish services before we were allowed the room. We spent quite a chunk of change that was prepaid for this to be the case and never communicated. Cool old hotel, staff weren’t unfriendly, but deer god booking a party here was a nightmare I don’t wish on anyone ever. Why is the spa party room floors away from the spa in an empty hotel room? Why wasn’t there water in the room after we were told to drink lots of water after massages? The theme of this place is disorganized. Some of the ladies in our party enjoyed their services, others faces burned and broke out from the product used. Also be prepared to be full on naked in front of the bath staff in your “private” bath and there are not slippers or robes provided here. There are white sheets they use to wrap around you. The bath house vibe in general…just prepare yourself for a historical experience, not a...

I found this experience actually horrifying. The bathhouse has NOT, I repeat NOT, in any way been modernized. It looks like a scene from a 1920's sanitarium, AND THAT IS HOW I WAS TREATED!!! Like someone who had been committed. (They used to treat the mentally ill with ice baths and frighten them with water, and this had the same quality!) I was never once told what was happening, I was never told what I paid $40 for. I was ordered around like a subhuman. A terrifying contraption hangs into the bath, and is incredibly loud. This torture instrument-looking thing turns out to create a whirlpool effect. It looked to me like it could explode in my face at any moment. My "attendant" Innette disappeared at every possible opportunity to check Facebook and report very loudly on what her boyfriend was writing. By the time she wrapped me in hot towels, she didn't even speak to me anymore--she actually shoved my shoulder to get me to sit up. After a few minutes, I couldn't take anymore, and then she came running out with her phone and earbuds, and was all sweetness escorting me back to my wallet. In retrospect, I'm sorry I tipped. I actually felt VIOLATED. WOULD NOT...