Aesthetically, we just love wood fired hot tubs. With cedar or larch panelling, these hot tubs look fantastic and often blend nicely in with their woodland or country backdrop. There are few things we love more than getting back to a rustic cabin or cosy treehouse after a day marching around the Great British countryside and hopping into a wood fired hot tub to soak those tired muscles.

These hot tubs are also often more reliable than their electric counterparts, due to the fact that they have less parts to go wrong. And, they are often much quicker to heat up if you’re heating from scratch (a lot of Coolstays property owners will light the hot tub for you so it’s nice and hot when you arrive). However, electric hot tubs will often maintain a consistent temperature, with insulation and a cover enabling the water to stay hot throughout your stay. But if you are heating from scratch, a wood fired model is going to be quicker!

Electric hot tubs are also almost always equipped with a circulation and filtration system, which means they can tackle debris and other dirt in the water. They also often make use of chemical treatments to disinfect the water, whereas wood fired hot tubs often do not. Now, this means that the water may need to be changed more frequently in order to stay nice and clean, but it also means you can enjoy a chemical-free soak, which is a real perk for some people!

So, we’ve already mentioned some of the benefits to an electric hot tub above. They can often maintain a good water temperature throughout your stay and they can keep the water clean and germ-free. But what else do they offer?

Electric hot tubs vary greatly, however, one thing they all tend to be good at, is offering those all-important jets. If you want a tub that’s going to provide some hydrotherapy or a massage setting, then an electric hot tub is the one for you.

A high quality electric hot tub will have a number of different jet settings and a variety of modes designed to make your soak that little bit more luxurious.

Some also come with lighting, cup holders, loungers and even the ability to play music! These hot tubs might not have the rustic allure of a wooden tub, but if you want something more high-tech, more spa-like, and more comfortable, then an electric hot tub is the way to go.

Sunken hot tubs are often just electric hot tubs that have been lowered into the ground. So in terms of what they offer, they are usually identical to the ones we just mentioned.

However, what a sunken hot tub does provide, is a seamless, unobtrusive addition to your Coolstay. These tubs are sunken into the deck or patio and take up less space, meaning they can often be more aesthetically pleasing than their standard counterparts. They can also offer a different vantage point from which to enjoy the view!

Swim spas offer the deluxe touches of an electric hot tub, with the additional benefit of allowing you to swim on the spot. These ‘hot tubs’ are usually much bigger than a standard model and use either jet pumps or propellers to create a water current that you can swim against.

Sometimes fitted to the side of swimming pools and sometimes stand-alone fixtures, swim spas are growing in popularity and offer a nice versatility that can make your Coolstays more active and more luxurious all at once.

OK, so technically a bathtub is not a hot tub. But we’re adding them to this list because of the recent rise in popularity of the outdoor bath. We’re seeing more and more Coolstays adding alfresco baths and we’re here for it!

Whilst a hot tub offers you and your loved ones the chance to unwind together, an outdoor bath provides a private, peaceful way to relax. Hot tubs are fun and social, outdoor baths are tranquil, opulent and are perfect for making the most of whatever amazing views you’re presented with.

Find yourself a Coolstay with an outdoor bath and enjoy a soak under the stars, indulge yourself with a bubble bath and a glass of something delicious, or simply hop into the hot water with a good book and amazing countryside views sprawling out in front of you.