Saunas bring new flexibility to luxury lodge design

Saunas are becoming an increasingly popular addition to holiday parks looking to capitalise on the wellness break market growth.

According to the British Sauna Society, the number of UK saunas has been roughly doubling each year.

While hot tubs require external space, saunas, by contrast, offer a wellness feature that can be incorporated inside a lodge, giving park operators greater flexibility when planning new accommodation.

Luxury lodge manufacturer Pinelog is seeing growing demand for saunas, with holiday park customers including Moonrise Lodges in Shropshire specifying them within recent lodge developments.

Why saunas are gaining ground

Private wellness facilities are becoming an increasingly important part of the luxury lodge experience, reflecting the wider growth in UK wellness tourism.

VisitBritain’s Consumer Trends 2026 report identifies saunas and bathhouses as an emerging wellness trend, while the British Sauna Society has reported rapid growth in sauna provision across the UK in recent years.

A private sauna can significantly increase the appeal of a lodge by turning a standard short break into a more distinctive wellness experience. It gives guests an additional reason to choose one lodge over another, particularly in the couples and luxury short-break markets where privacy, relaxation and premium features can influence booking decisions. For park operators, it also provides a strong point of difference in marketing photography and accommodation descriptions, helping the lodge stand out in a competitive market.

Wellness facilities can add commercial value

When it comes to the addition of wellness facilities to short break accommodation, the evidence is strong

• Properties offering a wellness feature such as a sauna, hot tub or outdoor bath generate around £10,000 more revenue per property on average than those without one. *
• 21% of UK holidaymakers selected wellness/spa retreats among the holiday types that appealed to them.**

For holiday park operators, a private sauna can add another layer to the luxury lodge experience, particularly at woodland, countryside and coastal locations where guests are looking for opportunities to relax and switch off.

“Saunas are particularly well suited to one-bedroom lodges targeting the wellness and couples’ breaks market,” said Judy Barwell, Pinelog sales account manager.

“In line with the growth in their use, we have seen an uplift in both enquiries and orders for lodges with saunas. They’re also a straightforward bespoke option that we can incorporate into any of our lodge designs.”

A flexible option for lodge design

One of the main advantages of a sauna is its flexibility. Unlike a hot tub, it does not require a dedicated outdoor area and can be fitted within the lodge itself. Pinelog’s Glade lodge, for example, can also incorporate a sauna within the bathroom.

The dry-heat environment of a sauna also avoids many of the practical considerations associated with guests moving between a hot tub and the interior of a lodge.

The bathroom of the Glade also boasts an external door which is ideal for park owners that wish to site additional spa facilities, like a hot tub, outside the lodge.

“Where a holiday park lets us know they intend to add features such as a hot tub,” said Judy, we can work with them to develop the lodge layout, external electricity and water supply points as well as access that works from both a practical and aesthetic perspective.”

Making the most of the Orryn at Moonrise

At Moonrise Lodges, the Orryn’s distinctive projecting roofline has created an ideal location for a compact external sauna within the new lodge. Tucked beneath the extended roof, the sauna feels integrated into the overall design rather than added as an afterthought, while the generous, covered area still leaves ample space for outdoor dining and seating. The result is a sheltered wellness and entertaining space that can be enjoyed throughout more of the year.

A growing opportunity for holiday parks

With private wellness facilities increasingly becoming part of the UK short-break experience, Pinelog believes saunas offer park operators another way to differentiate accommodation. Compact, flexible and suitable for both internal and external access, they can create an immediate wellness proposition without demanding the external space or ongoing management associated with a hot tub.

Talk to Pinelog about your next wellness lodge development

To discover Pinelog’s range of lodges that can help maximise income on your holiday park, contact us on 01246 942842 or message us here