Something to do with a friend that isn't the pub
You’ve been saying “we must catch up” for about three months. When it finally lands in both diaries, the default is the same as always: a table in a pub, two rounds that turn into four, and a slightly foggy Saturday morning. Lovely, but you both know how it goes.
If you’ve been searching for a spa day for two in St Albans, or just something to do with a friend that isn’t another drinks night, this is for you. We’ll walk through what a shared session at being looks like, what it costs, and how to turn it into a proper afternoon with a coffee or a walk nearby.
A quick note first. Being isn’t a spa, and we don’t pretend to be one. There are no robes, hot tubs or treatment menus as long as your arm. We do three things: open pool floatation, infrared sauna and expert massage. For a catch-up, two of those work very well side by side.
Why doing something calm together works
Most catch-ups happen across a table with noise around you. You talk over music, you keep half an eye on the bar, and the conversation stays on the surface for the first hour.
Something quiet shared first changes that. You both switch off for a while, then sit down afterwards with clearer heads and nowhere else to be. Often the best part of the visit is the hour after, when you actually talk.
It also takes the pressure off. You don’t need to plan a full day or travel anywhere. An hour or so at being, then a coffee, and you’ve had a better afternoon than most nights out.
The couples float: two of you, one private room
A couples float at being is £75 for two. You share one private room, and the session runs for 60 minutes.
We use an open pool with nothing closing over you. The water sits at body temperature and holds over 500kg of Epsom salts, so you float without any effort at all. You can stretch your arms out, and the room feels open rather than boxed in. If either of you has been put off floating because the idea of a closed lid sounds awful, this is the reason people change their minds. Our piece on why we chose an open pool covers the difference in more detail.
What does it feel like? Mostly, heavy and still. The first few minutes are a bit odd as your body works out it doesn’t need to hold itself up. After that, most people drift. Some chat quietly at the start, then go silent without noticing. Others agree to say nothing from the beginning. Both are fine.
If it’s a first time for either of you, it’s worth reading what to expect from your first float before you come. You can also find out more about floatation in St Albans on our float page.
The couples infrared sauna: a shorter, warmer option
If an hour of floating feels like a lot, the couples infrared sauna is a lighter way in. It’s £37 for two, in one private sauna room.
Each session is 30 minutes. That’s 25 minutes in the sauna, plus time to change and shower. Infrared heat warms you directly rather than heating the air to scorching, so it’s a gentler, more comfortable warmth than a traditional sauna. That makes it easy to sit and talk if you want to. If you’re curious about the difference, we’ve written about infrared versus traditional saunas.
It suits friends who want to chat the whole time, or a quick visit before lunch. There’s more on our page about infrared sauna in St Albans.
Doing both in one visit
You can book the couples float and the couples sauna back to back. If you do, always float first, then go into the sauna. The float settles you right down, and the warmth afterwards feels like a slow finish rather than a jolt.
When you know which you’d like, you can book your session online and pick a time that works for both of you.
Adding a massage
Some pairs like to add a massage each. Our being Massage is £80 for 60 minutes or £110 for 90. Shorter options include a Back Massage at £50, and the Upper Body Anti Stress at £70 is a good pick for anyone who carries a desk job in their shoulders.
You’d each book your own massage. One of you could float while the other has a massage, then you swap or meet for the sauna. Have a look at our massage in St Albans page for the full list, or our guide to combining float, sauna and massage if you’re planning a longer visit.
Where to go afterwards
You’ll come out feeling slow and a bit floaty, so keep the next bit easy. Being is on Bricket Road, close to St Albans City station, which puts a few good options in reach.
Clarence Park is a few minutes’ walk from the station. It’s a Victorian park with a café and a bandstand, so you can get a coffee and do a slow lap while you carry on talking.
If your session falls on a Wednesday or Saturday, the street market is on in St Peter’s Street, in the city centre. It’s an easy wander, and a good excuse to keep the afternoon going without booking anything else.
The point is to avoid rushing. Leave at least an hour after your session free if you can. That’s usually when the good conversation happens.
It works for partners and family too
A couples booking just means two people. That could be two friends, partners, sisters, or a mother and daughter.
For partners, it’s an easy date that isn’t dinner. For a mother and daughter, it can be a calmer way to spend time together than a shopping trip, especially when one of you lives away and visits are short. Either way, you get time together without having to fill every minute with talk.
It also makes a good gift. If you want to give a friend the idea without picking a date for them, gift vouchers start from £50 and can be bought online.
For more ideas, our guide to an alternative to a spa in St Albans covers how the three services compare, and if you’d rather go solo next time, read about making proper time for yourself in St Albans.
Getting there
You’ll find us at 1 Francis Bacon House, Bricket Road, St Albans AL1 3TN, a few minutes from St Albans City station. If you’re driving, The Maltings car park (AL1 3HL) and the Civic Centre car park (AL1 3JX) are both close by.
When you’ve found a date that works for both of you, book online and pick your session.
Frequently asked questions
Is the couples float in one room?
Yes. A couples float is two people in one private room for 60 minutes, at £75 for the pair. Nobody else will be in the room with you.
Do we have to be a couple to book a couples session?
No. “Couples” just means two people. Friends, partners, siblings, and parents with grown-up children all book them.
Can we talk during the session?
Yes. The sauna is the easier place to chat, because the infrared warmth is comfortable enough to sit and talk in. In the float, most people end up going quiet without meaning to, but there’s no rule about it.
Should we float or sauna first?
Float first, then sauna. The float slows you right down and the sauna makes a warm finish. Going the other way round doesn’t work as well.
What if one of us is pregnant?
Check with your midwife or GP before booking a float or sauna. We also offer a Pregnancy Massage at £80, and our page on pregnancy massage in St Albans explains more.
Planning it together
Neither of you floated before? Our float page explains the open pool, the room and what to expect. Read how floatation works.
Booking for two? Ask us about times for a couples float or sauna and we will help you find one. Message us on WhatsApp.
Making it a birthday or a thank you? A voucher lets them pick the date that works for both of you. Give it as a gift voucher.