Special Report
A Long Hot Summer
Soothe aching limbs or just relax with family or friends in your very own hot tub Hot tubs are brilliant things. They’re great for massages, hydrotherapy and relaxation; they can help ease aches and pains after exercise or from conditions such as arthritis; they’re fantastic stress busters and sleep helpers; and big ones are brilliant for socialising with friends and family. How much do they cost? The cheapest hot tubs are inflatable ones, running from around £300 to £1,500. Inflatables are usually but not always circular and they have a padded base and a fairly basic heating and inflation system. Like hard-shell hot tubs you’ll need a solid, level place to put them. Inflatables are a great option for occasional use but they’re not designed to be used constantly or left outside all year round. Hard-shell tubs cost more but are much tougher and generally bigger too. Prices start at around
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£3,000 and go up depending on the materials you prefer and the features you want: some have more entertainment technology in them than the average house. Hard-shell tubs are usually insulated, making them more energy efficient, and you’ll generally get a better selection of jets, lights and other features. Hard-shell tubs are permanent structures designed to sit outside all year long and aren’t easily moved or stored. Should you rent or buy? This question is rather like asking whether you should rent or buy a car: it depends on how often you’ll use it. Renting means you’re only paying for the time you’ll actually be using the hot tub, so if you only think you’ll need it for a few weeks in the summer that’s obviously much cheaper than buying the hot tub outright. Many hire places
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