I tried Aldi’s sell-out hot tub – relaxing oasis saves £100

Up until now, I’ve either saved up to spend a fortune at spas across the country for my birthday, or sacrificed a few big food shops to be able to afford a night away in a cosy lodge, all to be able to have access to a hot tub (crazy, I know).

However, Aldi has come to the rescue, as the budget-friendly supermarket has announced the return of its luxurious sell-out Intex Spa Pool, which I was able to get my hands on.

@uktoday_ Run, don’t walk! Aldi’s sell-out spa pool is back in UK supermarkets as a specialbuy (while stock lasts). How does it compare to Lay-Z-Spa? You could save £100 😮 🫧 #uknews #aldi #aldifinds #specialbuysinaldi #hottub #spapool ♬ Vlog - Soft boy

And guess what? It’s allowed me to create the at-home relaxing oasis I’ve been craving, all while saving hundreds of pounds in the long run (in more than one way).

Shortly after I moved house last summer, I came across Aldi’s sell-out spa pool but I just wasn’t quick enough to find one - a year later, I now know why they were so popular.

What stood out to me the most was the price difference, the Intex Spa Pool is priced at £249.99, compared to the likes of the almost identical Lay-Z-Spa Miami AirJet Inflatable Hot Tub Spa, currently on Amazon for £370 (a difference of more than £100).

Aldi shoppers could also save 29% compared to similar models such as Wave Spa Atlantic Inflatable Hot Tub (£349.99), as shared by the supermarket.

But could it be just as good as the big brands?

Have you ever bought a hot tub for your garden? (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest)

Is Aldi's sell-out spa pool just as good as Lay-Z-Spa?

Aldi says the spa pool can “comfortably” fit four adults, but I do think three would be the max if you’re not a fan of close contact.

It also boasts 100 “powerful” air jets for a “truly invigorating” massage experience and I can confirm, it does exactly what it says on the tin (or box in this matter).

In fact, I was pretty blown away (not by the bubbles) at just how powerful they were, considering it’s an inflatable. I would even go as far to say the jets are just as good as the “professional” hot tubs at spas and leisure centres.

Heating up to 40C, I think the high temperature is more than reasonable, I found around 35C was ideal for me. In the summertime, this could obviously be brought down so the water is cool when a heatwave arrives.

I was hesitant to see how long it would heat up, as the instructions say temperatures rise around 2C an hour, but I found it was quicker, with temperatures increasing by around 2C every 20 minutes or so.

Is it cheaper to cook with an air fryer or oven? 

For those who have as little patience as I do, you might be wondering how long it takes to fill up.

I decided to fill it to the ‘min’ line, which took just over an hour – considering it’s pretty deep, I thought that was impressive.

I also like how firm the Aldi spa pool feels once inflated (which again only took around five minutes using the special pipe that comes with it), as I was worried it would feel quite flimsy like a standard paddling pool, but I was wrong – it’s solid, without feeling like it’s going to pop due to the good quality material.

Again, the bottom of the hot tub is nothing like a paddling pool as it has a reasonable cushioned lining, so you can’t feel the ground beneath you at all.

The main electrical hub which attaches onto the spa pool has various buttons for bubbles, heat, temperature change, filter and even one to switch between Celsius or Fahrenheit.

The hot tub jets were so powerful (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) Plus, it has two handy cup holders on top, so no need to balance drinks on windowsills or plant pots if you don’t have an outdoor side table nearby.

The Intex spa pool also comes with an insulating cover (which takes minutes to inflate), two filters, a small chlorine dispenser in the shape of a ball and some other extra bits and bobs I’m yet to figure out how to use.

I would say at first, the instructions seem a little overwhelming due to the amount of detail, but the set-up couldn’t be any easier once you’ve read the booklet.

The one thing I didn’t think about beforehand is the use of an outdoor socket, which might be easier instead of having to thread the wire through a kitchen window, which means it’s open all day while the hot tub does its thing (but I didn’t mind as it’s worth the draft).

The Intex hot tub was pretty simple to set up (Image: Molly Court/Newsquest) As I’ve not had this product long, I’m yet to work out how energy efficient it is or how hard it is to keep clean, but I’m being mindful of usage until my next bill. Having done research online, others prefer to keep it switched on most of the time.

Recommended reading:

• Aldi discontinues chocolate described as 'much nicer than Cadbury' equivalent
• Aldi offering free £100 voucher to new parents every week for a year
• Aldi's Mother’s Day Gift Guide including diffuser, gift sets and beauty items

I’m all for doing whatever you need to do when it comes to self-care, be it a massage, reading in the sun or eating your favourite snacks, but for me, I just think hot tubs work wonders.

I don’t know whether it’s being submerged in hot bubbling water or being forced to be away from my phone and social media, but they are kind of my secret weapon to completely de-stress.

Yet now I have exactly what my mind, body and soul needs, at a fraction of the price and only five steps away from me at all times.

Happy hot tubbing.

Aldi's sell-out Spa Pool arrived back in stores on March 13, available while stock lasts.