Team sauna sessions.
Team sauna sessions: what they’re like and how to book one.
A team sauna session is a private booking of a whole sauna for your group, usually for an hour, often by the sea or a lake. It’s a team day out that suits people who don’t want a pub, a game of golf or an escape room.
Guide · Updated
What happens
Your team arrives, changes and gets a short welcome from the sauna owner: how it works, how long to stay in, where the cold water is. Then people go in and out of the heat at their own pace. Most do a few rounds of ten to fifteen minutes in the sauna, with a cool-down between, in the sea, a cold plunge, a shower or just the fresh air. Nobody has to swim.
It’s quieter than most team days. People talk in a way they don’t at a desk, and the ones who don’t want to talk don’t have to.
How many people fit
Most independent saunas in Ireland seat between six and fifteen people. For a bigger team:
- Take turns. Book two or three back-to-back sessions and split the team.
- Book two saunas. Some beaches have more than one.
- Give passes instead. Staff book a session when it suits them. See staff passes below.
What it costs
A November 2025 survey by spas.ie put a typical shared session in Ireland at €16 to €35 a person. Private hire is priced per session for the whole sauna, and usually comes to about what a full shared session would. As an illustration, not a quote:
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Private hire for one hour | €200 |
| Per head, ten people | €20 |
| Towel or robe hire | Ask the sauna; some include it |
Each sauna sets its own prices. We’ll send you the real ones for the saunas near your team.
Staff passes instead of one session
If your team is spread out or works shifts, a pack of sessions works better than one date. Staff book whichever slot suits them, at a sauna near home. Saunas on Olladay can sell packs of 10, 20 or 50, with the bigger packs cheaper per session, and invoice the company.
Safety basics
- Share the sauna’s health terms with your team before the day. Anyone pregnant, with a heart condition or on certain medicines should check with a doctor first.
- No alcohol before or during.
- Cold water is optional. If people swim, follow the owner’s advice and Water Safety Ireland’s guidance, and never swim alone.
- Drink water, and get out if you feel dizzy.
What to tell your team
- What to bring: swimwear, a towel, flip-flops and warm clothes for after
- That it’s optional, and nobody has to go in the cold water
- How to get there, and whether there’s parking
How to book through Olladay
Olladay is booking software for independent saunas in Ireland and the UK. Tell us where your team is, how many people and when, and we’ll reply with the saunas near you, what they offer and the prices. You book and pay the sauna directly, by card or on invoice, with your company name and VAT number on it.
Questions
How long is a team sauna session?
Usually an hour, sometimes 90 minutes. Ask the sauna if you want a welcome talk or time for food afterwards.
Do people have to swim in the sea?
No. The cold part is optional. A shower, a cold plunge or sitting outside works just as well.
Can we pay on invoice?
Yes. Saunas on Olladay can invoice your company, with your company name and VAT number on the invoice, payable by card.
Can a team session be a small benefit?
A team event is usually treated as a staff entertainment expense, not a small benefit. A voucher or pass given to each person can be a small benefit. Ask your accountant.