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Svetvinčenat, Istriaamenities
Heated pool and sauna season at Villa Ballena & Beluga
A common question before booking is "is the pool actually warm enough?" — especially for May, late September, and October stays. Here is the honest, season-by-season breakdown of what to expect from the pool, the Finnish sauna at Villa Ballena, and the climate around them.
Pool specifications
Both villas have an 8 × 4 m (32 m²) outdoor private pool, 1.30 m deep, with biological natural pool water (no harsh chlorine), pool steps, hydromassage jets, and an outdoor shower. The pool is heated and open May 1 to October 30. We provide pool towels, a pool deck with loungers, and umbrellas.
Month-by-month water temperature
May: water is heated to 26–27 °C — comfortable for swimming, especially after the sun warms the deck. Air temperatures range 18–24 °C, often warmer at midday. June: water 27–29 °C, full pool weather. July & August: 29–30 °C; the deck is in the sun all day, so most guests use the umbrellas. September: 27–29 °C, often the locals' favourite month — quiet, warm, low humidity. October: 24–26 °C, comfortable on warm afternoons; the air can be cool in the morning, ideal for the sauna.
Finnish sauna at Villa Ballena
Villa Ballena has a private Finnish sauna in the basement plus a wellness shower. The sauna heats from cold to 80 °C in about 35 minutes and comfortably seats 4–6 adults. Most guests use it after a pool swim or in the cooler shoulder seasons (April, October, November bookings on request) when the contrast between hot sauna and cool outdoor air is most enjoyable. We provide sauna towels and a starter set of essential oils for the steam ladle.
Children & accessibility
The pool depth is a uniform 1.30 m — the right depth for adults to stand and supervise children. Children under 12 must be supervised at all times. We provide a baby cot and high chair on request. The pool deck is level and reachable without steps from the ground floor; both villas have one en-suite bedroom on the ground floor.
Pool maintenance & cleaning
A pool technician visits twice a week to balance the biological water and clean the filter. You will not see them — visits are usually scheduled while guests are out for the day, and pool cleaning is done in under 20 minutes. Please do not add anything to the pool water (no oils, no perfume, no soap) — biological pools rely on a microbial balance that is sensitive to surfactants.
Frequently asked questions
- Is the pool heated?
- Yes — both pools are heated and open from May 1 to October 30. Water temperature ranges from 26–30 °C across the season.
- Can the pool be heated outside the May–October window?
- Off-season heating is technically possible but the cost is significant; we usually do not heat the pool from November through April. Contact us if your dates are tight to the edge of the season — we may be able to extend.
- Is the sauna available year-round?
- Villa Ballena's Finnish sauna runs whenever the villa is occupied — there is no season restriction. It is most popular in the cooler months (April, May, September, October).
- Are towels included?
- Yes — bath towels, beach towels, pool towels, and sauna towels are all included in the nightly rate, refreshed at our standard cleaning intervals.