Enjoy, get fit at local indoor pools

Published Sept. 19, 2012
By Iris Reiff
52nd Fighter Wing Public Affairs

SPANGDAHLEM AIR BASE, Germany -- Fall season is soon approaching, but that doesn't mean swimming season is done.

There are several indoor pools in the local area for people to enjoy as the days get shorter and the temperatures drop.

Entry prices range from about 2 to 5 Euro for a single entry.

Most indoor pools offer multiple ticket books at a reduced cost. Some indoor swimming pools are open year-round while others close for the summer season when outdoor pools are open. All indoor pools are open at this time of the year for people to enjoy.

In general, the larger complexes have several pools, including 25-meter long sports pools, while smaller complexes are usually divided into swimmer and non-swimmer sections. Admission fees vary from pool to pool. Special discount packages are available for disabled people, groups, students, families and active-duty military members.

Every larger town in Germany has at least one pool complex, many of them consisting of pools and recreational facilities, but all have changing rooms, showers and lockers.

The closest pools to the base can be found in Speicher, Bitburg and Wittlich. Some hotels in the area also have small pools that are included in the hotel price.

Speicher
The Speicher pool, located in the basement of the Speicher school complex, is open 8-10 p.m. Tuesday, 7-9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 6:30-9:30 p.m. Thursday and Friday, and 3-5:30 p.m. Saturday. The pool is closed on Monday and Sunday.

Groups of 20 people or more receive reduced entry fees if they submit a written request to the Speicher area administration office in advance. The Speicher pool is mainly used for sports lessons by students. Swim lessons are offered as well. Entry cost to the pool varies between 2.50 and 5 Euro. Call the Speicher area administration at 06562-640 for additional information.

Bitburg
Cascade is a modern pool complex located on Talweg 4, 54634 Bitburg. It offers pools, solariums, saunas, massage rooms, whirlpools and slides, as well as restaurants, health treatments, shows, music and laser presentations. The complex consists of six different pools. Occasionally, the pools are reserved for training of the Eifel Sharks and other swim clubs, especially on Mondays.

There is a 25-meter long sports pool for swimmers. Aquafitness courses and swim courses are also offered at the Cascade swim world.

The pool complex and sauna is open 10 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. - 10 p.m. Saturday, Sunday and German holidays.

The sauna is reserved for women 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, except for German holidays, and 6 - 10 p.m. Wednesday. All other times, it is open to men and women. Entry to the sauna is 11.80 Euro per person for three hours, 12.80 Euro per person for four hours and 14.50 Euro per person for the entire day.

Adult entry to the Cascade water paradise is 2.90 Euro for one hour, 4.40 Euro for two hours, 5.60 Euro for three hours, 6.50 Euro for four hours and 7.50 Euro for the entire day. The price for children up to age 18 is 1.90 Euro for one hour, 2.70 Euro for two hours, 3.30 Euro for three hours, 3.50 Euro for four hours and 4.80 Euro for the entire day. From Sept. 1 - May 31 there is a 1.50 Euro surcharge for adults and 50 cent surcharge for children on Sundays and German holidays. Children less than 1 meter tall get in for free. Reduced prices are also available when purchasing multiple entry tickets.

Prices for the sauna and water world is 10.50 Euro for two hours, 11.80 Euro for three hours 12.80 Euro for four hours and 14.50 Euro for the entire day. On Sundays and holidays, there is a 1.10 surcharge from Sept. 1 - May 31.

Anyone interested may become a member of a swim club. For information on how to become a member, stop by or call the Cascade pool center at 06561-9683-0 or email info@cascade-bitburg.de. For more information, visit the Cascade homepage at http://www.cascade-bitburg.de.

Wittlich
The Wittlich Vitellius indoor pool is 25 meters long and 12.5 meters wide. It is located near the B-50 at Im Sportzentrum, 54516 Wittlich.

Vitellius pool is open 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. Monday, 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Tuesday for everyone and 8 - 9:30 p.m. for women only, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. and 8 - 9:30 p.m. Wednesday, 7 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Thursday, 7 a.m. - 5 p.m. Friday, 8-9:30 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. - 6:30 p.m. Saturday, and 8 a.m. - 4 p.m. Sunday and German holidays. The pool is closed Dec. 25 and after 1 p.m. Jan. 1.

Wittlich offers a warm water pool time where the pool water gets heated up to about 30 degrees Celsius 8 - 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, and Wednesday for women only.

Pool playtime for children is 2:30 - 5 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Saturday.

Americans are welcome to join the swim team. For information and to sign up for membership, stop by the Vitelius pool cashier's office or call the local Wittlich sports club at 06571-3171 or the pool at 06571-6088.

Entry to the Vitellius pool is 3.50 Euro for adults and 2 Euro for children ages 4-18. Wittlich also offers multiple ticket books at reduced fares. Wittlich's pool is divided into swimmer and non-swimmer sections and has one- and three-meter diving boards.

Trier
Trier's city pool, Das Bad, is near the Roman bath, located on Suedallee 10-12, 54294 Trier. The complex consists of five different pools including a swimmer's pool, a combined swimmer's and non-swimmer's pool, an entertainment section with a fountain and a toddler's section.

It is open 1-10 p.m. Monday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m. Tuesday through Friday, 6 a.m. - 9 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. - 6 p.m. Sunday and German holidays. Pool policy states visitors must leave the water 30 minutes prior to closing time.

The Trier city pool offers two sports pools that are 25 meters long. Also available in Trier are water gymnastics and aqua-aerobics, which are included in the entry price. The pool also offers several diving boards.

The pool is reserved for mothers with small children 9:30 a.m. - noon Saturday and 10:30 a.m. - noon Sunday.

Entry to the Trier city pool is 3.10 Euro for adults for one hour 4.90 Euro for 3.5 hours or 5.40 Euro for an entire day. Children age 3 to 15 and students with a valid ID pay 2.80 Euro for 3.5 hours and 3.30 Euro for an entire day. There are reduced prices when purchasing a multiple-ticket booklet and for families.

Entry to the sauna is 15 Euro for 3.5 hours with every additional hour costing 1 Euro extra. Entry to the solarium is 3 Euro or 30 Euro when purchasing an 11-ticket booklet.

Trier's city pool has saunas, solariums, whirlpools, a fitness area, massage therapy, a cafeteria, restaurant area and more. To join a swim club, stop by the city pool, call 0651-717-2350 or email dasbad@swt.de. E

Three more pools are located in Cochem, Bad-Bertrich and Traben-Trarbach, but they area bit further away from the base. These pools are thermal baths that offer recreational facilities and spa programs. Entry prices to these pools run between 6 to 8 Euro.

For more information about the Cochem, Bad-Bertrich and Traben-Trarbach thermal baths, call 02671-97990 for Cochem, 02674-932200 for Bad-Bertrich and 06541-83030 for Traben-Trarbach.