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This is our review of the Lay Z Spa Santorini (updated in 2023)
With its integrated seating (which we’ve been shouting for) and more hydrojets than any other model, the Lay Z Spa Santorini is one of the brand’s more luxurious options with a price tag to match. But just how good is this premium option and is it worth spending more?
We have a fair bit of experience when it comes to reviewing blow-up tubs and understand what features are important to the average home hot tubber?
The Santorini is a sleek and spacious tub designed for comfort with integrated seating, padded headrests and an innovative water-powered light system. Seating 5-7, the ten extra hydrojets plus 180 airjets provide one of the best massage experiences from an inflatable spa.
That being said, we can’t tell you the Santorini is the best hot tub; it might not be. You may prefer a different design, something cheaper to run or one without lights?
This review will cover
Keep reading to see if the Santorini ticks all the boxes or if there is another option that could fulfil your hot tub dreams.
Even if your hot tubbing experience has been limited to soaking in a small budget tub, you’ll likely have found that there are few moments as blissful as reclining amongst an all surrounding bubble massage.
Lay Z Spa has been hard at work perfecting their massage system, with the new 2021 Santorini model perfectly representing the fruits of their labour!
Featuring a jaw-dropping 180 air jets and ten fully adjustable hydrojets, the Santorini can easily dispatch any stubborn aches and pains. And, with a fancy LED lighting system, integrated bench seating and even an included foot massager, we think you’ll be impressed with this hot tub’s superior functionality.
Capacity
5-7 adults.
Set Up Time
10 minutes.
How Long To Heat Up
6-12 hours initially.
Running Costs
£50-£60 per month.
Winter Frost Protection
Frost protection included.
🤔
What Previous Buyers Say
See around 80 Santorini hot tub reviews on amazon.co.uk.
Currently in Stock
Yes, the Santorini is currently in stock.
Pro’s
10 Hydrojets, LED lights, Integrated seating.
Con’s
Expensive to run.
Air jets are all well and good for your bog-standard afternoon massage session, but no number of these devices can compare to the Santorini’s ten powerful, fully adjustable hydrojets.
Powered by a digital pump, we love that these water jets can be fully adjusted to produce a truly personalised massage. Everything from the direction to the flow rate is easily controlled from a simple digital control panel.
Considering that these powerful jets are further backed up by 180 air jets, we found that the most difficult task we had when testing this thing out was trying to coax our team away from the bubbles!
One of our biggest pet peeves with otherwise brilliant inflatable hot tubs is a lack of included seating. You’ll often find models with brilliant massage and heating systems that are too uncomfortable to recline in for longer than a few hours!
Thankfully, the Lay Z Spa Santorini bucks this trend, featuring a ring of integrated bench seating that provides a great deal of cushioning and helps to position hot tubbers in perfect alignment with the hydrojets placed along the inner wall.
So we have a powerful massage system and a cushioned seating area; the last check on the trifecta of ideal hot tub requirements has to be how quickly this tub can reach a warm and toasty temperature.
Benefitting from an improved rapid heating system, our team was impressed with the Santorini’s ability to reach a maximum water temperature of 40 degrees Celsius within about 10 hours of being installed. The subsequent heating times take only an hour or two, thanks to a combination of its Freeze Shield and insulated Duraplus lining, good stuff!
Item Number:
BW60075GB
Inflatable Capacity:
5-7 adults.
Water Capacity (70%):
1190L (314 Gallons)
Inflated Size:
80cm x 216cm
Filled Weight:
1253kg (2762lbs
Cable Length:
7 metres
Max heat capability:
40 degrees Celsius (104 degrees Fahrenheit)
Despite the Santorini packing in almost every other premium feature you could imagine, Wi-Fi functionality and technology seems to be the one thing that’s missing.
This is a shame, as it appears that Lay Z Spa’s additional Wi-Fi enabled pump is not compatible with hydro jet models, meaning Santorini owners will miss out on this feature!
The Lay Z Spa Santorini includes a fantastic water-powered LED lighting system that places an array of colour-changing lights around the perimeter of the shell.
These lights can be cycled through 7 different colours or set to an automatic colour-changing mode, with the whole system being powered by the water already being pumped through the filtration system.
Billed as a 5-7 seater, our team found that a more realistic limit is about 6 adults, though, for a large family of 2 adults and 4-5 kids, you’ll find that the 7 seater claim is certainly accurate.
Lay Z Spa is known to pack a few important safety features into its inflatable hot tubs.
First, we have an inflatable lid and secure clip cover that provide added insulation to keep the Santorini toasty and do a great job of preventing any debris, people, or pets from accidentally stumbling into the water.
Alongside this, you’ll find a ground fault detection system and RCD unit that automatically cuts the power to the pump if any issue is detected within the hot tub’s circuitry. You also have the chemconnect which automatically releases chemicals into your spas to keep the water clean
This hot tub couldn’t be more comfortable!
Lay-Z-Spa have added an an integrated cushioned bench lining the floor, and 5 soft-touch inflatable headrest pillows for a wonderful spa experience, our reviewers found the Santorini to be amongst the most comfortable they’ve ever tested, and that’s before we’ve even mentioned the advanced massage system and the variety of colour options and other added technology it boasts.
Combining these seating options with 180 air jets and directional ten hydrojets, we honestly reckon that you’ll struggle to cut any relaxing soak shorter than 2-3 hours at a time.
This is perhaps the first downside for the Lay Z Spa Santorini, though it’s to be expected in a model that powers this many air jets, hydrojets and a rapid heating system all at once!
The average running costs for a Lay Z Spa are around £7-£10 per week, but we found that running this model at full power for a few hours a day will likely rack up energy costs more similar to £10-£15 per week.
This can be reduced by engaging the energy-saving timer and using the insulated cover to save on heating costs, but we reckon you should be prepared for a monthly bill of around £50-£60.
Thanks to the Santorini’s dual-operation and included Freeze Shield, you’ll find that heat up times are consistently fast when using this thing daily.
The Freeze Shield and insulated lining work well to maintain a water temperature above 6-10 degrees Celsius, and we were able to make use of the dual-op to fire up the rapid heater alongside the massage system, warming this hot tub up to around 40 degrees Celsius in 1-2 hours on a regular basis whilst in your garden.
We won’t lie; this inflatable hot tub can make quite a racket!
180 air jets are loud enough, but chucking ten powerful hydrojets into the mix will produce a level of operational noise not dissimilar to a busy main road.
You shouldn’t annoy the neighbours too much if you’re running the massage system at the lower power setting. Still, we do recommend investing in an insulating ground mat and popping this thing in a sheltered area if you do have neighbours in close proximity.
You’ll often hear of frost protection units when reading jacuzzi reviews, but you may not have heard a clear explanation of what they do.
The Santorini comes with Lay Z Spa’s patented Freeze Shield, essentially a set of temperature sensors that (if you have power running to the pump) constantly monitor the water temperature and automatically kick in if it drops below 6-10 degrees Celsius.
This prevents your hot tub water from freezing overnight and can even save you a few bob on heating bills by reducing your heater’s work to reach its maximum temperature during those chilly winter months.
Lay Z Spa’s hydro jet range is very much their premium line of inflatable hot tubs, though, with the number of impressive features they’ve packed into this model, that should come as no surprise!
The premium moniker does mean a premium price tag, but in our opinion, the Santorini is worth every penny.
If you are set on this hot tub but feel the price is a little too high, it’s worth taking your time and checking several suppliers over the course of a few months.
You’ll often find that inflatable hot tubs fluctuate in price depending on how in-demand they are, meaning you might well find a bargain on this model if you’re patient!
Your warranty will cover the pump for 12 months and the lid for 6, though our top tip is to register your spa on the brand’s website, as this will double your coverage to 24 months and 12, respectively!
Lay Z Spa also offers a pretty great support line to answer any questions you may have about your hot tub, details of which can be found on their website.
The reviews of the Lay Z Spa Santorini are excellent with an average rating of 4.5/5 stars. Many of the customers state how easy it is to set up and maintain.
We reckon the bestway Lay Z Spa Santorini is the ideal spa for those already in love with hot tubbing but want to upgrade their system.
With 180 air jets, ten hydrojets, integrated seating, LED lights and a large enough capacity to seat the whole family. The only feature that this hot tub seems to be missing is Wi-Fi functionality, which is a shame, but we think most people can overlook it.
The price tag may put off first-time buyers and as we often get asked are lazy spas worth it, and we would say that if you’re unsure of how much use you’ll get out of this spa, you might be better with a budget model. Though for people that plan on getting daily use out of their hot tub, you can’t go wrong with the Santorini!
The Bestway St Moritz spa can match the Santorini in terms of capacity, and we do love its eye-catching rattan print, but you’ll be sacrificing a great deal of massage power with only 140 air jets and no hydrojets.
If you’re on a budget and you find space more important than jets, this is a good shout, but it can’t compete with the Santorini in terms of functionality!
This model is a little smaller than the Santorini, and with a less powerful massage system, this model doesn't really compare, though you will spend a lot less if you choose the PureSpa.
In our opinion, the price difference doesn't quite match the gap in quality, so we think you’d be better off saving up for the Santorini here!
The last trick up the Santorini’s sleeve is its tool-free set-up, just attach the pump via an inflation hose to the shell, and you’ll have an inflated spa in around 10 minutes!
Then it’s just a case of filling the tub, which can take 1-2 hours, and waiting for the water to heat up in around 10 hours.
A genuinely premium inflatable hot tub, the Santorini is ideal for anybody that knows they’ll get daily use out of their spa and wants to benefit from the most advanced and all surrounding massage experience that they can find.
With unrivalled comfort thanks to its integrated seating and more massaging jets than most will ever need, the only downside to this tub is the hefty price tag. However, if you’re willing to spend big on a premium hot tub, we think the Santorini will almost definitely suit your needs!
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