Pros and cons - Hot Tub

[Bien Nguyen]

My husband and I close on our first STR in a mid-August. I am curious to hear feedback on pros and cons of having a hot tub as an amenity?

We live in an area where it is nice weather for 8-9 months out of the year but a hot tub can have cool water as well, to cool off if needed.

We're trying to have an amenity that is different in our area and hot tubs are not common with any STR in our area.

Thoughts?

[Ken Boone]

Quote from @Jay Hinrichs:

Really drained and cleaned and refilled as part of the turn over .. that seems excessive hotels dont do that whats the difference. ??

Hotels have pool/hot tub people to make sure the water stays sanitary on a daily basis not the same with STRs.   Not to mention we all know what goes on in hot tubs in private locations, you want to jump into one with your wife after 3 couples just left where I didn't have it drained, cleaned and refilled before your arrival?  I don't think so.  

Also, you do not want to give the answer to a guest that you drain and clean once a month when they ask how often your hot tub is clean.  In a hot tub market some folks are keen to that and they want to hear it has been cleaned and filled for fresh water for their use when they arrive.

When it comes to keeping a hot tub sanitized, it is a much different environment in an STR than at a hotel with people checking the water every day.  Depending on who gets in the hot tub, can drastically change the water quality.  1 person that has been out hiking through the park, sun tan lotion on etc that jumps in a hot tub, can leave enough organic matter that will use up the chemicals as perhaps a couple that uses it every night for 5 days, but they jump in clean and aren't doing the wild thing.  One guest may have 5 kids in there every evening that have played hard all day and are dirty and sweaty when they get in.  Again, eats all the chemicals up.  Once the chemicals are eaten up by the organic matter, it gets unsanitary very quickly.   It is really a matter of keeping the hot tub safe and sanitized for the guests.

In my market it is standard practice to drain, clean and refill after every guest.  I have seen how hot tubs can look at STRs even with this in practice and I for one will not be using a hot tub where this practice wasn't maintained at an STR.