When you're stuck in tedious international meetings in Geneva, Switzerland, make sure you take a break for some welcome relief at After the Rain. My first visit, which was also my first outside the US, was approached with some nervousness about differences in customs and my ability to communicate with my rusty French. But I've found most of the friendly staff speak English. For the very modest, you'll find disposable undies in your locker; note that they're more toward the thong-style, not like a pair of Steve Erkle sized shorts I got once in San Francisco. The one time I got a non-English speaking therapist was for a Vichy-shower massage. Fortunately I brought the undies with me, but in hindsight (and much more experience with the relaxed European modesty), I'm not sure I needed them.

On both visits, the massages have been absolutely wonderful. Looking for relaxation more than actual therapeutic value, I've been more than satisfied in both aspects. You can enjoy their hammams both before and after your treatments; no one is rushing you out of this wonderful oasis. Just make sure you look carefully for the universal planetary-styled signs for the appropriate men's/woman's hammam entrance; I surprised a young woman once who wandered into the wrong one. They also have a sauna, but it appears only to be available with some of the couples' treatments.

This place is definitely on my repeat-visit list. Prices may seem a little high by US standards, but are not out of range for typical Swiss costs. You'll need to make sure you have cash for any gratuities, even if you charge your treatments

I would visit this business again? Yes

The Bains de Lavey spa is a quick ninety-minute train ride from Geneva that travels along the north side of Lake Geneva before turning south. From the train station at St. Maurice, it's a short cab ride to the spa outside of town. If a cab is not waiting at the station, I recommend going across the street to the cafe and enjoy a glass of wine while they call one for you.

The complex has a comfortable hotel with an adequate restaurant, a wellness area and the mineral springs itself. This last part is made up of various indoor and outdoor pools with underwater currents, neck showers and bubble longers. There is an Oriental area with a co-ed hammam and separate men's and women's Turkish baths as well as a Nordic area with co-ed biosauna, traditional sauna and a naturist sauna. Rest areas abound throughout.

Four of us made a weekend trip to this lovely place surrounded by tall mountainous peaks. I had selected the "Relax & Unwind" package that included two nights lodging (the room was clean and comfortable, but nothing fancy), half-board (breakfast and dinner buffets), two massage treatments and four hydrotherapy treatments. On Saturday morning I enjoyed a multi-jet bath followed by a clay wrap. The bath was wonderful with jets that alternated between feet, legs and back. I'm not sure I fully appreciated the effects of the clay wrap since I wasn't exactly sure what to expect. This was one instance where my limited French and the therapist's limited English hampered the enjoyment. In the afternoon, I was treated to a scrub massage that consisted of 15 minutes in the Turkish bath (on my own), a scrub with a pumice-like exfoliant and, after being wrinsed, an aromatherapy massage. On Sunday I repeated the bath followed by an alpine salt peeling. This was heavenly and, after being wrapped up in a plastic sheet, I felt like I was being slowly baked. The final, full-body relaxation massage completed the weekend perfectly.

The spa gets busy on the weekend as it is a popular place with the locals. There's plenty of area to enjoy the pools but you may not find an available cubby hole to temporarily store your towel and any cover-ups you didn't leave in the lockers. You also need to bring a towel with you to the pool area; the spa does not provide towels.

The attitude toward nudity in the wellness area is more relaxed that in the US. Disposable underwear is available from the therapists, but my guess is it's usually up to you. Before my first hydro treatment, I asked in the wellness office about the necessity of bringing a bathing suit. While I was told yes, when the therapist told me to hang up my robe, she told me leaving the bathing suit on was up to me. Not liking the big bubble that usually develops in a hot tub and feeling rather silly, I chose to take it off for the bath. The therapist did offer me the underwear before the clay wrap. And while I was covered for the massages, the therapists did not leave the room for me to take off my robe. My suggestion is to relax and go with the flow.

I would visit this business again? Yes