BNB Hot / Choosing a stay
Choosing a stay
How to choose a stay for a couples trip
Hot Springs has been a getaway town for more than a century. Here is how to pick a rental that suits a trip for two.
Downtown or out of town
Downtown
Walk to dinner on Central Avenue, Bathhouse Row and the Grand Promenade. Expect more street noise on weekend nights.
On a lake
A small house or cabin on Lake Hamilton or Lake Catherine gives you water views and quiet mornings, with a short drive to town.
In the hills
The most privacy, and the longest drive. Good if your plan is a fireplace and a porch.
Book a real thermal bath
Two bathhouses on Bathhouse Row use the park's thermal water. The Buckstaff, open since 1912, offers traditional baths for ages 10 and up. Quapaw Baths and Spa has open thermal pools, private baths and massages for ages 14 and up.
Be wary of rentals that advertise natural hot spring tubs. Park regulations prohibit private individuals from selling the park's water, so ask the host where the water comes from.
What to check in the listing
- Privacy. Is it a whole home, or a unit with shared walls, a shared yard or a host on site?
- Cameras. Ask where any exterior cameras point.
- The hot tub. Is it private, and when was it last cleaned?
- The bed. Listings often say queen or king. Confirm which.
- Check-in. Self check-in means you can arrive late without coordinating.
Questions to ask the host
- What is the city STR license number?
- Is anyone else staying on the property?
- Can we arrange early check-in or late checkout?
- Is there anything nearby that is noisy at night?
Stays we have checked
We only feature stays for couples here after we have confirmed the listing is real, active, and (inside city limits) licensed with the City of Hot Springs. We do not rank properties or accept payment for placement.
Verified stays
We only feature real, bookable romantic stays that we have confirmed with the host. None are listed yet. If you run one in Hot Springs and want it considered, email us or call 501.365.1001.
Common questions
Why is there no top 10 list here?
Our old list described properties we could not verify, so we removed it. We now feature only listings we have checked are real and licensed, and we do not rank them.
How much are taxes on a Hot Springs rental?
Inside city limits, stays under 30 nights carry about 14.5% in state, county and city taxes. Airbnb and Vrbo collect them at checkout.
Where can we soak in the actual hot springs?
At the Buckstaff Bathhouse or Quapaw Baths and Spa on Bathhouse Row. Both use the national park's thermal water.
Ask us about a stay
Send us your question about staying or hosting in Hot Springs and we will point you to the right local resource.
Sources
- City of Hot Springs: Short-term Residential Rentals
- City of Hot Springs: STR policies, rules and regulations (Ordinance O-21-26)
- Airbnb Help: Occupancy tax collection and remittance by Airbnb in the US
- Vrbo Help: Where Vrbo collects and remits lodging taxes (US A-E)
- Hot Springs National Park: Experience the Water
- Hot Springs National Park: Bathhouse Row Today
- Lake Hamilton and Lake Catherine (Wikipedia)
Questions about short-term rentals in Hot Springs?
Call or text 501.365.1001, or send a note and we will get back to you.