Straight answer first: NOLA Chill doesn’t have a steam room or a float tank. People ask us about both, so here’s how each one compares with what we do have, and when a steam room or float tank is the better pick.
Steam room vs. our private infrared sauna
Both are heat. The big difference is moisture. A steam room is humid heat. Our infrared sauna is dry heat at similar air temperatures, and it’s a private room.
| Steam room | Private infrared sauna at NOLA Chill | |
|---|---|---|
| Air | 95% to 100% humidity, about 110°F to 120°F | Dry. Infrared saunas typically run about 110°F to 135°F. |
| Privacy | Usually shared, at a gym, spa or hotel | A private room for you, or up to four people |
| Time and price | Varies, often part of a membership or spa day | 30 minutes $30 or 45 minutes $40. Two people: $48 or $64. |
| Feels like | Warm, wet air you can see | Warm, dry air with radiant heat. You’ll sweat, and towels are provided. |
Traditional dry saunas run hotter, about 150°F to 195°F. Infrared heat works at lower air temperatures.
Float tank vs. NuCalm and Hydromassage
A float tank is a shallow pool of very salty water, kept near skin temperature (about 95°F), in a dark, quiet room. The salt lets you float without effort. Sessions often run 60 to 90 minutes, and you shower before and after. We have two ways to get a quiet, weightless-feeling break without getting wet:
| Option | What it’s like | Time and price |
|---|---|---|
| NuCalm | Recline fully dressed with headphones and an eye mask for guided audio. No water, heat or cold. Quiet, though not silent. | 30 min · $40 |
| Hydromassage | Lie fully dressed on a warm, water-filled bed while moving water pressure works beneath the surface. You stay dry and choose the pressure. | 30 min · $30 |
Searching for “dry float”? A dry float usually means lying clothed on a warm water bed, separated from the water by a membrane, so you feel weightless without salt or a shower. Our Hydromassage bed is the closest thing we have. You stay clothed and dry on warm water too, but it adds a massage, so it isn’t a still float.
When a steam room or float tank is the better pick
- You want humid heat, or steam is already part of your gym or spa routine.
- You want a long, fully dark, floating session of an hour or more.
- You want both in one trip. Some gyms, hotel spas and float centers around New Orleans offer them.
When NOLA Chill fits better
- Privacy. The sauna is a private room, not a shared one.
- Staying dressed. NuCalm and Hydromassage are fully clothed. No shower or change of clothes needed.
- Half an hour, not half a day. Each of these is a 30-minute appointment, with a 45-minute sauna option.
- Simple pricing. Pay per visit, no membership needed, and you can pay after your appointment.
- Bring a friend. Up to four people share one sauna room: $72 for 30 minutes or $80 for 45 minutes for four. See booking a sauna with a friend.
Before any heat session
- Hydrate first. Skip the sauna if you’ve been drinking or feel unwell (here’s when to skip the sauna when you’re sick).
- If you’re pregnant, or have a heart or blood pressure condition, check with your doctor before booking.
- Leave the sauna right away if you feel dizzy, sick or overheated.
We’re a wellness studio, not a medical clinic, and experiences vary.
Questions
Does NOLA Chill have a steam room? No. We have a private infrared sauna: dry heat, for one to four people, 30 minutes for $30 or 45 minutes for $40 for one person.
Does NOLA Chill have a float tank or sensory deprivation tank? No. For a quiet break, NuCalm is 30 minutes of guided audio with headphones and an eye mask, fully dressed, for $40. Hydromassage is a warm, dry water bed with massage, 30 minutes for $30.
Is an infrared sauna the same as a steam room? No. A steam room is humid heat at about 110°F to 120°F. An infrared sauna is dry heat at similar or somewhat higher air temperatures, typically 110°F to 135°F.
What is dry float therapy? Usually a clothed session on a warm water bed with a membrane between you and the water, so you float without getting wet. NOLA Chill’s closest option is Hydromassage, which adds massage pressure.
Can two people share the sauna? Yes. The private room fits up to four. Two people pay $48 for 30 minutes or $64 for 45 minutes in total.
NOLA Chill, 6045 Magazine Street, Uptown New Orleans. Open seven days a week, with parking in front. Sources: Healthline (steam rooms, medically reviewed 2024), Cleveland Clinic (sauna temperatures), CADTH 2021 (flotation).