Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz Review: Is This Hexagonal Hot Tub Worth The Hype?

Quick Overview & Verdict

If you’ve spent any time browsing inflatable hot tubs, you’ve probably noticed that most models follow the same blueprint: round, four-person, modest jet count, basic heater. The Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz breaks from that mold in a few important ways, and that’s exactly why it keeps showing up in conversations about premium portable spas. It’s bigger, it’s a different shape, and it pushes more water through more jets than almost anything else in the standard Lay-Z-Spa range.

This review is built around the kind of questions people actually ask before spending several hundred pounds on a hot tub: does it heat fast enough to be usable on a normal evening, does the hexagonal shape actually make a difference to comfort, is the jet system strong enough to feel like a “massage,” and how much does it cost to keep running through a typical season? We’ll work through all of that, plus the setup process, maintenance routine, and how the St Moritz compares to siblings like the Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki and the Saint Tropez.

What Is The Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz?

The St Moritz sits towards the top end of Bestway’s Lay-Z-Spa range, and it’s positioned as one of the brand’s larger, more performance-focused models. Where entry-level spas like the Miami are built around compact 2–4 person use and a modest jet array, the St Moritz is designed around the idea that more people will be using it at once, for longer sessions, and expecting a stronger water massage experience.

The hexagonal shape is the most obvious departure from the rest of the lineup. Most Lay-Z-Spa models are round, which makes sense from a manufacturing and structural standpoint — round shapes distribute water pressure evenly and are simpler to inflate consistently. A hexagon introduces flat panel sections and angled seams, which is a more complex build, but it also changes how people sit and move around inside the tub. More on that in the design section below.

Bestway markets the St Moritz alongside its “Dual Operate Rapid Heating System” — a feature that’s become standard across the newer Lay-Z-Spa generation but is particularly useful on a tub this size, since larger water volumes naturally take longer to heat. We’ll cover exactly how that performs in real-world use further down.

For anyone comparing it against the wider inflatable hot tub category for the first time, it’s worth reading our broader guide on the best inflatable hot tubs for jet power, size, and build quality — it gives useful context for where the St Moritz sits relative to non-Lay-Z-Spa competitors too.

Key Specifications

Before getting into the hands-on impressions, here’s the core specification sheet. These are the numbers that actually matter when comparing inflatable spas, because they determine how many people can comfortably use the tub, how long it takes to heat, and what your ongoing water and chemical usage will look like.

One number worth sitting with for a moment is that 1,190-litre water capacity. That’s a meaningful step up from the 800–950L range you’ll find on most 4–6 person models. More water means a longer initial fill and a longer initial heat-up, but it also means more thermal mass — once it’s up to temperature, it tends to hold heat more steadily through an evening session, especially with the cover on.

Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz Hot Tub

140 AirJets, 5–7 person capacity, rapid heating system, and insulated cover included.

Check Price on Amazon →

Design, Build & First Impressions

Unboxing the St Moritz, the first thing that’s noticeable is just how much is packed into the carry bag. Between the liner, the pump unit, the cover, the ground cloth, hoses, and the accessory pack (filter cartridges, test strip, chemical floater), it’s a genuinely substantial package — heavier and bulkier than entry-level models like the Miami or Vegas.

The liner material itself uses Bestway’s standard multi-layer laminated PVC construction — the same general approach used across the Lay-Z-Spa range, including models covered in our Coleman SaluSpa build durability review (Coleman SaluSpa units are produced on similar tooling). What sets the St Moritz apart isn’t the material itself, but the hexagonal panel construction — six flat sides joined at angled seams rather than one continuous curved wall.

Why The Hexagonal Shape Matters

On paper, a hexagon sounds like a marketing gimmick, but it has two practical effects once the tub is inflated and filled:

• Flat backrest panels — instead of a continuously curving wall, you get distinct flat sections that work better as backrests, especially for taller users who tend to slide or feel unsupported against a curved inflatable wall.
• More usable floor area per seating position — the angled corners create slightly wider “bays” compared to evenly distributing the same circumference around a circle, which is part of why Bestway rates this model for up to 7 people rather than 6.

The trade-off is that hexagonal liners are structurally more complex, with more seams. Seams are where the vast majority of slow leaks originate on any inflatable spa, so it’s worth being attentive to seam condition during setup and periodically afterward. If you ever do suspect a slow leak, our step-by-step leak-finding guide walks through the soap-solution method that works well on seam-heavy liners like this one.

Cabinet, Pump Housing & Control Panel

The pump/heater unit sits in an external fabric pouch, similar to other Lay-Z-Spa models, rather than being fully integrated into the liner wall. The control panel uses the now-familiar Lay-Z-Spa interface: a power button, temperature up/down, a bubbles (AirJet) toggle, and a digital temperature readout. It’s intuitive enough that most users won’t need the included setup DVD beyond the initial inflation sequence.

One detail that stands out compared to smaller models is the cabling — at roughly 7 metres, the power cable gives more flexibility for placement away from an outdoor socket, which matters more on a larger tub since you may want extra clearance around it for access on all six sides.

Setup & Inflation Process

Setting up the St Moritz follows the same broad sequence as other Lay-Z-Spa models, but everything is scaled up — more inflation time, more water, and more careful positioning given the weight involved once filled. Here’s the realistic step-by-step.

Step 1: Site Preparation

Choose a flat, debris-free surface that can support over 1,200kg once filled. Lay down the included ground cloth first. Given the hexagonal shape, make sure you have at least 60cm of clearance on all six sides for access and for the cover to open fully. For a full pre-installation checklist, see our complete inflatable hot tub setup guide.

Step 2: Inflating The Outer Walls

Connect the pump’s inflation hose to the valve on the tub’s outer wall and inflate to the recommended pressure (the gauge on most Lay-Z-Spa pumps has a marked safe zone). Because of the hexagonal panels, pay attention to even inflation across all six sections — uneven pressure can cause one panel to bow before the others reach full firmness.

Step 3: Inflating The Inner Liner & Headrests

The inner liner and any integrated headrests are typically inflated separately from the main structural walls. This is a quicker step but shouldn’t be skipped, as it affects how the seating area feels once water is added.

Step 4: Connecting The Pump Unit

Attach the pump/heater unit to the two water inlet/outlet valves. Double-check both connections are hand-tight — a loose connection here is one of the most common causes of the “leak” reports that are actually just a fitting that needs re-seating, which we cover in more depth in our troubleshooting guide for heating and temperature issues (the connection principles are shared across Intex and Bestway pump designs).

Step 5: Filling With Water

At 1,190 litres, filling takes considerably longer than smaller tubs — expect 30–45 minutes with a standard garden hose, depending on your water pressure. Fill to the marked line, which is usually around 80% capacity to allow for displacement once people get in.

Step 6: First Heat-Up

Power on the unit and set your target temperature. This first heat-up from cold tap water is the longest the heater will ever run continuously — budget realistically (see the heating section below) and use the cover throughout to retain warmth.

Step 7: Adding Initial Water Chemistry

Before first use, test and balance your water using the included test strips, and add an initial sanitiser dose. If you’re new to inflatable spa water chemistry, our hot tub chemicals guide and how an inflatable hot tub works articles are good starting points.

Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz — Full Kit

Includes pump, cover, ground cloth, filter cartridges and chemical floater for first-time setup.

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Heating Performance & Speed

Heating is consistently the most-asked question about any inflatable spa, and it’s where the larger water volume of the St Moritz becomes most relevant. More litres means more energy required to raise the temperature by each degree — that’s simple physics, and no amount of marketing changes it.

The Dual Operate Rapid Heating System

This feature allows the heater to run independently of the filtration pump, and in some configurations, alongside the AirJet system. Practically, this means you have more flexibility: you can run the heater on its own overnight without the pump cycling constantly, or run filtration without the heater during the day to save a little energy when the tub is at temperature but not actively warming.

Realistic Heating Timeframes

From cold tap water (around 10–15°C depending on season) to the maximum 40°C setting, owners typically report heating times in the range of 24–48 hours for a tub this size, run continuously. This is longer than a 4-person model, which might take 12–24 hours for a similar temperature rise, simply because there’s roughly 25–40% more water to heat.

These figures align with what we’ve seen across the wider Lay-Z-Spa range when adjusted for water volume — for context, our Lay-Z-Spa Helsinki review covers a smaller-volume model with proportionally faster heating, which is a useful comparison point if heating speed is your top priority.

Practical Takeaway: Plan Ahead

The real-world implication is straightforward: the St Moritz is not a “fill it this afternoon, use it tonight” tub from a cold start. Plan your first fill at least a full day, ideally two, before you want to use it. After that initial heat-up, day-to-day temperature maintenance with the cover on is much faster — usually just a few hours to recover a couple of degrees lost overnight, similar to topping up rather than heating from scratch.

For owners in colder climates, insulation becomes even more important at this volume. Our guide to best inflatable hot tubs for winter use covers additional insulation accessories that pair well with larger tubs like this one, and whether inflatable hot tubs can be used in winter at all addresses the broader feasibility question.

AirJet Massage System

140 AirJets is one of the higher counts in the Lay-Z-Spa range, and this is where the St Moritz tends to impress people who’ve previously only used entry-level inflatable spas with 80–90 jets.

How AirJet Systems Work

Unlike hydrojets (which push water through dedicated nozzles), AirJet systems work by pumping air through a perforated ring at the base of the tub, creating a bubble massage effect across the floor and lower walls. The jet count matters, but so does the layout — and because the St Moritz’s floor area is larger (and differently shaped due to the hexagon), the 140 jets are distributed across more surface area than you’d expect from the number alone.

What It Actually Feels Like

In practice, the bubble coverage is noticeably more even across the floor compared to lower-jet-count round tubs, where bubbles often concentrate near the centre and taper off toward the edges. With 140 jets spread hexagonally, most seating positions get a reasonably consistent bubble field rather than some seats feeling “dead” compared to others — a common complaint with budget models.

The intensity is still an air-massage rather than a true hydrotherapy jet — if you’re coming from a hard-sided spa with directional water jets, the AirJet sensation is gentler and more ambient. But within the inflatable category, 140 jets at this volume is towards the stronger end, comparable to what we measured in the Bestway SaluSpa Miami review on a per-litre basis, despite the Miami having far fewer total jets on a much smaller tub.

Running The Jets Independently

Thanks to the dual-operate system, the AirJets can typically be run without the heater active, which is useful if you want the massage effect during a warm afternoon without pushing the water temperature higher. Running jets does increase energy draw temporarily and creates some evaporative heat loss, so for extended jet-only sessions, expect a small temperature dip that the heater will need to recover afterward.

That last column is worth pausing on — the St Moritz actually has the highest jet density per 100 litres of any model in this comparison, including the larger-capacity Monaco. This is a strong indicator of why people who want jet performance specifically tend to gravitate toward the St Moritz over the bigger but less jet-dense Monaco.

Experience The 140-Jet AirJet System

One of the highest jet densities in the Lay-Z-Spa range — see current availability and pricing.

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Capacity & Comfort For Groups

Bestway rates the St Moritz for 5–7 people, which puts it at the upper end of what most domestic inflatable spas offer (only the Monaco, at 6–8, goes higher in this lineup). But rated capacity and comfortable capacity aren’t always the same thing, so let’s look at what that actually means in practice.

Realistic Seating

With the hexagonal shape, six of the seven “slots” map reasonably naturally to the six flat panel sections, each offering a distinct backrest. The seventh person typically fits into a corner or floats more centrally. For five adults, there’s genuinely generous space — each person gets a clear panel and elbow room. At six, it’s comfortable but more sociable/cosy. At seven, it works for shorter sessions or for groups that include children, but it starts to feel like the rated maximum rather than the comfortable sweet spot.

Comparing To Round Tubs At Similar Capacity

It’s worth directly addressing a common point of confusion: a round 6-person tub and the hexagonal St Moritz (rated 5–7) don’t feel the same with six people inside. The flat panels on the St Moritz mean people sit facing more directly inward toward the centre, which tends to feel more conversational. Round tubs at similar capacities often have people sitting at odd angles to each other along the curve. If group conversation and shared use is a priority, the hexagonal layout has a real, tangible benefit — it’s not just aesthetic.

Headroom & Wall Height

At 71cm (28″) inflated wall height, the St Moritz sits in the middle of the range — taller than the Vegas/Saint Tropez (61cm) but shorter than the Monaco (71cm, tied) or the even taller models built for deeper soaking. For most adults, this provides water depth to roughly chest level when seated, which is the standard comfortable depth for AirJet-style spas.

If you’re weighing the St Moritz against other multi-person options, our broader roundup of 4-person hot tub heating and insulation efficiency and the dedicated Intex PureSpa vs Coleman SaluSpa comparison are useful for understanding how capacity claims translate to real comfort across brands, not just within the Lay-Z-Spa range.

Filtration, Water Care & Maintenance

A bigger tub means a bigger maintenance commitment — more water to balance, more surface area for biofilm to develop if neglected, and filter cartridges that will need changing on a schedule that reflects the higher water volume and (likely) higher usage frequency of a group-oriented spa.

Filter Cartridges

The St Moritz uses the same cartridge format as most current-generation Lay-Z-Spa models, included in the box for first use. Given the larger volume and typically heavier usage (more people = more organic contaminants per session), we’d recommend checking cartridges more frequently than you might on a 4-person tub — every few days during heavy use rather than weekly. Our guide on how often to replace hot tub filters and how hot tub filters work cover the underlying logic in more detail.

Water Chemistry At Scale

Chemical dosing is typically calculated per litre or per specific volume (e.g., “per 1,000L”), so the St Moritz’s 1,190L capacity means you’ll be using noticeably more sanitiser, pH adjuster, and shock treatment per dose than smaller tubs. This isn’t a downside exactly, but it does mean your ongoing chemical costs scale with the tub size — something to factor into your running cost expectations alongside electricity.

For sanitiser choice, our bromine vs chlorine comparison and chlorine granules vs tablets guide are good starting points. Some owners with larger tubs like the St Moritz also explore converting to a saltwater system, though this requires additional equipment not included with the standard kit.

Cleaning Routine

The larger surface area means a slightly longer cleaning cycle when draining and wiping down the liner between water changes. The general process is the same as any inflatable spa — our step-by-step cleaning guide applies directly, just budget extra time for the additional surface area.

Watching For Biofilm & Cloudy Water

With more people using the tub more often (which is the whole appeal of a 5–7 person model), organic load increases faster. This makes proactive water testing more important, not less. If you notice cloudiness developing, our why hot tub water gets cloudy and what is biofilm in hot tubs articles explain the causes and fixes. Shocking the water regularly is even more important on a heavily-used larger tub — see how often to shock a hot tub for a practical schedule.

Recommended Maintenance Tools

A few accessories make ongoing care significantly easier on a tub this size:

• A reliable water tester — at this volume, getting chemistry wrong wastes more product. See our best hot tub water testers and digital water tester comparison.
• A vacuum for debris — with more surface area and more users, debris accumulates faster. Our corded vs battery hot tub vacuum comparison covers options.
• A scum absorber — body oils and lotions from more bathers mean more surface scum. See best hot tub scum absorbers.

Lay-Z-Spa St Moritz — Latest Price & Stock

Comes with starter filter cartridges and chemical floater to begin water care immediately.

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Running Costs & Energy Use

This is the section most prospective buyers skip past and then message us about three months after buying. Let’s be direct about it: a 1,190L tub with a 140-jet system and a heater running for extended periods is going to cost more to run than a 4-person, 800L model — there’s no way around the underlying physics.

Where The Electricity Goes

Three components draw power: the heater (by far the largest draw), the filtration pump (runs more continuously, but at much lower wattage), and the AirJet blower (used intermittently, moderate draw). The heater’s total energy cost depends heavily on ambient temperature, how often the cover is used, and your target temperature setting.

Amperage & Electrical Considerations

Like other Lay-Z-Spa models, the St Moritz is designed for standard domestic sockets, but given the larger heating element typically paired with bigger tubs, it’s worth understanding the amperage draw — particularly if you’re running it from an extension lead or a circuit shared with other appliances. Our how many amps does a hot tub use guide breaks this down, and are 110V hot tubs any good is relevant if you’re in a region with lower standard voltage. For the broader electrical question, see do inflatable hot tubs use a lot of electricity and are hot tubs heated by gas or electric.

Cost-Reduction Strategies That Actually Work

• Always use the cover — the single biggest lever, especially on a tub with this much surface area.
• Lower the set temperature slightly — even 1–2°C lower reduces heater runtime meaningfully over weeks of use, and 38°C is plenty warm for most people.
• Avoid frequent draining/refilling — each refill means re-heating from cold, which is by far the most energy-intensive phase. Maintain water quality instead with proper filtration and chemistry, extending the time between full water changes.
• Run the heater during off-peak electricity hours where your tariff allows, especially during the initial heat-up.
• Add supplementary insulation — a thermal blanket under the cover, or an insulated base pad, both reduce heat loss from the top and bottom surfaces respectively.

Setting Realistic Expectations

If you’re choosing the St Moritz specifically because you want a bigger, more jet-dense spa for group use, accept that running costs will be proportionally higher than a smaller model — that’s the trade-off for the capacity and jet performance. What you can control is how efficiently that capacity is used: covering the tub, maintaining water quality to avoid refills, and being sensible about target temperature all make a real difference over a season.