Happy New Year! May 2008 be filled with smooth travels, interesting new acquaintances, and dream destinations. The bright side of things is that we’ve now passed the shortest day of the year, and hours of daylight are on the upswing. But we still have a couple months of chill and damp to get through. Can’t afford a plane ticket to the Canaries? Well, there is at least a temporary fix close at hand.

Anyone can treat himself or herself to a two- or three-hour getaway in a land of warmth and water. How? By purchasing a day ticket to one of Germany’s fabulous spas. Be forewarned, however -- these aren’t the ideal places for very modest types. Sauna areas are always “textile-free” zones, and common swimming areas might be -- the rules vary. Some facilities do allow suits in the pool; others are naked all the way.

It’s not a bad idea to check out a potential spa’s Web site in advance, to learn beforehand of any special days of the week. Some have a “Frauentag,” when saunas are for the ladies only, or the facility may go “FKK,” when guests wear not a thread of clothing.

Spas don’t come particularly cheap, mind you -- sometimes close to 20 euros for use of a facility for the entire day. At least it’s a relatively healthy indulgence.

For a country with such a well-developed spa culture as Germany, it’s surprising that comprehensive, one-stop online directories of spas are rather hard to come by. The site map of www.thermenverzeichnis.de provides a helpful overview of indoor bathing spots categorized by geographical region.

Web sites of German state tourism boards also offer links to the spas under the heading of “Therme” or “Wellness.” Here are a few of them:

Baden-Württemberg

Bavaria

Hessen

Rhineland-Palatinate

Do you have a favorite spa? The Japanese-themed Taunus Therme in Bad Homburg, north of Frankfurt, is one contender for my vote. Those with children might prefer Weinheim’s Miramar, right on the Bergstrasse, as it offers several water slides. Where would you head for your best one-day winter getaway?