Seriously we use our hot tub all the time - couple times a week or more. It's a piece of cake to take care of with an ozonator and bromine. Shock after use, hose down the filters periodically (or give them a deep clean in a solution) and replace every 6 months or so. I empty the water and replace that 5 or 6 times a year. Not hard, just drain and then run some clean water through it with the valves open, fill, heat, and then throw in some chems. I rarely even bother testing except to test for bromine - water is stable here and the right hardness/PH out of the tap most times of the year. We have a limelight flaire - made by Hotsprings. Doesn't have as long of a warranty as a Hotspring but its had only a few minor problems related to the lights and one piece froze and broke when it got really cold (the tub is outside). Anyway - I'm really not sure why people think hot tubs are such a nightmare. Boats - yes those are pain in the ass. But hot tubs are cake.