Let Thailand’s sublime spas unknot and unwind you

A flower bath at Aspara
will melt away your worriesWORDS SHERIDEN RHODES

Inside the cosy cocoon of my treatment room, the faint waft of ylang-ylang perfumes the air. Gentle music and the rhythmic strokes of my therapist remind me why so many holidaymakers flock to Thailand. It’s not just the lure of the place’s natural beauty, enticing cuisine and fantastic shopping – they also come for the spa treatments offered by the hotels and resorts of Bangkok and Phuket. Whether it’s a Thai pearl scrub, an Asian massage, a papaya body polish or an organic facial, the treatments offered by Thailand’s spas are world class, and there’s something to suit everyone’s budget.

The Thai people have been practising nuad pan boran (traditional Thai massage) for thousands of years. Masseurs apply pressure using the thumbs, fingertips, hands, feet, arms and legs, and apply compression using their body weight. Today, the traditional methods and customs handed down through the centuries have been combined with modern techniques for all-round fantastic spa experiences – and the principle of metta (loving-kindness) is still central.

Take a massage at the sala at
BanyanNot surprisingly, massage is the most requested treatment at spas throughout Thailand. Thai masseurs are among the best in the world, and the choice of treatment is staggering – from traditional Thai massage, Javanese or Ayurvedic options through to new fusions – and differs at each individual spa. There’s also a wealth of wraps, scrubs, herbal steam-room treatments, hot-stone massages and unique Thai therapies on offer. In the name of research, we road-tested our way through the spas of Phuket and the capital.

Phuket

A petal bath at Banyan
Tree PhuketPhuket is where worldwide spa operator Banyan Tree (33 Moo 4, Srisoonthorn Rd, Cherngtalay, Amphur Talang, tel: +66 (76) 324 374) first began, and remains its training centre. This incredible flagship resort spa at Bang Tao Bay is a hedonistic retreat from the outside world. Its hand-picked therapists undergo 300 hours of training at Banyan Tree’s spa academy – and it shows. If you like a strong, deep tissue massage, the 90-minute Balinese is for you; for a softer approach try the Lomi Lomi, a 60-minute Hawaiian-style massage using long, powerful strokes (both US$95; AU$110). Massages are conducted in your own private pavilion sprinkled with orchids, against a backdrop of flowing water.

Angsana, the younger sister of the Banyan Tree, operates at four properties within the Laguna Phuket Resort complex on Bang Tao Bay – the Sheraton Grande Laguna, Allamanda Laguna, Dusit Laguna and Laguna Beach Resort.

Angsana’s citrus footsoak

The signature two-hour Angsana Massage (US$90; AU$104) starts with a footbath and cooling herbal tea, then therapists work on key pressure points using palm strokes and thumb pressure to release stress and strengthen your inner qi. You’ll love the specially formulated Euphoria Oil, made of ylang-ylang, litsea cubeba and sweet basil extracts. We also recommend the 60-minute Foot Loose massage (US$35; AU$40), featuring a wonderful foot soak and cleansing salt scrub followed by a foot and leg massage with Vitality Oil – it’s pure bliss.

You won’t regret offering up your weary body to the therapists at Aspara either (52 Thaweewong Rd, Patong Beach, tel: +66
(76) 340 608/9). An oasis of calm within the spacious grounds of the Holiday Inn on Patong Beach, this Singapore-based spa pioneer has revamped its Zen-like space, post-tsunami, to include hot and cold plunge pools and an outdoor Thai sala. Several Asian-inspired treatments star in the spa menu, including the 30-minute Javanese Lulur body scrub (1,000 THB; AU$38) – a traditional Indonesian therapy that uses a mix of infused spices, herbs and sweet woods, that will definitely get your holiday skin glowing! The 75-minute Aroma Meridian Massage (2,000 THB; AU$77), meanwhile, combines the best of East and West traditions. First the therapist uses a heated flower and herb compress to knead away aches and pains, then essential oils are applied during a soothing massage. Lower yourself into the plunge pool afterwards to complete the relaxation.

Double happiness at
Le SpaFor a French touch, visit Le Spa at Le Méridien Phuket Beach Resort (29 Soi Karon Nui, Tambon Karon, Amphur Muang, tel: +66 (76) 370 100). This elegant spa features single and double treatment suites and a Japanese sento (bath). We loved the highly effective 50-minute Swedish Aromatic Massage (1,790 THB; AU$69) and the Siamese Herbal Scrub (2,260 THB; AU$87), which blended turmeric, plai, lemongrass and lime leaves to leave us feeling totally revitalised.

Bangkok

Kick-start your visit to Bangkok with an Asian Blend massage (from US$80; AU$90) at Banyan Tree (21st Flr, Thai Wah Tower II, Sathorn Rd, tel: +66 (2) 679 1052/4). On arrival at the new-look spa you’ll be served vanilla tea in a tranquil, modern setting decorated with lotus flowers, before being taken to a treatment room with a star-studded ceiling. Change into a traditional two-piece outfit for your Thai-style massage, which uses no oil and involves lots of stretching and compression, and then relax by the rooftop pool, looking out at the city’s skyscrapers, sipping on an ice-cold lemongrass tea and nibbling fresh tropical fruit.

The spa suite at Anne
Semonin SpaThe compact Anne Semonin Spa in Hotel Sofitel Silom (4th Flr, 188 Silom Rd, Bangrak, tel: +66 (2) 238 1991) is another sanctuary from Bangkok’s frenetic streets. Developed by Parisian skincare guru Anne Sémonin, it melds contemporary Thai style with French chic and is the perfect last stop on a day of retail therapy. Highlights include the famous 25-minute Intense Vitality Jet Lag Treatment (1,800 THB; AU$69), which uses self-heating mud to draw out the body’s toxins, reduce fatigue and leave you feeling refreshed. Other specialties include the Asian Blend, an indulgent two-therapist 60-minute massage which features no less than five different massage styles – Japanese shiatsu, Hawaiian lomi lomi, Swedish, Balinese and Thai (4,400 THB; AU$170).

For all your travel choices, go to www.jetstar.com

Spa Etiquette

To optimise your spa experience, follow these simple tips:

• Arrive early. You’ll be required to fill in some basic information about yourself, your age, health concerns and so on, so arrive 15 minutes before your appointment.
• Shower before your treatment. Some spas have a steam room or rain shower for you to use – it’s a great way to start unwinding.
• Leave your jewels behind. You’ll be asked to remove jewellery, so make things easy and don’t wear any – leave it in the hotel safe.
• Turn off your mobile phone and have the kids looked after elsewhere – both are noisy distractions in the tranquillity of a spa. Children under 16 are generally not allowed in Thai spas.
• Get comfy. Usually a robe, slippers and disposable underwear are provided, but make sure you bring loose clothing to slip into afterwards, to avoid massage oil stains.
• Communicate. Tell your therapist if you are pregnant or have an injury, high blood pressure, heart condition or any allergies or medical complications. Also specify how hard or soft you like the pressure, and any no-go areas – your scalp, face, feet, breasts, etc.
• Shave. It’s recommended that men shave a few hours before having facial treatments.