Thai spa holiday
 

Hi all,

I'm ready to unwind after a long and hard working year. I want to escape to one of the Thai Islands to a spa for 10 days where I can get gym, yoga, massage, therapies, good food and lots of rest.

I've googled Thai spas but find either ridiculously expensive luxury spas or local spas that I have no way of judging the standard.

Has anyone visited a good value spa in Thailand. If you have would really appreciate some advice. I'm planning to go over the christmas period.

Cheers

Julia

Note Christmas is probably the most expensive time of the year. Also many hotels (esp luxury ones) require minimum 7day stay and require you to reserve special christmas dinner.

Gyms and spas are somewhat antithetical in Thailand. A few Western hotels in Bangkok have good gyms and good spas (the JW Marriott and Conrad come to mind) but on the islands you'll be hard pressed to find a place with more than a couple of exercise machines.

As the previous poster says, over Christmas many hotels charge their maximum rates AND require you to pay for a compulsory Christmas dinner.

That's why I stay home in Bangkok during the holidays.

If you can travel at some time other than the Christmas holidays, you will find much better prices. Most spa places you won't find gyms.

I don't know what you would consider "good value." The best spa I know of in Thailand is the Chiva Som at Hua Hin. Staying there is very expensive, but you can stay elsewhere and go there for treatments. We also did a spa package at the Anantara at Hua Hin that was really wonderful.

If you are merely looking for relaxation and do not need the spa experience as such, a trip to Thailand can accomplish this without staying at a specific spa. There are many day spas available as well as arranging for massages from the hotel. A little sight-seeing, a little pool, a massage and a nice dinner makes for a very relaxing day. Repeat.

Christmas is the highest of high seasons. If you can move the visit a few weeks either way, you will save money and have a much wider choice.

Thailand has lots of places for wonderful spa treatments and massages, and lovely beaches, but I don't think you will find much in the way of gyms and yoga -- although Thai masssage is very relaxing and sort of like having yoga "done to you" though not exactly. Also, as everyone else has said, Christmas time is most expensive.

Actually, yoga is very popular in Thailand, and growing. All the big gym chains have classes and many even have special rooms for them.

You have the top end Spa resorts that can be very expensive, you then have, as others have said, places with perhaps a nominal spa, though there are now plenty that have spa and more Yoga and such.
If you are going over Christmas as others have advised prices are higher than normal, a place that might interest you is B1 Villa on Koh Samui, I have not been but my wife knows it and it is a small place but is very pleasant, beach in front not so good but you can walk a few minutes, they are orientated to what I think you are looking for, might be worth a look.

I think you do need to give us an idrea of price, $300 can be expensive for some whilst $600 can be though as cheap by others, you also have local spas that are quite good, on Phuket Hideaway have been around for years and years and have 3 locations now, Patong, Laguna and Chalong, much cheaper than high end spas, no accommodation, so you visit from your hotel or resort, some idea of what you are prepared to spend helps a great deal.

The new Barai Spa Suites at the Hyatt in Hua Hin might also interest, but Christmas probably looking at the $600++ range. Or the normal or club rooms and then use the Spa as required.

Many of the top end Phuket places also have very good spa facilities.

Wow - really good advice. Thanks for replying. Unfortunately I can only go over the christmas period due to work commitment.

On budget, I'm looking for an all in package for 700 euros (not including flight). But the prices I see on the internet for reputable places are around 1500 euros and this is just too much.

Let me know what you think. I'll look into the suggestions so far - thanks very much.

Another thought, how about a place with a nice spa in northern Thailand? I remember Hanuamn posted about a place in Pai that looked good. Beach areas will be the most expensive at Christmas time.