Try a Spa / Massage / Sauna / Treatment

     You'll have to book ahead for spa treatment, and please make sure you're punctual !
      It seems the world has gone spa crazy. Quite simply it's the In Thing at he moment and, seeing how healthy this relaxation pastime is for you, why not? All the potential customer has to do is flick through the spa menu, choose an appropriate treatment and essential oil then lie back and enjoy being pampered for hours.

      Luckily enough, Phuket has an abundance of these establishments. There's not enough room to list them all on this page but here's a brief overview of the island's spa and sauna facililies.

      First off, there are the lowly beach masseuses. Many of these ladies have not been trained professionally but have learned from relatives at home. At B200 an hour you'd be surprised at how well they do their job. Many braid hair, too. Available from October to May.

      Roadside spas offer good herbal sauna facilities at only ฿50 an hour or less. Their masseuses can sometimes be a little inexperienced and rough, though. These spas add surcharges for sarong and towel hire. but the whole affair is generally very cheap.   Most large hotels have in-house spas. Levels of competency vary, but hotel masseuses are by and large well trained and educated in this art. Some amazingly so. Beauty facilities such as hair dressing, mud packs and manicuring are also available at prices slightly lower than in the West. Hotels seem to specialize in presenting a complete package of long (sometimes up to four-hour) treatments in a stunning environment. The Dusit Laguna, the Banyan Tree, the Jasmina Spa at the Amari Coral Beach, and the Mandara Spa at JW Marriott are some examples of spas in glorious settings. Expect to pay top-end for these treatment centres, but also expect total satisfaction.

      Day spas often provide free transportation to their premises. Treatments are similar in quality and competency to hotel spas except they sometimes deal in group tours, which can be a little unsettling if you're after a personal experience. The Hideaway Spa in Patong, the Cannaceae Spa off Chao Fa Rd near Phuket and the Hideaway Day Spa by the entrance to the Laguna are good spots to check out.

      You'll have to book ahead for spa treatment, and please make sure you're punctual ! It's common spa policy to slice off treatment time if the customer arrives late. After all, you're buying the spa's time - they're not giving it away for free.