With a millennium-old medical system rooted in massage and herbal treatments, it's not suprising that Bangkok has emerged as the spa capital of Asia, if not the world. And it certainly lives up to its name. From small salons with a few foot-massage chairs and an open-air herbal sauna to the most opulent resorts for the jet-set, Bangkok has something to offer everyone in search of health, beauty and serenity.
Skim through any tourist guide when you arrive in Bangkok and you'll see ads for the Ananda Club, Devarana Spa, Samsara Spa, the Oriental Spa and so on. The list seems almost endless. And they all feature glossy pictures of ecstatic spa-seekers lounging in pools strewn with petals or being massaged by four hands, or lying in seeming bliss with hot stones perched on their backs.
It all seems too good to be true. Perhaps anywhere else it would be but here in Bangkok, spas and salons are waiting to offer you everything from one-hour facial treatments to three-day packages that treat and delight every part of your body. Other special treatments and packages range from a one hour jet-lag killer to anti-aging, stress-relief, re-energizing and life-passage-support packages. Many spas are set in beautiful tropical gardens with pools and waterfalls.
The list of treatments seems endless too - body treatments, massage treatments, facial treatments, pedicure and manicure. And some of the hippest, most upmarket spas feature everything from colonic irrigation to flotation cocoons. Sessions can be as long and as elaborate as your time and wallet allow. Many spas offer specialities, focussing on ayurvedic treatments or organic sesame body scrubs for example.
Other than the tradition of Thai medicine with its focus on herbs and massage being perfectly suited for a spa culture, there are other reasons why Bangkok is 'spa heaven'. For one thing, Thailand is blessed with an abundance of medicinal herbs including fruits such as papaya which can be used for beauty and detox treatments. Add to this a long traditional of service and caring and you've got the recipe for a vacation of sublime relaxation and beautification.
If you feel like a makeover or just a quick rubdown Bangkok is the place for you. Prices are very competitive, the choice staggering and the service incomparable.