All Thaid Up

Four luxe treatments in a ve-star locale.

By Deena Campbell
This page, top: the spa entrance at the Six Senses Earth Spa at Hua Hin. Bottom: sound bowls used to reduce stress on a warm treatment table at the Rarin Jinda Wellness Spa. Next page, clockwise from top: the pool villa at the Six Senses Hua Hin; the cabana room at the Siam Kempinski; ingredients used in the compress massage at The Barai.

As an editor for a luxury magazine and the quintessential spa girl, Ive had my fair share of facials and beauty treatmentsits a perk of the job and, honestly, something I live for. So when I got the opportunity to enjoy scores of facials and massages in Thailand, I was all-the-way in. My mission? To nd the preeminent spa treatment. Was it nestled inside a swanky resort situated on acres of tropical gardens? Does it use ancient rituals to clarify the mind and rejuvenate the spirit in a hut built from clay? To nd out, I jumped on the always-luxe Emirates airlines, trekked halfway around the globe, and discovered that Thailand is indeed the grand dame of spas, not just the land of Buddhists, elephants, and adventurous pleasure seekers.

RARINJINDA WELLNESS SPA RESORT BANGKOK Good service rules. And the superior service I received at RarinJinda was the kind you discuss with your friendsfor months. RarinJinda boasts the latest spa technology, while artfully maintaining the essence of Thai massage and healing traditions. Here, I opted for the Elements of Life treatment. For an hour and a half, I laid on a warm sand bed while receiving an East-meets-West body massage that applied pressure to specic points on my body. There were even moments when the therapist sat on my back to relieve built-up tension. Halfway through the session, the therapist introduced me to Tibetan Sound Therapy and placed metal bowls on my stomach and legs to stimulate my inner body with low-frequency sound and vibrations. As she gently tapped each of the four bowls, my legs and arms quivered. To end, she refreshed me with a cold rose rubdown and a guava foot polisher. Divine. rarinjinda.com

SIX SENSES EARTH SPA AT HUA HIN As a lover of juicy fruits, selecting the tropical facial at Six Senses was a no-brainer. Here, treatments follow one rule: Nothing is put on the skin that cant be eaten. This time I decided on a facial made with cucumber, lemongrass, and warm honey; other treatments included coconut and carrot body scrubs. There

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LAY YOUR HEAD HERE SIAM KEMPINSKI This haven not only has a Michelin chef at its award-winning restaurant, Sra Bua by Kiin Kiin, but also provides impeccable service, the crispest white linens and tasteful furnishings in every crevice. Book a cabana room on the ground oor and literally open your door to the main swimming pool. kempinski.com SIX SENSES EVASON HUA HIN Three hours south of Bangkokand home of the tropical facial the Six Senses Evason Hua Hin aunts the good life with views of the Gulf of Siam and oodles of international and locally inspired cuisine. The quiet area embraces 185
luxurious rooms and 40 private pool villas with an inviting outdoor bath and shower. Feeling active? Hit the eight tennis courts, or learn to cook your favorite Thai dish with their esteemed chefs. sixsenses.com

SHANGRI-LA HOTEL In a high-rise set in the heart of Bangkoks Silom district, the Shangri-La has over 800 rooms of luxury (72 of them suites). With views of the Chao Phraya River, traditional teak dining pavilions, and an outdoor pool set in a lush garden, the service and Thai ambiance here raises the bar with sophistication and elegance. shangri-la.com

was also a cucumber sunburn soother wrap. A tough decision, right? While in the waiting area, I heard chopping and blenders roaringthey were making my facial from fruit grown and freshly picked from trees on the property. After an initial 10-minute herbal steam, I was shortly on a treatment table having warm, lemongrass-infused honey softly drizzled on my cheeks and brow. I licked my face in delighted satisfaction. Heaven. sixsenses.com THE BARAI Simply put, no other spa has the cachet of The Barai. Upon arrival, I walked through the long, dimly lit corridor known as the Tranquil Hallway, which is designed to free the mind of any stresses that might impede upon the full spa experience. It leads to the epicenter of the space, otherwise known as the baray, a large area open to the sky. A major component of The Barai is oering treatments based on the four elements: water, earth, air, and reall to replenish the spirit and cleanse the mind. After answering a few questions about my lifestyle, tness, and mood, I discovered I was an earth person and the goal of my treatment was to restore balance in my life. Fair enough. I then received a compress massage made of The Barais

signature tranquil aromatic oil lled with fresh herbs, spices, and owers. Using long palm strokes, the therapist moved along my meridian lines and stretched each of my limbs to increase blood circulation and relieve muscular stress, aches, and pains. Amazing. thebarai.com I.SAWAN RESIDENTIAL SPA & CLUB Located on the fth oor of the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok, lies the i.sawan Residential Spa & Clubapproximately 75,350 square feet of village-like space perched above the bustling sounds of Bangkok. It is truly a paradise within the city, equipped with six residential spa cottages, a hair salon, nail bar, free-form swimming pool and my favorite: nine spa treatment bungalows. After meeting with my therapist and selecting the relaxing body scrub designed to speed up the process of detoxication, I walked into the suite-like quarters complete with a bathroom, shower, and iPod dock for my selected tranquil sounds. For the next hour I received a stimulating scrub lled with crushed black sesame seeds in sweet almond oil to exfoliate and remove dry surface cells. I was then rubbed down with soothing lotion that left me feeling soft and supple. Mission accomplished. isawan.hyatt.com
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