With the very many excellent spa options in Thailand, being so spoilt for choice is most definitely one of the more extravagant first world problems...
How does one sort through the mass of luxury spa experiences in Thailand, to discern the right choice for a complete five-star treatment? Myriad factors come into play for the experienced luxury wellness seeker.
Foremost, service must be discreet and preemptive. The location should be easily accessible and desirable, with ample parking and/or a valet. The décor ought to be refined and calming, whilst the overall ambience feels entirely immersive and indulgent. The scent adds to the sense of arrival and needs to be utterly evocative. The treatment menu has to be comprehensive, and refreshments truly tempting. In short, every touchpoint must be impeccable. Attention to detail is everything.
Walking into RarinJinda Wellness Spa, the realisation immediately washes over your soul that you have uncovered a gem, in the heart of Bangkok: a gem by name and by nature. For the curious, ‘Rarin’ refers to the element of water – a strong feature in the spa’s design – and ‘Jinda’ denotes a jewel. Tucked away over two floors, inside the Grande Centre Point Rachadamri, this spa ticks all of the boxes, as a peaceful and opulent oasis, seemingly remote and removed from the hustle and bustle of the city.
You check in at the eighth floor spa reception, directly adjoined to the carpark, and check out from the rest of the world. Here, you are pampered royally, from the moment you arrive and your consultation begins. As if from nowhere, your welcome drink and cold towel present themselves, and you are assisted with treatment selection, depending on your needs. You can choose from signature experiences and procedures, or customise your own massage, and have any combination of indulgences, tailored to your spa desires.
Not only does RarinJinda offer a wide range of massages, scrubs, wraps and facials, but also hydrotherapy, chromotherapy and sound therapy, plus Ultratone slimming programmes, heat treatments and decadent soaks. On the menu, you find many ancient Eastern healing influences, such as traditional Thai, Ayurveda and the Himalayas, combined with contemporary Western techniques and technology. The best of both worlds compliment each other, with the caring touch of expertly trained hands.
All treatments, whether for men, women or both, begin with a lavish herbal foot soak and guava scrub, which has an almost sedative effect on the brain. Donning comfy slippers, you are then escorted to a suite or treatment room, allocated for and suited to your particular choice. Each room bears the name of jewel, such as emerald, ruby, topaz or amethyst. RarinJinda has no shortage of space: there are three double Thai massage rooms, six spa suites, three hydrotherapy rooms, two Elements of Life rooms, one foot massage room, one Ultratone room, and even facilities for post-natal wellness care. On balance, it is evident that no expense has been spared.
The Elements of Life rooms were specifically designed for their eponymous signature packages (THB 2,800++ each for 90 minutes), available with either a Royal Thai Touch or the Himalayan Touch. The hypnotic effects of sound and chromotherapy are integrated into these rooms, which each have a custom-designed, warm sand bed. According to the ‘touch’ you prefer, your sensory journey concludes with 15-20 minutes of either a Thai herbal compress or a Himalayan salt pot compress.
For both a relaxing and reviving experience, the Hot & Cold Stone Massage (THB 3,500++) is a two-hour must. Heated black volcanic stones have a penetrating effect on sore and tired muscles, and simultaneously open the pores for better massage oil absorption. You select your favoured essential oil from a tray of six aromatic blends. Towards the end of the treatments, the black stones are switched out for chilled white marble stones, which are guided over the skin, promoting good circulation, while soothing and invigorating the body.
The only potential complaint is about how quickly time seems to elapse, while you are entranced by your spa therapist’s methodical and professional banishing of all worries and cares. You wish the clock would just freeze for a while longer. However, once the treatment is over, you are encouraged to take whatever time you need to recompose yourself. You are not ushered immediately to a cashier, but invited to the sixth floor relaxation lounge. There, you are served a choice of hot and cold beverages, and an afternoon tea style tower of exotic fruit and temptingly ripe mango with sticky rice and coconut sauce. The real world can wait a little, as serenity continues.
RarinJinda Wellness Spa at Rachadamri, Bangkok, is open later than most other luxury spas, in the City of Angels. Guests can arrange treatments daily from 10:00am until midnight. Reservations can be made by calling +66-2-091-9088, or by emailing sparsvn@rarinjinda.com. Further details on treatments and packages available are to be found at www.rarinjinda.com.
RarinJinda also has two other luxury destination spas. One is close by in the Grande Centre Point Ploenchit, Bangkok, while the other is up north, in Chiang Mai, on Chareonrat Road, complete with a lavish, full-sized, eight-station hydrotherapy pool, which sounds an irresistible temptation unto itself.
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