For those who are unfamiliar with Thai massage, getting one is akin to doing yoga without exerting yourself; nimble Thai women essentially move your body around into various poses, placing their weight - and yours - onto various pressure points. The whole experience is somewhat like acupuncture, without the needles, the thought being that the pressure points are aligned amongst various channels of energy in your body. And before any massage, your practitioner will ask you if you have any ailments that need addressing to correct the meridian lines that may be disrupted. 

But enough of the technical stuff - regardless of the medicinal properties of the massage, after each and every "treatment" you'll feel renewed, invigorated, and ready to either head off to a day of ambitious sightseeing or a solid night's sleep. Honestly, the massages were so cheap (think $13 for 120 minutes) that we thought about getting one in the morning and one at night.

Bangkok is a huge city with endless options for massages, so narrowing down where to get a massage can be a challenge.  Please also note that the sexytime kind of massage is also on offer in many parlors in the city as well, so avoid any signs that say "nuad"(literally, massage) as opposed to  nuad paen boran ("massage for health" or "traditional massage"). Better yet, ask your hotel concierge for a recommendation, or check out our favorites below.

And if anyone knows of a cheap place to get a Thai massage in New York, please let us know!

Finally, please remember to tip your therapist, and well - they often rely on customers' generosity for the generality of their compensation.

 

xo,

your jauntsetter team

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Best Overall Value: Health Land, Sathorn Location

Our go-to spot in Bangkok, Health Land Sathron is housed in an old mansion and filled to the brim with locals looking for a massage from morning till late at night (our last visit was on a Saturday at 10pm, and the place was packed with groups of 20-somethings who seemed to have opted to hit up the spa rather than the the bar). 

Warning - even though the website is lovely, the spa can feel more chaotic than deluxe during the busier evening hours, due to the popularity of the place. That said, the value of this spa cannot be beat at any hour - for $13, you get two hours (two hours!) of traditional Thai massage. To indulge, simply have someone from the hotel call ahead and book you a reservation at the location closest to your hotel. Contact and address information here.

Looking for something more upmarket than Health Land that won't break the bank? Check out Devarana Spa, which offers everything from reflexology to more traditionally Western treatments like facials, body scrubs and Swedish massages at Thai-friendly prices. It also offers an herbal compress and Thai massage, a 2 hour long treatment that stimulates circulation, soothes tired muscles, and tones the skin - perfect for a post-flight, jet lagged body. The cost? 2,800 baht, or $84 USD - pretty affordable for a spa that was voted "Readers Choice" in 2007 by BK, Bangkok's premier city magazine. Located in the Dunit Thasi hotel. Get more info on location, hours and reservations here.

Best Splurge Spa: Mandarin Oriental Spa (pictured)

While we've never indulged in a traditional Thai massage at the Mandarin, formerly featured jauntsetter Wanwisa has - and she highly recommends it. If you're looking for a luxurious spa experience, it sounds like a fantastic deal: For a two hour treatment, pay 4,500 baht, or approximately $145 USD. Want just an hour? Pay $81. By the way, when you get a massage at the Mandarin, you get so much more than just a massage. Each experience at the spa takes place in a private suite, which has its own shower and steam room - and some even have individual saunas and whirlpools. Get more details here.