Bali has made a comeback as a tourist attraction with lots of quiet areas great for singles and families or ladies going for a spa week, which is what brings me to this post.
I've had quite a few friends who go to Bali regularly for this type of vacation, they come back looking and feeling relaxed and radiant.
Ive had spa treatments here in Australia, and in Thailand. The Asian type spas dominated over the ones i've had here. The 5 things I would personally want in a spa, besides cleanliness obviously will follow.
1:- I would want to stay in a hotel with a reputation for having a fabulous spa, as traveling distances in traffic in Bali where you feel hot and your tension rises...so the first thing I would love in a spa retreat is to have it in a secluded resort in the hills of Bali.
Can you imagine, leisurely breakfast by the resort pool, followed by a short stroll to your private spa in your resort complex. The bonus, you can charge the cost of this back to your room, saving the need for carrying around cash to pay for the cost of treatments plus the tip of course.
2:- Organic products that are sourced locally, and fair trade where possible.
OF COURSE...I wouldn't possibly ever knock European or USA products, they are wonderful and do their job well, but when I am in Bali, what I would be looking for are organic, locally sourced skincare and body treatments from Bali high in natural oils where profits also go back to the farmer.
3:- Spa therapist who are trained and English as a second language, so you can tell them if the massage is suiting you and they understand and change the amount of firmness etc.
I've had some nightmare massages here in Sydney, left with bruising, dizziness, and really sore body from untrained people...I've learnt from experience that CHEAP, doesn't mean GOOD, and someone who's untrained can really do some damage.
The scary things is now, there are so many "medi-spa" places and you hear horror stories of permanent damage from some treatments administered by untrained people.
Qualified therapists are high on the priority, so you know you will have a fantastic treatment with someone who knows a lot about what they're doing.
4:- Before I forget to mention it...being on a secluded resort on a hill means...views to die for. I can just imagine it now...sunset treatment, overlooking a terrace of rice paddies and jungle views with NATURALLY an infinity view pool with fairy lights, floating flowers and a warm breeze...am I asking for too much? Following the massage, the open sky shower to rinse off the exfoliating products, hopping in the rose petal deep bath to relax (as if, you wouldn't feel like you're already in heaven) then the 2 hour, 2 person massage..maybe one when you're floating in that infinity view pool.
5:- I spoke earlier about cheap massages and not getting a great result in Sydney (actually a painful result) but I feel this isn't the case in Bali. Balinese spas are based on good reputations and word of mouth, and of course reviews like you would read on a blog page such as mine.
People like a spa treatment in Bali as you won't pay as much as you will in Sydney, for one thing, costs are lower for staff, and that means, you can have a fantastic treatment, for a lot less. Even with tips, you would pay less.
Hotel's in Bali are expected to also have a spa of equal quality, people do expect a lot, for a lot less, and Bali's spa have to deliver.
