Booking Treatments at a Resort Spa: Timing, Order and Small Print
When to book, when to arrive, which treatment comes first and what the cancellation policy really means at a resort spa.
7.88° N · 98.39° E · Thailand
Thailand
Families and food lovers who want warm sea, short transfers and gracious, easygoing service.
Local time
Thailand’s Andaman coast runs south from Khao Lak past Phuket to Krabi and Koh Lanta, a coast of long beaches, rainforest hills and the limestone towers of Phang Nga Bay rising sheer from green water. The cooking is reason enough to come, from night market stalls to resort kitchens, and the service is famously gracious. It works for a week as easily as for three.
Families find short transfers, warm, calm water in the dry season and resorts with kids clubs and family suites. Wellness has deep roots too, from Thai massage to retreats in the hills of Phuket and on the quieter islands of the bay. Islands such as Koh Yao Noi and Koh Lanta move at a slower pace than Phuket’s busier western beaches.
When to go
The year in Thailand
December to March is the high season on the Andaman coast: dry and sunny, with a calm, clear sea. April is hotter and still good, and November is a good transition month as the rains fade. From May to October the southwest monsoon brings heavy rain in bursts, high humidity and rough seas on west-facing beaches, and some marine parks close. Rates drop, and the coast is quieter and green.
Typical long term values, indicative. Weather in any single year can differ.
Where to stay
Resort styles here
Phuket has the widest choice: lively beaches in the west, quieter resorts in the northwest near Mai Khao and Nai Yang, and hillside villas around Kamala and Surin. Across the bay, Krabi’s resorts sit against limestone cliffs around Ao Nang, Railay and Tubkaek. Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai, in the middle of Phang Nga Bay, have villas facing the karsts, while Khao Lak to the north has long, peaceful beaches and is the gateway to the Similan Islands.
Getting there
Phuket has some seasonal nonstop flights from Europe in winter; otherwise you connect through Bangkok, the Gulf or another Asian hub, around 12 hours at best. The last leg is a drive of 30 minutes to an hour and a half, or a speedboat to the islands of Phang Nga Bay.
Guides that mention Thailand
Read before you go
Sunrise or Sunset Side: How Orientation Shapes a Resort Stay
East or west facing changes the light, the heat on your terrace and the water in front of it. How to choose a side and ask for it.
Wellness Resorts: How to Tell a Real Programme from a Spa Menu
A spa menu sells treatments one at a time, a real programme shapes your whole day: how to judge the consultation, schedule, food and length of stay.
