Wanderlust: Expat Life & Style in Thailand Oct / Nov 2017: The Travel Issue | Page 70

Lifestyle
RELAXING
INTERLUDES
FOR WEARY WANDERERS
Travel has this way of seeming more romantic and relaxing than
it sometimes really is. If you’ve just spent hours crammed on an
Airbus with a toddler kicking your seat, you might land back in
Bangkok in need of some serious post-landing recovery. Here are
our recommendations on where and how to beat the travel blues.
by Mandy Smith
LET’S RELAX ONSEN
You may have heard of the architectur-
ally marvelous Hungarian public baths
and notorious, steamy Russian Banyas.
The concept of nude public bathing
might raise some eyebrows, but this
activity dates back to Ancient Greece
and the Roman Empire and is especial-
ly popular in Japan today, where it is
praised for many health benefits.
In the heart of Bangkok, the new-
ly-opened Grand Centerpoint Hotel
has unveiled authentic Japanese-
inspired onsen public baths — per-
haps one of the most exhilarating spa
experiences you’ll ever encounter. Set
aside your inhibitions (and your towel)
and repeat after me: “When in Rome…”
Upon arrival, you’ll be given your
onsen welcome bag containing comfy
70 WANDERLUST
kimono-style clothes for the common
public areas, which include hot stone
beds (imagine lying on the warmth of
your driveway as a child in the heat of
summer); a cool down room compris-
ing cushioned benches in a cosy nook,
and the relaxation room boasting
lounge mats and pillows where you can
nap and rest between bathing sessions.
The welcome bag also contains a
large towel for showering, and a small
towel — the only thing you’re permit-
ted to take with you into the baths.
Men and women have separate bath-
ing wings, and your privacy is protected
with strict enforcement of no cameras
or devices (or anything at all, actually)
allowed with you past the locker room.
Step into your birthday suit and
make your way into a hall of pristine
baths surrounded by waterfalls, bam-
boo, plants and rocks. Five pools of
varying temperatures await you, each
offering specific benefits to your
mental and physical health:
© © The White Ion Silk Bath is infused
with powerful antioxidant proper-
ties to hydrate your skin
© © The Cold Bath is great for increas-
ing your basal metabolism and cir-
culation, which is recommended
between hot baths
© © The Gero Hot Springs contain sul-
fur to alleviate muscle pain as well
as physical and mental tension
© © The Soda Bath’s waters have car-
bon dioxide purported to improve
circulation, reduce fatigue, and
leave skin soft and glowing
© © The Whirlpool Jacuzzi Bath offers hy-
drotherapy by way of pulsating jets
Best of all, your traditional onsen ex-
perience comes with no time limit,
making this a fantastic mini-retreat
for travel weary wanderers.
A session at Lets Relax Onsen costs
650 baht per person. Or, you can
buy 10 vouchers and get one free.
Six-month and one-year member-
ships are also available for the true
enthusiast at 25,000 to 40,000 baht,
respectively.
Address: Centre
Point Sukhumvit 55,
300 Sukhumvit Soi 55
Telephone: [phone]
Website:
www.letsrelaxspa.com
WWW.WANDERLUSTMAG.COM