3 Weeks, 5 Southeast Asian Cities, 12 Hours of Spa Therapies for $187 USD**

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By Michele Rhudy

My husband and I like to gamify our travels. Equal components easy and excessive upkeep, we benefit from the pursuit of probably the most genuine experiences at one of the best general worth. So, after we had been heading to Southeast Asia for 3 weeks with our three younger grownup daughters, we determined to take pleasure in as many clear, native, extremely rated spa remedies as attainable for a finances of $200 USD every. 

Our journey was in July (and due to this fact HOT), and we had been adventuring arduous every single day. We selected our spa standards:

• Mid-range services with native clientele, off the primary vacationer streets if attainable
• Not the best luxurious, but additionally not low-cost
• Really useful by our lodge employees or folks we met in our travels
• Extremely rated on-line for cleanliness, high quality and worth
• A constructive intestine feeling after we confirmed up, signaled by a code phrase on the entrance door (“Wow! This place seems to be attention-grabbing!”) 

The end result was 12 unbelievable hours of therapeutic massage, facials, nail salons, foot baths, heat lavender towels, and sizzling tea for a whopping $187 USD, together with 20-30% gratuity for each supplier we encountered.

Hanoi, Vietnam

• The Orient Spa Hanoi provided an unbelievable combo bundle with a foot tub, 75- minute therapeutic massage and a 45-minute facial for $32 USD. This spot has a great deal of high critiques on-line, so reserving prematurely is a should. Positioned proper within the Outdated Quarter, the spa was very clear and our therapists had been high notch.
• Mido Spa was our subsequent cease the place my three daughters, and I loved spa pedicures and gel manicures for $25 USD every. Oh, they usually introduced within the cutest teacup pet for us to carry throughout our go to. With 4 areas in Hanoi it’s straightforward to seek out one, and we had pleasant conversations with our nail technicians who had been as inquisitive about America as we had been about Hanoi.
• Hair Wash & Blow Dry. My daughter and I spontaneously popped into a really clear hair wash and blow-dry salon in Hanoi’s Outdated Quarter. This was hysterical! The 20-minute shampoo expertise was divine, laid on a desk which eradicated the standard neck ache of salon hair washing. However as a result of my daughter and I each have thick, coarse, Western-style hair, which our stylist was not accustomed to, we left trying like an 80s metallic band. Irrespective of, it was nicely well worth the $7 USD for the top therapeutic massage, the images, and the laughs. 

Ho Chi Minh Metropolis, Vietnam

• Birthree Champaga was the spa immediately subsequent door to our lodge in HCMC, providing the distinctive Japanese-style Thai therapeutic massage. Utterly intrigued, my husband and I booked a 60-minute {couples} therapeutic massage for $28 USD. The therapeutic massage itself appeared fully Thai to us, but it surely additionally included a foot therapeutic massage and scrub for the Japanese affect.

Siem Reap, Cambodia

• Calm down Spa Siem Reap was an unintended go to. We had been touring the traditional Angkor Temples for a second day, after we checked out one another and determined we had been merely templed out. And so we requested our fabulous native information the place he goes for a therapeutic massage, and he immediately beneficial Calm down Spa. Our household every loved a 90-minute Cambodian Khmer natural compress therapeutic massage, totally different in model from the Thai, which was on low cost for $25 USD per particular person. Such a deal with!

Bangkok, Thailand

• Baan Thai Therapeutic massage was the advice of our native information who visits twice weekly for again ache. Essentially the most historically genuine of all of the spas we visited, my husband and I become free clothes for Thai therapeutic massage, then had been directed to mats in a big room divided by curtains together with 8-10 different clients. Whereas the environment was considerably noisy, the therapeutic massage was glorious and solely $10 USD for 60 minutes.
• Baan Thai Therapeutic massage earned a second go to the next day, simply steps from our lodge and subsequent to a 7-11 retailer. This time we opted for a 30-minute Thai foot therapeutic massage for $5 USD whereas lounging in an outsized leather-based chair. It was so good I fell asleep.

Chiang Mai, Thailand

• Kunlarat Therapeutic massage was a brief stroll from our lodge, the place we loved 60-minute foot and hand massages for $8 USD. The setting was clear and easy, and our therapists had been very expert. With a lot strolling in Thailand, our ft wanted the royal remedy.
• De Nails Spa was our remaining go to for gel manicures earlier than returning dwelling. For $7 USD, my daughters and I returned to the U.S. with completely polished nails that lasted for weeks upon return.

There are bargains and surprises round each nook in Asia. Simply observe the locals and, when unsure, ask. For instance, my husband was slightly extra adventurous than I used to be in Ho Chi Minh, buying a small glass of sizzling tea from an previous man whom he noticed promoting solely to avenue retailers. The associated fee? 9 USD cents. By the best way, most spas will supply bottled water or tea without spending a dime. Simply ask. 

Spas in Southeast Asia are as fantastic as you’ve heard. Set a finances, prioritize the time and go discover these magical sanctuaries the place locals follow self-care and vacationers by no means need to depart.

 **together with giant ideas