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Spas have come a long way in Thailand since the mid-90s, both in terms of the
number of spas in the country and also the services and facilities that are offered.
Nowadays, any hotel with aspirations to be considered in the luxury category has to
have a good spa at least, although a top-quality facility is becoming more and more
commonplace. Then there are the hotels and resorts that are offering ultra-luxurious
experiences and this is the level where the Grand Hyatt Erawan’s i.sawan Residential
Spa and Club resides.

The i.sawan embodies all of the latest features in the world of cutting edge spas with
the most prevalent trend – pampering – taking pride of place here. Although, it must
be said that there is pampering and then there is PAMPERING. The i.sawan falls into
the latter category, taking this concept to what may be the penultimate level in the
country. Actually, if there is a place in Thailand that can outdo the i.sawan we’d like
to see it (and experience it).

Situated on the fifth floor of the hotel, the facility takes up over 7,000 square meters
of inside and outside space and includes a fitness club, spa treatment rooms, an
outdoor lounge area, a swimming pool, a beauty salon, a nail bar, an outdoor Jacuzzi
and six guest cottages adjacent to the pool, the residential aspect of the club. Designed
by world-famous American designer, Tony Chi, the atmosphere is designed to start
removing the stress from your body the minute you enter the space.

It was in one of the guest cottages that we spent a blissful and highly relaxing 24
hours recently, enjoying the top-quality accommodations and services that are
standard here. The word cottage may conjure up an image of something quaint or
even a little rustic but nothing could be further from the truth at i.sawan. Offering a
luxurious setting, the cottages also provide guests with the latest in hi-tech gear
including high-speed internet, DVD players, three flat-screen TVs (there’s even one
in the bathroom) and iPod deck.

There are three separate rooms plus a large bath area with the living room and
bedroom being supplemented by an additional room that can be used for in-room spa
treatments while doubling as a closet and dressing area, complete with the right lights
and mirrors for the all-important chores of applying makeup and fixing hair. This
room, in three of the cottages, is big enough for two treatment tables and is thus
perfect for couples wishing to share their spa experience.

This is exactly what we did, having a one-hour massage from two of the well-trained
masseuses on duty. It wasn’t just any massage either, but the signature massage of the
club known as “essence of i.sawan.” Its primary purpose is to work on the deeper
tissues and to speed up the detoxification process, helping rid the body of pollutants.
It also accomplished the traditional goal of massage which is to drive blood into the
muscles and loosen up tight muscles that tend to acquire knots in them from various
activities: anything from working at a computer (neck muscles) to jogging. Have one
of these masseuses, who must lift weights in their spare time, work on some calf
muscles that are tight from lots of jogging and no stretching and you will understand
what the term “no pain, no gain” means.

You really appreciate the level of pampering that is prevalent here when you realize
that you don’t even have to leave your cottage to receive any of the many spa
treatments that are on the menu, whether it be any of the massages, the body wrap and
body scrub treatments or any of the facials or revitalizing bath remedies. You can
order in food from any of the hotel restaurants or from the room service menu and
breakfast is brought to you after you select from a menu the day before that includes
Thai, Japanese, American, Healthy and Continental. You’ll also have an evening
cocktail and snack delivered to you at the hour of your choosing. These two services
are included in the basic room price as well as all of the minibar items and the
Lavazza coffee products that you can make yourself with the easy-to-use machine.

You will have to leave the cottage if you want to work out in the club or try one of the
47 different weekly classes that are offered, such as aerobics, pilates, yoga and other
disciplines. It’s also recommended that, to receive the full experience, you should go
to the Nail Bar for either a manicure or pedicure. However, since you’re only about
20 meters from the club complex, it’s not a major imposition. And one trip that you’re
definitely going to want to make, as I did three times, is to the huge outdoor Jacuzzi
that adjoins the pool and features hot water, the only such one I’ve ever encountered
in Thailand. Only a hot-water Jacuzzi gives you the full benefit of sitting in the
swirling waters and the one here is operating, like the fitness club, for 24 hours.
Actually, one of my Jacuzzi sessions was at 5:30 AM, sitting under the leaves of an
overhanging tree branch while rain softly pattered into the water around me.

One of the main principles of i.sawan, as explained by spa manager Nichola Roche, is
providing the guest with a personalized experience so if there is anything that you
need you can call the facility’s dedicated concierge team and let them know what you
require. This even extends to special dietary concerns. In fact, the chef himself will
visit you in your cottage and discuss your menu with you and create exactly what you
want to eat.

It’s this type of attention to the guests’ needs that raises the i.sawan to the level of
world-class, one result of this being the many awards the club has received from local
and regional publications including prestigious spa magazines. Another result is the
fact that the cottages are heavily booked, their occupants being people who recognize
true pampering and who are looking for the ultimate in spa experiences.

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