Choosing a Spa · · 8 min read
Turkish bath etiquette: 13 first-timer mistakes and how to avoid them
Not sure what to wear, when to tip or how hard the scrub should be? The 13 mistakes first-timers make in a Turkish bath, and what to do instead.
Choosing a Spa
What to look for when choosing a venue
Choosing a Spa · · 10 min read
What is a spa? Spa types and what happens at a spa
What is a spa, what does the word mean and what does SPA stand for? Day, hotel, resort, thermal and medical spas, the spa day, how a spa differs from a hammam, and what you do at a spa.
Choosing a Spa · · 2 min read
What to take to the hammam: a packing list
It is easy to mix up what the venue provides and what you need to bring yourself. A clear packing list for before a hammam or spa visit.
Choosing a Spa · · 2 min read
What do you wear in a hammam or spa? Swimwear, underwear and privacy
The question most people wonder about but hesitate to ask. What to wear in the hammam, the sauna and for a massage, and how the draping rule works.
Choosing a Spa · · 9 min read
Types of massage and their names: which massage is right for you?
Swedish, deep tissue, Thai, Balinese, shiatsu, hot stone, lymphatic drainage and more: the names of the types of massage, their pressure, who they suit and a comparison table.
Choosing a Spa · · 3 min read
A first-timer's guide to having a massage
Which massage to choose, how much to undress, whether you have to talk, whether to tip — everything to know before your first session.
Choosing a Spa · · 3 min read
A spa day for couples: how to plan it and what to look out for
If you are planning a spa visit for an anniversary or a special day — how a couples' massage works, what difference a private room makes, and how far ahead to book.
Choosing a Spa · · 3 min read
Massage and spa in pregnancy: what is safe and what to avoid
Can you have a massage while pregnant, from which month, and why hammams and saunas are not recommended — including why your doctor's approval really is needed.