Boutique Hotel Spa venues

A boutique hotel spa is the spa section inside a hotel that has a small number of rooms and is run on a personal scale. What sets it apart from large hotel spas is scale: the wet area consists of just a few sections, only a few guests are looked after at the same time, and the programme is usually limited to a hammam, a sauna and a short massage list.

What you find at boutique hotel spas

What a boutique hotel spa offers is shaped by the character of the hotel, and the two examples in the guide show this difference clearly. At the property in Nişantaşı, Istanbul, Balinese massage performed by Indonesian therapists, kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam hammam treatments, a sauna, a steam room, a jacuzzi and facials are all offered together. At the hotel on Cunda Island in Ayvalık, Balıkesir, a traditional Turkish bath is joined by a salt room, a steam area and yoga sessions in the garden. Both properties have a hammam and hot areas at their heart; a large pool complex or a fully equipped gym is not a typical part of this type.

Who a boutique hotel spa suits

A boutique hotel spa suits those who dislike crowded wet areas, those who want to combine a hammam and a massage in a single quiet visit, and those looking for a short treatment without leaving the hotel they are staying at. In a hotel with few rooms, the number of guests is directly reflected in the spa; if you want a particular time at the weekend or during the holiday season, you need to book your appointment early.

How it differs from luxury and city hotel spas

A boutique hotel spa is the smallest-scale example of the hotel spa parent category. At luxury hotel spas, the defining features are generous space, many treatment rooms and signature rituals; at a boutique hotel, by contrast, what creates the calm is not the size of the space but the small number of guests. Type labels are not mutually exclusive: the Nişantaşı example is also listed as a city hotel spa.

What to know before you go

• Outside guests: Whether non-residents are admitted varies by venue; at small hotels, priority usually goes to hotel guests.
• Capacity: As there are few treatment rooms, say so when booking if you want a couples' massage or two sessions at the same time.
• How it is used: Ask in advance whether the hammam is shared by women and men or open to them at separate times.
• Health: Hammams and saunas are used at high temperatures; if you are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease or blood pressure problems, consult your doctor first.