Luxury Day Spa venues

A luxury day spa is a spa that, although it does not offer accommodation, has a wet area, hammam, treatment rooms and relaxation lounges on the scale of a hotel spa. What sets it apart from a standard day spa is that the visit is designed not as a single massage but as a programme spread over several hours.

Programme and services

O’Spa By O’Wellness, listed in the luxury day spa category, operates inside Skyland in Sarıyer, Istanbul. Its service list includes a Turkish bath, kese (exfoliating scrub) and foam wash, sauna, Swedish massage, aromatherapy massage and facials; the property information also mentions Balinese massage performed by therapists from the Far East and hot stone massage using volcanic stones. This range points to a set-up in which a hammam ritual, a massage and a facial can be had one after another in the same visit.

When to choose one

A luxury day spa suits those who want a half-day treatment programme without staying at a hotel, those looking for a comprehensive spa package for a celebration or as a gift, and those who want to have a hammam and a massage in the same place without rushing. For a single short massage, however, a massage centre or an urban spa is often the more practical choice.

Compared with a luxury hotel spa and a wellness centre

A luxury day spa and a luxury hotel spa may offer similar facilities; the difference is that there is no priority for hotel guests. At times when hotel spas may restrict outside access, a day spa already welcomes all of its guests from outside. A wellness centre, on the other hand, combines massage with exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing programmes. As the venue in the guide is also classified as both a wellness centre and a hammam, it combines the features of these types.

Questions to ask before booking a package or appointment

• How many hours of facility use the package price covers, and whether areas such as the hammam and sauna can be used before and after the treatment. The factors that determine the price are covered in the guide to day spa prices in Istanbul.
• How far in advance you need to book longer packages at weekends and during public holidays.
• Whether robes, slippers and a peshtemal are provided, whether swimwear is required in the wet area, and how use is arranged for women and men.
• Whether the hammam and sauna area can be used if you are pregnant or have cardiovascular disease or blood pressure problems; consult your doctor about this first.