A traditional Thai Massage will make your vacation to Bangkok complete and they are so inexpensive you can afford one every day.
In this article learn the cost of full body massage in Thailand and where to go for a Thailand massage in Bangkok.
But which type of Thai massage treatment should you choose and where should you go to get the cheapest massage in Bangkok?
Massage is very popular with Thais, and Bangkok massage shops or spas can be seen in every shopping centre or streetscape.
There are various types of Thai massage to be aware of:
Thailand massage shops may also provide other services, such as:
You may even see services such as body to body massage being advertised.
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Some more upmarket Bangkok massage shops also offer spa treatments as well.
Let me help you understand the different types of massage and then you can decide for yourself which one suits you.
Massage treatments are generally one hour or two hours duration.
The Foot, and Neck and Shoulder massage, would typically be of one hour duration.
The traditional Thai massage in Bangkok or the Thai oil massage are for a duration of one or two hours, depending upon your preference.
Just be aware that some places in the tourist areas of Bangkok or around main tourist beaches will not specify a time for the length of the massage.
In this case you will get maybe 45 minutes or 90 minutes, so it won't be the bargain that you thought it was when you discussed the price initially.
You can read a detailed description of what happens if you select the Traditional Thai Massage here.
Most tourists like to experience a Bangkok oil massage, or a traditional thai massage when they visit Bangkok.
If you want to know more about massage oils and how they are formulated and used then take a look at more detail on this page about Thai massage oils.
Even though getting a Thai massage in Bangkok is extremely cheap, you tend to pay higher prices in the tourist areas or in the shopping malls outside of the main tourist areas.
So what is the cost of full body massage in Thailand and is it as affordable as they say?
My latest Bangkok travel idea shows how you can have a cheap Thai massage at half the regular cost and within 400 metres of a BTS station.
I often use this advice myself, but will admit that the money I save, I give as a tip, as massage is a physically hard, low paying job.
Massage street (Sukhumvit 77/1 Alley) in Bangkok has some of the cheapest Thailand massage prices anywhere in country, and is worth a visit if you need a break from visiting the standard tourist attractions.
Okay, so if you want to do something different and seek out the cheapest massage in Bangkok, here are the simple instructions to get to "Massage Street".
This soi is a short cut to the large Big C Extra shopping centre and it is full of little shop houses offering a Bangkok massage.
The Big C shopping mall is right at the far end of this small soi and faces out onto Onnut Road.
On "Massage Street" you can take your choice from:
and treat yourself to a full two hours; well, why not, it is just so cheap.
If you ever get on down to Massage Street then check out the list of Massage and Spa shops below:
I am not going to recommend any particular traditional Thai massage shop, as you can walk the full length of Massage Street and can take your pick and find the one that delivers the best massage in Bangkok.
The prices are usually displayed in the window or on a board outside the front and they are fairly consistent along the length of the street.
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You should even be able to find some shops that offer a Bangkok spa massage, which are typically a combination of massage, sauna and skin treatments all combined into the one service.
Some of the massage shop signs might only be in Thai and the staff may not speak English, but don't let that put you off.
You can check out how to get to On Nut from your hotel by going to the BTS Website here.
What is the Bangkok massage rate and how much can you expect to pay for a massage in Bangkok?
Currently a Thai massage in the tourist areas of Bangkok is around 350 baht for 1 hour and 500 baht for two hours.
So if you are staying around Chidlom, Sukhumvit, Nana or Silom or anywhere that has a lot of tourists then the prices for the street shops would start around this rate.
Along Massage Street in On Nut the rate is 200 baht for 1 hour and 350 baht for 2 hours; a 50% saving over the more popular Bangkok tourist areas.
By general Bangkok standards this is a very cheap rate, probably brought about by the intense competition in the area and for the budget conscious traveller, this information is like gold, as twice as many massage treatments can be had for the same price.
Having travelled extensively in Thailand. this is the cheapest price that I have seen for a full 1 hour or 2 hour Bangkok massage.
These prices are current at June 2022 and they may change in the future, but I expect the shops on Massage Street to still trade at a discount to the other massage shops in Bangkok.
What is the difference between a Thai oil massage and a traditional Thai massage?
In simple terms, the Thai oil massage and the traditional Thai massage differ in the execution of the massage technique.
The traditional Thai massage involves a lot of strength and the application of strong hand pressures along the meridian lines of the body to promote wellness.
On the other hand the Bangkok oil massage is much gentler in application.
The use of fragrant scented oils, relaxes the body and calms the mind, resulting in an increase in blood circulation and overall promotes a very pleasant experience, due to the aromas from the massage oil.
Sabay Body Massage is a full massage and spa shop in the basement of Seacon Square shopping centre just near to the mobile phone stands and close to one of the Robinsons Dept store entrances.
Your Bangkok massage treatment starts with you changing into a soft shirt and pair of wide legged trouser.
The next step is to wash your feet with warm water and sea salt. If you are at all ticklish this will get you giggling.
Most shops just do a quick warm water wash, so the use of sea salt is a nice professional touch.
After drying your feet you will be led into the back where there are a range of shared and private rooms depending upon the treatment or massage that you selected.
Therapists at Sabay Body don't provide any "extra" services so you can feel quite comfortable taking your spouse or partner with you and not having those embarrassing moments.
All massage and spa services are provided in a professional manner by trained therapists at very reasonable cost.
Next time you are in Seacon Square shopping mall take some time out to pamper yourself and have a relaxing massage or spa treatment at Sabay Body.
Dr Massage is located in the small outdoor market outside the gates to Suan Luang Rama IX park.
You have to ring and make an appointment with Dr Massage as he is usually fully booked up. It is no good just rocking up and hoping he will be available, generally he won't be.
Dr Massage can't speak English, so get a Thai to call for you.
I can't remember the exact price. I think he is around the 400 baht for a two hour Thai massage, but he may be a little more now as this was three years ago.
Anyway he is worth it, as he seems to know what he is doing.
As he is working in the open air in the market tent, it is advisable to go early morning or later in the afternoon or it may be a bit hot.
So far I have given you some a few ideas of what is involved in a traditional Thai Massage and where you can get the cheapest massage in Bangkok, but perhaps you are not leaving Suvarnabhumi Airport or are just staying in that area.
Well, for those of you that are just passing through Bangkok Airport you can visit Sensib Thai Massage, located in the International Terminal
For those people in transit that intend to stay in one of the hotels near to the Paseo Shopping Mall, you can go and investigate Ananda Lanna Spa, which is located near to Suvarnabhumi Airport.
I can highly recommend it.
Revised 1-August-2024
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