Bali spas soothe the mind and body

Rita A. Widiadana, The Jakarta Post, Denpasar, Bali

Bali, the island of sunshine, surf and tropical indulgence, has always made tourists feel good.

Now they come here to look good as well, seeking treatments in the myriad of spas which have blossomed on Bali in recent years.

Twenty years ago, spas were only frequented by the rich and famous in need of a detox or a full-body overhaul.

Now, in Bali alone, there are hundreds of spas offering traditional and modern body-soothing treatments. Even small-scale beauty salons have added the word "spa" to their names to cash in on the craze.

Young professionals who want to balance their careers and lifestyles are big spa-goers but the key market is baby-boomers keen to reverse the aging process, says Mary Darling, general manager of Mandara Spas Indonesia.

"They are the ones who extensively travel around the globe and who care about their physical and mental wellbeing wherever they go," Darling says.

"We are trying to catch this opportunity by establishing spas in Bali and other places in Indonesia."

There were only a few spas in Bali during the mid-1990s when Mandara Spas opened its first centre at The Chedi, Ubud.

Now the company has 11 spas on the island, including in Hotel Padma Bali, Hotel Imperial Bali, The Serai, Club Med, Ibah, the Legian, Nikko Bali Resort & Spa, Hotel Sanur Beach and Waterbom Park.

Bali has always attracted a variety of travelers, from low- budget backpackers to wealthy socialites, and the new spas offer packages to attract both types of tourist.

Most of the clients come from Japan, European countries, Australia and the United States. "Although the recent crisis in local tourism industry has badly affected the spa business in Bali, we are optimistic that in the next summer holidays it will begin flourishing again," Darling says.

Now operators such as Bali Hyatt in Samur are seeking to attract visitors from emerging markets in Taiwan, China, South Korea and eastern and northern Europe.

"The competition is very keen,'' says Hyatt public relations manager Anastasia Lijadi.

"These clients are used to opulence, so we have to provide our best services."

The Bali Hyatt Spa, Lijadi says, treats its customers like royalty. Every customer is treated individually in a beautifully designed private villa.

The Nirwana Spa at Le Meridien Nirwana Golf & Spa resort in Tabanan, some 20 kilometers south of Denpasar, offers the serenity of traditional Balinese treatments.

Pitched at weary travelers, stressed professionals and newlyweds, its packages include the Harmony Dibya Raga, Bayu Sukma, Sense of Nirwana, and the Rama & Shinta special treatment for couples.

Most packages comprise Balinese-style massages, body scrubs using traditional herbs, aromatic baths, and facials to revitalize and restore the body and mind.

Kamandalu Resort and Spa in Ubud area, some 15 kilometers south of Denpasar, calls its treatment the Pampering of Kamandalu.

This two and half hour treatment involves an Indonesian massage, Javanese lulur (body scrubbing) -- a mixture of turmeric, spices and herbs for a remarkable skin softening sensation -- milk rub, flower bath and Celebes Honey Facial.

On the northern part of Bali, between Jembrana and Buleleng regencies, some 80 kilometers from Denpasar, the tourists flock to great snorkeling and diving centers and remote hotels and villas.

Far away from the hustle-bustle of Bali's southern tourist hubs, these places offer peace and tranquility.

One of the best spots to recover from an intense week of diving and snorkeling is Parwathi Spa at the Matahari Beach Hotel in the Pemuteran area.

"We offer very special packages especially for honeymooners," says Parwathi Bauch, owner of the hotel. The Royal Parwathi Package gives couples a royal treatment, she says.

The package includes one night's accommodation in the Bali Sari pavilion with a king-sized bed. A private waiter will serve a ten-course romantic dinner with a bottle of Champagne.

Mary Darling of Mandara Spa reminds spa lovers to be careful in choosing the right place. "Don't be confused by the hundreds of spas here in Bali," she says. "Spas aren't about just offering a massage treatment."

Darling says a good spa must have well-trained staff, modern equipment and be spotlessly clean.

And most important, she says, is a warm and welcoming atmosphere.

According to Vacation and Travel Magazine, the global spa count exceeds 50,000 locations.The Wellness Resource newsletter added over 30 percent of adults in advanced countries are interested in day spas-a potential global market of 56 million clients.

Mandara Spa is one of spa Management Company of resort and hotels spas in Asia with more than 30 spas under contract in Indonesia, Malaysia, Maldives, Thailand and other countries.

The company also manages a spa in Bandung and two spas in Lombok island.