Silk Spa

The best rated (at the moment) spa in Khao Lak according to Trip Advisor is Silk Spa. The spa offers a range of massages as well as beauty packages. The spa is well decorated and comfortable and does the basic things well; and, as a result it comes out top of the pile.

The Silk Spa is located in Khao Lak Village, very close to the JW Marriot Hotel.  It is an unassuming place. There is a small sign above sliding glass doors. The place is easy to miss as it doesn’t look like a spa from the outside.

Inside there are tiled and air-con therapy rooms. The place is clean and uncluttered, but it is best described as ‘practical’ rather than ‘luxurious’. The price list comprises of Thai massages, foot reflexology, scrubs, oil massage, coconut massage, manicures and pedicures. Here is a sample of the prices at Silk Spa for 1 hour:

Foot Reflexology 350 Thai Baht
Traditional Thai Massage 400 THB
Oil Massage 500 THB
Coconut Oil Massage 600 THB
Body Scrub 850 THB
Manicure 300 THB
Pedicure 350 THB

Reviews of the Silk Spa repeatedly say two things – one that the staff are really friendly, and two that the massages are really good. The masseuses clearly know what they are doing. Those who visit the spa more than once benefit in that the masseuse will remember the right spots to give extra attention to.

It goes to show that you don’t have to have the most spectacular ‘boutique’ ambience and facilities, you don’t need to offer unusual therapies and treatments in order to be voted the best. All you need is to get the basics right – namely giving a good traditional Thai massage.

Contact Details

41/48 Moo 3, Khuk Khak Beach | Khao Lak Village (next to the JW Marriot Resort)
Telephone: 0818402448

Best English Pub Grub in Khao Lak

If you are like me then you will find eating Thai food all the time difficult. I love Thai curries and other dishes like somtum, but my stomach won’t take 3 doses of chili a day. Especially in the morning I enjoy a Western style breakfast – either yoghurt, fruit and muesli or a cooked breakfast such as scrambled eggs. However, I am often disappointed with Western food: the bread is sweet, the eggs are greasy and the bacon is paper thin.

To avoid this type of disappointment I usually head to the Mars Bar for some great pub grub. Mars Bar Café is a popular bar on the main road next to Bang Niang beach. It is the orange place on the opposite side of the road from the 7-11.

The bar is the brainchild of Mars from the UK. He moved to Thailand in 2007 and soon fell in love with the country. He got married to a local girl and started his own bar. Unlike many other ex-pats who set up a bar in the land of smiles, this is a special place that draws a good crowd.

Mars takes a keen interest in his bar and is a great raconteur: always ready to share a travel story. He is also a keen music fan who puts on a great selection of rock music. You can find some of his playlists on the bar website: www.marsbarcafe.com

What I like most about Mars Bar Café is the pub grub. It is excellent. The menu offers, fish, chips, mushy peas, jacket potatoes and homemade bread. The Sunday roast is a massive plate of food and well worth the price.

The bar has a number of events on such as ladies night when drinks for the fairer sex are half price. Unlike the other bars in Khao Lak, Mars makes the effort to keep the bar website up-to-date. So it is worth checking out for promotions and events.