Phuket’s Kata Rocks injects fun into spas
The spa centres around four pillars: being uniquely Thai, anti-ageing, recovery and detox. Treatments cater to everyone from those seeking serious pampering to the time-pressed. The wide menu impresses with express touch-ups, 60 to 120-minute treatments, full-day journeys with healthy meals in between, as well as three- to five-day retreats and juice detoxes.
Eight treatment rooms each serve a unique purpose: couples rooms have his and her bathtubs; a chromotherapy room has changing coloured lights fitted both on the bed and ceiling; one room features an Italian-made Iso Benessere water massage bed; another has a Metronap rest pod to combat jet lag. There is a space for mani-pedis and the rest for traditional Thai spa treatments. For more privacy, guests staying at the resort’s Spa Villas can opt for in-room pampering.
I opted for the Sense of Thai Aroma – a 60-minute massage recommended to promote circulation and boost energy.
THE LOWDOWN: Complementing Phuket’s famous blue skies and beaches, Infinity Luxury Spa interiors are cool and contemporary with lots of indigos, greys and whites. Dressed in a bathrobe, I plunged into a foot scrub. My therapist Gui instructed me to close my eyes and open my palms, in which she placed two warm weights. I snuck a peek, and my heart instantly warmed: they were two heart-shaped rose quartz stones — a gem reputable for its properties of healing, compassion and unconditional love.
Gui reconfirmed my requests to focus on the back and left leg, and began working her magic on the treatment bed, first wiggling my body left and right to activate all the senses. Using coconut oil, the treatment began at the shoulders. Strokes were long, smooth and slow to relax both mind and body. I could already feel my breath slowing down to match Gui’s movements. When she found a knot she took the kneading up a notch, but soon returned to a gentle caress before I even really noticed. Stealthy indeed.
VERDICT: Gui’s technique is bittersweet, combining relaxation and practicality, so that aches and tension get the tough love they need to fully unwind. No wonder this is a local favourite for calming the mind and resetting the body.
The industrial aesthetic of the spa isn’t the most relaxing at first glance, but Gui is skilled at putting her guests at ease. The rose quartz detail was a thoughtful one, and her skilful technique left me recharged both physically and mentally. If your body is crying out for attention after long hours at the office, we highly recommend the 120-minute option of the Sense of Thai Aroma treatment, as the hour-long option that I had was barely enough to address all my needs. www.katarocks.com
