Spa Village, Pangkor LautAlthough you are unlikely to visit the Spa Village at Pangkor Laut unless you are staying on the island, we decided to review the spa separately to the hotel, partly because the spa has some unusual aspects and partly because we felt the spa was vastly superior to the hotel.
The spa village is set in beautiful gardens where huge butterflies flutter and you may catch site of a monitor lizard. In addition to the hotel's swimming pool, the spa has a tranquil infinity pool overlooking the Straits of Malacca. On offer is a huge range of treatments, mainly based on Malay, Chinese or Ayurvedic principles. It is difficult to decide whether to enjoy a wrap, one of many options for massage (including Lomi Lomi, Thai, Shiatsu, Hot-stone or Swedish), a facial or a hand or foot treatment. The large open-air reception is a bright, relaxing place to wait for your treatment to begin, where you are served a refreshing lemon-grass drink before your therapist escorts you to the bath-house ritual, which is included with all treatments. This ritual takes a traditional treatment from different Asian areas, including China, Malaysia and Japan. We strongly recommend taking advantage of the bath-house and arriving at least 45 minutes before your treatment to get the full benefit. Note, you will be asked to undress completely (hidden behind a discretely held towel) and dress in a sarong. However, if you prefer, you can request to wear disposable underwear or your own swim-wear under the sarong. As Malaysia is a muslim country, male and female bath-houses are separate, though there is no problem with male guests having a female therapist. |
Bath-house RitualThe bath-house ritual begins with a warm foot wash and Chinese foot pounding with a small wooden mallet, which apparently is good for the circulation. This was definitely not the most pleasurable treatment in the spa, and it verged on painful at times, but it wasn't entirely unpleasant either.
After the foot pounding, we were escorted to the locker rooms to change into a sarong and then led to the Malay cold bath where there is a wishing well to throw in a coin and make a wish. Then, it's into the cool Malay bath (it is colder in the morning), to enjoy a refreshing 5-10 minute dip and shower. Very invigorating. We were then invited to inhale deeply from 4 herbal steam kettles before proceeding to the Japanese wash-house, to wash using an exfoliating goshi goshi cloth before relaxing in a warm Rotenburu bath - (like an Onsen) wonderful heated water in a stone housing. Whilst in the bath, cool green tea was served whilst we relaxed for around 10 minutes. After this warm cocoon, came the Shanghai Scrub, where the therapist gently exfoliated the back of our bodies and rinsed us off with hot water whilst lying down on a cloth covered plinth. Finally, we were invited to choose a colourful sarong, wrapped in it once dry and served ginger tea in the spa library, a quiet space to await treatments. |
Treatments
During our stay we tried a number of treatments. Massages were mainly excellent, although occasionally too forceful despite requests for less pressure; facials were enjoyable especially when combined with a massage, and pedicures were competent. The Malay wrap was incredibly warming - no electric heat is used but the spices (ginger and galangal) make the skin feel very hot. This was not entirely pleasant but was interesting to try, though I wouldn't recommend it if you are suffering from sunburn.
Treatment rooms were mini-suites, complete with outdoor shower, toilet area, double treatment couches and outdoor loungers. On our first day we used the Belian Pavilion, complete with sauna and outdoor whirlpool. Although we enjoyed this, we would not pay any extra for the experience and mosquitos were in evidence even in the daytime.
In general, staff were friendly and efficient, and careful to preserve modesty at all times. However, they were not as intuitive as those at the Barai, for example. Having said that, the bath-house ritual makes up for this and really makes the spa experience special. We whole-heartedly recommend the spa village at Pangkor Laut but it is difficult to reach without staying on the island. Perhaps the best compromise is to stay one night, enjoy 2 spa sessions and dinner in Fisherman's Cove before departing for a hotel with higher standards.
Treatment rooms were mini-suites, complete with outdoor shower, toilet area, double treatment couches and outdoor loungers. On our first day we used the Belian Pavilion, complete with sauna and outdoor whirlpool. Although we enjoyed this, we would not pay any extra for the experience and mosquitos were in evidence even in the daytime.
In general, staff were friendly and efficient, and careful to preserve modesty at all times. However, they were not as intuitive as those at the Barai, for example. Having said that, the bath-house ritual makes up for this and really makes the spa experience special. We whole-heartedly recommend the spa village at Pangkor Laut but it is difficult to reach without staying on the island. Perhaps the best compromise is to stay one night, enjoy 2 spa sessions and dinner in Fisherman's Cove before departing for a hotel with higher standards.