Massage in Bangkok

You can’t really walk down a street in Bangkok without coming across a massage shop, they really are as ubiquitous as 7 11s. The massage shops are usually spread over several floors. On the ground floor you will find a row of chairs and footstalls where you will sit if you request a foot massage. Upstairs will be a series of mattresses separated by curtains that are used for Thai massage, and you get to put on some fancy pyjamas that make you look like a 19th century labourer, so the massage therapist can bend and stretch your limbs easily. Because there are so many in the city, it would be impossible to pick out a selection of the very best, so it’s more a case of common sense. Often smaller hotels will be able to make recommendations too. Most massage shops will speak basic English and prices will be advertised outside the shop; on average it costs 200 baht for an hour’s Thai massage