DO's AND DONT's

Thailand is well known for being a place where you can get a great massage. Here are a few tips if you are coming for the first time:

1. If the shop is in a small side street and the ladies are wearing sexy clothes, don't go in expecting a good quality massage, and expect to be offered additional 'services' for considerably more than you are paying for the massage! If the massage therapists are wearing a uniform, that is a good first sign that you will get a proper massage.
    

2. Depending on where you go you can pay anything from 200 to 400 baht for an Oil Massage, 150-300 baht for foot or thai massage. Usually this depends on the location and/or quality of the shop itself.
    

3. In some hotels they have arrangements with outside shops who will send therapists to your room or poolside, but these are usually priced with a commission for the hotel.
    

4. Look for a shop that is respectably decorated, and displays the required certification. Each shop is required to have government certification to conduct the business, and each therapist should have certification for the training they have completed. If they do not, then you cannot be sure of a professional massage. That is of course unless you only care about it being a pretty girl, in which case you can choose anywhere!
    

5. As with all goods and services in Thailand, you should not feel shy to negotiate a small reduction in the rate for a group booking.
    

6. Don't take massage immediately after eating. It's best either before or maybe a little over an hour after you finished.
    

7. Most shops open mid morning (around 10am) and close around 11pm, but will happily take you before or after those times if there is someone at the shop.
    

8. Before you go in, check if the shop has a shower as it is advised after Oil Massage.

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