Hat Yai is full of cheap massage shops (both independent and those located within hotels), and if you get the right girl it can be a very enjoyable experience for not a lot of money. The price for a two-hour traditional Thai massage runs between Bt200 and Bt300 plus a tip for the girl.

If you visit Hat Yai massage shops regularly, you soon establish a network of girls who do a good job. However, if you are a first-time visitor, choosing the right girl can be a bit of a gamble. There is a way to remove any risk of getting a poor massage.

In recent years the number of spas in Hat Yai has grown steadily. They are a little more expensive than the many cheap places around town but generally they offer a much more rewarding experience.

The girls working in such places are normally better trained and the whole atmosphere is lot more pleasant. In many of the cheap places, I have chosen girls who are more interested in watching TV and talking on their mobile phones than making sure you enjoy your massage.

They insist on adjusting the air conditioning so the room is like a fridge and they sulk if you ask them to turn off the TV.

In the spas there are no TVs in the massage rooms and the girls do not get constantly interrupted with phone calls. They massage you slowly and gently instead of acting as if they are trying to bring a corpse back to life. You get a choice of aromatherapy oils, and they play relaxing music.

It's a case of getting what you pay for. Of all the Hat Yai spas I have tried, I like Preuksa Spa the best. The girls working there are real sweethearts, the rooms are comfortable, and it is probably the cheapest spa in town.

Toy and Yo Yoo are still around but Max (the girl in the middle) has left since I took these photos.

Location

Preuksa Spa is located on Niphat Uthit 2 Road near the old Lee Gardens Hotel (not Lee Gardens Plaza hotel). It is also near Kosit Hotel, Florida Hotel, and the Esso petrol station.

Exit the old Lee Gardens hotel, turn right, and you will come to Niphat Uthit 2 Road. Turn right again and about 50 yards along the road is a very small Chinese temple. Preuksa Spa is almost dead opposite the temple on the other side of the road. It is a two-minute walk from the old Lee Gardens or Kosit hotels.

Address: 210/7 Niphat Uthit 2 Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla, 90110
Map: Map 3
Telephone: +66 (0)81 189 0443; +66 (0)83 192 9493

Treatments and Prices

Prices are correct at time of publishing (March 2009) but may differ depending on the time of your visit.

Photos

Below are some photos taken by myself. Our model on the massage couch is Dtik, herself a massage therapist at the Hat Yai Central hotel. Please do not use my photos for your own purposes without my permission.

Special Services for Men

Since adding this page the girls have received a number of phone calls and messages enquiring as to whether 'special' services are available at the spa, and whether they can visit men staying in hotel rooms.

I'm afraid the answer to both questions is no.

Thailand has a certain reputation, which I think is well-known, but it doesn't apply to all Thai girls, whether they work as masseuse or not. Some massage shops I have seen in tourist resorts need to this spell this out so that there are no misunderstandings. At Preuksa Spa there are no such signs but the message is the same.

If you require sexual services there are plenty of places in Hat Yai, but not here. There are at least seven aab op nuat (bath and massage) places that I can think of - maybe more. The most upmarket (and expensive) is Chaophya 4 on Thamnoonvithee Road, a little way out of town.

The only place located centrally is Pink Lady (or whatever it is called these days). There are also a number of places located in the area around the Daiichi hotel.

There are also a few massage shops where the girls are pleased to provide 'happy endings' in order to increase their earnings. However, these places are in a minority and most massage places in Hat Yai (especially in the large hotels) provide only what is advertised.

Even if a massage girl goes to your hotel room, don't take too much for granted. Some girls will provide additional services if working in a hotel room, but some won't. Check first to avoid disappointment later. The magic words for hand-relief are 'jup gruh-sai' or 'chok waaw' (fly a kite).

Most massage girls will not provide full sex. I've met a few over the years who have offered but they are quite rare. For that, visit one of the aab op nuat places.

If you are staying in a hotel the bellboy will be happy to take you to a place where you can get what you are looking for, or ask a tuk-tuk or motorbike taxi driver. They get a commission if they introduce a customer, so they are always very keen to help.