Our founder, Stella Photi, returns to renowned health spa, Chiva-Som
When I launched Wellbeing Escapes all those years ago, Chiva-Som was known as one of the pioneers in the health resort industry, as one of the first to open more than 25 years ago. Chiva-Som was born out of Mr Boonchu Rojanastien's desire to provide a facility for his friends that could help them feel good and get healthy. He placed it in the region where the Thai Royal family have their holiday home because of the milder and more temperate climate. Incidentally, he was also the Deputy Prime Minister of Thailand, so he had some influential friends!
Over the years Chiva-Som has established itself as the gold standard for health spas, but with many more competitors now on the scene, does it still warrant that gold star? With my last visit being over 10 years ago I was curious to find out. Since my last visit, Chiva-Som has been through a total refurbishment with Chairman and CEO, Krip Rojanastien, (son of the founder), advising me that they lost two rooms in their quest to upgrade everything. Krip is dedicated to his vision of first-class wellness, but also a savvy business man and aware that Chiva-Som could not rest on its laurels.
My memories of the feeling of effortless luxury came flooding back as we were whisked out of our limo and into the special check-in area surrounded by orchids and positioned overlooking the lake and gardens. The Thai architecture and design of the low-rise structures and iconic pool area brings a feeling of being cocooned and that you are in safe hands. Beyond this is the endless wide beach where you see power walkers passing by in the morning and evening.
My Chiva-Som programme
My visit started with a wellness consultation to discuss tailoring my treatment programme and my goals. All stays at Chiva-Som include a daily 50-minute treatment, which includes massages, scrubs and other specialist therapies. This can be complemented with a Discover Chiva-Som stay, where you are given a credit amount and can design your own schedule with the help of the wellness advisor, OR, a goal-focused retreat such as detox or physiotherapy.
I am always wary of scheduling too many treatments as this can actually become stressful in its own right, so I opted for creating my own programme with a variety of different treatments that deal with varying issues I wanted to address.
The following days were a combination of movement consisting of early morning meditative tai chi, yoga classes and a challenging HIIT class to boost my metabolism. Targeted treatments, such as a unique hip and thigh treatment to break down water retention and cellulite was very effective, plus physiotherapy sessions to deal with shoulder and neck postural issues and tension. I also enjoyed a flotation tank experience to relieve stress and aid sleep. There was also some time for relaxation by the pool and having a dip in the sea.
For me, staying at Chiva-Som was easy and effortless — apart from the exercise, of course. Everybody is extremely well trained and everything is functional. When I say functional, I mean it just works really well. There is something to say about fine-tuning your offering and processes over 25 years — when you have experience and longevity you can really concentrate on excellence.
Personal highlights
- The staff are experienced and very well trained in dealing with a sophisticated guest. Some of the team have been with Chiva-Som for more than 15 years and I chatted to a lady in the restaurant who had been there for 25 years. This is no mean feat in an industry that is struggling to find good quality employees in a post-pandemic world and contributes to the seamless service.
- The local community and sustainability initiatives are significant, including an impressive mangrove project that has planted over 5,000 trees in the local area to purify the air, boost the ecosystem and improve the wellbeing of local communities. The management team at Chiva-Som walks the talk with its belief that environmental wellness and personal wellness go hand-in-hand.
- The food is remarkable. The Chiva-Som brand of spa cuisine allows you to eat beautifully presented and delicious food that would be present in any top-class restaurant without piling on the pounds (in fact you're able to shift them)! There's plenty of choice with the elegant buffet on offer, plus an à la carte menu. The portion sizes are small but surprisingly filling, and there is always the option to have more if you are still hungry. And I must mention the complimentary healthy snacks and fruit replenished daily in the room, just in case.
Insider Info
- They are serious about their guests having some type of digital detox, When you check into Chiva-Som they will ask you to sign a form stating that you agree not to use your mobile phone in public areas such as the restaurant or pool area. I saw people with headphones on around the pool, which I guess is acceptable but strictly no scrolling!
- Everyone gets a complimentary physical assessment and aesthetic (skin) analysis. I would recommend attending the physical assessment as it's carried out by a physiotherapist who can spot structural issues. The skin analysis is interesting if you are into non-invasive aesthetic procedures or interested to know more. If not, you can ask them to remove it from your schedule.
- For the price you pay, the first impression of the Ocean View rooms can be a little disappointing, as they are comparatively small. However, after living in one of these rooms for several days I can state that they are very comfortable and functional. I have stayed in hotels that have highly impressive rooms but where design has trumped functionality and can result in mild irritations. Coming back to the longevity of this luxury health resort, it feels like they have taken the feedback from guests over the years to create a very comfortable experience. If space is important to you, then go for the Thai Pavilion rooms that don't have the ocean view but are very spacious. During the summer months, we have a great offer on these rooms — just ask the team!
This post was written in May 2023.
Would you like to experience one the world's leading health resorts for yourself? Contact our team of wellness travel experts to plan your personalised stay at Chiva-Som.
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