Away Spa, W Retreat and Spa, Seminyak, Bali, Indonesia

Words by Kirsten Durward

Photos by The Yum List (Monica Tindall)

Away Spa invites you into its serenity with a question – ‘What do you wish for?’ before a dramatic winding path leads you to the theatrical wonderland within. From Pre-Production, through Stage, to Post Production, the experience at Away Spa will make you feel like a celebrity from top to toe.

It’s like nothing I’ve ever seen before and a complete contrast to all the other spas in Bali.  The concept is Detox and Refuel, with a chill out bar for what Spa Manager Ara calls ‘Retox’ as she tells us tales of manicures with martini and we spot a few large bottles of bubbly too. Decadent doesn’t begin to describe it.  

We are experiencing a signature massage, the Away Spa ‘Morning After.’ We start with Detox, a cleansing juice followed by oxygen breathing in the ‘decompression chamber’ with glowing lights. From there we move to our private space age ‘stage’. Relaxing in the outer sanctum, feet are washed in a traditional ritual before moving inward to a water bordered platform. The therapist hands me a thick bamboo cane. All the signature treatments come with an exercise component and ours today is bamboo stretching. We carry out a simple sequence of movements and I’m just glad that the bamboo is only for holding onto and nothing more!

The massage room is spectacular and futuristic, filled with glowing purple light. I reach for words and only come up with – again – space age. I’m offered a choice of music and settle on ‘nature.’ Clients can also bring their own i-Pods to the system.  Instead of the traditional flower bowl, I’m face down on a screen showing different images. Some may love this but not for me so off it goes.

We start with a wonderful foot reflexology, honestly one of my favourite experiences in the whole world. I could have reflexology after reflexology for hours on end. But it’s only a part of this treatment and soon I’m on my front being seriously pummeled.  The therapist uses a combination of finger, hand and forearm pressure to work in the aromatic herbally infused oil. All therapies at the Away Spa use freshly made products with 100 percent natural ingredients. And this one smells just gorgeous. 

We’ve had a few good massages but this one seriously gets in there. The pressure is great and she is getting into all those nasty tight spots. I have to stop for rehydration and as I stand up, I sway, I’m so floppy and unwound. It’s a full 90 minute massage, and the rest of the treatment is in extra time. Often the rituals take away your massage time so the 90 minutes and the power of the therapist makes it the best massage I’ve had so far. The experience has been surreal, refreshing, and totally fantastic.

In ‘Post Production’ I sip on pineapple, young coconut and fresh ginger juice as I float six inches above the silver sofa. I’ve had a full body time-out and I feel renewed and relaxed. I have to leave, somewhat reluctantly to check out and have lunch. So I don’t get to try the hot stone bath or cold jet set vitality pool. But the Away Spa has one more signature surprise for us. Before you leave, you select a wishing stone with a word on it, an inspirational word. You throw it in the wishing lake and leave with a smile.

Reasons to visit: Excellent technical massage,  surreal experience of a world beyond words that has to be seen to be believed. 

W Retreat & Spa Bali - Seminyak

Jl. Petitenget, Seminyak