Which hotel spa treatments are actually worth the money

I run the Solaris Palace spa, which means I've heard every 'is this actually worth it' question in the change room. Straight answers below.

Worth it: the deep-tissue 60

If you fly or drive to get here, this is the fix. A proper remedial massage unwinds a plane seat better than any pool nap. Book it for day one, not checkout day — it changes the whole stay.

Worth it (with a caveat): hot stones

Genuinely excellent for stress and sleep. The caveat: if you want knots fixed, stones are relaxation, not repair. Tell the therapist which you actually want.

Situational: facials

Worth it before an event or if your skin hates the flight. Skippable if you're just chasing 'glow' — a sauna session plus a swim does half the job free.

Usually skip: express add-ons

The 15-minute scalp or foot add-ons are nice but poor value per minute. Put the $40 toward thirty more minutes of the main treatment.

How to pick

Ask yourself one question: repair or relax? Sore shoulders, tight hips, gym guilt — book deep-tissue. Fried brain, can't sleep, big week — book stones or the journey. And use the free consultation; we'd rather switch your treatment than deliver the wrong one. Day visitors: any treatment includes the pool and sauna for the rest of the day, which doubles the value quietly.