Nuru Spa

Greetings from Rawai. Nuru Spa is a private villa in Phuket's quiet south, well away from the Patong crowds, with a menu that covers classic soapy massage, Japanese-style nuru gel, jacuzzi suites and four-hands sessions. It suits travellers staying around Chalong and Rawai, and it's one of the few places that openly caters to couples: two recent Google reviewers came with their wives and rated it highly. Its 4.8 rating from 99 reviews is strong, and the reviews repeatedly mention friendly, helpful staff. Skip it if you're based in Patong and don't fancy the ride south, or if you want something under ฿1,500. Booking is by WhatsApp. For more choice across the island, see our soapy massage guide to Phuket.

Nuru Spa works from a private villa on Soi Saiyuan in Rawai. According to its website, it offers either classic soapy massage or the Japanese nuru gel technique, and its listing mentions private rooms and showers.

The menu is broader than most. Alongside body-to-body sessions with a shower, there's a jacuzzi experience, a VIP jacuzzi suite that can be combined with soapy or nuru massage, a chair experience, and double sessions, either four hands with two therapists or a couples session for two guests. Couples bookings are a feature here rather than an afterthought, and the reviews back that up.

Languages spoken and payment methods aren't published. Booking is via WhatsApp, and the website says replies are fast. Wish you were here? Pack a swimsuit for the jacuzzi.

Its rate card lists ten items:

• Sensual Body to body & shower 40 min: ฿1,500
• Sensual Body to body & shower 60 min: ฿1,900
• Sensual Body to body & shower 90 min: ฿2,800
• Chair experience 40 min: ฿1,800
• Chair experience 60 min: ฿2,400
• Soapy massage or Nuru Gel massage 60 min: ฿2,500
• Jacuzzi Experience 60 min: ฿3,200
• VIP Jacuzzi + Soapy or Nuru 60 min: ฿3,500
• Double experience (4 hands) or Couples: ฿3,500 (no duration listed)
• Double VIP Jacuzzi + Soapy or Nuru 70 min: ฿4,500

The cheapest is Sensual Body to body & shower 40 min at ฿1,500. A full hour of soapy or nuru is ฿2,500, and the top item, Double VIP Jacuzzi + Soapy or Nuru 70 min, is ฿4,500.

Book on WhatsApp; it's the only channel listed. Confirm the course and price in your message so everything is clear before you arrive.

The address is 53, 52 Soi Saiyuan, Moo 7, Rawai, Mueang Phuket District, Phuket 83130. Soi Saiyuan is in Rawai, in the south of the island near Chalong. Phuket has no metro, so the options are Grab, a taxi, a tuk-tuk or a scooter.

If you're staying in Rawai or Chalong, you're already in the right part of the island. From Patong it's a longer trip across the island, so a Grab is the most comfortable option; ask for a map pin on WhatsApp when you book. Opening hours are 12:00 to midnight daily.

Nuru Spa suits couples looking for a shared session, travellers based in the south of Phuket, and anyone who wants a clear menu with prices published up front. The villa setting and private rooms appeal if you'd rather avoid a busy nightlife strip.

It suits less well if you're staying in Patong and want something on your doorstep: see our happy ending massage guide to Phuket or the full Phuket directory for closer options.

Nuru Spa holds a 4.8 Google rating from 99 reviews (its own website shows an older figure, 4.7 from 64 reviews). Every one of the recent reviews is five stars.

The clearest theme is service. Reviewers repeatedly describe the staff as friendly, helpful and kind, and several simply call it a good place to relax. Couples feature strongly: two reviewers came with their wives for the couples session and describe it as relaxed, fun and well above their expectations. Others mention a clean setting, a good location and a wide choice of programmes.

There are no complaints among the recent reviews, though many are just a word or two long, so read the perfect run of fives with a little caution. For comparison, see our soapy massage guide to Phuket.