I'll start this by explaining that I love Korean spas. There is a local Korean spa in the Atlanta area (we have about 80,000 Koreans living in Duluth, a suburb of Atlanta very near my house) called Jeju Sauna. I've been to this spa several times with a friend, and thus, had some idea of what to expect.
Or so I thought.
For the uninitiated, Korean spas take relaxation very seriously. For our adventure, we went to Dragon Hill Spa.
Upon arrival to the spa, guests are checked in and given a pair of scrubs and a wristband. The wristband contains the key to your locker, as well as a magnetic swipe thing that is used to pay for all your services inside the spa. When you check out, your tab is calculated and you pay.
Once you have your things, you go into the spa, take off your shoes and clothes (ALL of them) and put your scrubs on. Everyone is wearing the same standard issued scrubs. Saunas and hot tubs are included in the entrance fee to the spa. (The entrance fee is quite low - about $25 in the US, and about $12 in Korea; this fee allows you to use the facilities for a 24 hour period (though there are no exit/entry privileges).
The saunas a co-ed, and built like igloos within the spa. Each one is lined with a different mineral that is supposed to have different healing properties: jade sauna, amethyst sauna, charcoal sauna, ice sauna, etc. As you walk from sauna to sauna you cannot help but notice that you are walking across heated floors, that are covered in sleeping patrons.
The hot tubs are single sex, and in different parts of the spa. These are naked. Yes. Naked. You must disrobe and shower prior to entering the hot tubs. There are multiple hot tubs each one labeled with a digital thermometer above it so that you can try out the hot tubs that are kept at varying temperatures. They are incredible relaxing.
It is worth noting at this point that going to the Korean spa is really best done a a group experience. It is a time for conversation, and relaxation. For catching up with friends. It is clear from my visits to the Korean spas, both in Atlanta and Seoul, that this is part of a regular ritual for friends of many years - and I can understand why!
After the hot tub, my friend and I decided to get the body scrub. Basically, there is a line of tables (reminiscent of cadaver tables) and you lay down on one, naked. Then a Korean woman (they are always old women) comes out - their uniform is black lacy bras and panties. (No, I don't know why). They wear exfoliating mits, and scrub down every inch of your body from head to toe to relieve you of any dead skin that may have been lurking. It doesn't hurt, but I wouldn't exactly call it relaxing. But, afterwards... Oh, afterwards, your skin is the softest thing ever. I would venture to say even softer than a baby's butt (I'm confident in this because a 6 month old baby's butt was waiting to greet me when I returned to the states). It is magical.
The spa also has sleeping rooms, a restaurant with light but typical Korean fare, a gym to exercise (but, why?), and many more features. I'm a fan.
I have vowed to add this to my list of regular haunts anytime I'm in Korea.
And as a funny post-script, as I told my husband about this experience, he suggested I watch a tv program he'd seen recently. It features George Foreman, William Shatner, Henry Winkler, and Terry Bradshaw visiting foreign countries and generally making fools of themselves. Of course, in Korea, they went to a Korean spa. As we watched the show, it was apparent to me that they went to MY Korean spa. A link to this episode is available here. At least for now.
Or so I thought.
For the uninitiated, Korean spas take relaxation very seriously. For our adventure, we went to Dragon Hill Spa.
Upon arrival to the spa, guests are checked in and given a pair of scrubs and a wristband. The wristband contains the key to your locker, as well as a magnetic swipe thing that is used to pay for all your services inside the spa. When you check out, your tab is calculated and you pay.
Once you have your things, you go into the spa, take off your shoes and clothes (ALL of them) and put your scrubs on. Everyone is wearing the same standard issued scrubs. Saunas and hot tubs are included in the entrance fee to the spa. (The entrance fee is quite low - about $25 in the US, and about $12 in Korea; this fee allows you to use the facilities for a 24 hour period (though there are no exit/entry privileges).
The saunas a co-ed, and built like igloos within the spa. Each one is lined with a different mineral that is supposed to have different healing properties: jade sauna, amethyst sauna, charcoal sauna, ice sauna, etc. As you walk from sauna to sauna you cannot help but notice that you are walking across heated floors, that are covered in sleeping patrons.
The hot tubs are single sex, and in different parts of the spa. These are naked. Yes. Naked. You must disrobe and shower prior to entering the hot tubs. There are multiple hot tubs each one labeled with a digital thermometer above it so that you can try out the hot tubs that are kept at varying temperatures. They are incredible relaxing.
It is worth noting at this point that going to the Korean spa is really best done a a group experience. It is a time for conversation, and relaxation. For catching up with friends. It is clear from my visits to the Korean spas, both in Atlanta and Seoul, that this is part of a regular ritual for friends of many years - and I can understand why!
After the hot tub, my friend and I decided to get the body scrub. Basically, there is a line of tables (reminiscent of cadaver tables) and you lay down on one, naked. Then a Korean woman (they are always old women) comes out - their uniform is black lacy bras and panties. (No, I don't know why). They wear exfoliating mits, and scrub down every inch of your body from head to toe to relieve you of any dead skin that may have been lurking. It doesn't hurt, but I wouldn't exactly call it relaxing. But, afterwards... Oh, afterwards, your skin is the softest thing ever. I would venture to say even softer than a baby's butt (I'm confident in this because a 6 month old baby's butt was waiting to greet me when I returned to the states). It is magical.
The spa also has sleeping rooms, a restaurant with light but typical Korean fare, a gym to exercise (but, why?), and many more features. I'm a fan.
I have vowed to add this to my list of regular haunts anytime I'm in Korea.
And as a funny post-script, as I told my husband about this experience, he suggested I watch a tv program he'd seen recently. It features George Foreman, William Shatner, Henry Winkler, and Terry Bradshaw visiting foreign countries and generally making fools of themselves. Of course, in Korea, they went to a Korean spa. As we watched the show, it was apparent to me that they went to MY Korean spa. A link to this episode is available here. At least for now.
