In this podcast Rachel Javier and I discuss the benefits for single travellers of staying at Chiva-Som International Health Resort in Thailand.
Click here to listen to the podcast or read the transcript below.
Transcript:
Rachel has a great deal of knowledge of the world famous Chiva-Som International Health Resort which is one of the top spas in the world.
Narrator
Welcome to the luxury travel podcast where you’ll discover information on luxury travel right around the world and hear amazing stories, tips and secrets from experts and luxury world travelers. Please fasten your seat belt low and tight and remain seated for the show. Now here’s your luxury travel Captain
Allen Suss.
Welcome, everyone. This is Allen Suss from TravelManagers, Australia speaking today with Rachel Javier Sales Manager of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory for TraveltheWorld and also the Australian and New Zealand representative of Chiva Som. Hello, Rachel.
Rachel Javier
Hi, Allen. Thanks for having me today.
Allen Suss
Pleasure. Today we’re going to be talking about the solo traveler to Chiva-Som. Would you like to talk a little bit about that, as a solo traveler, Chiva-Som, would they feel welcome?
Rachel Javier
Definitely, definitely. So make you feel welcome right from arrival at the airport, for example, in Bangkok, where we can organize to meet the solo travelers, so they don’t have to worry about being overwhelmed, by going through customs, and transiting through and trying to find their way down to Hua Hin, which is located about 200 kilometers south of Bangkok. So we’ll pick them up, in an air conditioned Mercedes Benz and transport them. I’ll fast track them through customs, and they’ll arrive refreshed at Chiva-Som in about two and a half hours after arriving into Bangkok. How does that sound like Allen?
Allen Suss
That’s fantastic. Especially if you are a solo traveler, to have someone meet you there, meet and greet, and take you all the way to Hua Hin to Chiva Som is absolutely fantastic. It’s great news to know that you’re being looked after, as soon as you get off the plane. And also I believe you fast track people out from the, through passport control and also through baggage control as well.
Rachel Javier
Correct. That’s what we do. So your hand is held the whole way. So you don’t have to worry about being alone, not speaking the language. And yet, we’re just focused on making sure that you arrived at our resort in one piece, and also refreshed and ready for your your journey with us.
Allen Suss
So what can a solo traveler expect once they arrive at Chiva-Som?
Rachel Javier
Okay, so upon arrival, you met by the staff, and you do your registration. And admittedly there is a bit of paperwork to fill in. But we really want to get to know you. We want to get to know why you’re actually come to Chiva-Som. And it’s all about personalizing your journey while you’re there. So what will happen is once your paperwork is filled out, we’ll run through the different options that are available, as far as treatments and retreats. And your personal wellness consultant will devise a plan for you on a daily basis throughout your journey with us.
Now that health and wellness consultant will also answer any needs, or any questions that you have have during your stay with us. And then at the end of this day, before you depart, or they’ll meet you again, they’ll run through and get feedback from you. But also run through and see whether you’ve actually hit your goals as to why we’re there, whether it be anything to do with detox, or weight management, or emotional wellness, etc.
And they’ll also give you some takeaways as far as recipients that you’ve liked during your stay right through to their own personal number that they can be contacted on, and email address. So once you leave Chiva-Som on you’re never left on your own, you can always contact us and your personal wellness consultant to discuss anything further. Or if there’s something, a particular exercise that you’ve forgotten how to do, etc, they can advise you as well. Well, it’s all about continuing the journey after you leave with us and hoping that you’ll come back, hopefully, within the next year or six months to a year, to perhaps try a different treatment.
Allen Suss
Right? And also the next part solo traveler are they left to be by themselves, or they can do arrangements are made for them to meet with other people. Other travelers
Rachel Javier
Yep, on average. So the resort holds about 100 guests, when it’s full occupancy. But generally there are around 40 to 50 guests at the resort ranging in all different ages and couples as well as solo.
So with our solo travelers, especially at meals, or you’ve got the choice, of either eating by yourself because you just don’t feel like speaking to anyone or we have, what we call a Talk Table, and anyone can come and sit at Talk Table, whether you’re a solo traveler or a couple, or you’re very in a group of four, that are wanting to meet and talk to other people, and share experiences while you’re there. Also at the Talk Table, most of the time, they’ll also be a staff member from Chiva-Som on that will talk about their experiences at the resort and the different activities that they do, which is quite enlightening as well.
And with all the different activities, they’re based on either individual, so you can have individual one on one, for example, I had a one on one kickboxing, Muay Thai lesson. And other times, I will be part of a group yoga class. So it just depends on one, how many people at the resort at the time. But if you did want personalized one on one sessions, that can be organized for you. Or you can have group class sessions as well.
Allen Suss
Accommodation, would you like to talk a little bit about the accommodation that’s available there?
Rachel Javier
Basically Allen, there is two different types of accommodation.
There’s either the Ocean Resort rooms, which either have an ocean view room, and that’s an a multi level block. And, or there’s the Thai Pavilions, which are set in the beautiful gardens, and the Individual Pavilions, where it’s completely secluded, and it’s separate so that you’ve got your privacy as such, as opposed to being in a hotel block, the Thai Pavilions are a lot larger, they’re almost double in size to the normal room. So it gives you that spaciousness, and you are set in the garden. So if you love nature, it’s a great place to be.
Allen Suss
And obviously, you’re overlooking the sea?
Rachel Javier
There are a majority of the rooms do overlook the ocean, so there are ocean view rooms. It’s just that the, when you’re on the ground level, you can see through to the ocean, but you’re looking through the garden, through to the ocean, but on the higher level, you definitely do have an ocean view room, everything’s all air conditioned. But you can also turn the air conditioningthat’s off, and have fresh air.
Allen Suss
Oh, that’s good, what time does activity start in the morning
Rachel Javier
Generally, breakfast will start around 5.30 or 6 o’clock, or you can also go for, they always have a walk along the beach, before breakfast as well, which generally starts around 6am. And otherwise, you can do it on your own.
But pretty much they will tailor your day, towards your requirements. So if you’re not an earlybird, if you don’t get up, if you don’t want to get up at six o’clock in the morning. You don’t have to, you can get up at seven, you can get up at eight. It’s totally up to you. But having said that, the beachwalk, amazing and watching the sunrise as well. So if you can get up there early to watch a sunrise. Yeah, it’s a great feeling to start your day.
Allen Suss
Right. So meals, we talk a little bit about meals?
Rachel Javier
Chiva-Som, is fully inclusive as far as meals and activities go. So you have three nutritious, well balanced meals a day. And then you can have snacks in between, those could be anything from healthy nutritional oatmeal biscuits, through to fruit. And there’s healthy teas as well that are available. Green tea, jasmine tea and all the different varieties throughout the day, which is all inclusive.
And as far as the activity is concerned, you have up to eight different activities included in your day. Now, some people think are that’s a lot. Some people think, Oh, I can do more than that. And but you have eight included, anything above that, then it is an additional cost. But believe me, I haven’t seen anyone go over eight activities during the day.
So they generally last anything between half an hour to an hour. So generally you do four, before, in between breakfast and lunch. And then you have a little break for lunch. And then you do really do four again, between lunch and dinner. So by the evening, when evening comes around, after dinner, most of people do retire quite early around nine and generally don’t go past 10, 10pm. And then the day starts again.
Allen Suss
I’m sure they’d be pretty tired by then. I see Chiva-Som has been voted the world’s best destination spa. Would you like to talk about that?
Rachel Javier
Absolutely. Chiva-Som is the most accoladed Health and Spa Resort in the world, mainly because of a few things.
One, it was one of the very first Health Spa Resort in the world that started back in 1995. And also recently refurbished in 2018-19. And also, it’s a complete holistic experience. So they focus on your mind, your body and your spirit. So, and it’s a complete personal journey, as I’ve explained and it’s all about going above and beyond during the state, but then as I mentioned also after. And also the sustainability and the Eco tourism as well.
Chiva-Som has a Market Garden, and they try and grow all their produce on site, as well as they have off site, and so therefore, a lot of the meals, the ingredients are actually grown by the resort itself. And they’re all about, they do a lot of local government initiatives with regards to the planting of trees, and anything to do with sustainability.
Allen Suss
That is excellent. I believe you also have a physiotherapy service there as well?
Rachel Javier
We do. That’s part of one of the included treatments. So for example, if you’re there to re-energize, or you’re there for physical fitness, there is a physiotherapist that are on call 24/7. And also, it’s one of the treatments that’s part of the different programs or retreat, if you choose to certain ones with physiotherapy is included.
Allen Suss
I also heard that electronic devices are banned in public, public areas. Is that right?
Rachel Javier
Yes, that is correct. So at Chiva-Som, we’re focusing, as we mentioned on mind, body and spirit, so, we want to deter the use of any electronics as much as possible. And it’s for a couple of reasons.
One, it’s really not any electronics is really not conducive to your well being, so to speak. Therefore, there is Wi Fi, but only in accessible in your room. So therefore, if it is banned any electronics in the public space for that reason, but also, because a lot of time, you’re going between treatments, and you’re just in your white robe, with your, either active wear or bathers, underneath your white robe, and you’ve got no makeup on, and you’ve just come out of a Thai boxing session, and you’re completely sweaty. And, so like, no one wants to see you, that way.
And also, there’s a lot of celebrities that do visit our resort, to take advantage of our holistic treatments, and therefore their privacy is very much respected. So there’s no selfies to be taken with any of the celebrities that go there, etc. And I think it’s a great thing to detach yourself from what’s going on in the outside world for at least the time that you’re there, and to actually focus on yourself.
Allen Suss
So some of our clients or celebrities, they will, will have had privacy, and their privacy will be respected.
Rachel Javier
Absolutely. Absolutely. And you actually do sign a disclaimer to that effect, that you will not use your devices, or electronic devices in public areas. And if they do catch you, you’d get a couple of warnings, and then they will actually confiscate the device, and give it back to you at the end of your stay.
Allen Suss
That sounds fair enough to me, what do you like best about Chiva-Som?
Rachel Javier
The whole holistic approach, where you concentrate purely on yourself and your whole personalized journey. And the staff are just absolutely amazing. They’re so attentive, and nothing is too hard for them, right down to a specific request.
As far as dietary requirements concerned, and also the going above and beyond, where you can actually contact the resort. or your wellness consultant after you actually left the resort. And I still do that now. Like if it’s something that I’ve misplaced, or find something that with regards to a recipe or a particular exercise, they can look up your details on the computer, and they can send it to you via email, or they can chat to you over the phone as well.
And more so as well with there’s an emotional well being retreat that you can do whilst at the resort. And I think that the absolutely magnificent to do it now, after the pandemic, just to rejuvenate yourself mentally, it’d be great to go to Chiva-Som, and mentally refresh yourself.
And they’ve got also guest speakers that come to the resort and guest wellness consultants that focus on for example, the mind and anything to do with neuroscience. So it’s a learning experience as well, while you’re there, it’s not just health and wellness. So if you’re really into the mind, it’s definitely a place to go.
Allen Suss
And finally, do you think people, any solo traveler would really enjoy going to Chiva-Som
Rachel Javier
Definitely, definitely. Because you can connect with other like minded people. Or if you’re solo, and you just want to disconnect from everybody totally, you can do that as well. So and again, you just let your health and wellness consultants know why you’re actually therefore and they’ll just oblige by any requirements that you do have.
Allen Suss
Thank you very much, Rachel, before we finish, if anyone has any questions on Chiva Som and would like some answers, just make contact with me. And I will send your message to Rachel and we should get the answer for you. Thank you very much, Rachel.
Rachel Javier
You are most welcome Allen. Yeah, it was a pleasure talking to you today.
Allen Suss
This is Allen Suss from TravelManagers Australia. speaking today with Rachel Javier, the year Sales Manager for Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, and the Northern Territory, the Australian and New Zealand Representative of Chiva-Som, a most magnificent place to visit, and highly acclaimed spa and resort. In fact, it’s been voted the world’s best destination spa. So when we’re out of lockdown, there will be a great rush to, to go to Chiva-Som. Thank you very much.
Rachel Javier
Thanks, everyone, and we look forward to welcoming everyone to Chiva-Som in the near future.
Allen Suss
I hope, that you have enjoyed listening to my special guest today. Travelling and needing an experienced travel agent to help you book your trip? Call me directly on 0433 203 713 and as always be on the lookout for our next luxury travel podcast episode. This is Allen Suss of TravelManagers Australia, wishing you a wonderful day.
