As a longtime New York City resident, I am used to ambling from Point A to Point B rather than taking public transportation whenever time permits. But I learned within a few hours of touching down in Bangkok that it is not a walking city. The constant heat and humidity coupled with a lack of sidewalks and bustling crowds in many areas make it a challenge to navigate on foot and, after a day of touring the sprawling Grand Palace—a massive complex with highlights including a 150-foot long reclining gold Buddha and a far smaller but no less impressive Emerald Buddha carved from a single slab of jade—I wanted nothing more than to escape somewhere tranquil and far from the estimated 22,000 people who visit the Palace daily.

Fortunately, the Anantara Riverside Bangkok Resort offers a serene atmosphere that feels millions of miles from the mayhem. Situated on the less populous west bank of the Chao Phraya River, the resort boasts 11 acres of greenery and spectacular river views from the private balconies of its rooms and suites, all of which allude to classic Thai style with dark wood finishes, paintings of the Grand Palace flecked with gold leaf, and ancient inscriptions adorning the walls while also offering modern amenities. 

In addition, the property has two spa options: one for those focused on prevention and another for those looking to undo the damage that’s been done by too many hours in front of computer screens. The BDMS Wellness Clinic Retreat, affiliated with a local hospital, offers preventative treatments ranging from IV drips to Ultimate Hydration Facials and Spirulina Body Wraps. Unbeknownst to me, my 60-minute appointment for a facial and IV drip (made with a mix of anti-inflammatories, antioxidants, Vitamin B12, and other vitamins that are known to combat jet lag) included a 20-minute pre-treatment chat with a resident MD, at which he asked perfunctory questions about my diet, exercise routine, and sleep habits. Ultimately, the facial, which the attentive therapist performed with an electro-mesotherapy wand, left my skin hydrated and glowing, and the IV drip did help to lift my brain fog.  

Focused on traditional healing modalities, the property’s Anantara Spa offers signature treatments to dissolve physical and mental tension and restore energy flow. Having just touched down and already having difficulty adjusting to the time difference, I booked my husband and me a couples’ Himalayan Thermal Stone Therapy Massage at the spa on our first afternoon in Bangkok. I consider myself well-versed in the healing power of gemstones and minerals, having ghostwritten a book called “Elemental Energy,” but my husband, a professional skeptic, wasn’t nearly as excited about the treatment. The heated, pink- and amber-tinted Himalayan salt stones helped to detoxify and ease both muscle tension and inflammation. 

After a short walk over to the spa through an Instagram-worthy manicured flora and fauna landscape, we were offered hot tea and a cool, lemongrass-scented cold towel before being shuttled into a suite with a private changing area, shower, and bathroom. My therapist offered us white cotton robes and disposable black undergarments.  Before long, we were on the tables ready for the massage. I attempted to focus on the soothing clickety-clack of the salt stones being strategically placed along my spine and in the palms of my upward-facing hands—immediately releasing what felt like years of accumulated tension from a different type of clickety-clacking on my laptop every day.

I’ve always considered hot stone massages a bit of a cheat, since the therapist typically relies on them, rather than the strength of their hands, to break up any knots. But my therapist employed a winning combination of strong strokes that glided over my well-oiled skin and the stones’ weight and warmth to ease my stubborn shoulders and screaming glutes.

A rose quartz gua sha was then stroked across my jawline and around my eyes, while an oversized warm cloth was applied to my upper back and shoulders. My husband and I both emerged from the treatment feeling refreshed and invigorated. Had the 84 minerals and trace elements in the stones turned my husband into a believer…maybe. We were both out cold by 6 pm, and I realized that my husband may finally be starting to understand the benefits of a good massage.