Good massage place near the Le Meridien ?

Hi, all the helpful people here,

We are looking for good massage places - should be clean, reasonably-priced and the service and skills good. Beautiful and quiet environment is a plus. We have visited many of the webs on different wellbeing spas at Sabah city centre but nearly all are subjected to government tax with some even service charge. We would like to do some relaxing body massage (preferrably the style unique to the place)+ foot reflextology. Our budget is 100-130 Malay dollars an hour of treatment. Any suggestion ?

Good massage place near the Le Meridien ?

errr....don%26#39;t quite get the comment on government tax? The govt. tax is required by law to be paid to the Customs department by all establishments offering services to the public. Are you saying that you are looking for an illegal establishment....

Good massage place near the Le Meridien ?

Massages in Malaysia unfortunately are not as cheap as they are in Indonsia or Thailand.

There%26#39;s a couple of run-of-the-mill places in Centrepoint - I%26#39;ve been to Helen Reflexology, which was nothing to shout about. In Warisan Square there are about 2 as well, atmosphere is better, but I have no personal experience.

In Grace Square, opposite the Sutera Harbour property, there is a massage place which is quite decent and in the Tanjung Aru Plaza shopping centre there%26#39;s one too.

Goods and services here are usually taxed - the Government tax is like GST or VAT and the service charge is a service levy - who knows why they don%26#39;t just quote it in a total price, but you pay it on almost everything.

For the best spa experiences you will have to visit either Mandara Spa at Sutera Harbour Resort or CHI the Spa at Shangri%26#39;La%26#39;s Tanjung Aru Resort. They are by far the best spa experiences I%26#39;ve had in KK, but they cost significantly more - it%26#39;s well worth it though...

Hey, guys,

I don%26#39;t know we have to pay government taxes. Thanks for your information anyway.

Hi, Eastofwest,

Do we have to pay tips at restaurants (only the high-end ones need so, right?), to hotel porters (how much per person will be appropriate?) and at the massage place ?

Hi again fatoil - the service charge on most bills is usually 10% and because of that, you don%26#39;t have to tip, as technically you%26#39;ve already paid for the service, high end or not.

This goes for most things, as you really are paying for everything already, and tipping does not form part of most service staff%26#39;s salaries here (although the included service charge does).

Whichever scenario, restaurant, massage, concierge - if you feel the person you%26#39;re dealing with did more than the salary they%26#39;re getting paid, tip. If you feel it was nothing extraordinary, don%26#39;t tip.

A tip for good effort usually goes a long way in terms of goodwill though :)

I visited KK in 2007 and found the most beautifully serene place - Ka%26#39;andaman Healing Garden www.kaandamanspa.com.my. It is 10 - 15 mins out of the City but they will collect you from your hotel. I had a 3 1/2 hour package for $438, it was just divine. We are returning in July and have just e mailed them for their prices - no increase at all. A one hour massage is $158 with a foot bath - this is a little above your budget but it can%26#39;t be compared to a massage in a shopping centre! We stay at the STAR but their spa prices are out of our league!