Planning a couples spa day in Goa

What should a couples spa treatment include?

A proper couples spa treatment puts two people in the same room, with two therapists, for the same length of time, starting and finishing together. That is the version most couples picture. Many spas use the word more loosely, and a couples package can turn out to be two separate rooms booked back to back, which is a very different experience on an anniversary. Before paying, ask four things. Is there a double treatment room, or will you be in separate rooms? Do both treatments run for the same duration, so one of you is not waiting in a robe? Is there shared time before or after, such as a steam room or a quiet space to sit together? And can each person choose a different treatment in the same slot? A good spa answers all four without hesitation. At Marbela, couples treatments are not confirmed on the published information, so put these questions directly to the resort.

Questions for the spa before you book

Send these on email or WhatsApp so both of you can see the answers before the day.

1. Do you offer couples treatments in a shared room?
2. What is on the current menu, and what are the prices including taxes?
3. How long is each treatment, and does that include changing time?
4. Can we choose male or female therapists?
5. Which oils do you use? Mention any allergies now.
6. Is a steam room available, and is it included?
7. What happens if we need to move or cancel the slot?

Where to relax after the treatment

The hour after a couples treatment matters as much as the treatment, and a private space to spend it in makes the day. The Spa Villa Rooms at Marbela each have a private outdoor spa area and an open-air shower, set among the gardens. Walking back to your own outdoor space, rather than a busy pool deck, keeps the calm going. Be clear about what the space is. It is not a private pool or a hot tub, and Marbela does not have rooms with their own pools, so couples searching for a Goa resort where every villa has its own pool should look elsewhere. The resort's outdoor pool is shared and sits next to the beach club, which plays house music through the day. For a quiet evening, time the treatment for late afternoon, shower in the open air, and walk to Meso for the sunset, which falls between 6:01 PM and 7:09 PM depending on the month, by timeanddate's figures for Panaji.

What is known about Marbela Spa for two?

Marbela Spa's confirmed details are few, so couples should treat them as a starting point. Trip.com lists body treatments, facials and a steam room, which gives two people shared time before or after a treatment. A guest review quoted on the resort page mentions spa services brought to the door, and a treatment in your own Spa Villa would be the most private version of a couples session, if it is offered on your dates. Back in 2012, a Navhind Times feature described beach reflexology by one of the spa's masseuses; that is history, not a current menu. The official site describes bespoke treatments but publishes no menu, prices or couples room, so ask before planning an anniversary around it.

A spa day for two, hour by hour

This plan keeps food light before the treatment and saves the celebration for the evening.

Which season suits a spa trip for two?

November to February is the most comfortable season for a couples spa trip to Goa, with dry, mild weather and clear sunsets, but spa slots and rooms fill quickly, especially over Christmas and New Year. Couples planning a New Year's Eve stay at Marbela should know that check-out on 31 December is not permitted, so a booking that covers that night runs to 1 January. March to May is hotter and quieter, and an indoor treatment in the afternoon heat makes good sense. The June to September monsoon brings heavy rain, green gardens, lower rates and a closed sea. Rain on an outdoor spa area is either romantic or a nuisance, depending on the couple. Anniversary couples might like to know that, according to a Santabanta report, actor Hrithik Roshan threw an anniversary party for friends at Marbela Beach in December 2010.

Booking your spa day

Email info@marbelabeach.com or call +91 91588 81185 to ask about couples treatments and the current menu. Book a Meso sunset table on the table booking page and check Spa Villa rates on the booking engine. Our guides to choosing a spa in North Goa, the Spa Villa, anniversaries in Goa and honeymoon resorts cover the rest of the trip.