Bodyworks Spa — Attraction in Pulau Bali

I had my hair and nails done at Body Works Spa, and while there were some highlights, the overall experience left me a bit underwhelmed.

Starting with the positives: I had a lovely gel manicure that lasted really well and didn’t damage my nails, which is always a win. I was unwell during my visit and had lost my voice, but the staff were kind and kept me going with cups of ginger tea, a really thoughtful touch that I appreciated.

However, the experience didn’t quite live up to the hype in other areas. The spa has a stunning interior, but I felt it leaned more towards style over substance. I’m blonde and booked a full head of highlights based on good reviews. The process took a very long time, and while the result wasn’t terrible, it was just okay. My hair ended up quite brassy, and the bleach had been applied unevenly, leaving patchy sections at the roots, disappointing given the time and cost (approx £140) involved.

As a photographer, I always like to capture beautiful spaces, and I had brought along my small camera to snap a couple of shots of the interior. Almost immediately, a staff member approached and informed me that photography wasn’t allowed, not for privacy reasons (which I would have understood), but because they charge an additional fee to take photos inside. I found this a bit odd. I understand they want to control how the space is represented, perhaps to discourage influencer overload, but I was just hoping for a couple of unobtrusive shots to share on my Instagram. Meanwhile, others were freely taking iPhone photos with no issue, which made the whole situation feel inconsistent and slightly unfair. The staff member was polite, but the policy felt unnecessary and overly strict.

All in all, I’m on the fence about returning. While some parts of the experience were genuinely lovely, others left me feeling a little...

Unlike most people who came to this place, I've never seen it on social media. When I saw Bodyworks Spa on Google Maps, I decided to book a session for myself. It was a little bit alarming however, as a lot of people complained about the terrible service and rushing masseuse. I gave it the benefit of the doubt, and hoped to be proven wrong. I booked a Full Body Massage (80 mins + shower) at 9am. I came earlier at 8.30am to walk around and take photos at their beautiful property. My check in was really smooth, and I was greeted by the staff who offered chilled towel. Everyone was so friendly! Upon check in I was asked to fill in a form, asking my preferences (which area to focus on or to avoid, etc), which later to be handed over to the masseuse. My masseuse was a very friendly lady called Dani. I got a green room (the rooms come in different colours apparently), and I chose a single room when I booked my session. The session started with feet scrubbing with salt & lime, and then moving on to the main session. It was so so good that I probably feel asleep very briefly. The pressure was on point, the massage oil smelt wonderful, the room temperature was perfect and the music complemented the whole experience. The masseuse certainly didn't rush to finish her job. She was really taking her time working on the areas that were a bit problematic (mine were shoulders). After the massage, I took a shower in the bathtub (single use bar soap and towel were provided, but no shampoo, so bring your own) for about 10 mins. My entire session ended right on time, and again, wasn't rushed at all. I then enjoyed the infused water in the lobby (ginger tea was also provided) before exploring Bali. It was such a great experience, and I would recommend getting there as early as possible....

Absolutely loved my experience here! This place is so popular on IG for being aesthetic that I assumed it would be cute for pics but probably just an okay experience - however I was very pleasantly surprised.

I came for a full body massage 70 mins and signature facial. They advise you to arrive 10-15 minutes earlier than your scheduled appointment to take photos. You can also take photos in between treatments (like I did) or even after your treatments too though.

There was a short form to fill in before starting with the massage / facial about preferences (e.g. massage pressure, areas to focus on or avoid, etc.) which was nice so there was no need to interrupt the massage halfway through with what you wanted or didn’t want. The massage was done in a private room with nice tranquil music. The masseuse I had was really good - pressure was spot on and it was sooo relaxing. The only downside was that there were some construction noises that I could hear but that’s to be expected in Bali. They also give you 10 mins to take a quick shower after the massage.

Then it was time for my facial - this time it was in a shared room with one other person (same gender room). The start time is the same so that there isn’t someone coming in and out during the treatment. Again, very nice and relaxing. While the face mask is on you even get some face / shoulder / neck massages which was lovely.

Overall, I’m super impressed not just with the cute photos you can take here but the quality! The service was amazing and I could find no faults with either the massage or facial. I’d definitely come again...