Best Bali spa destinations

One of the main draw cards of Bali is the extremely affordable spa and beauty treatments. I had always known that, yet somehow on my two prior visit I managed to skip this element of the island completely - even though I adore a good massage. This time I set out to change all that by having at least one per day. Indulgent, right? But I was in major need of some de-stressing and serious relaxation.

This is probably a good time to send thanks to our wedding celebrant Shannon, who sent me a little booklet of all her Bali picks. Everywhere she recommended was fantastic, which means even more when there is a "massage" parlour every 10 metres. Here are the three top places we rated for affordable beauty treatments in Bali:

* Body Works, Seminyak: This was a tranquil spa in the heart of Seminyak with a wide treatment menu that ranged from massages to facials, hair therapies and beauty services. While slightly more on the pricey end of the scale, the lovely setting and private rooms really added to the experience and I would go back in a heartbeat. We paid about AU$14 for a 30-minute back, neck and shoulder massage on our first day.

* Smart Spa, Kuta: LOVED this place! It's a simple but clean and inviting two-storey salon on Jalan Pantai Kuta with a long menu and extremely attractive prices. We first visited for a 30-minute foot and leg massage that set us back $5, and the next day returned for a one-hour Balinese full body massage for $10. On our final day we were back again and this time I didn't want to leave, so I had another one-hour massage followed by 30-minute foot and head massages, with the total two-hour package costing about $22 including tipping. The staff were all so skilled and friendly, and like their brochure says, "You'll want to come back again the next day!"

* Think Pink Nails, Seminyak: We made bookings for this New York-style nail bar for our final day to indulge in some beauty treatments before coming back home. I'd say their prices are not the cheapest for Bali standards - about half the price you would pay in Australia for a mani/pedi etc, but the quality was fantastic. Lucy and I both got OPI gel polish manicures with a glitter gradient effect plus OPI gel pedis, and they by far beat the standard that I usually get back home (and for a total of $45 together). The staff really took their time to ensure a good result and were very professional. I had heard horror stories about people getting eyelash extensions elsewhere in Bali (using super glue, eep!) so I was unsure as to whether I would get this done while on holiday, but decided to go ahead at Think Pink. Once again I was very happy with the result and the full set of silk extensions set me back just $35 (compared to $16 at dodgy street salons).