How to find a legitimate four-hands massage near you

Four-hands is a premium spa service, so it is rarer than a standard massage. Here is how to find it and know what you are booking.

Where to look

• Hotel and resort spas (five-star properties list it by name).
• Thai and Balinese spas, where it is a traditional offering.
• Day spas with four or more therapists on shift; ask even if it is not on the menu.
• Massage schools, for supervised, discounted sessions.

What a legitimate listing looks like

• Named duration and price for "four hands" or "duo" massage.
• Licensed therapists (US: state license numbers on request).
• An intake form and a cancellation policy.

Questions to ask

"Do the two therapists work synchronized or alternating?", "Can I choose the pressure?", "Is the room private?" A professional spa answers all three without hesitation.

Avoid

Listings with no address, photos of models instead of the room, prices quoted only by phone, or euphemisms in the description. Those are not spas and the experience will not be a massage.