What does a Maltepe spa have, and what doesn't it have?
There is no hammam at the Burgu Arjaan by Rotana location. We say this first because people who search for "Maltepe spa" are not all looking for the same thing. Some want a hammam and a scrub, some want a massage, and some simply want an evening in a sauna and steam room. The Burgu location is for the second and third groups.
What you will find: massage, skin care, body masks, a sauna, a steam room and one couples' massage room. What you won't find, and it is better to say so plainly: a hammam, open access to the hotel's pool for spa guests, and a gym run by Beatus. The fitness centre inside the hotel (Bodylines) is a separate business, and its terms are set by that business.
Because the list is short, the plan is simple: you build an order and a rhythm around three things, the sauna, the steam room and the massage. Fitting hot rooms and a massage into one evening takes a more flexible approach than a hammam day, which is usually a ritual of a few hours. Below we go through how to put it together step by step. If you want the general flow of a hotel massage first, our earlier Maltepe massage hotel guide is the place to start; this article does not repeat it and focuses on planning the day.
How does the difference between a sauna and a steam room affect your plan?
A sauna gives dry heat and a steam room gives humid heat. Both are hot rooms, and if you are going to use both you need to leave a cooling-down break between them. We explain the difference in detail in sauna vs steam room vs hammam.
Three practical points follow for planning your day.
- One hot room, a break, then another. Rather than going straight from the sauna into the steam room, take a shower and rest in between. It is more comfortable and it is the more sensible approach.
- Set the time by how your body feels. Harvard Health Publishing suggests staying in a sauna for no more than 15 to 20 minutes at a time, cooling down slowly afterwards, and drinking a few glasses of cold water after each session. If you don't feel well, head for the door. This is an upper limit, not a target, and staying a shorter time is perfectly fine.
- Alcohol and medication. The same source advises avoiding alcohol before and after the sauna, and avoiding medicines that can interfere with sweating. If you take medication, ask your doctor.
InfoFinland's guide to the Finnish sauna points the same way: shower before you go in, sit on a towel on the bench, take breaks and drink water. It also says you should not go into a sauna when you have a fever or are ill. These are not Beatus rules; they are the general etiquette of sauna use, and you can ask our specialists about this location's own practices before your session.
Hot rooms are not suitable for everyone. If you have a health condition, are pregnant or are sensitive to heat, talk to your doctor before the sauna, the steam room and the massage.
Choosing a massage: Thai or Balinese?
At the Maltepe location the massage specialists come from Bali and Nepal, and both Thai and Balinese massage are offered. The two sessions run differently. According to the description on the location page, Thai massage is done on a mat, in clothing, with a focus on stretching, while Balinese massage is done on a table with warm oil and flowing strokes.
On a spa day the difference shows up like this: with Thai massage you stretch on a mat in loose clothing, and with Balinese massage you lie on a table and receive flowing strokes with oil. Which one comes first or last is a matter of preference, not a rule. Some guests want a sauna before a Balinese massage, others want to rest in the steam room after a Thai massage. Just tell the location the order you'd like when you book.
For the background and the technical differences between the two, read Thai vs Balinese massage. Which massage is done for how long at this location is something to ask in your message; menu names and durations can differ from one location to another, so we don't list them one by one here.
Talk about pressure too. Tell your specialist what you prefer at the start of the session, and if it feels too firm or too light, say so during the session as well. NCCIH, part of the US National Institutes of Health, writes that massage generally appears to be low risk, but that serious side effects such as blood clots, nerve injury or bone fractures have been reported on rare occasions, some of them linked to firmer types of massage such as deep tissue or to people at higher risk of injury. If you have a medical condition, check with your doctor before you book.
A spa-day plan: in what order, and for how many hours?
Start by asking yourself how much time you have. The three patterns below give a rough frame for different amounts of time. The times are our planning suggestions; the real length of a massage on the menu, and the time set aside for the sauna and steam room, are confirmed with the location.
| Pattern | When it suits | Suggested order |
|---|---|---|
| Quick break | After work, 1.5 to 2 hours | A short sauna or steam, then a massage. Don't rush when the session ends. |
| A full evening | Weekday evening or weekend, close to 3 hours | Sauna, cool down, steam room, rest, massage, final rest |
| Holiday day | Public holiday, bayram, 3.5 hours or more | Any order you like; put the massage in the middle and split the hot rooms into two parts |
Ask yourself three more questions.
- When do I want the massage? People who like a short warm-up before a massage put the sauna first. People who like to rest in the steam after a massage leave it for the end. Both work.
- What gaps will I leave? Leave short breaks between the sauna and the steam room, and before and after the massage. The International SPA Association (ISPA) suggests arriving about 30 minutes before your session; if you also plan to use the sauna and steam room, it makes sense to allow a little more.
- What will I do afterwards? A spa day should end calmly. It is better not to go straight into a busy meeting or a long drive. Write that into your plan.
The location has not yet told us its last appointment time, so we don't give one here. If you want to combine the sauna, steam room and massage late in the evening, add the question "what is the latest I can start?" to your message.
For two people: the couples' massage room
The Maltepe location has one couples' massage room, where two people can have a massage at the same time in the same room. Because there is only one, it helps to plan a booking for two in advance. How a couples' massage works, and how to choose one, is covered in our couples massage guide.
In your message, say that there are two of you, the day and time you would like, and which massage you are thinking of (Thai, Balinese, or "not sure"). Ask which massage types are done in the couples' room. If you also want to use the sauna and steam room, say so separately and the location will plan the time accordingly.
A note: the couples' room is a massage room, and there is no hammam in it. If you are planning an evening for two, set your expectations accordingly.
Public holidays and weekends: is it open, and can you get a slot?
The Maltepe location is open every day from 10:00 to 22:00, public holidays included. Hours can change during bayram and on special days, so confirm with the location before you come on a holiday. The status line on the location page also shows whether it is open at that moment.
Holidays and weekends are the days when most people are free, so it makes sense to ask about a suitable time in advance. If you'd like to come in the morning or the afternoon, give two options rather than one time, and the location will tell you which suits.
Getting there and where to park
The spa is on the ground floor and is entered through the hotel's main door. There is a "Beatus Spa" sign at the entrance of the building. Parking is open to spa guests and there is no valet service. The location has not told us about a parking fee, so it is worth asking when you book.
By public transport, according to the location page, the Maltepe metro station (M4) is about 8 minutes on foot, 500 metres away. The M4 line runs between Kadıköy and Sabiha Gökçen Airport, so you can use it from the Kadıköy and Kartal side. The time depends on where you start; for a current route, use the directions link on the location page.
This is the only Beatus location on the Asian side of Istanbul. If you live on the European side, you can find the other Istanbul locations on the Istanbul spa page.
What if you are looking for a hammam?
If you are looking for a hammam, the Maltepe location is not for you. Knowing that before you set out saves your time and the location's phone line.
Beatus has other Istanbul locations that offer a hammam, and you can see how each one is arranged on its location page. The Istanbul spa page is a good place to compare them. If you are wondering whether you would prefer a hammam in a hotel spa or in a historic bath, Turkish bath in Istanbul: historic hammam or hotel hammam explains the difference. For the culture itself, the Türkiye Turizm Ansiklopedisi (Turkey Tourism Encyclopaedia) entry on the hamam says that in the spa centres of many hotels today the hammam is a space that keeps this culture alive. To read about the ritual itself, see our Turkish bath page.
If you read this and think "a sauna, a steam room and a massage are enough for me", the Maltepe location is made for you.
Preparing for your spa day: what to bring and what is provided
Massage guests are given a towel and a peştemal (a thin cotton wrap). Beyond that, you are welcome to bring your own personal care items. A few small habits make the day easier.
- Silence your phone. ISPA reminds guests that mobile phones and loud conversation are out of place in a spa.
- Leave jewellery off. ISPA suggests removing jewellery, or not bringing it, and taking off hats before a treatment.
- Drink water. Drinking water before and after hot rooms is advice shared by the Harvard and InfoFinland guides.
- Arrive early. ISPA considers arriving about 30 minutes before your session a sensible rule.
Preferences about the specialist differ from one location to another. If you have a request about the gender of your specialist, ask the location when you book and get the answer confirmed. ISPA also advises spa guests to state any such preference at the time of booking. If you and your specialist share no language, a translation app is used.
Before you call: four common wrong expectations
Most questions about the Maltepe location come from one of four expectations. Weighing them up front makes booking quicker.
- "I'll use the hammam too." There is no hammam. The hot rooms are a sauna and a steam room.
- "I'll swim in the hotel pool." The hotel pool is not open to spa guests.
- "I'll work out and then go to the spa." The fitness centre in the building is a separate business, so you need to ask that business about entry and conditions.
- "I have to stay at the hotel." You don't. Guests from outside can also book spa services by appointment.
Once those four are clear, what is left is the day, the time, the number of people and your massage preference, and one message covers all of it.
How is the price decided?
We don't publish prices on the website; you can get the current price and an available time from the location's WhatsApp line or by phone. The main factors behind a price are the type of service, the length of the session and how many people are coming. A single massage, a skin-care session and a couples' massage differ in length and scope, so quoting a number here would be misleading. You can read how massage and hammam prices are set, which explains the logic without numbers.
Booking: what to write on WhatsApp
Bookings are made by phone or WhatsApp; there is no online booking engine. The call card at the top of the page has the Maltepe location's phone and WhatsApp link, and you only need to tap the button. WhatsApp messages are usually answered within about 5 minutes.
Put five things in your message: how many people you are, the day and time range, the services you want (massage, sauna, steam), your massage preference (Thai, Balinese or "not sure") and anything special. An example message:
Hello, I'm planning a spa day at the Maltepe location. On Saturday between 14:00 and 18:00, two of us would like to use the sauna and steam room and then have a Balinese massage in the couples' massage room. Is there a slot available? What are the massage duration options? Is there anything we should know about parking? Thank you.
If you are coming alone, you could write:
Hello, I'd like to come on Thursday evening at around 19:00 after work. I'd like a Thai massage after the sauna and steam room. Is that time available, and what are the massage durations? Thank you.
Questions that are worth adding to your message:
- Are the sauna and steam room open at the day and time I've chosen?
- Is it better to have the massage before or after the sauna and steam?
- What durations are there for Thai and Balinese massage?
- Is the couples' room free at that time for two people?
- Is there anything I should know about parking?
- If I need to communicate in another language, how do we manage?
There is no need to ask "do you have a hammam?" at the end of your message; there isn't one. And instead of writing details about your health in WhatsApp, simply tell your specialist at the start of the session. The address, map and call buttons are together on the Burgu Arjaan by Rotana location page, and the massage menu is on our massage page. If you have never been to a hotel spa before, your first time at a hotel spa walks through the general flow.
