In search for some R&R after a week of traveling in Spain, we came here a month ago to see if their experience was on par with their marketing.
Overall rating based on:
Space (design/layout/ambience) - 2.5
Service - 4
Amenities- 2
Space: stepping into the establishment, the dim atmosphere is accented by a meditative soundtrack, and the decor hints of North African influences. After checking in (booking completed online or over phone in advance), they usher you into a waiting area--a double-story courtyard with greenery and several seating arrangements of ottomans and divans centered around low tables offering warm sweet herbal tea or cold water. The staff instructs you to cover your shoes with plastic coverings that they provide to avoid soiling the interior floors, and then you wait to be called and brought into the changing rooms, just a short walk upstairs.
Walking out of the changing rooms you walk into the coed bath pools and sauna room area, where clients in swimsuits and robes can sit and unwind in between dips in the pools. A couple rinse-off shower areas outside the pool and sauna, and also low tables set up with water and sweet tea.
The regular warm bath is in the main pool room, w/ small hot and cold pools adjacent exterior to this pool. The cold one probably fits two people comfortably; the hot one 4-6. I enjoyed the salt water pool the most, easier to float and fit about 8-9 people comfortably. As some other reviewers mentioned the temp isn't that warm (maybe 78-80ish degrees F)in the regular and salt water pool, but in the sauna with 100% humidity it's a very warm 95+ degrees F. They also imbue the steam with some type of eucalyptus/lavender scent but the minty-ness of the eucalyptus is quite strong. It clears your sinuses but isn't for everyone.
The size of the interior space is on the smaller side considering the capacity. I came on a weekday night at 9pm during off-peak season and walking into the waiting area and subsequently the women's locker room, both areas looked to be at 75% capacity. However in the walkways bath pool areas, the amount of people when we arrived felt around max capacity for comfort.
If you booked a massage, once informed by the staff that your appointment was starting, you head upstairs from the bath pools to the massage room. This is a dimly lit, open space with about a dozen tables and masseuses, sheer curtains dividing sections of the room. They seemed very conscious about settling in one person or couple at a time, to avoid disturbing others, but overall it felt a bit cramped and without privacy considering you are topless laying about 5-6 feet from another table. The massage itself was a bit lighter pressure than I normally like, but considering the slight communication issue (below) I didn't mind and enjoyed it.
Service: the staff was cordial through the entire experience, providing explanations for each step of the process. Inside the changing room there was a staff member handing out water shoes, robes and towels. With no clocks inside the pool areas, you rely on the staff to call names each time an appointment is starting. Mine started a bit later than scheduled, but I didn't mind since it meant more time in the pools and sauna. Not knowing what time it was, I checked in a few times with the staff, to be informed my appointment was not up yet. During the massage, considering my lack of Spanish language skills, I had a difficulty explaining which areas to go easier/harder on, though I felt the masseuse tried her best to understand.
Amenities: I appreciated the L'occitane shower gel, shampoo and conditioner, and the bath robes for wearing between the pools and other areas. There are hooks outside each area to hang up your robe when not using, however outside the main pools there was a dearth of open spots during the busiest time. The aforementioned water shoes were useful considering how wet the spa spaces are, helpful to keep you from slipping, however not very comfortable for walking, like wearing wet shoes. Aside from the nice wash gels and yummy tea, this felt like a no-frills spa. There are shower stalls, two single bathrooms and two mirrored double-sink areas inside the women's changing room. Basically no other amenities except a hair dryer, one trash can; no tissues, hand towels, or plastic bags for putting your wet swimsuit into. I peaked into the special room for the wine soaking experience, which looked nice and mostly private.
I would suggest the management to add some method of drying off feet and shoes before walking into the changing areas. The water shoes are great to prevent slipping, but basically the entire changing floor is wet which makes it difficult when you're trying to change into and out of your dry clothes. Also would suggest more curtained sections in the massage area for more privacy. read more