The experience was so nice that we booked it twice! Let me preface this review by stating that our…read morefirst visit, Friday, 12/19, was great (4/5 stars). We were asked to pay in advance, which I found to be odd & somewhat unprofessional, but we received our services and we thoroughly enjoyed them. We returned on Sunday, 12/21 and had a less satisfactory experience (1/5 stars).
My husband and I were in town for my birthday and I thought it would be nice for us to have a massage shortly after arriving. Sitting on a plane for 2.5 hours can really allow the stiffness to set in and we needed an activity to do until we were able to check into our hotel. This place had great reviews, was affordable, and was conveniently located about 25 minutes from our hotel.
I found a Groupon online for a 90- minute couples treatment that included a 60-minute Swedish massage and 30-minute face & scalp massage. When I called them to check availability, I was told to not purchase the Groupon and that they would honor that price ($140 total). We booked our appointment and arrived at the scheduled time.
Here's what they did well:
1. Verbal communication over the phone came with a bit of a language barrier, so they followed up via text to confirm the details of our visit. This became doubly important when I arrived in-person because someone different was there and didn't understand what I was saying until I presented the text communications.
2. The room was cozy, inviting and dimly lit. It created an intimate setting for my husband and I to get comfortable in.
3. They surprised us with the use of hot stones, which I didn't think was included. I'd seen the option for that online, but chose the option that included the facial and scalp massage instead.
4. During the facial, they covered us with warm, heavy blankets. We joked afterwards that they sort of forced us to relax!
5. Afterwards, they checked to make sure we enjoyed the experience and were very gracious when we tipped.
6. Also, at one point, lots of hot stones were piled on top of towels on our backs and wrapped up. They stayed there for a while and that was quite lovely. First time I've ever had that done anywhere!
What they could have done better:
1. Asking for payment in advance. In reading the reviews, it seems like they don't always do this; just sometimes. That made it feel a little discriminatory.
2. During our second visit, we had two completely different masseurs (my fault for not requesting the same two), one of which was the woman who was working the front desk. She continued to answer phones throughout our entire treatment. The phone was in the room, ringing constantly. She would answer and then leave the room, interrupting the service, and often times leaving the door to our private room open. It was very distracting. We were unable to relax, and we felt cheated out of a portion of the service due to the constant interruptions.
3. The facial and scalp massage was actually a 1-2 minute facial massage followed by the application of a dollar store sheet mask. They then covered us with a blanket and left us in the room for 30 minutes. This felt like false advertising, but it was okay because my husband, who's bald, did receive a scalp massage.
4. The last point leads me to the fact that the service that I received differed greatly from what my husband experienced laying right next to me. His feet were massaged by hand and mine were rubbed only with the hot stones. In our first visit, my masseuse climbed on top of my back and "massaged" my back, buttocks, and thighs with her knees. His didn't climb on him at all. I would've preferred that as well! Lol
5. After our second visit, due to the lack of professionalism and poorly administered treatment, we were not inclined to tip, but we were flat-out asked for one and presented with a case/plea regarding the masseuse that was not answering phones during the service. We were put on the spot and therefore left a tip for only her.
6. That reminds me. After the facial, and I called it before it happened, only one masseuse returned to complete the treatment for both of us. We were cheated!
7. The massage tables are covered with blankets, but on top of the blanket is tissue paper, like what they use on the table at a doctor's office. I hope this is to protect the blanket from all of the oils they use and not for them to continue use of the same blankets with different clients...
I knew going into this that it could go one way or the other, but I was truly shocked by the dichotomy between our first visit and the second, which were just two days apart. Places like these are a dime a dozen, so if I were ever in the area again, I'd give a different business a try.
