My review is of the Ocean Rooms Spa located inside of the Hilton Glasgow.
I booked a promotion they were offering of 30 minute treatments, 2 hours of facility use, and a cup of herbal tea for 35#s. I called the spa to book directly and the receptionist was friendly and accommodating.
Fast forward two days after trekking through one of the worst wind and rain storms to hit Glasgow in 2016 I finally made it to the reception desk. The attendant was friendly and welcoming. While I completed standard paperwork she gave me the tea included with my booking. This is where the positive part of my entire experience ends.
Once the paperwork was complete I handed it back to the attendant and she took me downstairs to the spa. She told me to take a seat and that someone would be with me momentarily. This was at 1:55PM, my one hour massage was scheduled for 2PM. At 2:05PM numerous massage therapists had walked past me but not one had acknowledged me. I was starting to get annoyed. At 2:10PM one finally asked me if there was something that they could assist me with. NOT a good sign. I replied, "Umm, yes. I have a one hour massage scheduled for 2PM." She looked confused, and ran over to speak with one of her colleagues. After another 5 minutes they realized their mistake and told me it would be another 5 minutes before someone could take me back. Great.
By the time I got into the room (That someone had ALREADY been in! The table linen was a mess. She quickly straightened it after she walked me in! I should have left then.) it was 2:20PM. In my brain I assumed because it was their error and they took me back late that my back, neck and shoulder massage wouldn't end until 3:20PM. Wrong again. After 40 minutes of her barely using any pressure (even though I requested firm), using the same repetitious motion of running her forearm up and down my back, not even touching my shoulders or neck, she turned the lights on and said it was done. (Keep in mind too - this to my surprise was a shared room, divided only by the world's sheerest turquoise curtain. I could hear the massage and facial going on in the "room" next to me. I could also hear when the other massage therapist proceeded to karate chop her client's back for a minute straight. Gross.) I questioned her and asked, "Wasn't this supposed to be an aromatherapy massage, with hot stones, and also my neck and shoulders?" She responded, "Yes, but the time is up." OK. To say I was furious was an understatement. She showed me around to the other areas of the spa that were included in my afternoon and I never saw her again.
Hoping that the experience would redeem itself when I used the hot tub, sauna, and steam room I was more than sadly mistaken once again. The locker room was atrocious. Dirty towels thrown everywhere, long, black hairs littered the floor and it smelled like something died. It made me gag the instant I walked in - this should have been the last straw but I kept going. With my suit on, I made my way out to the hot tub. It's weird being in a pool / hot tub area that is underground with absolutely no windows or natural light. I hated it and the smell was overwhelming chlorine. The place was packed and it made me feel claustrophobic. The hot tub was tiny - 4 people max. I tried that first and as soon as some stranger's foot IN A SOCK touched me I was out. No thanks. I'm a 28 year old married lady that is NOT interested in playing footsie with you sir. (WHY are you wearing socks in a hot tub?!) Next stop, the sauna. There were two larger gentlemen in there having a conversation which I did my best to tune out. This was the most relaxing part of the entire experience. My last stop was the steam room. There was so much debris on the area that you sat I couldn't stomach it, walking out instantaneously after walking in. Honestly, I felt like I was covered in other people's filth and needed to get out of there ASAP.
As fast as humanly possible I put my regular clothes back on and made my way back up to the reception area. I requested to speak to the manager because that experience was complete crap. Amanda came to the reception area, barely made eye contact, and offered me to come back for the same experience with a different massage therapist. (How they can even be called that is a mystery to me. My husband and I can give better massages than that with zero training.) She said she'd email me the complimentary massage ASAP and sent me on my way. I've yet to receive her email and intend to dispute the charge with VISA and also send a letter to the GM of the Hilton. If that's the normal experience they offer to guests, holy shit! How do they ever retain guests?!
Do yourself a favor and do not try the spa at the Hilton Glasgow. read more