I booked a Garden Goddess combo for myself and my sister, including a facial, paraffin, hot stone,…read moreand a 90-minute massage. I tipped $200 and thanked the staff, but I want to share feedback because this business has real potential. Unfortunately, due to several fatal flaws, they've lost a high-value, repeat spa customer who frequently gifts spa experiences. I hope ownership takes this seriously and makes improvements.
First, the entrance is difficult to find. There is no clear signage, and the only visible gate says "welcome" but is shut. Once we found the correct entrance, the steps were covered in months of dead leaves, completely obstructing them leaving an unsafe, unprofessional, and ugly entrance. Fixing would cost 5 minutes.
Upon entering, we were not greeted warmly or offered water, tea, or wine--standard at this price point. We were simply told to remove our shoes. We had to ask for water, which was served in a tiny cup with no carafe to refill ourselves. The waiting area was visually nice but had absolutely no music, creating an awkward, tense atmosphere instead of relaxing.
We arrived early to change into robes, as I confirmed over the phone, but none were offered, we had to ask. The robes were old, worn. It was also 90 degrees, and the AC was off. After an awkward exchange where they said they could turn it on "if we wanted," we said YES but it was never turned on it seems.
I discover that music was handled individually by each therapist on their personal phones, which led to interruptions when switching providers. Notifications disrupted the experience, and one therapist clearly didn't review my intake form. I had to stop her mid-session to change the music from loud lo-fi to the healing frequencies I had requested. It made the intake form feel pointless.
My facial was extremely disappointing. The esthetician needs severe coaching, she used harsh, fast movements that were stressful rather than relaxing. She used Kleenex on my face, which broke apart during use, and did not fully remove exfoliant before continuing, causing gritty residue to be rubbed into my skin. During the enzyme, she left me alone instead of providing a neck or shoulder massage, which is standard. The paraffin treatment involved an awkward wax-filled glove that was difficult to use and poorly applied.
The massage started without consideration of my intake form. The therapist immediately worked on my inner thigh: an area I explicitly marked as off-limits due to a serious injury. I had to stop her. While her technique was otherwise good, she made loud, constant hissing and huffing noises, which were distracting and uncomfortable.
Bringing me to the most frustrating issue: I had clearly requested separate rooms when booking, and this was confirmed. Instead, we were placed in the same room without acknowledgment, explanation, or apology. I didn't speak up because I didn't want to disrupt my sister's experience, but this was a major breach of expectation.
Upon checkout, the staff member remained seated, made minimal eye contact, and showed little appreciation. The overall customer service felt cold and disengaged.
I will not be returning, but I hope this feedback is taken seriously. With better attention to detail, communication, and professionalism, this business could significantly improve and retain customers like me.
