Totally dissatisfied with this experience, proceed with caution!…read more
My boyfriend and I visited Woodhouse for the first time and each received two services each. I booked us each a 50-minute Swedish Body Balance Massage and a 50-minute WH Signature Classic HydraFacial expecting a relaxing, luxurious experience. Unfortunately, it was anything but.
We arrived more than 30 minutes early being that it was our first visit, and the front desk staff felt a bit unwelcoming and dismissive right off. We were briefly shown the locker rooms and changed into robes. It was a little off-putting having to choose to change in either the shower area on the wet floor, or next to the toilet. My boyfriend and I met back in the "quiet room" where we were asked to fill out more paperwork. It's a bit annoying to have to fill out the same paperwork that we filled out online before our visit. The quiet room I might add was very crowded and not so quiet. There were several people on their phones, FaceTiming, most were not even trying to keep quiet.
Moving on, our first service was the Hydrafacial. The Classic was supposed to be 50 minutes, but I looked at the clock on the Hydrafacial machine when the aesthetician began and when it ended, and it was 35 minutes. In addition, at least 5 of those minutes was spent under the red-light device. Online it doesn't specify that a red light would be used unless booking the 80-minute Deluxe Hydrafacial. To me, it's a copout to stick someone under the red light device for a shorter service, and would have liked more time actually getting the facial I'm paying for. I have a red light mask at home, so for me this was not needed.
Next up were our massages and I'm being nice by saying they were underwhelming. Both my and my boyfriend's unfriendly therapists asked us separately (we did NOT get a couples massage) to choose an aromatherapy oil. We chose one, but I did NOT book us for Aromatherapy massages, so I was a little confused. In hindsight I should have spoken up, but I thought this "came with" the Body Balance massage. I did say at the start however, that I did NOT want any upgrades or add-ons and that I wanted exactly the services I booked.
Onto the lackluster massage where I specifically mentioned to focus on my lower back, but at least 5 minutes was spent "working a knot" out of my shoulder which I didn't feel I had. It felt rushed and mechanical, not customized or attentive. To make matters worse, the treatment rooms were surprisingly noisy. The entire time both my boyfriend and I heard people filling what sounded like ice buckets, and he heard someone keep saying "cleaning crew" or something similar during his massage. Far from the serene environment I expected. And lastly, like the facial, it concluded in well under 50 minutes. The therapist walked me back to the quiet room and asked if I wanted anything to drink like a mimosa, and I said yes thank you, that'd be nice. She never returned with that drink.
At the conclusion of our afternoon, we changed and went to check out. Expecting to pay $800 for our four services, we were charged $830 ($15 for each of us for aromatherapy). Sigh. I pointed this out to the front desk worker and said that we did NOT ask for any upgrades. I pulled up my account which showed where I did not choose aromatherapy. I stated that I was clear about not wanting any upgrades. Same with my boyfriend. He did not agree to anything besides what we booked online. The worker stated she could not remove the $30 charge, but that the owner could call me the following week to discuss. I'm still waiting to receive that call. Overall $30 is not a lot compared to what we paid for the other services, but I feel this is an extremely sneaky and unprofessional tactic to nickel and dime customers.
Overall, this spa charges luxury prices but delivers a very average experience. There are plenty of other places that offer better service, more attentive staff, and far better value. I've frequented the Four Seasons many times, and if it weren't for their spa being closed for renovations, I would have gone there. I won't be returning to Woodhouse and will give my business back to the Four Seasons once they reopen.
