I want to share my honest experience in hopes that other parents are fully aware when booking,…read moreespecially because a lot of parents have been asking about my daughter's spa bus party.
First, I want to say the idea itself is really cute. The bus was cute, and if properly organized, it could truly be a successful and memorable experience for little girls to celebrate their special day. The reason I am writing this review is not to steer parents away, because again, the concept is amazing. However, my experience was not what I expected, especially after paying $1,000 for my baby's party and before you ask no, no money was returned. Policy is money is never refunded for any reason, and I was also told it's not her fault it was raining and that her bus broke down.
The spa bus arrived one hour late, and during that time I had to keep 8 little girls inside a hotel lobby while it was cold and raining outside. The girls became restless, hungry, bored, and uncomfortable. Parents who stayed also had to wait in the lobby and then find somewhere else to go, since parents are not allowed on the bus. Altogether, parents were left waiting around for nearly 4 hours. This was stressful, inconvenient, and not fair to the children or their families.
We booked the most expensive package because if you know me, you know I like to go all out for my baby. I expected a high-quality experience that matched what was advertised and what I paid for. Unfortunately, that was not what we received. Payments could only be made through Cash App, Venmo, or Zelle, which in hindsight should have been a red flag.
* The spa bus arrived an hour late, disrupting the entire party schedule.* Despite paying for the premium package, the girls only received services that closely resembled the basic package, not what was promised or paid for.* There were two staff members present, but the one assisting the owner showed very little patience with the girls. These are young children who were excited and deserved kindness and professionalism.* When I raised my concerns, I was told the staff member was tired from a previous party, which is not an acceptable excuse when providing a paid service.
After confirming everything by email, I requested an itemized invoice outlining exactly what my daughter would receive, especially since full payment was required a week in advance. That itemized invoice was never provided.
My advice to parents booking with this spa bus based in Columbia: please request an itemized invoice and keep documentation of everything. There were services promised and paid for that were simply not delivered.
As a parent who invested a lot to create a special experience for my child, this was extremely frustrating and disappointing. No parent wants to see their child excited for something that doesn't meet expectations. I took the loss this time, but I learned my lesson.
I am a strong supporter of Black owned businesses and will continue to be but we must hold each other accountable and operate with professionalism and integrity.
I'm sharing this to encourage accountability, transparency, and to help other families make informed decisions when planning their child's special day.
