From the moment I walked in, the experience was absolutely wonderful. The staff was incredible from…read moredoor to door -- welcoming, attentive, and truly focused on customer experience. Every detail felt intentional and relaxing. The treatments were even better than expected, and Ashleigh, my masseuse, has angel hands. One of the best massages I've ever had. I left feeling completely relaxed and refreshed. I cannot recommend this spa enough -- I will absolutely be back.

This spa is beautifully decorated with many amenities to make it a relaxing experience. There are…read morelarge waiting areas in different areas that are decorated in calm, neutral colors with plenty of seating. Light snacks, like cranberries and nuts are provided along with hot tea options, and citrus flavored water. The space is very nice. There are locker rooms with plush spa robes and complementary slippers. The locker room has two steam showers if you want to wash yourself after your massage. They also provide hair products to try as well as a Dyson hair dryer. I was definitely very impressed with the luxurious feel of the spa, however, was turned off by the receptionist who checked me in - her robotic, transactional nature was starkly juxtaposed against the warmth of the spa. I noticed she was the same with all customers so it wasn't personal but interaction with her was unsettling. I booked the 60min signature hydrafacial and the esthetician was welcoming and willingly customized my facial based on my requests. No major issues encountered but I noticed we started 10 minutes late and ended 10 minutes early so I thought marketing it as a 60min experience was a bit misleading. Also note the 60min Signature Hydrafacial does not include any hand/neck massages nor boosters nor light therapy so the $285 price was much more expensive than my usual spa. I will not return for another facial but may try massage in the future. We also booked pedicures and again the space is beautiful!! We were given a palette to select colors and the ladies were extremely friendly! My toes came out adorable! I found the seating to be very uncomfortable for a short person despite many pillows placed behind me for support so I honestly struggled to enjoy the experience but the space was very nicely decorated and clean looking. We were offered tea and snacks at the beginning as well. Overall, this was a very nice spa. I found it fairly expensive and overpriced, but I recognize beautiful spaces have a cost and that's what I should've expected in the River Oaks area. There is complementary validated parking!

My partner and I came in for the Valentine's package, which included the steam room, hammam,…read morefacial, shampoo, and body mask. This was our first time doing a hammam and we were thoroughly impressed. The staff were very warm and professional from the moment we entered and the facilities were clean and welcoming. Our masseuses, Jessica and Alicia, were firm but gentle, making sure that every part of our bodies were treated with care. Our experience ended with some delicious Moroccan tea and baklava treats. Our skin felt so smooth and we felt so refreshed afterwards. It was a unique experience different from any other massage we've had before. Would definitely consider coming back and recommend to anyone looking to try a new type of massage!

TLDR: Yes, yes. A thousand times, yes…read more In advance of our trip to Houston, I started watching food reviewers to get ideas of where to eat. That shifted my IG algorithm to include things to do...and I've never been happier. I saw a video depicting their Hammam treatment where you hang out in steam, they soap you up, and then exfoliate you. Never done it, asked the wife, and I booked it. Glad we did, phenomenal experience. Detailed step by step of our experience to help the uninitiated know what to expect. 1. Online booking. Simple, fast, requires 20% deposit. 10/10. 2. Confirmation text to check if I needed to reschedule. 10/10. 3. We arrived 10 minutes early. Front door was locked but the desk attendant let us in quickly and relocked the door. Considering the level of undress we were about to be in, 100% on board with that. 10/10. 4. Check in and sit in these awesome high-back padded chairs while we wait. 10/10. 5. Quickly greeted by the staff who will be providing our treatment and led to a small changing room. There they instruct us to strip down and put on disposable underwear, a nice robe, and slide on sandals. I'm a big guy, so they switched out the 3 items for bigger versions. I was happily surprised they had a 4XL robe and sandals to fit my size 16 feet. The paper underwear was made of the same material as a dentist bib/disposable surgical gown, and covered what boxers would cover-down to mid/lower thigh. Wife's paper undies were more like a string bikini bottom. We were not quite sure what to expect, but it provided for an appropriate level of modesty. The room contained multiple lockers with keys so that we were able to secure our belongings. 10/10. 6. We were then led to a steamy room, removed our robes, and carefully helped up onto the padded platforms. Once seated we were rinsed with warm water and soaped up. Then they got us bottled water (cold or room temperature, our choice) and left us to steam in the the 103°F room. Sweat, sweat, sweat. They checked in a couple of times to make sure we were okay, which I appreciated. That steam was no joke. 10/10. 7. After maybe 10-15 minutes, we moved into another room that looked identical, rubber mats on elevated platforms. But this time we laid down and the treatments started. Warm water poured over body, light scrubbing of face, and some treatment painted on my face. Then it was really same thing over and over with different parts of the body. Pour water, scrub with the mits, and exfoliate years of dead skin. Years. 10/10. 8. The women who provided our treatments were great, social in response to our talking but not trying to talk the whole time. Gotta love that with any kind of spa treatment, let the client decide the talking level. At some point, she rinsed off the face treatment and scrubbed my face a little more. 10/10. 9. So they keep doing their thing, having us move arms, tilt neck, roll on side, etc., so that they can get to all of our parts. We'll, most. Going back to the distinct differences in our disposable underwear, wife got way more of her upper legs/buttocks scrubbed. My scrubbing stopped just above the knee and resumed above the waste. And honestly, I get why-guys can be/are creeps. It did leave, however, a large area of me unexfoliated. 9/10. 10. After that, had us sit up, more water pouring to rinse off the dead skin and touching up spots that needed a little more scrubbing. Once rinsed and cleaned, got a scalp treatment/shampooing. Nice touch. 10/10. 11. They helped us put our robes back on and we were led to our changing room were they did a rose water spritz and argon oil serum face treatment. We were then left alone to get dressed. 10/10. 12. Ended the experience in the Tea Room where we enjoyed wonderful hot Moroccan tea and some baklava. What a wonderful treat! Thanks for reading my novel. Hopefully it covered questions you might have if you have never had this experience before. We thought it was fantastic, and it is going on our growing list of "must-dos" when visiting Houston.

From the moment we walked into the spa until the second we left our entire experience was bliss!…read moreThe absolute best pedicure I've ever experienced! If I didn't live in SC this place would be getting all my money. I would give it more than five stars

I am writing to address an issue my daughter Alejandra Ellis had today…read more She is 8 1/2 months pregnant and she booked a massage for today with Shamika because she has been having a lot of backache, After all the driving there Ms Shamika showed a very disrespectful attitude with my daughter because she was not feeling well. Also the therapist was not aware that she had a pregnant client, this is what she said. First of all, there still persists a lack of communication from the reception area, and secondly lack of respect cannot be tolerated. I already cancelled my membership. This is not the place where I want to be.

I was with the same waxer since 2011, until the place I went shut down. Finding a replacement has…read morenot been easy. I followed one lady from location to location until she finally closed. At that point, it was time to find a new place for the long term. Bare Necessities checks all the boxes for me. Professionals, convenient location, convenient appointment times, and availability for scheduling. I have had appointments with both Linh and more recently, Christiane. Both have been excellent and have set my mind at ease. I've known friends with bad experiences at other places, which always makes me uneasy trying someone new. But I've definitely been happy here. Oh and pricing is also on point--very comparable with what I've historically paid. I would definitely recommend coming here, as there are no downsides.

I didn't choose, this place, but my boyfriend did, and Ashlee gave me a very pleasant experience…read more The entire staff was very polite upon my entry and all. I definitely would recommend this place, and I could see myself using it in the future, or referring someone else. Vibe was so pleasant... You can go to sleep in there lololol

Massage on schedule, nice room, quiet music. A little different this time, more hot rocks and…read morescrubbing. Great for my dry skin. Lesvy was very thorough, no hurry, great work on my right shoulder. You can't get a better massage.

I booked a couples massage and a Brazilian wax during my visit. I want to be fair in this review…read morebecause the massage was genuinely amazing. It was relaxing, calm, and the pressure was actually perfect for the tightness in my back. Me and my partner really enjoyed that part of the experience. The wax service is where I had a different experience. I'm used to getting waxed regularly and haven't had issues in the past. I booked a Brazilian wax, and while the technician was nice, the service didn't go well for me personally. She went over the same areas multiple times, and it got to the point where my skin became very irritated. In one area, the wax caused my skin to lift and I did bleed, which has never happened to me before. She mentioned I may be sensitive, which I understand, but even so, I've never experienced that level of irritation or skin being pulled before. I also still had patches of hair left afterward, so I didn't feel the service was fully completed the way I expected. She did discount $10 from the service, but I still left feeling like the experience wasn't what I paid for or expected. The place itself is nice and the staff were polite, and I don't want this to come off as bashing anyone. I'm just sharing my personal experience so others are aware. Overall, I would return for the massage, but I personally would not get the waxing service again.

I almost don't want to name drop the massage therapist because I want them to stay available... but…read moreI have to give credit where credit is due. Too good not to share. From the moment every session starts, Phil is attentive, intuitive, and incredibly skilled. The pressure, technique, and flow were all spot-on. You can immediately tell he's highly experienced and truly cares about his clients'. I always feel physically restored, deeply relaxed, and noticeably better than when I walked in. The relief in my muscles lasted well beyond the session, which says everything about the quality of his work. On top of that, Phil has a calm, professional presence that makes you feel completely comfortable and at ease. If you're dealing with tension, stress, or just want an exceptional massage experience, Phil is the one to book.

I called them 3 times trying to book services for my daughter. All 3 times the girl I talked to…read moresaid someone would call me back and no response. I also emailed them and again nothing. The girl knew why I was calling, I explained it to her in the first call. I guess their business is good, and based on my experience their service is poor.

Sanctuary Spa is exactly that...its own sanctuary in the midst of this massive city. The services I…read morehave received have always been extraordinary.

Birthday retreat! Claudine for massage and Jinki for facial…read morewas just what I needed to kick off my Birthday celebration. Ambiance, relaxing, professional staff....simply amazing.

Went for couples 60 minute massage. Be conscious of your time. It literally begins while they walk…read moreyou to your room and explain the protocol. They allow you to quickly change. (So that you can get close to your full 60 minute massage limit). So don't take too long otherwise it gets cut out of your time. The ladies were amazing and adhere to your comfort style. I'll come back with their names. When done, you must quickly change and out the door. They are mindful that people have appointments. But after that, you can relax in the sauna, relaxation pools, and even lounge area for as long as you need to. That's truly the cherry on top!

I had a great experience here. A few girlfriends and I had a spa day and thoroughly enjoyed…read moreourselves. We stayed at the Houstonian so we were able to walk to the spa; however, there is a parking garage for the spa and is a short walk away. Upon entering, you are greeted promptly and checked in. We were given a quick tour and then proceeded to change into our room. The ladies room's attendants were very accommodating and friendly and made sure we had everything we needed. We all came for massages and was pleasantly pleased with the services received. After the massages we stayed in the tranquility room that is designated for waiting before and after massages. There's tea, coffee, water and small snacks. After massages we changed into our bathing suits and we to the outdoor pool area where we enjoyed the heated pool. There is also wine bottles that is available for purchase as well as food. We enjoyed ourselves immensely and will absolutely return!

Stopped in for a quick chair massage at the mall and was pleasantly surprised. The therapist…read morefocused well on my neck and shoulders, and the session was efficient and professional. Great option if you need fast relief while shopping."

We chose this as a quick stop for a massage. It was early in the morning, the place we made…read morereservations for that morning backed out at the last minute and this place just happened to be open. Like any other massage place, the tables are nice, the skill set of the people were good as they listened to my needs. I felt very relaxed by the end. I also loved the decoration and rocks. Okay, I get it...it's crystals. I just don't believe in crystals. I do believe in pretty rocks for decorations. I think if energy, crystals, and things like that are important to you they have an eclectic collection. For the person wanting a nice massage, potential jewlery, and neat little rock decorations, this is the spot. For the person who believes in readings and stuff...they do it here too. I don't believe in that stuff, so I can't comment, but they offer it. Definitely come for the reflexology and check out how nicely they decorate their entrance. Whether you believe in crystals or not it's very pretty and appealing to the casual viewer. A definite massage spot if you ever need one.

I wanted to pamper myself on my birthday, so I decided to spend a couple of hours at Spa World…read more Upon walking in, you place your shoes in one of the lockers. Make sure to take the key with you because when you check in, the staff gives you a bracelet in exchange for the key. Don't forget to wear this bracelet everywhere you go in the facility. It serves as the key to your main locker, and you also use it to pay for services and food. I highly recommend purchasing your admission ticket through Groupon because I was able to save about $10. Also, be sure to book any services you want a few days in advance. After checking in at the front desk, I stored all of my items in the locker room. You don't need to bring your wallet with you because, again, you pay for everything using your bracelet. I booked the Scrub Plus service, and it was amazing! It has been several days, and my skin is still very soft and supple. For this service, you will need to soak in the bath for about 30 minutes beforehand. After the scrub, I changed into the spa uniform provided and explored the facility. They offer a variety of sauna rooms, and my favorite was the Yellow Ocher Clay Room. I also ended up ordering tteokbokki and sikhye at the food court. The food is a little pricey, but it was delicious. Overall, I had an enjoyable birthday at Spa World. I will definitely be coming back!

Came here with my husband for our wedding anniversary to spend the first half of the day. We had…read moregone to one of these giant spa places years ago and wanted to return but couldn't remember the name or the location. We thought this might be it. Unless you're buying add-ons, the place is mostly saunas, one cold room, and the gender specific bath houses. We walked around the whole place but couldn't find the outside terrace area, even after consulting a map of the place. The ocher bead sauna was my fav. The fire room is unbearably hot. They don't allow shoes in the spa areas but I think they need to make an exception for that room. They have rugs all over the floor and layered ontop of each other in there and it still doesn't make a difference. I became stuck in there because the floor was so hot it was burning my feet. I was standing on a super thin towel I brought in with me. I had to call for my husband to bring me another towel so I could make a makeshift pathway to the door so I could get out. Consider yourself warned. It feels in there what I assume being on fire might feel like at its beginning stages. The food looked nice but some of it was wildly expensive. $8-9 for one coffee? $4-6 for a hot tea? Ehh, I passed. I enjoyed the bath house/locker room area. The showers were nice, lots of diff pools to chose from that each served different purposes, the wrap around mirrors, body lotion, hair dryers, etc... it was great! They even had attendants in there where you could buy items or services from them. I saw many girls buying face masks. It was very zen in there. I spent a solid amount of time in there getting ready bc I had a fancy dinner with my husband afterwards so I used all the space and amenities to get ready :) Oh forgot to mention - check Groupon. We got our tickets at a discounted rate. Front desk ppl were nice and explained things thoroughly and easily.