Palace Spa

I don't do "foofy spa" - I find New Age music irritating, I loathe aromatherapy and I don't need my chakras aligned. What I *do* need is periodic steaming, soaking, scrubbing and rubbing, and a facial as required to keep from scaring small children and animals. I tend to like Korean spas despite being a pale fat Anglo guy, and my recent visit to Palace Spa was precisely what I needed. If you're looking for a hushed, child-free sybaritic experience, Korean spas are generally not for you, and Palace Spa is no exception. If you're looking for well-priced services delivered in a spotless low-nonsense environment, you need to try this undiscovered gem. If you're not familiar with Korean spas, the primary service is the Korean Body Scrub. The previous review is correct in that it's like being thoroughly sanded with ScotchBrite pads, and yes, buckets of water are periodically poured over you. I had no problems with temperature or thoroughness; this service is performed in the altogether by a partially clothed technician in a semi-private alcove in every K-spa I've ever visited, and my scrub totally met and exceeded my expectations. I glowed, and the mitts work much better than chemical or "microcrystal" exfoliation, for a third the price in my experience. My massage service was provided by a more-conventionally-attired technician and was generous in time and the exact type of massage I desired and problem areas were briefly identified beforehand. Draping was applied and maneuvered appropriately and I was periodically asked about pressure levels and positioning. I can't speak for the ladies, but Palace offers men a brutal-but-tolerable 200F dry sauna, a pleasant steam room without added eucalyptus, hot, warm and chilled soaking pools and both conventional and Korean-style showers. Everything was spotless and attendants were frequently drying floors and straightening up. The coed salt, clay and "ice" rooms were clean and spacious. Appointments tend to the utilitarian - think "country club lockerroom" not "weekend at Golden Door", but touches of granite, glass tile and agate abound. Towels are big and absorbent, but you won't be tempted to steal them as an example of magic fiber technology; they're just nice cotton towels. When you check in, you're handed a shirt and shorts for the co-ed areas; they try to guess your size, and you may wish to check their guess before you enter the lockerroom. As an aside, If you were a fan of the now-defunct Newlife in Lynnwood, you're going to *love* Palace Spa just as much if not more. Overall, I felt my package ($100 for admission, 30-minute scrub and 45-minute massage) was an exceptional value even in the realm of Korean spa-dom, and look forward to becoming a regular. more

Please note that my review comes from someone who visits Korean saunas/spas frequently. This is a style of spa that takes a little bit for Americans to get used to, but they get hooked once they learn all the little nuances of it. With that being said, on with my review. Upon entering, I noticed the impressive entrance. The design was very modern, but very welcoming & cozy. When I finally got into the spa itself, I found it very clean. After soaking in the warm tub for a while (they have a hot & cold one as well), I decided to get a Korean body scrub. It was pretty gross how much dead skin came off my body, but I felt amazingly refreshed afterwards. My skin looked a lot lighter as well-or maybe it was just my imagination. Afterwards, I went down to the saunas to take a nice little rest. They had multiple different saunas for different ailments. Some were for circulation while others were more for detoxification. I believe there were 3 saunas and they had a cold room as well. The next time I'm here, I'll have to try a massage especially if it's the same person who does the Korean body scrub. They were very good. Also, the restaurant had some pretty healthy Korean options that were pretty tasty as well. more

The staff in the front are friendly and informative. However,my positive experience ends there. You are placed on a table completly in the nude for a body scrub w/o concerns for modesty,with intermittent rinses of tepid to cold water thrown over my body.Then you are scrubbed in ALL areas of your body with mittens that feel like the green scrubber pads you use on your dishes! I then had a massage by a woman who complained that I was too overweight,and tense. I am still healing from her massage.I have actual bruises all over me. At no point in time was I able to"choose" what type of massage I wanted,I was told to get onto the table and then the woman straddled me while I was in the nude and proceeded to literally pound on me. This "orchid package" cost me over two hundred dollars for almost 3 hours of a horrible experience. I will not go again,nor will I recommend it. When calling for an appointment,perhaps the staff could inform the customer of what their spa entails as it is not for everyone's liking,and once you buy a package you are stuck. I am giving it a one star rating due to my experience,and also due to the fact that while they have a lot of"choices" you can make as to what you want in your package deal,I was never once asked what type of massage I would like,or ever asked if I am comfortable with not only my environment,but how hard I was being scrubbed or massaged.I had asked several times for the pressure to be lightened on my massage,but no one heeded me. more