Spa On The Plaza

The remodeling is a pain, but if you are like me, you are just going for a great facial--the ambiance is just bonus, right? I've been seeing Liz for about a year now, and after each facial my skin is always glowing for days and days. She's just super fabulous. After I started seeing her, I started receiving so many compliments on my skin. I understand the concerns out tardiness...when I first started going to Spa on the Plaza, I had to wait forever for Lauren. However, in her defense, she gives amazing facials...and does FANTASTIC eyebrows. If you are patient, she is worth the wait. I trust the gals there, they knows tons about skin care, and always make me feel welcome. I highly recommend! Pros: glowing skin Cons: kinda pricey, but worth it! more

I've read the comments below and am baffled by these customers. I've been going to Spa on the Plaza for years and find myself defensive of this wonderful business. I am a local and a regular client. I am always impressed with the Front Desk staff and all the Therapists I've gone to over the years, especially Tamara, Liz, Lauren and Charles. They are under remodel, because the Hotel is expanding their whole place. The started construction in January, not several months! I think they have done a fabulous job accomodating all their clients with all the craziness I'm sure they are going through. The rooms they temporarily have in the hotel and large and have private bathrooms. I think the quality of a spa is in the Therapists, not the gift cards or remodel confusion. I think they deserve some good comments because the frivolous complaints below do not correctly describe the Spa. I would reccomend this spa to anyone. The whole staff greets me by my first name and the Front Desk is always a pleasure to speak to. They have the best skin care lines and I love the Colorscience makeup. Pros: Parking, Staff, Therapists Cons: none more

I also had a very bad expierience at Spa on the Plaza! My first impression: I opened the frontdoor of old spa and male-owner rudely scream "WE'RE CLOSED"! There was no sinage indicating they were closed, even if there were, rude behavior was unacceptable. As I was leaving, another lady(manager) asked if she could help me. I told her I wanted to buy a gift certificate for my wife. She lead me to new spa,kindly explaining about the improvements they were starting. She apoligized for male-owner screaming at me,I showed up on the first day of their remodel. I was not sure if I wanted to buy anything after the treatment I received from male-owner but felt obligated as manager went out of her way to help me. She introduced me to female-owner and said she would help me with my purchase! Female owner was helpful, nice and obviously grateful for my business. I felt better. When my wife arrived she was not impressed. She was cold and felt akward from the 1st minute. Her facial started 35 minutes late and therefore her massage was cut short. When she asked, her masseuse explained "that was the plan, but because you were late, I had to cut you short." I could understand had it been my wifes fault, but it wasn't. She was late because her facial began late! My wife was instructed to downstairs to pay for her services. No surprise, her giftcard did not work, it was not activated! She had to pay with her creditcard! The next day, I called the manager, she apoligized and credited my wifes card. A few days later we recieved a letter inviting my wife back for a complimentary manicure. I called to thank manager and male owner answered the phone.I asked to speak with the manager his reply was "I had to fire her because she was incompetant" I asked to speak with the female-owner his reply was "she is no longer apart of the business." My opinion is the manager and female-owner were the only competant people there! Male owner is rude and unprofessional! I do not recommend this spa. Pros: Parking, female owner Cons: male owner, cold more

To say this experience was utterly disappointing is putting it mildly. This place is under construction and has been for several months. The new spa is supposedly due to be finished in April. The temporary hotel room setup is completely lacking in ambiance and there are no aromatherapy bath treatments available. Furthermore, there were two of us who went for massages and neither of us were impressed with the service. Definitely sub-par work - I've had a massage from a beginning student who did far better. We both agreed it just seemed like they were continually rubbing lotion into our backs without doing any manipulation of the muscles. My partner actually said they slept worse the night after the service than before. But this is not the worst part. I received a manicure from Jessica, who is a very sweet girl. But I have to be honest... I know 6-year-olds who could have done a better job. My nails were filed all uneven, she never did ANYTHING with my cuticles (I know some places refuse to cut them, but she didn't put oil on them, push them back.... nothing), and my nail beds apparently had fuzz from the cotton on them before she polished which created an interesting textured look I would prefer to have done without. I have seriously never witnessed a worse polishing job, even from a child. She just slapped the color on there all uneven, so in some cases it was on my skin and on others it was only on 3/4 of the nail. Not wanting to make a fuss since I was otherwise enjoying my stay I decided not to make a big deal out of it and instead just post my review here for others to see. The Spa at The Plaza has apparently received "Spa of the Year" awards in Monterey for many years but the last was in '06. I can't help but think that they are possibly under new management or the previous staff left as I cannot believe it would have received such accolades with the services we witnessed there recently. Pros: Location if staying downtown Cons: Poorly skilled staff, no ambiance more

I was unpleasantly surprised. I did not know the Spa was undergoing construction. Had I know this, and that they were not offering a discount, I would have gone elsewhere. I made an appointment for a 50 minute massage. I love going to a spa and feel the ambience is part of the experience. I love to lounge drinking tea or cucumber water in a plush robe while the soothing sounds of zen music lull my stress away. Maybe a nice relaxation room dimly lit filled with soothing aromas. If you like that to, do not go here for a treatment! There is no spa, the hotel has given them some rooms to use while they are doing construction. Once you check in, your therapist comes to get you, takes you outside to another hotel entrance. You then walk up a rundown gross stairway to the second floor of a hotel. There are a line of hotel rooms where beds have been removed and massage tables were brought in. No plush robes, no relaxation room. Not even any tea! There were some dixie cups and a water dispenser. To top things off, I could here people on the street below!! Cell phones ringing, children screaming and people talking. To top things off, my masseuse had bad breath. I mean, come on. Maybe after construction is complete, their new facility will be wonderful? Until then, I strongly recommend you go elsewhere. This spa is just a massage, not an experience. Pros: Parking Cons: No relaxation area, can hear the street noise, not a real spa due to construction, not relaxing, only fair service more