I had been looking forward to this day for 2 weeks. The web site is impressive, the price was nice, AND I could get all the services in which I was interested in one visit. Yay! Well, not so much. \r
\r
The good stuff: clean, nice decor, pleasant people, Don- massage therapist was AWESOME! Also, very comfortable lounge for waiting between procedures and it's very affordable. That said- you get what you pay for-\r
\r
The bad stuff:\r
Massage- the music had LOTS of skips, the walls are thin and I could here EVERYONE's conversations in the next room. It was VERY distracting. They turn down the lights and play the music and it starts out very relaxing; then suddenly someone bursts out laughing and talking, startling you out of your zen moment completely. Serious problem for people like myself who are there to RELAX. I left with and excellent massage but a so-so experience.\r
\r
Facial- the mini facial was about 30 minutes. Again, the same noise problem. The technician was very nice but didn't talk to me much- I suspect a language barrier as her accent was quite thick. She very quickly put various products on my face and scrubbed them back off again without a word of explanation. I have never had that happen with any procedure or treatment of any kind before. I am a nurse. EXPLAIN ALL PROCEDURES is one of the main parts of my job. I was suprized to have to ask what she was doing to me. She seemed to be frustrated with my questions, so I stopped asking. She slapped it on, washed it off, and declared me done. I felt stickey and washed my face in the bathroom before the pedicure from heck. It wasn't the worst I've had, so it can't be from hell, but...\r
\r
the pedicure- let me start by saying the tech was quite pleasant and a US native- no language barrier. There was an elderly lady there getting a mani as I was escorted in- would I mind sitting in the massage chair and soaking while she finished? Of course not- pedicure afficianados live for the ""wait your turn"" massage chair time. Well- no product (soaking salts) was added to the water- just hot water- very drying. Next- forget any sort of zen relaxation experience- too much talking by the lady (not the spa's fault) and the VERY loud sounds from the tv in the employee break room next door (very much the spa's fault) makes that impossible. Next, she went from the lady to me without washing her hands- yuck. Next, her equipment was all stuffed down into this little sewing box looking thing that was dirty and stained. All her oinments, unquents, and creams were in large containers with the lids haphazardly on and looking none too clean. The tools -only one set in my line of vision- were stuck down in this box in a glass of blue fluid. The container had a wide open top- no way to prevent anything that didn't belong from getting in and contaminating the fluid that was supposedly keeping the tools clean. She did the entire pedicure with bare hands adorned with many rings. I am a nurse and used to a MUCH higher standard of cleanliness- one I got at my usual pedicure establishment. Lastly, the actual pedicure part was good as far and cleaning and shaping my nails- nice job, not too short or too long, and no pain. The paint job just plain sucked, though. I actually went and had it redone at my regular salon later on. It was billed at a ""delux spa pedicure"". It was NOT. The only thing different than the $20 basic pedi anywhere else was a little sugar rub- not even a hot towel was involved and they charge $45 for this! \r
\r
So- If you want a good massage and are not particular about the ""zen"" quality, go and ask for Don. If you want a facial, try something other than the mini and hope you get someone who speaks enough of your language to be at least basically conversational. Do NOT get a pedicure or manicure here. If I don't have fungus growing inside a week, it will only be because I took good care of my feet to start with!\r
\r
more