Every Spa Experience is Different… (Heather, February 24, 2005)

Have you gone to a spa after reading a LetsGoSpa review and found that your experience varied from what we described?  If so, don’t be surprised.  It’s very possible that your experience was better than ours, or maybe it was not as good as what we described.  Whichever the case, there are many things that impact the overall spa experience.  Service providers all have different “bed-side manners” that can impact your ability to relax and feel comfortable.  Weekend or evening experiences may be much different than weekday or morning appointments when it’s less busy.  There could also be other issues that may disrupt the normal processes for a spa.  For example, imagine if a spa’s laundry machines broke down and the impact that would have as the staff tries to accommodate clients under those less than perfect conditions!

While we’d love to have consistency from our spas and in the services they provide, it’s very hard to be that consistent day in and day out.  After all, we are human! But whenever we hear your stories or read your guest reviews, we call the spas to give them this feedback.  Many times the owners are unaware of these situations and are extremely grateful to hear this feedback so that they can fix the situation and hope the customers will give them a second chance.

Even the two of us LetsGoSpa reviewers have gone to the same spa (sometimes on the very same day) and come away with completely opposite feelings…For example, we recently visited the Green Tangerine Spa & Salon at the Shops at Evergreen Walk in South Windsor .  I went on a Saturday afternoon when the spa was fully staffed.  I was greeted by a friendly receptionist who took my coat, then guided me back to the spa to a changing room to get into my robe and slippers.  As soon as I was changed, she escorted me to a seat in the relaxation room and prepared a soothing foot soak with salt, minerals and rocks.  I sat back and relaxed as she scrubbed and massaged my feet.  It was the perfect way to unwind before my service.  I felt so pampered and special.

Jen, on the other hand, had a completely different experience.  She went on a Monday evening when the spa was less busy and had less staff on hand.  She arrived a little early, hoping she could relax before her service as I did.  The staff did not handle this well.  The friendliness toward Jen was not as I had described it to her.  Jen was escorted to the spa and got into her robe.  Her footbath was prepared for her, but she was left alone to soak and never received a foot massage like I did.  She felt deserted; the candles weren’t lit, there were no snacks left in the jars, and the treatment rooms were empty and dark.  It is amazing how these small details can really set the tone for the whole experience!  After I raved about my experience, Jen felt very disappointed about her experience.

So now what can we do about this?  Well, when two experiences are as different as ours were with Green Tangerine, we felt it was important to provide the Spa Director with this valuable feedback.  She was extremely appreciative that we spoke to her and is taking action to make sure that an experience like Jen’s does not happen again. 

In our reviews, we try to describe the things that do not change (i.e. facilities) or are standard procedure at the spa (giving out sample products after facials), but we also feel it’s important for you to know about the “little things” each spa does to set itself apart.  If you have an experience that is very different from ours or that you think other spa-goers should know about, please write a guest review!  It does not have to be anything formal just send us some quick thoughts.  We will even keep your name confidential if you want.

We owe it to ourselves to tell each other about the good and the bad!  It’s why we decided to create LetsGoSpa in the first place!