Top 10 Spa Visit Tips

Whilst not overly expensive, affording a trip to the spa is no small change for a majority of people, and that’s why it’s important to get the most out of your experience to the spas you visit. This ‘Top 10′ article aims to hopefully provide you with some useful tips that will help enhance the precious time you have to yourself, if and when you visit a spa.

1.) Arrive Early

A spa experience is designed to be a relaxing one; it’s no good sprinting through the front doors to check in minutes before your appointment. You’ll simply be stressed when you go in for your treatment, and subsequently not get the most out of it. It is a good idea to arrive about 30 minutes before your appointment is due to allow time to check in, unpack, and relax. Also, if you’ve booked a spa visit in the middle of a busy week for you, not only may this cause you to rush as we’ve advised you to avoid, but in rushing you may forget to bring things that are essential to your visit that may in turn prevent you from doing certain activities; such as being unable to use a pool, sauna or hot tub because you forgot to bring your swim wear.

2.) Switch It Off

A spa experience is all about you. By all means take your mobile phone with you in case of emergencies, but either keep it switched off or on silent (that doesn’t mean vibrate, by the way!); and if kept on silent, don’t be checking it every two minutes. Not only can the phone be a distraction to yourself, taking you away from enjoying an experience designed just for you, but much like at the movies, it can be an annoyance to other people. Remember, there are other people there who have spent a considerable amount of money to enjoy a spa break. Not only could your mobile phone ruin it for them, but it may also put them off the idea of ever returning to a spa in future.

3.) Do Your Research

I do keep mentioning money; not to put anyone off the idea of a spa break but due to the current economic climate (and even if we weren’t in the current economic climate, it’s still good advice), it’s best to save where you can and ensure you get the most out of your money.

1. Get an idea of which spa you’d like to visit, and request a tour before placing down any money. Whilst photographs of what facilities a spa has to offer are nice, they can be deceiving in terms of how busy the spa is at certain times of the day, days of the year. Also, information about how friendly the staff are, and how welcoming the spa’s atmosphere is, is just words until you see it for yourself.
2. Along with doing your research of the spa, research the credentials of the therapists that will be treating you, and don’t be afraid to request a certain therapist; if customer service is high on their list of priorities they will be more than happy to facilitate that.
3. Ask! Don’t be afraid to ask questions both before and during your visit to a spa. Find out as much as you can; it’s a big investment, and will only be worthwhile if you ensure you get the most out of it!

4.) Let Them Know Everything

If you have any allergies or medical conditions, let the spa know. Many massage products such as essential oils may contain ingredients that may irritate any conditions you may have. Letting them know about these conditions will allow them to prepare for your visit in advance ensuring that your stay is trouble-free. Undergoing treatments that may irritate allergies or medical conditions will only make you wish either that you hadn’t gone, or that you’d have told them about it in the first place.

5.) Tailor Your Experience

Don’t feel you have to make small talk during treatment. Therapists are content enough to get on with their work and make you feel relaxed, and they will take their cue from you. If you feel complete silence would make you seem rude, just mention it to the therapist and ‘ask’ if it’s okay that you don’t talk. On the other hand, don’t remain so silent that you’re afraid to request the therapist adjusts the treatment, such as the amount of pressure being applied to a specific area, or which specific area they should work on. Many treatment rooms will be playing gentle music, you can request to change it, turn the volume up, down, or turn it off completely.

6.) Tipping

It’s not expected that you tip your therapists, but doing so is entirely at your discretion.

7.) Dress Comfortably

A trip to a spa is all about you, so dress in whatever feels most comfortable for you. Most people tend to wear robes as they go from treatment to treatment as it makes it easier for undressing for certain treatments. Don’t worry though! You’ll never be required to be completely naked at any one time. If a therapy requires access to bare skin the therapist will leave the treatment room for you to undress at the beginning and get dressed at the end. During the treatment, a sheet will cover every part of your body not currently being worked upon.

Ultimately, you can wear what you want; it’s very rare that spas will enforce a dress policy. Some people may walk around in shorts and t-shirts for example. It’s more common that spas enforce a smart dress policy as far as their eating establishments are concerned, but there are many cases where the focus is about your comfort, and so you may wear what is comfortable for you… So long as it’s not offensive to anyone else, of course.

With regards to jewelry, it’s generally a good idea to remove it all prior to a spa visit, or at least individual treatments. Certain products may react badly with the metal, or they may snag your skin during  a treatment causing you pain and discomfort; two of the most popular reasons people visit health spas to begin with.

8.) Should I Eat Before a Treatment?

It’s generally a good idea not to eat at least an hour before any treatment, but do make sure to drink plenty of water before and after a treatment.

9.) What About Children?

For once, it is all about you! Leave the children at home with your partner, family member, friend, or arrange day care. Some spas run an on-site day care centre for children, but it is perhaps more common that spas operate a string over 16 only policy to maintain the tranquil and relaxing atmosphere of the spa.

10.) What Should I Bring?

Comfortable clothing is advised, gym wear, and swim wear. Slippers and robes can probably be worn in the spa during the day, though as mentioned above they may request you dress ‘appropriately’ for the purpose of eating in their restaurant.

A Little Tip from Us

The most important thing however, is to ensure that you’re going for the right treatment for you, and that you enjoy it!

I sincerely hope that these Top 10 Tips will help you when you next decide to visit a spa.

Why not discuss this article over in the Community Forum and provide both us, and other Massage Forum readers with your input; it may well be that you have some helpful advice to pass on to others as well! Don’t have a Community account? No problem, simply follow this link to register one, and get started with your posting!