Visiting a Spa

A spa, widely known as a day spa, is a business geared to personal body care, administered by professionals. Day spas commonly furnish facials, massages, hair waxing, skin exfoliation, manicures, pedicures, and body wraps. Similar to beauty salons, day spas are designed for single visits for the duration of the therapy, and do not involve overnight stays.

Before choosing a spa for any treatment, you should:

• Choose a reputable day spa from personal referrals.
• Tour the day spa before making an appointment to decide if you like the atmosphere. A good day spa will be relaxing, beautiful, and clean, with plush towels and a ready staff.
• Check the available packages and prices. A good day spa will offer single treatments, as well as full packages.
• Check the credentials of the therapists and personnel.
• Decide how much money you want to spend for the treatments you want.

Once you determine which day spa is right for you, and have chosen the treatments you want based on the amount of money and time you are willing to spend, this is what you can expect when you visit your day spa for your appointment:

1. The receptionist will offer you something to drink and then escort you to the locker room, pointing out your lush robe and slippers. Change clothes and prepare to be pampered.
2. While sipping your hot tea, waiting in the relaxing lounge area, your facial masseuse fetches you to the massage table, where she tucks you under a warm blanket and gives you your facial treatment.
3. The receptionist escorts you to another comfortable room for your body massage. Your masseuse helps you to lie down on the table, offering towels to cover yourself if you desire. Twenty-five minutes with expert hands has you feeling relaxed yet simultaneously invigorated.
4. Led to the aromatherapy showers and baths, you let all of your cares rinse down the drain.
5. One more trip to another massage room for a total body oil massage and you're nearly finished. The masseuse even massages your head and scalp, and you are completely relaxed as she finishes her therapy with your feet and toes.
6. Once escorted back to the lounge, you will be asked if you'd like more tea. You are free to relax there as long as you wish before returning to the locker room and dressing to leave.
7. Before you leave, you pay for your services and the receptionist offers products for you to buy, take home, and use there.

Although tipping is not required, therapists always appreciate the gesture. Day spas, like restaurants, are considered a service industry. You may tip your individual therapists discreetly at the end of service, or include one gratuity for the entire package when you pay before leaving.