Salim Mitha

I have been to this location many times and therapists such as Paul & Pete are fantastic. The therapists at this location seem to also be well versed in Thai Massage as well. For $47 per hour, this is great value, although the suggested tip is $20, so expect to pay around $67. Still a good value.

Wow - this was the absolute best spa experience I have ever had. I signed up for the Romance for Two package which was in a full private suite with a tub. The therapists and treatments were amazing. My therapist Olivia gave the absolute best massage and a phenomenal facial as well. The description of the package is below.
The products used smelled so amazing (a product line called June Jacobs out of NY), and everyone from the check in & check out staff to the therapists were just lovely and super helpful.

The treatment started with a foot cleaning & massage, followed by a body brush exfoliation, a deep tissue massage, a 30 minute relaxing body soak, and then a fantastic facial. What a way to start a vacation. This place is special. Go if you can!!

Romance for Two - Ho'oipoipo
210 minutes

Imagine a dimly lit room with dancing candlelight and soft Hawaiian music drifting in the breeze. Scents or tuber-rose, pikake, and plumeria fill the room to create a soft and tranquil retreat for lovers. Begin your romantic journey with our signature foot rituals complimented with Hawaiian Salts ans essence of Island lotions. Feel the sensual stimulation of our body scrubs, designed to reveal the natural luster and beauty of your skin. Extend your escape with a 90 minute full body massage, using your particular preference of technique. The essential and calming properties of our facial line will enhance your natural glow and leave you replenished and revitalized. Complete your romantic experience with our decadent Hawaiian floral immersions soak with hundreds of flower petals. This three and a half hour experience will ignite the romance in any couple.

A special experience for sure! I booked myself in for a Signature Turkish Hammam at the newly opened ESPA spa at the Istanbul Edition hotel. The spa itself is on level -5, five floors below the lobby entrance with luxury treatment rooms, wet rooms, a pool and a Turkish hammam as well.

I had the entire treatment in a private hammam suite with a steam room, hammam marble room and private scrub room & table. It was really luxurious and very cool.

The treatment I signed up for was a 60 minute Turkish bath, massage & hammam that starts with an exfoliation & body scrub (after you have warmed up in the private steam room), followed by a full body foam massage with olive oil soap that smells amazing, shampoo & hair mask, and finished with an application of moisturizing body mask of natural honey and milk.

The place is amazing - I wish I had more time before my treatment to use the pool, etc. If you can, definitely go. After the treatment, your skin is really soft and you feel completely clean - almost like a newborn baby. This is a special place

During my 3 day visit at Miraval, I did quite a few activities and also visited the spa. I had to book my services in before I arrived as apparently times get booked up fast. One of the treatments that really intrigued me was a two part facial series called Renew & Restore. I attach the description from Miraval below for your reference, but essentially its a customized facial adapted for your particular skin type & needs.

I had two 50 minute sessions on two separate days, and both facials were divine. The facialist cleansed, exfoliated and performed extractions before using a very light and non-instrusive all natural chemical peel, followed by a masque. The therapists explained everything in detail, and were just phenomenal. While the masque was on, they performed hand, foot and neck massages on me, which were really nice. My skin looked and felt amazing afterwards. These were great facials, using amazing products. I highly recommend this two part treatment!

From the Miraval website
Renew & Restore Facial Series 1 & 2

Renew and Restore your skin's natural luster and youthful vitality with our exclusive corrective facial series. We begin with an in-depth skin analysis where we evaluate the special needs of your skin and discuss your current skincare goals. The first facial in the series includes a micro-exfoliation technology - highly regarded as the ultimate protection against the aging process. Combating free radical damage and eradicating dull skin, this treatment will resurface your skin texture and prepare you for the next step in the series. To complete the series, you will experience a customized facial targeting your primary skincare concern, whether it is firming, brightening, redness or repairing past damage. This treatment is tailored just for you and imparts a "boost" of highly-proven medical grade ingredients to enhance your results, address your individual skin conditions, and provide your skin with what it craves the most. To continue your skincare routine at home, your aesthetician will design a custom skin care program that supports and promotes the intensive renewing and restorative benefits of this facial series.

My friend and I had the Duet Deep Tissue Couples Massage at Miraval recently, and it was just phenomenal. My therapist, Heather, was just amazing. It was the best massage I have ever had and although it last 80 minutes, that was not enough time!

Heather was so amazingly skilled and really hit all the right parts with exactly the right pressure. She spent a lot of time at the beginning asking which areas I wanted addressed, so that was a huge help.

My friend also had a great therapist (i think his name was Wayne) - all of the therapists seem super knowledgeable and appear to have had great training and a lot of time spent with Miraval. The spa itself is very nice, and the locker room facilities are also spot on. If you come here, you have to have the massage...amazing!

Fabulous blend of traditional and modern with brilliant food, amazing service and a top class destination hotel spa. The rooms are lovely and I slept really well. The view of the little lake / pond with the trees definitely makes you forget you are only an hour outside of London.

I had a massage at the spa which was top class, and the meals were also lovely.
On top of it all, fantastic showers and amazing sweeping views. We also used the gym which has a great indoor & outdoor fitness areas.

This is a great little secret that I am sure will soon get out.

Madison Skin & Laser is on the 11th floor of the Madison Medical Center, so the place feels more like a doctor's office than a spa. I had purchased a Microdermabrasion facial treatment on Wahanda and made an appointment for midweek, so I was really looking forward to it.

It actually operates like a doctor's office as you check in at the front desk, fill out a bunch of forms, and then wait to be led to a room (more like a dentist's office now) :-) But the people are super friendly!

My practitioner, a lovely woman named Anita, came in and explained the treatment to me which involves using a diamond tip instrument to exfoliate the skin and also infuse the skin with at least 3 different types of topical treatments. After washing my face, the first microderm treatment involved salicylic acid (i believe that is aspirin), which helps with breakouts. Then Vitamin A & C, and I forget the third one, but the treatment involved using this pen like suction device to suck or exfoliate all over my face. I did not have any redness afterwards, but the treatment does feel like its working - kind of like a cat licking your face...a bit rough, but Anita assured me the exfoliation would do me good!

She then applied a calming mask, let that (and me) sit for 10 minutes, and then after a wipedown, I was all good to go. I was convinced to come back for a facial with her colleague and aesthetician (Jeanne), and so I will be back for that.

Anita was super professional, and amazingly nice. Although the center does not feel like a spa, it does feel like they know what they are doing, and the treatments are effective.

One last note - I tried to leave a tip, but Jose the operations manager told me that since they are more like a doctor's office, no need to tip. Hey, that was nice, but the staff are just great! I look forward to coming back

I had purchased a Swedish massage with Stone Massage combination for Red and White Spa from Wahanda, and was very much looking forward to the treatment. I was very happy to get a Saturday appointment, and was greeted by the owner when I arrived.

My therapist's name was Iwonka, a very nice Polish woman who gave me a fantastic massage. The pressure was strong and almost a deep tissue (which I liked), but Iwonka checked in regularly to make sure the pressure was customized to my preferences. The hot stone elements of the massage was also excellent, but I wish there were more stones involved, and that more stones were placed at my chakra points (I have only had one stone massage before, and I remember many more stones being placed on various pressure points) . That is my only constructive feedback.

A solid massage, great value at a no-frills place. The treatment room was basic and small, but no complaints for this. I would highly recommend this spa for a great massage.

I just completed a four week beginner's series in Vinyasa Yoga which met every Saturday morning at 11am. I really liked the place (the actual yoga studio) - its very nice & calm when you walk in, and for the most part I enjoyed the classes. It was super packed the first week (I think they should not let so many people in), but as the weeks wore on, more people dropped out.

Be warned that there is a lot of chanting at the beginning of class. In addition to the typical "Ommm" chants, the teacher busted out an accordion harpsichord thing and would chant and have us repeat it. I didn';t really dig the chanting....but that may just be me.

The yoga itself was great, but i thought the teacher (Jamie) forgot that we were beginners...she started naming the poses by their Sanskrit (i guess) name from the Yoga Sutra...none of us knew what that was. She did not really spend enough time correcting people...I know i was not doing things correctly, so I would have appreciated some tips, corrections, etc. For me, this course was not beginner enough because I would have liked more correcting and 'dumbing' down of more things, but again, could just be me.

I really enjoyed the yoga however, and would recommend this place to people.

A note on the building - although the flag our front is right next to the Supple Spa, the entrance is actually not there...its further up the street towards 6th avenue. You need to buzz in, then take the elevator to the third floor. The yoga studio is all the way at the end of the long hall next to a Weight Watchers.

The atmosphere is serene & calm, and the facilities are lovely. After checking in at the spa front desk, the receptionist led me to a "wishing well" just behind a waterfall wall and told me it was tradition to make a wish and throw in one of the provided metal coins. A nice little touch.

Service is flawless - she asked me what my shoe size was, and got me slippers that actually fit. The locker rooms are fantastic, and have private men's sauna, steam room and hot tub/whirlpool, which I used after my massage. I found the pressure in the hot tub to be a little strong, and the small waterfall to be too light. But it was so nice to be in there. The steam & sauna rooms seemed not to be hot enough I thought.

My massage was good but not outstanding. I would have preferred if the therapist would have let me know how she would have allocated my one hour deep tissue. I would have asked her to skip the head/hair massage, and concentrate on my back, which I had already identified to her before the fact was an area I wanted more attention on. Again, it was ok, but the highlight was the foot massage she gave which was truly phenomenal.

On the whole, it was a relaxing experience.

Some highlights:
- Great facilities including jacuzzi/hottub sauna & steamroom
- Very nice warm pillow on the massage table, and nice treatment rooms
- Used warm towels to remove oil after the massage was over

Suggestions
- I was surprised that they did not do the foot cleaning ritual common in high end spas, and in Asian spas. I expected that to be the case here.
- The masseuse could have mentioned she was going to do a head massage, which I don't really enjoy, but I guess I should have spoken up

This is a nice find! At first I was looking for the salon on the street level on 5th avenue, but it turns out you need to take the elevator to the 10th floor to access the hair salon. The salon itself has a lot of character, cool views and very friendly staff. I also was offered coffee & water during my haircut, which is always nice.

My stylist - Patty - was super nice and did an excellent job. She was very attentive and thoroughly explained the haircut strategy once she listened to me. I would definitely recommend Tosler Davis to friends, and I would definitely go back.

I called up Sunday at 2.30pm and got booked in for an appointment at 3pm - loved the convenience of a last minute booking. I had a deep tissue massage with Amy which only cost $45 + tip.

The place is clean and has separate treatment rooms, although the rooms are not soundproofed. All of the massage therapists appear to be Asian women for your reference. Amy, who was my therapist, was just fantastic. She continually checked in to make sure the pressure was to my liking, and she also concentrated on the areas I indicated as the ones where I needed extra attention.

I highly recommend Amy, and also Just Massage. Its a fantastic deal, and I left extremely satisfied with the convenience and the quality of the deep tissue massage I received.

I was seriously overdue for a haircut, so I wandered into the (Vidal) Sassoon Salon in the Flatiron / Chelsea area of NY as scheduled in with a stylist named Sai. Sai, as it turned out, is a cool, funky and edgy Asian woman who immediately understood what I think I wanted from my haircut and got to work after I had a lovely shampoo & scalp massage from Giselle, an hair stylist in training.

Sai did an awesome job, i think. She was quite masterful and I think my hair looks pretty sweet for my brother's wedding which is this weekend. So, I was very happy, however this type of custom high end haircut does not come cheap. I paid over $100, but I couldn't chance it, so Supercuts will have to wait until next time to even out the average cost of my NY haircuts.

Ok, so the neon sign out front containing the word "sauna" and the long hours of operation kept me from actually going into this place which is really so conveniently located. Today, my friend Bret & I went in, and the fact that we had to be buzzed in to head up to the second floor also increased my level of skepticism.

Once inside though, nice looking signage and a friendly man upstairs at reception made me feel a lot better and confirmed that this was definitely a legit place of business. He booked us in straight away for 30 minute deep tissue massages for only $30 - a bargain.

I was led into a common room where treatment areas were separated by barriers that were about 5 feet high, and that looked like those Japanese type doors you see in movies. I took a good picture and posted it in the gallery here: http://www.wahanda.com/place/pine-tree-body-work-and-sauna/pictures/
You can also see a picture of my specific treatment area int he Gallery as well.

My therapist did not speak a word of English, so we kept conversation to a minimum. Luckily for me, she was nothing short of amazing. She covered me in a towel (I kept my underpants on), and she proceeded to give me an unbelievable oil-free deep tissue massage. She then got on top of the table and walked all over me, concentrating a lot on my lower back and also my gluteus maximumus area, which was truly fantastic. Nothing like getting the knots all loosened up in that area. I also got a nice neck, shoulder and head massage,

She then actually put oil on my back and massaged directly on my skin, as opposed through the towel.
The 30 minutes were pure bliss, and although the place is very basic (and the treatment area is only semi-private), the value was amazing and the massage was one of the best I have ever had. I will most definitely be going back. On paying I asked the man at the front desk and he said my therapist's name is May.

My friend's massage was a bit too hard with another therapist, so definitely be warned that they will go extra deep is you ask for it, although my friend said she did offer to go lighter, so I am sure they will accommodate to your preferences.

great place, definitely check it out.

I must preface this with the caveat that I am truly a beginner at Yoga (I have gone less than 10 total times in my life), so I signed up for a Level 1 class at YogaWorks near Union Square - and I must say that it was fantastic. The best yoga class both in the sense of getting a great understanding of the poses and movements, but also in terms of the pace, the instruction, the environment, the workout and the instructors themselves. I am really looking forward to my next class.

The instructor (Chrissy Carter), was just fantastic. Patient, explained things well and engaged with students before & after the class with tips, and answered questions as well. Today's class was focused on balance and the feet. A very cool quote she weaved (wove?) into the class was: "Balance is falling in all directions simultaneously", which I found to be useful and interesting. (I guess as contrasted with 'Balance' being still, and standing in one place). By the end of the class, my awareness of my posture, balance and body was significantly improved, and I felt like i got a great workout in terms of stretching and lengthening.

Anyway, a few tips: you might miss the entrance as its a discreet entranceway right next to Aveda store (in the Gallery tab above, you can see outside images of the entrance). You need to buzz 401, and then take an elevator to the 4th floor. The studio is bright, airy and cheerful.

A few more highlights below.
- Lovely hardwood floors
- Perfect temperature, even on a warm day it was perfectly cool & comfortable
- Amazing teachers
- Welcoming staff at the front desk
- Free use of mat on the first visit ($2 each time for future usage)
- Complimentary Water
- Small changing rooms (like you have in a department store with a shower curtain type mechanism)

Wow, is all I can say - 85+ minutes of delight. I would come back to Montreal just to have a massage from Lyne, who was my therapist for one of their "Healing Touches" Ritual Massage packages. You can read the description of the treatment below from the spa menu, but essentially I had an exfoliation with a cream & rice mixture, took a shower and then had a deep tissue massage that was phenomenal. I felt in amazing hands with Lyne who not only showed an amazing understanding of exactly how and where to massage, but I believe she also used a lot of intense reiki type energy maneuvers which basically made me relax and eventually had me drifting in & out of consciousness.

The front desk reception for the spa (which is on the Sous-Soul lower ground floor 1) were amazingly helpful. In particular Ashley, the woman who greeted me before & after my massage, was just lovely, super friendly and very pleasant. The waiting area / relaxation room is small, cosy but very nicely done, and the facilities are spot on an very nice. But as I mentioned earlier, my treatment was phenomenal. I highly encourage anyone to check this place out. Wow.

The spa menu is a bit buried on their website, but when i came across this description, I was very intrigued to try it: "Indian Ritual 85 minutes: We begin by exfoliating your body using a blend of creams with Rice. The essence of Ayurveda is embraced in a treatment that begins with brisk, energizing movements and culminates with tranquil energy balancing. Healing Touches: Aromasoul Ritual Massages - Each exceptional ritual begins with an exfoliation from different areas of the world, and provides a unique restoring experience. An exclusive rare blend of essential oils inspired by the healing traditions of the culture, enhance the massage for a renewed sense of well-being."

Check this place out - its fantastic.

I was looking forward to a haircut here as the place looks airy,bright & modern, and I was scheduled in for a haircut with the eponymous Marc D'Orsay, who is from France, and has been in the US for over 15 years.

My haircut was really of a high quality, and Marc is obviously extremely talented - he used some special technique with his fingers on my hair that was really cool.

I did think however that the experience could have been better with a few more niceties including
- maybe offering me a glass of water (maybe I am used to London where this is common?)
- offering to rinse my hair after the cut to minimize my shedding on myself & my desk for the rest of the day

Otherwise, it was a fine haircut - it was missing a bit of warmth - i like my haircut place to feel like one where I am warmly welcomed, and has a good vibe. I didn't quite get this vibe on the day I went, but perhaps it was a one-off. As I said earlier, the haircut looks really good, which i guess is what matters in the end.

I was walking past Body Evolution this weekend and was intrigued by this friendly looking fitness studio. I have definitely heard of Gyrotonic Expansion System & Gyrokinesis, as well as those Pilates machines, but never really had the opportunity to try it out. As I was sniffing around, the owner (Billy Macagnone, who is on the back of the little brochure I picked up) sauntered outside and convinced me to come in for an introductory session which was a great deal.

My instructor, who is also a professional dancer and very graceful (I believe her name is Savene, or Savina), led me through a variety of seven principal exercises. Its amazing how much I could see how my normal posture is not as powerful or graceful as someone who is a lot more conscious about the spine and movement. After some mat work, Savine led me through back and shoulder exercises on a machine, and then leg & hamstring exercises on the machine using pulleys.

I have to say, it was fascinating, and I felt great after my hour long session. Some of the exercise feel a bit foreign at first, but I can see how they would open the joints, improve flexibility and overall posture and balance. I would definitely recommend checking it out, and this studio is a fantastic little find on a leafy, quaint part of the East Village.

I signed up for the introductory Golf 101 class, which is a 90 minute class with just the right amount of classroom instruction beforehand, followed by plenty of time to whack golf balls from the iconic multi-tiered driving range onto the Hudson (sort of). See below, or in the "Gallery" section to see the picture I took. For newbies, the Golf Club is at Pier 59, and you walk under through a tunnel of sorts, and then you see the entrance (again, see the "Gallery" for pictures)

I think some individual classes would be a good next step, but this is a good way to get introduced to the facility. The best thing about the driving range is that the balls come up automatically, so you do not need to bend over after every hit and tee it up. My instructor, who used to be a former golf pro, was very patient and was a great teacher. I love this place, and will definitely be back soon. For taking the class, I also received a $20 card for use at the driving range when I come back.

Picture I took from the top deck of the driving range:
http://us.wahanda.com/place/the-golf-club-at-chelsea-piers/pictures/

I went in for a deep tissue massage lunchtime on a Friday, and although the top floor (mostly a hair salon) was busy & bustling, the lower basement floor with many treatment rooms were calm & serene.

My therapist Shawn was a large muscular man (sounded Russian) - I was not asked on the phone if I had a preference for a male/female therapist when I booked, but I didn't mind because I was scheduled in for a Deep Tissue Massage.

Although the massage was really good, I wish Shawn had asked me which areas I wanted him to focus on (back & shoulders) vs areas to skip (stomach, head massage, etc). Shawn showed a fantastic understanding of pressure points & trigger points and really gave a great deep tissue massage.

Overall a solid experience, and the hour flew by. The massage oils smelled very nice, and aside from the oscasional low rumble from the nearby Christopher Street 1 Subway line, the atmosphere in the treatment room was spot on. A solid place for a massage.

I used my Wahanda MobDeal here and decided to have a one hour massage and a one hour Galvanic "electric" Guinot facial, which came to £110 total (a good value for two hours worth of luxury treatments in the heart of Mayfair). The salon/spa is unassuming, but I was led to a very nice and quite spacious treatment room on the lower floor.

The facial was an experience to remember - my face was coated with a moisturising gel, and then the therapist used these metallic implements, including these metal balls on wands (straight out of a movie) that ran an electric current on my face (crazy!). I had to hold onto a rod in my palm to complete the electric circuit (all safe over the 20 yrs that this treatment has been in existence, I was assured!), but the therapist also told me that the electric galvanic current actually helps to sink the moisturizer deeper into my skin...leading to a better facial. The therapist told me that i might get a metallic taste sensation as the implements came near my mouth (which i did!). Guinot is also a top facial brand...so, I went with it. She also cleansed and did some extractions beforehand, and also a hydrating mask...it was so relaxing that I totally fell asleep.

With regards to the massage, I was advised by my fantastic therapist (I believe her name was Claire) that for men, she would only be able to massage me while i was face down (nothing against me, she said, just Westminster Council regulations on massaging men...so word to the wise). I was not particularly bothered as I was more interested in my back getting massaged anyway. The massage was spot on, but I think I would have preferred a "deeper" deep tissue - that being said, it was really useful and the massage oil was really nice as well. She also concentrated on my problem left shoulder, so that was very much appreciated.

A nice little find, so I would recommend it wholeheartedly, and the staff are very nice indeed.

I was walking past Tiger Schulmann's and was enticed by the one week offer of $19.95 to check out the self defense & kickboxing classes. The facility looked clean (not what I expected...it was not dingy and sweaty, but actually quite clean & airy). The staff are amazingly friendly and the trainers are awesome.

I signed up for the offer and was also given a free pair of punching gloves which protect your knuckles. This was going to be fun!

For my first class (they separate adults from children, so I didn't have to worry about some young punk kid beating me up!), I was the only one who showed up so I ended up having an individual lesson with the instructor, Sensai Hall. (Ground rules, I had to call the teacher Sensai, which was cool, and we also bowed to each other. Also, to signify you understand, you say "Uuuu-s". Not sure the origin, but will look into it. My first class was amazing - i learned how to properly jab with my left, punch with my right, block kicks, knee kicks and a few other moves. It was an awesome workout both strength and also cardio-wise. Good stretching beforehand, some pushups & situps and more stretching at the end. Awesome workout and I felt amazing afterwards. My Sensai is also a professional Mixed Martial Arts fighter and was also a great teacher.

I just had my second class today, and there were more people, but i learned a new punch,and the shin kick which was described as carrying the same force as swing a baseball bat at someone...cool! After both classes, the Sensai debriefed me and then I met with the Manager & front desk team members who are also super friendly, personable and seem to know everyone's names (Wendy & Colleen at the front desk are great, but they also train people and demonstrate during classes). All of the exercises of kicking & punching bags and pads is meant to strengthen your knuckles, fists, shins, feet, etc, give you more confidence in situations and be able to protect yourself when needed.

I got the pricing at the end of my second class if I decide to continue. I am still deciding, but the short of it is that you need to purchase a minimum of 65 classes and the average cost of each class runs between $22-25 dollars per class....so its an investment, but i think i may give it a go...need to check and see if I would prefer to do this vs. joining a gym.

I really wanted to like my experience, but i must say that the experience was not memorable, and I am not sure I would go back, or recommend the spa. Spa Romana looks nice enough, but I found the place cold in both atmosphere and temperature.

My treatment was not great - my therapist was quite short, and had small hands and I don't think was really good at a deep tissue massage technique, nor did he have power in her fingers/hands or leverage to give a proper massage. She pushed hard and rubbed my skin, but there is a difference between "hard" and "deep"...she never really got to my muscles, but my skin was rubbed a lot...not great. The best part was when she did my glutes, but it was over the blanket, so maybe she was able to get focused without rubbing/abrading my skin.

I feel really bad because I was really looking forward to it, but at $85+tip (yes, I tipped), i didnt think it was worth it.

I was very excited for my traditional men's shave at Aidan Gill. One of my friends told me how amazing his experience was, and I also had read & heard quite a bit about the experience.

The shave starts out just as I had expected - i was led to an old school barbers chair, and a series of what must have been four hot towels were placed on my face, along with various shave lotions to help prepare my skin for the impending shave. Sitting there under a hot towel is a very calming experience. My only comment / feedback would be that I would have loved for my barber guy/shaver to tell me what he was adding to my skin, and to also walk me through the process. As a "tourist", was curious...I am sure other regulars dont want to be bothered, but its worth asking since I am sure plenty of people are like me.

I then was given a shave with the grain. Followed by more hot towels, more lotion, then given another shave, this time against the grain. More towels and lotions and at least two more shaves until there was not a single remnant of stubble on my face. My skin felt like a baby's bottom. Super smooth, but it was a little stingy. My barber/shaver said that my shave would last maybe 3 days.

While at the time my skin looked and felt great, I still had an underlying bit of discomfort as I don;t normally shave against the grain. Later that evening my skin was burning and over the next few days my skin actually broke out and was quite irritable. I think it was probably down to the fact that I have sensitive skin, and that I had actually shaved the morning that I went into Aidan Gill for my early evening shave. When I go in next time, I will ask them not to shave against the grain, and to account for my sensitive skin.

To help with my razor bumps and irritation, I had to use Neosporin to help cool my skin and heal the bumps and breakout/irritation, sensitivity and dry skin. I am fully recovered, but at least now I know the limits of my skin to a super close shave.

Overall, a great experience, and topped off with a Guinness beer after my shave which was nice. If you do have sensitive skin, just make sure to ask your stylist or shaver how to minimise irritation post-shave.

It was easy to get a time, and I booked myself in for a 75 minute deep tissue massage with a therapist named Brian who was the most communicative massage therapist I have ever had - and I mean this as a compliment. He explained everything very well, and made it unbelievable comfortable for me to express any preferences regarding massage pressure, areas I wanted concentrated on more, etc.

I am definitely going to go back, and asking for Brian again. The 75 minutes flew by, and Brian is just an amazingly intuitive masseuse. He worked out all the tension in my lower bag, glutes and hamstrings by applying pressure and then rotating my limbs...just brilliant. He seems to really care and has an amazing attention to detail. I cannot recommend this place enough for a great massage from therapists who care, and know what they are doing.

I paid $21 for a "special" pedicure which included my nails being cut, all kinds of prodding, exfoliation, sandpapering or whatever its called. There was a bit of a massage of sorts, but nothing too memorable. On the whole, it did the trick. The chairs give a good massage, and I was in & out quickly. They charge a credit card fee if you use Amex, but not a huge deal. This seems like a good place and its run by some very nice Latino/Hispanic workers (whats the politically correct term?).

I would go back, but nothing too memorable.

This being my first time, I was pretty scared, but I went with a friend which helped. Also, the Bikram center allows you to test drive 10 days for only £20 - a great deal to see if you like it!

OK, first things first - the room is at 110 degrees Fahrenheit (or around 44 degrees Celsius), as expected. What I did not expect was that the class is one and a half hours long - I expected it to be only an hour, so I was a bit light-headed towards the end. The instructor (and my friend) said the most important part is to make sure you stay in the room for the entire class, so although I was a bit slow towards the end, I did make it. The exercises and poses are fantastic...i really enjoyed it, and would recommend it to people who have always been curious to try it. I am not that flexible, but I still really liked it. Some tips below though..

A few tips I would advise to first timers
- I would personally advise doing a normal Yoga class 3 to 4 times before doing Bikram so you can get used to the poses; its tough to concentrate in the heat, so you want a basic understanding of some of the poses. I think it makes it easier. And if you are not flexible like me, other classes where instructors can direct and assist you could be useful.
- Get to class 5-10 minutes early to get used to the heat
- bring a bottle of water
- bring two towels (one for the class, one for showing afterwards)
- it gets sweaty, so you need clothes that hold up well to the sweat...I ended up going topless
- Don't overtax yourself early on..conserve your energy
- The instructor told us to keep our eyes open to remain "present"...which i actually liked, as I found myself shutting my eyes a lot
- I did not feel uncomfortable or competitive or judged by people...after the first 5 minutes, you completely are working from within, so other people do not matter, in case you are wondering about that
- Towards the end, it really tested my mental strength...which was great. You need to block everything else out and concentrate on doing the poses...its great focus training

At this location, you remove your shoes before entering reception, which i thought was nice.
Lockers need a £1 coin, so bring along! SHowers & changing room were spot on - clean and basic.

I have 10 days, so I will probably try to go 2 times each week and see if it continues to go well.

First of all, this spa is just beautiful and it was a perfect Spa Day escape. Its a bit far to get to, but once you get out at Canary Wharf, and providing you turn the right way, its only a short walk from the Jubilee Line. Once you are in the spa, it feels like you are a world away...beautiful and almost feels like you have the place to yourself.

I booked the Six Senses Spa Journey from Wahanda, and we booked in for a Deep Tissue Massage and a Hydrating Facial. I also arranged for some lunch for an additional £10/person which was well worth it. Before, after and in-between treatments, we lounged in the steam room, the hydrobath whirlpool and also checked out the experience shower. Unfortunately the sauna was not working, which was disappointing.

My 50-minute deep tissue massage was not great...i felt that my therapist (a lovely lady named Daniela) rubbed my skin very roughly, as opposed to getting "deep" and working my muscles. A deep tissue massage does not mean rubbing my skin very hard...so that was disappointing. My friend had another therapist (a male masseuse) who apparently was amazing, so maybe the male therapists are better for the deeper massages. That being said, my 50-minute facial (also with Daniela) was out of this world. The Rose Aromatherapy Associates products were amazing and my skin looked & felt fantastic. I was a little disappointed that there was no extraction in my facial, but apparently there is only extractions in the 80-minute facials at Six Senses...so now we know!

We spent almost 6 hours in the place, and we could have stayed longer...what a perfect Spa Day escape.

Why this place is amazing
- The products from Aromatherapy Associates were amazing...smelled very nice
- The hydrobath pool is great, as is the steam room - just lovely
- The locker room is beautiful, and very comfortable
- the therapists are knowledgeable and the reception front of house staff are super friendly when booking, and when checking you in

Things that could be better
- Fix the sauna
- Would be nice to get another towel and set of slippers as they can get wet from using the wet facilities (they call it the Thermal Suite)
- I thought the Tranquility Lounge was nice, but the chair loungers could be more comfortable (would love a place to take a nap!) :-)
- More water glasses in the lounge area / maybe some more snacks as well

First of all I must say that the spa treatment menu looks amazing - facials & body treatments from Decleor and Thalgo seemed very appealing, but unfortunately all appointments were already booked.

So, my friend & I went to check out the pool, sauna & steamroom instead. The pool is a weird rounded shape which I think would be great for hanging out, but there is no real space for any dedicated swimming of laps.

There is a separate "Roman Baths" section of the facility that houses the whirlpool, steam & sauna areas.
The whirlpool is not bad...it can get a bit tight if there are more than 3 people in there, but it seemed nice enough. A bit cold & medical as opposed to luxurious, i thought.

The sauna room was not bad, but i actually really liked the steam room. Plus there were cold water hoses and sinks in the steam room which was nice I thought.

Overall, not a bad place to kill some time as the cost of the facilities was included in the room. I have heard great things about the treatments, so next time I must book earlier!

I booked myself & a friend in for an 80 minute deep tissue massage which costs about $155 dollars, plus tip. I was very excited to check out the spa because the hotel itself seems very nice.

Checking in:
The ambience of the reception area was not very spa-like as its positioned between a major thoroughfare as people scuttle to changing rooms, gym areas, studios and other facilities. I was asked to fill out a form and indicate areas I wanted the therapist to focus on, and areas not to focus on - this was a great touch, as I hate it when therapists waste precious massage time on my stomach, and on my hair (hate the oil in my hair).

Waiting Area:
Turns out after i changed (and the receptionist gave me a longer robe, which was very considerate), that we had to wait near the reception area in our robes, half-naked while people kept milling about...my advice to the spa is to have an area that allows guests to guard their modesty and have a bit of privacy...waiting in your robe in the main artery of the facility is not very well considered. My slippers were wet, and the front desk claim they had no extra slippers...hmmm...

Steam Room
I did try to use the steam room before my treatment, but i found it not warm enough. Also, there were spray bottles and random bits of towels in there...what are they for?? I had no idea...seemed weird. No instructions either outside in case non-regular spa goers needed some tips on using the steam room.

Sauna Room
I then tried to use the Sauna...it was clearly off. Not on...again, no instructions on how to turn it on. Why? No idea...

Other facilities - Whirlpool & Pool
On the website the spa talks about a whirlpool and pool, but I was never at any point given a tour of the facilities, or told where the pool or whirlpool was. Disappointing. When I asked the front desk staff about the other wet facilities, she said that most people know where they are...hmm....not helpful for me as it was my first time. I would have appreciated a tour beforehand so i could have taken advantage of the pool & whirlpool.

The treatment:
My therapist quickly came and got me - her name was Tiphanie - and took me to the treatment room. (Weirdly she also had a trigger bottle on a utility belt..the same looking trigger bottle i saw in the steam room.) The room was nice, but during the treatment I could hear many conversations going on just outside the door, many times it was the staff speaking with customers. That was disappointing.

What was not disappointing was the actual treatment. Tiphanie was amazing - she concentrated on the areas I had asked, and her pressure was fantastic. She really worked my glutes and back, which was just fantastic. She also stretched my legs and back, which was also greatly appreciated. At times it would have been nice to check in on her pressure, but she was fantastic. I would highly recommend her.

Post-treatment
What caught me entirely off guard was that when the treatment was finished, Tiphanie was waiting for me outside not with a glass of water, but a clipboard asking me to sign & provide a tip. This was NOT asking for payment, I still had to pay at the reception desk after i changed before I left, but this was just asking me to put in a tip. How awkward & unnecessary for many reasons. Firstly, it ruined the post-massage bliss...secondly because it adds a second step to the "check out" process because i needed to decide a tip now, and still pay later...thirdly, i was in my robe and dealing with this...fourthly, it was tacky and probably equally uncomfortable for the therapist to be asking for tips right after a treatment (and watching me carefully while I tried to turn my brain back on). I chose the recommended 18% tip, but this is a terrible, terrible part of the process. The Spa needs to get rid of this part of the process immediately.

Also, i was covered in massage oil, but there were NO TOWELS in the treatment room to towel off...why? So, i was all oily when i put my robe back on...how about some towels in the room please!

Locker Room
The shower was fantastic, despite no hook for a robe outside the shower stalls. I was debating whether to wash my hair since i had not brought any hair wax or gel with me, but I (incorrectly) assumed that the hotel would have some hair care product for customers. I was wrong...the receptionist had nothing, so I had big fuzzy hair. Luckily my friend had some hair stuff for me to use.

So on the whole - fantastic treatment, but the process and some of the details need some real working on. The 80 minutes flew by thanks to the skilled therapist, but the service and facilities can be improved.

I just had a facial this morning with Linda Meredith herself, and aside from being slightly embarrassed for having so many blackheads (although Linda was quite patient and gracious for having to clean me up!), the experience and the results were fantastic.

After a cleansing, she used the microdermabrasion machine because she said I needed to have the top layer of my skin refreshed. She then used an all-natural glycolic peel on my skin (she said it was from nuts & apples) - the peel tingled slightly. The rest of the facial was wonderful, and Linda has magic hands.

I must make it a point to go back more often! Through Wahanda I only paid £75 for the facial, which is really a great deal. As some of the other reviewers mention, the salon is not plush, but the treatments are about results and not for pampering.

I always try and get a pedicure when I am in NY because there are so many great places to get a pedicure at a great price. I decided to check out Spa Belles on Spring Street and it did not disappoint. I paid $31.50 for a pedicure, which is more than I wanted to pay, and the woman who was working on me tried to upsell me to a "spa pedicure" which would have been almost double the price (I am glad I asked before agreeing to it!)

But I must say that my therapist was fantastic - she did a great job on my toes including trimming my toenails, using a scrub on my calves and feet and even drying everything with a nice warm towel at the end of the treatment. And my feet look great. I would definitely go back.

A great little find - a combination of hard courts & what i think were grass courts, this place is very friendly and non-intimidating because of the staff and the people who play and hang out here - very much like a local neighbourhood tennis venue. You can book courts online, but I had a lesson with the owner and resident tennis pro, Jay.

The place also has tennis "socials" where you can come and have a hit around.
I would definitely come back, but the only drawback is that its a bit far from the tube station - but, the park where the facility is located is just lovely and very peaceful. Very nice find!

I went to the 7pm Thursday class expecting Pilates, but for some reason today the instructor switched it up and taught Body Balance - as she decribes it: "A blend of Tai Chi, Pilates & yoga", but to music.


Sounded interesting, so I hung around - the three guys in the class were all first timers (including me), but the teacher was super-friendly and a great teacher. Apparently she was going to go be an instructor for two weeks at this place in St Lucia called Bodyholiday LeSport - http://www.wahanda.com/place/the-bodyholiday-at-lesport-st-lucia/


The exercises and moves were great - and it was a mix of Yoga, Tai-Chi & Pilates and great balancing exercises. The warm-down was the best (of course) - overall the class is a great way to de-stress. I didnt even feel like i was in the hustle bustle of a gym. I will definitely check out the Pilates class soon, and also will try Body Balance again, despite my lack of flexibility.

I booked myself in on the hydrohealing 2 for 1 treatment special on Wahanda, and my second treatment was a one hour Facial that involved my therapist using a hoover-suction like pen device to clean all of my pores. http://www.wahanda.com/place/hydrohealing/menu-prices/ My therapist also mentioned that it would do something in terms of lymphatic drainage, but i cannot be sure.


From the menu link about, I think its called a Hydroblitz Facial - hydrohealing describes it as follows "Whatever your skin type, this facial promises the combined benefits of the therapeutic hand guided oxygen suction pen and the natural ingredients of REN products, to deliver outstanding results from the very 1st treatment."


Afterwards the results were really quite impressive. My therapist never introduced herself, so I do not know her name, but she was definitely very good. It would have been nice if she had told me what she was applying and taking off my face during the facial, but the one time i asked she said she was applying a papaya and pineapple face mask, which smelled lovely. My skin is still looking and feeling quite healthy & glowing, even a few days later. My therapist also suggested I only wash my face at night, and just splash water on it in the morning so as not to strip my skin of the natural oils - I think I will try that and see how it goes. While the mask was setting in my therapist massage my neck, shoulders and arms, which was nice.


My only small complaints about the entire experience were that the room is not soundproof, so you can hear what is going on in reception which can be a little annoying. Also, the receptionist tended to speak very loudly, so you could hear her quite a bit. Also, I had a Hydrocushion massage beforehand (you can read my other review here: http://www.wahanda.com/review/place/hydrohealing/1839/) and by the end of my two treatments my skin was feeling a bit sticky being on the plastic hydrocushion.
Picture of the hydrocushion here, in case you are curious!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/salimmitha/3898041839/


Other than that, I was very impressed by the facial and my skin looks great!

I booked myself in on the hydrohealing 2 for 1 treatment special on Wahanda, and the first of my treatments was a one hour Massage. I believe I had asked for a deep tissue massage, but was surprised to see a water cushion on the massage table (I had never seen that before!). It looked interesting, and since the place is known for its water treatments (hydrohealing and all), I decided to give it a shot.


The description of the "Hydrocushion - 3 dimensional massage therapy" from hydrohealing's spa menu is as follows: "Two firm yet flexible water cushions are kept heated to an optimum temperature of 37 degrees. You lie face up at all times your whole body is totally supported throughout, which adds to comfort and makes hydrocushion an ideal maternity treatment for pregnant women. Hydrocushion is a wonderful massage therapy for promoting a state of profound relaxation, soothing joints and stimulating circulation. The inclusion of fragrant macadamia-rich REN Manoi oil further helps to nourish and deeply moisturise your skin, encouraging a feeling of total wellbeing."
http://www.wahanda.com/place/hydrohealing/menu-prices/


I am definitely not pregnant, so after reading this, I feel a little sheepish, but it was an interesting feeling - I felt like I was floating almost. It was a bit weird to have the therapist massaging me from underneath with the pressure of the water cushions, but it was kind of cool. My only complaint is that I found the heated water in the hydrocushion to be too warm, and so being hot actually made me perspire against the plastic surface...and after two hours of being on this plastic hydrocushion, the surface between the plastic and my skin was a bit slimey from sweat and the oil used to massage me
Here is a picture of the hydrocushion on my Flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/salimmitha/3898041839/

...(I had a facial after my one hour massage - my review for that here: http://www.wahanda.com/review/place/hydrohealing/1840/)

I enjoyed the massage and I floated off to sleep. I don;t know my therapist's name as she did not introduce herself, but she was very very good. I asked to have eye patches to block out the light, and so I drifted off after a short while. Being able to hear people at reception was not great, but the music drowned out most audible disturbances.


I really enjoyed the massage and will definitely be going back soon. The 2 for 1 deal is also pretty appealing.

I went for a a one-hour tennis lesson at Duke's Meadows with Eva or Evi Titkos http://www.wahanda.com/pro/EviTitkos/details/ . It was a beautiful day, so I was very glad to be playing outdoors on the clay surface courts. I am basically a beginner so Evi first assessed my forehand & backhand, then also ran through my serve.


She was fantastic in really trying to make me understand the proper technical elements of the stroke to improve my consistency and also instill the proper techniques (and rid me of my bad habits as well!)


It was a fantastic lesson and I am eager to go for my next one. I paid £30 for the lesson, plus there is a £10 per hour court usage fee, so in terms of cost it definitely can get pricey very quickly. I wish they also had a tennis practice wall which would make it ideal for refining & practicing. The coffee in the Duke's Meadows cafe was fantastic, and I finished off my lesson by hitting a bucket of golf balls which was fun & convenient. I would also highly recommend Evi as an instructor as well - she is patient and very knowledgeable.

I was feeling sore & tight after some overly intense workouts, so decided to stop in for a 10 minute chair massage at Walk in Backrub. A very nice woman named Fiona was my massage therapist and asked me what areas I wanted her to concentrate on, which was very considerate. The massage itself was very good, but the one part which just made me completely forget my whereabouts was when she expertly massaged my neck...wow...i had those chills running up & down my head & back and it was an amazing endorphin rush. Really gave me a nice pick me up late in the afternoon, and I left feeling reinvigorated.
She also did a fantastic job on my trapezius, or the area between my neck and shoulders...


My only complaint was that the chair I was on squeaked a lot!


I saw signs that they also do facial acupressure, and also an hour long shiatsu treatment...would love to try both at some point!

I booked in a 90 minute treatment at the Spa at the Hotel Omm for me & two other friends. Unfortunately a detailed spa menu and pricing was not on the website, but I was able to call them and they emailed me some information. I decided to go with the 90 minute treatment because then I would get to use the water facilities (steam room, water treatment showers and whirlpool/hydrotherapy pool),

We arrived 30 minutes before our treatment and were instructed to shower, then told we should use the steam room, then go through a hallway where there were a series of showers (hot, warm and cold), and some sprays that frankly were at ankle length that shot out of the wall and were pretty useless, i think! Not sure what the point of the hallway showers is...its timed to go on & off automatically, and does not quite work. We then all got into the bubbling whirlpool which was really nice. There are some bubbling beds in there, and the atmosphere is nice. Two small complaints: the water is not hot enough, and some of the underwater jets are not in the right places to shoot against your back. They instead come up vertically which can hurt if you are sitting and it gets you in the wrong places, as opposed to coming from the sides and you can aim the spray at the muscles that need it. The thought the steam room was ok..a bit small, and only one row of benches...it was too hot for me!

The therapists came in and notified us to dry off & change into paper pants / underwear for our treatments. My massage was first (when I booked 90 minutes, i was given the option of having a 60 min massage followed by my choice of either a 30 min facial, or 30 min reflexology - I chose the facial). The therapist washed my feet with exfoliating salts in a small tub, then onto the table for my massage. I have been on more comfortable beds, but this one was OK and it was heated. I asked for a deep tissue and the massage was not bad, and in fact very good at times. My major complaint is that at the beginning he did not say what body parts he would concentrate on, so he actually never massaged by hands, forearms or arms, which is disappointing. If he had told me the areas he was going to work on, i would have told him to skip my stomach (which I hate to have massaged anyway) & chest. Every therapist should check and communicate the plan of attack...or I would have switched the facial for a longer massage.

The facial was next, and it was underwhelming. I did not expect an exfoliation, but the treatment lacked anything and I could not see any difference in my skin (or my friend's skin) aferwards. The therapist did not tell me what he was doing, so I had no idea...and there was no face mask or anything.

After the facial, i was led to the relaxation room and offered an oxygen mask that covers your entire face like an astronauts helmet...didn;t seem to do anything, to be honest. Also offered a tea, which was nice. My buddies & I then went back into the hydrotherapy pool which was fun to chill out. Overall, it was a nice experience, but nothing that memorable. The atmosphere and design is very nice though!

Pricing:
60 minute treatments are 100 Euros
90 minute treatments and "rituals" are 140 Euros and you get free use of the water facilities (steam room, water therapies and the indoor whirlpool or hydrotherapy pool) - although the menu doesn't say how much the access to water facilities would cost

Its been almost 4 months since I had my first massage with Kremena, and I had been wanting to come back ever since. The massage was as good as I remembered - the hour flew by...I could not believe how quickly it went as I was really enjoying the massage.

This time as well Kremena spent a little more time on my calves and also my feet, as she is a trained reflexologist as well! It was only about 15 minutes on my feet, but it was fantastic and she is just amazingly knowledgeable and very adept with her hands. I had some lower back tightness which she also expertly addressed, so once again I left wanting more.

Note to self - next time, book the 90 minute massage. My friend also had a massage but it was with a woman from New Zealand (who has 10+ years of experience), and apparently that massage was also fantastic.

I wanted to try a new place for my haircut and stumbled across Fordham Soho while searching on the web...in particular I had read some great reviews about one stylist in particular – Adam, an Australian who works at the hair salon.

There was a great deal of positive comments about Adam, so I had to see for myself. Adam was fantastic – I must admit. First of all, in the consultation before he washed my hair, he asked all of the right questions and immediately understood what I wanted from my haircut. He explained what he was going to do and why, and then went to work. We had a great conversation where he explained his technique, training history and qualifications (apparently he is an instructor for Redken in NY). He also shared that back in Australia over 40% of his clients were men, so he does have experience with both men’s and women’s haircuts and styling.

It was a great haircut and looks fantastic the day after as well. The guy knows his stuff. As a regular contributor to Wahanda, I have to say I was really impressed. I will most definitely be going back to Adam at Fordham Soho.

The Dukes Meadows 9 hole Par 3 course is a perfect way to play a round of golf without committing the entire day to travel and playing a full 18 holes. The Chiswick Bridge Driving range is also very good in case you just want to hit a few balls. The place is nicer after a recent refurbishment where they added clay & hardcourt tennis courts - indoor & outdoor. They also redid the cafe and pro-shop, so the entire place is really nice.

It can be a little hard to find, but its a very nice course and I really enjoy playing here. Its always well-groomed and plays quickly. Definitely worth checking out. The buckets for the range are £5 each which is steep, and the green fees are about £17 each. You need to wear a collared shirt and must have golf shoes, so be forewarned - otherwise, you cannot get on the course.

I purchased the Heavenly Spa Day on Wahanda, which at £70 per person (£140 total) is a great deal. Included was a facial and a massage, as well as a £7 credit per person for lunch. We ate outside on the patio had a barbeque & salad lunch - it was fantastic. My friend said it was like being on holiday! Very relaxing indeed. A few quick tips - bring a £1 coin for the locker in the changing room, £10 for the robe & slippers deposit which you need to pay at reception and DO NOT forget your swimming trunks - the jacuzzi and pool area, steam & sauna rooms are just lovely. You don't want to miss those!

When you arrive, there is a steady stream of expensive cars being valet parked, so coming on my bicycle was interesting! There is a little plaque outside commemorating the fact that Princess Diana was a member at the Chelsea Harbour Club. The front desk woman told us how to get to the spa which is a few levels down past the indoor tennis courts, which are beautiful.

The spa is at the end of the hallway. We changed and waited in the reception...this is not ideal. I wish they had a relaxation room that is separate from reception, because you are almost naked in reception (with just a robe on), and its not that relaxing when you have people coming in to try and sort out appointments, etc. CH Club - take note - get a relaxation room for people who are awaiting treatments!!!

I was led to a treatment room where my therapist performed both the massage and the facial using Elemis products which were really lovely. Both of my treatments were good, but not amazing. The facial is a short facial, so no exfoliation. The massage could have been deeper - I asked for it to be deeper, but I felt my therapist was not really being as responsive as she could have been. I am a big guy, so I also found the massage table a bit small and not that comfortable...and when you are face down the view is not great...the table is a bit mechanical looking. But I closed my eyes so it was not a big deal. The treatments were great though...perhaps it was my therapist that could have made it more memorable. After my treatment I went back to reception to meet my friend, and the therapist did not make eye contact with me or greet me, so oh well, that would have been nice.

After the treatments we went to use the steam, sauna and wet areas which is just lovely. The pool is very nice, but the jacuzzi and hydrotherapy pool is spectacular, complete with a mini pressure waterfall pipe that shoots water on your back and feels like a massage. The steam & sauna room is great, as is the aroma rooms. The experience was really lovely and I would recommend it highly.

One other minor complaint - the men's locker room had run out of hair gel, and although I asked for some, none came...so I was poofy haired for my lunch, which was OK, but annoying. The food was lovely, just perfect. Overall, a relaxing and refreshing day.

I remembered at the last minute on Friday that I needed a haircut and always wanted to try Michael Van Clarke as its very conveniently located in Marylebone, close to Oxford Circus and Bond Street, and was happy I was able to get an appointment the same day. The woman who answered the phone was super helpful and friendly, and knowing that I was new, she explained the various hairstylists who would be able to fit me in. Some of the prices quoted were quite high! My haircut ended up being £45 + tip.

My stylist was a woman named Tasilia who in the end was fantastic. She was super attentive and a pleasure to speak with, and I felt that I was in very skilled hands. She actually washed my hair, and asked me many questions about my routine, etc, and she gave a nice head & neck massage (although i was wanting to tell her to do it a bit harder! maybe cause I have a thick skull?) But she was lovely, and I was very satisfied with the end product.

A few other points:
- They asked for all of my contact details on the phone, and also a credit card to hold my reservation
- When I showed up, again the man checking me in asked for all of my contact details - again! Including email, just worth noting
- My stylist offered me a free shampoo & conditioner if I booked in my next appointment, but i declined. So if you are more regular than me, it might be a good option!
- The ambience of the place is very fashion forward & conscious. All the staff are dressed in very stylish (typically black) outfits, and while I was waiting, there were some models also in the waiting area hanging out for castings, etc.
- And it seems the salon also offers facials, manicures and other beauty services; apparently you can get a manicure while you have a haircut - nice concept.

Just popped in today for a haircut with Philippe. The chairs in the hairwash section have nice in-chair massage units that massage your back as you have your hair cleaned. Also, got a nice head massage with the conditioner.

As usual, Philippe was great and all is good. The construction that was apparent last time I was there seems to be coming to an end, so the salon looks better. I think its a handy place with a good location. FYI, my haircut was £40.

Oasis is centrally located and it has not one, but two swimming pools. One indoor pool that has more serious swimming going on in lap lanes, and also an outdoor pool that is more of a free swim type pool. There are people of all ages and its actually not bad even though it has a ery concrete feel about it. There is a sundeck / tanning area that again, is very concrete.

Its definitely NOT luxurious by any means, but I used to pop down from my office some afternoons, you can pay for the day (so no membership required) and get some sun and pool action. Its not bad, and since I am not a member of Shoreditch House (not to mention its super far away), I guess the Oasis is good enough for me when I want some outdoor London pool action.

Wow - words cannot describe how amazing my treatment was. My massage therapist, Renee, was just spectacular. After 15 hours of flying, I thought I would splurge on a 50 minute custom deep tissue massage at the Wynn Spa - cost $150 + tip, so not cheap (but i guess in Vegas I could easily lose that in a half an hour at the blackjack tables, so this seemed like a better investment!)

Renee was almost perfect - her pressure was strong and intuitive, and small details made all the difference from little flowers on the floor so when I was face down I stared at lovely plants rather than the cold floor. Also, she used warm towels on my feet, and put a warm towel on my back when she was massaging my lower body. She also put a heated neck pillow on me when I flipped over, and also covered my eyes so the dim lights would not disturb me. The music was perfect, and the massage was magical - just fantastic. She asked what areas I wanted her to concentrate on and she went to work. One small gripe - she massaged my head which i don;t really enjoy, but I wished she had asked before doing that. Otherwise, brilliant.

I used the whirlpool/hot tub and the deluge shower (like a waterfall which was great for my shoulders) afterwards, as well as the steam room in the private gentleman's locker room. Nice place. People were using the whirlpool in the nude, so not having my swimsuit, I went with the flow. I feel like a new man.

I would highly recommend the spa, despite the high prices of the treatments. I just might use my fuzzy logic to try the Encore Wynn Spa later this weekend.

I signed up for a 3 pack of individual tennis lessons and my tennis instructor was Michael, who is from Romania but speaks English & German. Michael was fantastic - I have taken a few introductory lessons before, and I must say that Michael was the best instructor I have had. He immediately diagnosed that I was leaving my weight on the back foot and opening my body up to early during ball contact. These two small changes, in addition to him fixing my grip and also switching me from a two-handed to a single handed backhand really improved my ability to keep the ball in play.

I have a long way to go, but my lessons with Michael were fantastic and have motivated me to continue now that I am back in London.

One note on the facilites - great clay courts but NO wall!! So I could not practice on my own afterwards...seems to be a big omission...they need to fix this!

I was really looking forward to my facial and massage at the Rainspa Place D'Armes because the hotel itself is lovely. The room I stayed in was classic with nice hardwood floors, and the signage for the Rainspa looked promising. However, as soon as I stepped into the waiting room & reception area, the colour scheme was not quite right (lots of baby blue).

My facialist was running late, so I was led to a hallway through reception and to a closet where I was given a tattered robe which was hanging in the wardrobe (the robe was literally distressed and ripped in multiple places!!). I was then led to one of two toilets - no, not a changing room, but a toilet where I had to change into the robe, and then I had to take all of my clothes and shoes and put it into a bank of lockers that was in the hallway...and the lockers did not have keys! Good thing I left my valuables in my room, otherwise I would have been even more stressed during my treatments...but seriously, no locker rooms? no key locks on the lockers? Ripped and distressed bathrobes? Not a great start.

I was offered the chance to use the steam room upstairs since my therapist was runnning late, so I walked upstairs to a room that looked like a waiting room...sort of. The steam room was right there, but there were no visible hooks to put up my robe (where should I put it, i thought to myself...) And would I go in naked, or just in a towel, or both...but no place to leave anything, so I decided not to even attempt it. Went back to reception which had a lot of traffic, so I felt a bit weird sitting in my robe while people were popping in & out...not an ideal waiting area (I never understand why some spas do not separate reception from a treatment waiting area - it seems so straightforward!). Plus, when I initially walked in, the woman at reception announced loudly what treatments I was about to have, so all my new friends at reception knew I was having a massage and facial...good thing I was not having something more exotic, or potentially embarrassing.

My facial, when it finally came about, was OK. The therapist was from Morocco, and spoke no English so I spoke to her in my broken French. The treatment rooms felt unluxurious I must say...and the facial was forgettable, although my skin felt quite hydrated and the results were good. My massage was very weird...I had asked for a deep tissue massage, but the therapist who said although she typically gives deep tissue, she was not told my reception that it was to be a deep tissue massage, and that this would cost two Canadian dollars more...and she told me this 2 or 3 times. I believe her name was Isabelle or Isabella. She was a really nice woman who had some really interesting things to say, but in the end the massage was rushed and I had to change rooms after my facial which added some additional complexity to the matter. I guess the entire experience from start to end was just so haphazard and frayed (much like my robe), that in the end I was kind of happy it was over. Only because of the delays, it took a whole lot longer than I had hoped.

The prices are high, but the facilities and the overall experience felt not up to the expectations. Shame

I would have never even known where this place was, as its just off Berkeley Street just by the Square, and it just happens to be a perfect location. I purchased the £40 men's haircut off Wahanda and found it was easy to book in the same day for a haircut. My hair technician was a woman named Jo who was lovely, plus the tea she offered me was fantastic!

Jo gave me a nice head massage with my shampoo and the haircut itself was very attentive and efficient.
Overall a very good experience.

The treatment room & massage table were impeccable, as was the therapist (Stefan from Germany).
He did what every massage therapist should do - he introduced himself, told me what treatment I was having, what order and what body parts he was gong to address, and then asked if I had any problem areas or special requests for areas I wanted him to pay extra attention to. He also offered me a glass of water prior to my treatment, and asked if the music and the temperature were OK.

I can't tell you how few therapists do this - it shows that the Mont Cervin Spa has some great training on etiquette. On top of this, the treatment rooms are just lovely, and the massage table is large and very comfortable. One additional nice touch which I had only previously seen in Asia is that when you are staring down through the massage table to the floor, rather than looking at the floor the spa puts a lovely flower with some nice smelling oils. Much better than looking at the tiled floor.

On to the treatment - it was fantastic, albeit expensive. 165 Swiss Francs, or about 100 euros for a 50 minute massage, but I must admit that Stefan was extraordinary. After four days of skiing, he really massaged away all of my soreness and I fel unbelievable afterwards. He used some candle warmed olive oil, and was as pleasant as can be.

A few squabbles about the place - the waiting area for the treatment is the reception which is the main reception, so waiting in a robe can feel a bit disarming. Also, the changin room is small, and the spa does not make it easy for you to transition from the treatment floor down to the pool, sauna, wellness centre floor (in fact, I believe I would have had ot pay an additional 20-25 Swiss Francs, which seems unneccessary if you are already having a treatment).

Overall, I would definitely go back - lovely spa, and very well trained staff. Just missing that bit of opulence and extra touch of seamless integration between spa & wet areas/wellness centre to get 5 stars.

I have been coming to Eyelink for almost 6 years and James (he seems to be the head guy and also the Optometrist) is always pleasant and goes out of his way to make sure you are satisfied. I have purchased two pair of frames and actual glasses lenses from them, and all of my toric, high astigmatism contact lenses.

If i have not been satisfied for any reason, James always lets me come in, and he fixes the situation without ever charging me extra or making me feel guilty :-) A true gentleman. And when I had some issues with "floating spots" in my eyes, he referred me to a specialist who was fantastic, and James has also referred me to laser eye surgeons, which is very kind given that he is potentially eliminating a client.

And I like the fact that there is a Japanese Canteen next door, so I always pick up a nice lunch after my eye examination.

The examination rooms are downstairs - nothing flashy, but very up to date, friendly and spot on. Highly recommend this little business.

This urban day spa is brilliant - lovely furnishings and design, great wood floors and nice changing rooms, but most importantly, the treatment room, my therapist and the overall feel of the place was fantastic.

My therapist was a Bulgarian woman named Kremena who was outstanding. My deep tissue massage was just fantastic, and she was one of the best massage therapists I have ever had, honestly. I will definitely be going back. The hour flew by. And apparently all massage treatments are 10% off during weekdays.

The relaxation room is nice enough - never ending loop of Friends on DVD which i find slightly annoying, but I guess people like that. Fresh fruit (bananas & apples), biscuits, water & tea are there for the guests, and the changing rooms are connected by what I think is a unisex steam room which was ok.

I can't wait to go back.

I was here recently for the Spatec conference and decided to try out the spa (naturally!). Unfortunately, the hotel's website does NOT have the spa treatment menu nor the prices (or detailed pictures of the spa) on its website (even though the "Spa" is in the name of the hotel!). So, I had to wait until I was checked in to see what was on offer, which is definitely something that could be improved.

I chose the 80 minute shiatsu massage which costs about EUR 120 which definitely is not cheap. Upon arrival, I was not offered a glass of water, which is something I think every spa should offer its guests...I also was not told if I could use the thalasso pool, sauna, gym, etc, or given even a quick overview of the facility and what my purchase fo a treatment also entitled me to (if anything at all?? I still don;t know!)

The changing rooms are nice, but what surprised me most was that when I was led into my treatment room that the actual massage area was not a table, but in fact a mattress on the floor with only a towel as a potential pillow....hmmm....80 minutes on the floor with my neck screwed to one side with only a towel for support was sounding like torture. I wish I had known that this spa does not have actual massage treatment tables. Additionally, i noticed that the entire spa has marble type tile floors which does a poor job of sound insulation, so every conversation in the corridor, including the staff chittering away, was completely audible in my treatment room.

The massage itself was OK - my female therapist did not demonstrate a real intuitive knowledge for the pressure points or the ability to target muscles deeply. At times it felt like she was stretching my skin, instead of kneading my muscles, which is unfortunate. She also did not ask me if there were any areas in particular I would like extra attention, or other ones that i did not want massaged (she massage my stomach, which i found/and always find very uncomfortable and unneccessary).

I did fall asleep halfway through the massage as it was relaxing at times, but at the end I was definitely not entirely satisfied with my experience. I had to once again ask for a glass fo water (grrr)...and then not knowing what else I was allowed to do, peered longingly at the thalasso pool but decided not to bother the busy looking staff, changed and went back to my room.

The place has a lot of potential as the facilities look great, as do the treatments on the menu (once you get there and can see what's on offer) - but I do think for the price charged, and for the fact that the Spa is in the hotel name, some small changes can yield big benefits.

I went this past Sunday for a 10.30am Power plate class. Turns out I was the only one there, and although the power plate machines are in one open area of the stretching section, the class is directed by one of the personal trainers. I cannot remember the name of my trainer (Scott?) - an Aussie aspiring foottballer who almost made me puke cause he worked me very hard.

Since I was the only one, he customised the Power plate workout for my needs and goals, and I have to say that i was completely crushed at the end (in a good way). Legs, chest, arms, cardio, abs/core - I got a full body workout. I have done the powerplate a few times, and although i have heard and read that there is not much cardio, I think the new techniques employed by trainers actually concentrate on getting your heart rate up to burn some calories as well.

One note on the scheduling - the woman at the front desk who answered the phone told me the class begins at 10.40am, as does the online schedule, but for two weeks running, the trainer beging the class at 10.30am...(I know cause i missed the class last week!). So, Virgin Active need to get their act together on this one...

I have walked past this location on Brewer Street hundreds of times, and it always looks lovely as it has a little flower shop inside and is so tastefully and colourfully decorated. I have never been inside, but when I stepped inside after deciding to have a 15 minute seated acupressure massage (£17 the treatment menu said on the outside), I really was impressed.

The place smelled fantastic, and there was an aura of tranquility. I paid beforehand, was offered a glass of water and soon thereafter my therapist (a woman named Karen) lef me to one of the special massage chairs that are on the ground floor. The ground floor can be bustling and there is no separation from the waiting area, till and ground floor treatment area so you kind of have to zone out the background noise, and also not think about the fact that people could stare in an watch you while you are getting your treatment, but I have to say that the massage was so good that it was very easy to zone out the background distractions.

There are clever little hooks & drawrs behind the wall that hide away your personal belongings, so i was not worried about my watch or bag. I asked Karen to not do a scalp massage as I don;t really like that part, but she informed me that the rest of the acupressure treatment would involve my back, neck, shoulders, arms & hands.

The pressure was fantastically deep throughout most of the treatment, although I think it would have been nicer to have more deeper muscle manipulation in the arms and forearms/tennis nerve area, and less attention to my fingers. The highlight of the treatment is the part where the therapist performs this circular penentrating movement around my hips, upper glutes and lower back which just sent tingles throughout my entire body (perhaps it was one of my chakra or meridian points?).

It was a fabulous 15 minutes, and I will definitely be back. It looks like there are some very nice treatment rooms upstairs, so perhaps I may try a longer treatment next time. I highly recommend this place.

I decided to use my recently received Wahanda £50 Gift Voucher for a much needed deep tissue massage, and was curious to see how an upscale men's spa would be inside on of the busiest shopping centres in London. In short, my 45 minute massage treatment was superb, and my therapist (Pauline) was fantastic, knowledgeable and very communicative and apparently has 17+ years of experience, so I was in very capable hands.

I was surprised that there was a 12noon appointment available for a Saturday, but the woman on the phone was very helpful and booked me straight in (and even asked me if I was going to be using a voucher, but when I came to pay my record did not indicate this, so there was a bit of jostling to use my voucher in the end).

I had a bit of trouble finding the spa, but asked around and eventually found the narrow corridor that leads into a mostly grey & black themed facility. All staff were dressed in black contemporary outfits (a bit like going into a Gucci store), including my therapist, which took me a bit by surprise (I guess I am used to therapists being more comfortably dressed in Asian inspired outfits).

I did not have to wait long, and Pauline took me to the room and asked me all the right questions including where I wanted her to concentrate the treatment. She did a brilliant job on my troubled shoulder, and on my back and neck as well, and the 45 minutes absolutely flew by. At times it would have been great if she had checked to see whether I wanted more (or less) pressure, but that's a minor issue since she was mostly spot on with the treatment and all of the stretching she was doing with my arms & neck.

The room itself was very cool grey and actually quite spacious, and had a shower in there (but no mirror, I noticed). The massage table was very comfortable, but I noticed some squeaking whenever the therapist was applying deep strokes (sounded like it needed some oil). Minor issue, but definitely noticeable. The therapist chose the music (Norah Jones) - it would have also been cool to perhaps select from a choice myself if there were other options.

Anyway, in summary, I definitely highly recommend this spa. Perfect location, very friendly staff and my therapist was definitely top notch. I look forward to trying their other location as well.

For only $39.99, this was a great value & high quality massage. I admit that I had low expectations going in given the price (I had a coupon for an introductory massage offer), and the location since it is in a bland, cookie-cutter strip mall (like everything in Houston!).

I walked in and I was blown away at how nice the reception area was - the colours were lovely, and the receptionist was extremely friendly. My therapist Eric led me through some moroccan inspired wood doors into a lovely therapy room. The massage table was very comfortable, but most impressive was that when i lay face down, the face support was the BEST face support mechanism I have ever had in a massage. There was no bar near the chin which can sometimes feels like you are being choked, and the towel + a super high fibre count sheet made my face feel so comfortable. Big marks here!

Eric asked me what areas I wanted focused on and performed some deep tissue massage an trigger point therapy on my back. Wow, the trigger point treatment was amazing - he really worked deeply into my nerves to the point where I felt like a cat who was grabbed by the scruff of my neck! I could really feel it helping my back knots and my shoulder as well.

The 50 minutes flew by, and I must say Eric was fantastic - great bedside manner, and fantastic technique. A couple of things I think could have been better - given the intensity of the treatment, I have had other therapists who have encouraged me to breathe deeply and make sure i keep breathing, so this instruction would have been helpful. Additionally, the oils used were great in that they were non-sticky and not oily, and they had no smell, but maybe they could have offered some that have nice aromas? Also, would have been great if they had offered to run a hot towel on my back after the treatment just to remove some of the excess oil. Also, some eye patches to cover my eyes when I turned over would have been nice to protect against the light, although the lighting was comfortabley dim.

Otherwise, this place is fantastic! I would highly highly recommend this place, and also Eric - he was great!

Ajune is very conveniently located on the upper East side of Manhattan, but i mist say its quite easy to miss the front entrance. And the reception area is a bit misleading & unassuming as it appears that there are no treatment rooms because it looks like they only sell products, lotions, etc.

I went in for a facial and I must say it was fantastic. Tatiana was my therapist and she seemed extremely knowledgeable. As is typical in many spas in NY, during the treatment she "upsold" some additional electrical facial treatment and explained why it woudl be beneficial. Because it was a low pressure sell, and it was not that much more on top of the treatment price (and because she was so knowledgeable), I went ahead with it. In the end, the entire treatment was a bit on the expensive side, but I think it was definitely worth it. I will be back next time in am in New York City.

I have been coming to this location of Virgin Active for almost 10 years, back when it was Holmes Place.
Same location, same basic facilities and it does the job. I tro to go the Body Pump class here at least 2-3x week in the evenings because the instructors are fantastic.

I have also tried the Power Plates instructor-led classes which are amazing I think. Great workout

The only two downsides of this gym (and other Virgin Actives) are:
1) the air conditioning NEVER works, not in 10 years has it worked - therefore, the studios for the Body Pump classes are so hot, and unbearable so in the summer. The classes can get busy, so this really is not ideal
2) The front desk only give you ONE towel...so, if you use a towel during your workout...guess what, you need to use that same sweaty, dirty towel to shower, or you can pay £1 to £2 for a "fresh" towel...man, they are cheap! They used to give you a small towel, and a shower towel...you would think that given the high membership fees they could sort this out.

But, the location is convenient, so I keep going

I have been getting my haircuts here for years and years - the place used to be called Shipton & Leighton, but changed its name to Atherton Cox. The latest person who cuts my hair is Philippe, and I must say he is the coolest guy and an amazing hairstylist (he recently has become very busy because he is the hair designer on the TV programme 'How to look good naked').

Anyway, this salon in the heart of Marylebone is always buzzing, and although the prices have come up, it always delivers great value and a modern cut. They also have a beauty salon downstairs which i have yet to sample, but I will definitely be doing so. Philippe is amazing and I would highly, highly recommend him to anyone. I have also had my haircut with the japanese woman stylist who is also amazingly detailed and cool.

I had heard that this was a nice place to get a massage given the quality of the hotel and the location of the rooftop spa. I have to say that this was just not a pleasant experience. The massage areas are essentially beds, and there is no privacy, so you basically can hear everything and everyone getting a massage.

Its actually uncomfortable being face down on a bed...as opposed to a massage table. Top this off with the therapists chatting away constantly during the treatment, and mine also was chewing gum and also chatting with the woman at the front desk in vietnamese, well, it was not the ideal experience.

I would not recommend this place

I was in Tallinn for the weekend for a wedding and decided to advance book myself in for the Elemis Absolute Spa Ritual, which supposedly is designed for men. I arrived to the spa already in my bathrobe from my room, and I was given a key for the locker and a pair of paper underpants to put on, after I was asked to fill in a short questionnaire.

My therapist was very friendly and introduced herself. Like the treatment description I have added below, the therapist cleaned my feet with warm lime scented towels, gave me a brushing which she said was good for lymphatic drainage, and proceeded to give me a massage. The deep tissue massage was nice, but the table itself was a bit uncomfortable for me - it was a bit small, and the cushioning for the face area as you are face down was not adequate, so my chin, and neck were a bit stiff & hurting - I had to continually readjust my face. The last massage I had at the Kempinski hotel in Budapest had the most luxuriously soft and billowy massage table, so maybe I was spoiled. I definitely fell asleep at various points during my 2 hour treatment, and the highlight was the Facial. I really think the therapist did a fantastic job and my skin looked great afterwards.

At the end she gave me some written product suggestions in a very low-pressure sell, which I appreciated. I think the treatment was great value and I would highly recommend the "ritual" as it left me utterly relaxed and ready for the evening ahead!

The email description of the treatment I received from the spa is below:
ELEMIS ABSOLUTE SPA RITUAL
From the soles of the feet to the crown of the head this customised face and body treatment is the ultimate skin therapy. Elemis crown jewel hides in her Elemis Deep Tissue Muscle Massage and an amazingly effective facial with luxurious rejuvenating masks. Hot lime for your feet as a Welcome-touch; before the rhythmic and deeply effective massage techniques your body will be stimulated with a light body brushing. On the selection of the massage oils there are, among others, detoxing and stimulating Cellutox Oil and chakra balancing exotic Frangipani Oil. What’s more - there are two active masks, special treating of the delicate eye area and a de-stress scalp massage included in the ritual.
Dramatic results instantly!

This student salon may be the value shopper's beauty & wellness find in all of London - the treatments are super cheap! I paid £30 for an hour long stone massage treatment (although for some reason the spa menu says its 90 minutes long...but i was in & out in an hour).

I have never had a [http://www.wahanda.com/treatment/stone-massage-therapy hot stone massage], so I was excited to see what is was all about. The therapist rubbed some pre treatment liquid on me (not sure what it was, but it was applied with a semi rough cotton ball of some sort). Then she added oil on my limbs and put four stones on my back while i lay facing upwards, and also one stone on my stomach. She also put two stones in my hands, and also pebbles between my toes - all of them were warm (i have heard of some treatments where cold stones are also used). It was also very relaxing, but the massage itself, first with her hands, then with the stones, was a bit too light in pressure for my tastes. She did not ask if I wanted to have deeper pressure, and never asked what areas I wanted to have her concentrate on more. When i turned over, she used the stones to massage my legs and back, which feel heavenly, but again, I wished she used deeper pressure, and concentrated more on my upper back & shoulders. One other thing - the massage table did not have a face cut out, so i had to keep my head turned to the side instead of facing down.

The place itself is nice enough...but a lot of the treatment rooms are not really rooms but just areas separated by curtains. As you can imagine, there are students & supervisors (and clients) running around, and even though I was in a closed room with 4 walls, there was a ton of hallway noise (things being moved, bumped, falling outside in the hallways). There is also no music playing in the rooms (they really should add this!), so the ambience is not amazing. Definitely no feeling of luxury...kind of feels like a busy hospital. But at the prices they offer, it might be worth it. At the end of the treatment they have you fill out an evaluation form, and a supervisor comes in and just asks you if your treatment went well. Very efficient and formal...the supervisor could have been a little warmer. My therapist offered me a small cup of water at the end of the treatment, then I was on my way.

The salon has everything from manicures to massage and electrolysis, so it has an entire range of beauty & wellness treatments.

I have stayed at this hotel many times for business, and the spa & swimming pool area is really amazing. I have not had any treatments, but the swimming pool is beautifully designed - feels like you are swimming in a gorgeous cave. You can do laps, but its more of an ambience pool than a lap pool

The only issue is getting to the fitness area requires you to go through part of the lobby area, which is not ideal since it is a high traffic area.

The hotel itself is also lovely - the rooms are fantastic.

I was lucky enough to have the owner of the salon, Linda Meredith, to be my therapist for my facial, and it was amazing. Linda is so knowledgeable about skin that not only did I learn a few things, but she completely customised my treatment and gave me the LM "haute couture" facial using her own personally designed formulations and products. She also used a modern [http://www.wahanda.com/treatment/microdermabrasion microdermabrasion] machine (apparently it has a diamond in the suction head, as opposed to the harsher prior method which involves using pieces of crystal) to clear up some impurities in my skin after a very thorough extraction of dirt from my pores. The microdermabrasion felt like having a Dyson hoovering my face!

I have to say that it was a remarkable facial because of the level of customisation of the treatment based on my particular skin. For that level of personal attention, I will definitely be back.

And oh yes, I learned that I should shave before a facial (makes the treatment much more effective, and the therapist is able to better address my entire face).

This was probably the best spa experience from a treatment standpoint that I have ever had. I did the 150 minute Vigor package in a couples treatment room with my friend, and I must say that it was outstanding. The therapists first brought us into the rooms and washed & massaged our feet with hot towels - absolute heaven. Why every spa does not do this, I do not know. It not only feels amazing, but if you have been walking around all day, you now feel completely refreshed and less self-conscious when eventually you are being massaged on your feet.

Both my friend and I then were asked to put on paper underpants and we were exfoliated with a body scrub from head to toe - absolute heaven. We then showered off and I received a Balinese massage which was just the most perfectly deep tissue massage I have ever had. The therapists at this hotel are so amazingly well trained that this is the standard for all other spas I have been to ever since. Sensational really.

The facial was also very very good. My friend loved hers.

Overall, although this resort is difficult to get to, the Spa is hands down the best spa I have ever been to in terms of service and the quality of the treatments. All of the details are attended to in a first class manner

I booked a couples treatment which took place in a lovely private treatment villa with its own treatment room, shower room, outdoor jacuzzi, fountain & garden!! Wow! The treatments were really just amazing and lovingly performed. The experience was something you just don't get in Western spas.

The treatment started with a body exfoliation treatment (the therapists made us wear some paper underpants), after which we had to shower off. We then had massages which were lovely, and then facials. We got to also enjoy the privacy of the shower room and outdoor tub.

I went over the New Years (Dec 2006 / Jan 2007), and booked a package spa treatment as a guest at the hotel. Unfortunately, it was difficult to get spa information beforehand, so I needed to book when I arrived by going to the spa and getting an information booklet.

Some notes about the hotel:
It takes 35-45 minutes by taxi to get to the hotel from the airport, fyi.
Even though the place was full (mostly Russian & Chinese tourists), it felt very quiet and calm. The layout is amazing with pools, bridges, a place to play water volleyball & basketball, a poolside bar, etc. The beach is fantastic - quiet, amazing waves (mostly), loungers and great sand. The weather was surprisingly decent, but a little windy.

The room was amazing - very comfortable bed, great design, a massive circular tub, an open shower, great view and private balcony. In room CD.DVD player and flat screen TV, and a nice sitting area as well. Very romantic...and the room service was always spot on. Amazing fruit, great champagne, good food (great breakfast as well). And the service is prompt and very friendly.

The Gellert is supposed to be one of Budapest's star attractions...unfortunately, it was an awful experience.
The facade and much of the outside (including outside areas) is under construction when I went (July 2008).

First of all, waiting to enter you must decide from a menu of pricing options what kinds of entry tickets & treatments + amenities you want to purchase. You can buy an entry ticket for the pool, or the thermal baths - need to pay extra for massages, access to changing facilities, towels, etc. The treatment menu is VERY confusing - there are treatment names and hourly pricing and re-entry options that just don;t make sense. On top of it, you need to wait forever to buy your ticket because when you do make it to the box office area, the woman who takes your "order" needs to print out a separate ticket for each thing you want. So, we had an entry ticket/card, a ticket for a towel, a ticket for a 30 minute wellness massage, and a ticket for use of a locker for changing and keeping our valuables. I was so confused!

Once we entered the building (which is a beautiful building), there are no signs telling you where to go. We went to a massage area where the surly old guy told us to go back, down under the pool and up to the area to get towels. We walked for ages through mazes of cabins, changing area, assorted wet areas until we found a place to get towels (by the way, you need to pay a deposit for towels which you get back when you return the towel). The service was spotty and not very attentive throughout. We then had to find our changing area, then we had find where to get our massages...which happened to be at the same place we started! (he could have just told us to enter there instead of having us walk around).

The massage attendant gave us two tokens...changed the tokens 10 minutes later and just made us sit & wait...for almost 40 minutes until a fat hungarian guy in a towel came, took me to a room, asked me to get naked and lie down on a massage table (the table had no hole to put your head in, so you had to turn your head to the side). So here I was naked, face down, head strained to the side, naked Hungarian fat guy in towel starting to massage me. He lightly massaged me for no more than 20 minutes (it was supposed to be 30 minutes). He did not use oil, but that was OK - he just clearly was not into it, and wanted to get it done as soon as possible. My "therapist" kept the room door open, and also chatted with the other masseuse who was massaging my friend - so both of us lying naked, open doors, our therapists gabbing with each other. It was a men's only area, but still...really not a great experience.

I checked out the men's thermal baths, sauna and steam room...decent facilities, but I will not be going back. There was too much going on, too much uncertainty, no customer direction or service, lots of randomness and overall, not worth it. Not sure what the fuss is all about for the Gellert - this place feels like a state run facility (which i learned it is!) - the workers don;t really care, and the place feels overwhelming and unfriendly.

I had three massages during my stay at the Robinson Club Daidolos, all with Andre. I must say that Andre was amazing - he gave the best massages I have ever had. I had an upper body Deep Tissue Massage which involved the neck, head, upper & lower back, shoulders, arms & hands. The treatment rooms are basic, but they are clean and smell nicely of aromatherapy oils. The Wellfit Oasis Spa has an attached gym which has all the basic equipment and is part of the Adult area only complex (the resort tends to have many families with children). There is also a large adults only pool as part of this area of the resort, so its great to go for a swim afterwards.

Just so you know, the entire club caters only for Germans in the sense that all of the guests and almost all of the staff are German. I went with my extended family who live in Germany, so keep this in mind. The club itself was beautiful, but it is built on a hill so you end up getting great exercise just walking to and from your room. The weather is perfect is Kos as it was 32 degrees and sunny every day.

I went in for a facial with Chelsee who greeted me at reception was super friendly. As you make your way up the stairs and into reception, you see all of the autographed headshot pictures of the celebrity clients. The spa is modest and comfortable, but the real attraction is the reputation and ultimately I must say that the treatment more than lived up to the hype. Chelsee was superb, and the facial itself felt great (even the extractions were relatively pain-free). The products smelled lovely, and my skin felt and looked fantastic after the 1 hour treatment which involved a nice clay mask. While the mask was on, the therapist gave me a lovely neck and upper back, shoulder massage. I will definitely be back. And apparently Linda Meredith facials can also be found at the [http://www.wahanda.com/spa/europe/united-kingdom/england/south-east/hampshire/new-milton/the-spa-at-chewton-glen Chewton Glen] spa in Hampshire - good to know!

Sophy was just lovely, and she is so knowledgeable about nails. I don't typically have manicures because the one time I did, the manicurist cut off my cuticles which really hurt. Sophy told me that she not only does not cut off cuticles, but that she discourages this practice as it is not necessary at all. The end result was fantastic and I will definitely be going back to her cause she is really quite cool and she does a great job.

I was happy that I was able to get an appointment the same day and I have wanted to try out this neighbourhood Holland Park spa. I have to say that on the whole, I was left very disappointed with my massage.

I had the 55 minute Holistic full body Massage (£56) which was described as a sort of Swedish massage. The woman who greeted me at reception ended up being my massage therapist. I had to fill out a form before I had my massage, and then I was led to a nice treatment room. I noticed that my therapist never introduced herself and did not tell me her name. She also instructed me to keep my underpants on. What ended up happening as a result is that she was not able to really massage my lower back properly, nor my bum or upper legs, which is a shame...cause then its not really the full body experience, but I do understand why some places have this is in place.

One of the highlights was before beginning, she put two hot towels to my feet to clean my feet before we began - this feels amazing, and I have only had this done before at spas in Asia. It kind of all went downhill from there...my therapist used WAY too much oil. I mean, it was dripping off of me, down my sides, and it made it very difficult for her to actually administer a deep massage since it was very very slippery. This was disappointing, and at the end of the massage I had to literally take one of the towels and dry myself off - there was SO much oil on me...my therapist was very young, but she seemed very untrained. They should have offered me a shower (not sure if they have them, but I cannot imagine how she could have thought my clothes would not get ruined by that much oil!)

I did kind of doze of a little in the middle, so it was not all bad, but the oiliness of it all was too much.
A few other things did not go well - when she asked me to turn over to work on my front side, she did not offer me a towel or small pillow to support my neck. Also, she did not put anything over my eyes to help keep the lights out of my eyes. The lights were low, yes, but most every other spa i have been to have put an eye patch or a towel over my eyes to maintain the extra darkness. Very weird, but the small details were not attended to. The final straw was towards the end of the massage I could hear the woman in reception having a loud discussion with a delivery guy...that basically shattered the experience.

I had no idea that the massage ended except my therapist stopped and just asked if I wanted a glass of water...so I assumed it was over...i drank my water from a plastic cup, towelled off the copious amounts of oil, paid and left. It was not a disaster, but surprisingly for a spa with four locations, I expected better.

I have been going to the Sassoon salon monthly for my haircut for almost 6 months. The location is super convenient right in between Leicester Square & Covent Garden. Daniel cuts my hair and he is a great stylist - he always makes sure he gets my hair perfect, and it always grows in amazingly well over the following weeks.

The salon itself is OK - white floors, kind of dull. The staff at the front are welcoming, and the hairdressers in training (usually women) who wash your hair always do a decent job, and sometime throw in a nice head massage when shampooing / conditioning your hair. At the end of my haircut, my favourite is when they also rinse my hair and add this cool mint menthol tonic into my hair which smells great (kind of like tea treee oil ) - very refreshing.

Haircuts here do not come cheap, but i find they are worth it.

The Agua is a serene place - the floor to ceiling white curtains create an airy feeling throughout the place. The relaxation rooms are also a great place to relax afterwards, and most of the little private seats (surrounded by curtains) have TVs and headphones. The products smell amazing, and the therapist I had was really top notch. She was very sweet, explained the treatments and gave me the name of the products that were used in writing (so that I would buy these products upon paying on my way out). A bit cheeky, but it was a low pressure sell. The changing rooms are nice as well.


The biggest problem I have with the spa is that on top of the treatment price, they charge £15-20 extra for non-hotel guests for use of the facilities. Now, this is not a cheap spa, and the treatments themselves are quite pricey, so I am not sure why levying customers with an extra charge to use the relaxation areas is necessary. Seems to be very low class and short-term thinking to me. The second issue with this spa is that the treatment "rooms" are not really rooms...they are areas separated by the curtains and are therefore not soundproof. So, you can hear other therapists talking to other clients...it definitely subtracts from the experience unfortunately.