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| - SLOPPY is how I'd describe my experience. I'd been before & besides the rash I got from the foot bath & bees buzzing around while I sat naked under a robe having lunch on the terrace amid the surrounding office buildings back then, it wasn't anything memorable.
Prices here are NOT justified. Increases are understandable as things go up here & there but they REALLY jack it up & the skincare lines they use are nothing special. Service incls access to the pool, exercise room & sauna which is just another feature of their shower stall. I never have time to use them but if you do, you'll have them all to yourself as no one seems to bother. The hotel has not changed & lives on in an ageing state, lacking the stately English social club feel. Hallways & change room smell mustier than ever & poor hallway lighting evokes the feeling they're either hiding a murder scene or there's no need for light as there are no guests, while doormen no longer feel that opening doors for those that do show up is part of their duties. I can open my own door but it's awkward as you pass them loitering in the vestibule as you walk in.
After handing our keys to the jovial valet ($30), we went up to the dank 4th floor toward the spa. We arrived 15 mins early as per policy. Much time was spent @reception who had to look up the gift card that was forgotten at home. First she said we had $450 to spend; when we told her it was less, she said it was $0. She read each line item in my friend's account until she figured it out; this went on for some time. We were then offered "something to drink" (water) before going upstairs to change. We were shown a tray of cotton balls, run-of-the-mill hair spray & some other hair product & told we could use them to remove our makeup & do our hair. Is the hairspray also makeup remover? We weren't offered a seat upon arrival (probably bc we ran out of time) nor any sweets on the cart. Towels were in rough shape w/brown stains, gaping holes & tattered/frayed edges not part of the original design. There are no clocks on the premises & w/the ordeal @reception+time to change+sitting around the waiting room, I've no idea how long we'd dawdled away before being greeted by our "service providers". I'm dubious as to whether mine was a professional esthetician. I won't name names but Ms. T (no relation to Mr. T that I know of) gave me another several minutes to change out of my robe into another +shower-cap thing that wouldn't stay on. She switched to their previous hairbands but why didn't we just start off that way? Who were they saving it for? Anyway it left a ton of dust all along my hairline.
The facial (skin analysis & cleanse, steam & extraction, neck & shoulder massage, mask, etc.) was AWFUL. She didn't notice I have sensitive skin; I've had way more insightful analyses at makeup counters! I find some spas overuse product which may be meant to give that pampered feeling but Ms. T was stretching a small amount to go a looong way. While applying them, she had the steamer going which you DO NOT do simultaneously. The purpose of steam is to loosen up pores but instead was allowing product to seep in. Toward the end, Ms. T left me lying there in silence. Some time passed before I began counting. When I got past 2mins, I removed one of the moist cotton pads on my eye & saw her sitting there. I asked re: shoulder & neck massage when she got up & got to it. I wasn't demanding, but what if I hadn't inquired? At the end, Ms. T handed me a mirror & gave me the sales schpiel about the products. Imagine my surprise when I saw my eye makeup STILL ON & completely smudged! Cleansing incls the entire face! I ended up having to remove w/water then redo it in a rush as we had reservations for high tea downstairs. NOT relaxing.
They forgot to get my friend to fill out & sign a health form @the beginning & insisted she do so as we were leaving. The receptionist asked how my treatment was, saying how amazing my skin looked. She asked if I was buying any product before ringing us up. I never buy new skincare unless I've had a chance to try it out as it can take a day or three for negative reactions to appear. I politely declined but could not say I was disappointed in front of my friend who was paying! I wasn't planning to tip but did in the end. During tea, my friend noted something hanging off my face--it was part of the mask. Later that evening I felt an itch on my cheek; I rubbed it & another piece came off! Ms. T didn't even bother to fully remove my mask!
By evening my eyelids began to itch. By morning, they were fully swollen, burning & REALLY itchy. I gave it a day to see if it would go away before calling them & it's still going. I'm awaiting a call back from the spa & will update once I hear back. There are much nicer places that give you the real spa experience for less, or at least you don't leave feeling ripped off w/pieces of mask clinging to your face. I would strongly suggest going elsewhere.
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