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| - I visited Stillwater in December, 2011. My visit was on a Sunday afternoon. The spa informed me that I could be reimbursed for parking in the downstairs lot, so I parked beneath the Hyatt hotel and took the elevator up to the floor with the spa. The first thing I noticed as I got out of the elevator was an overwhelming stench of vomit. I can only assume that someone had recently vomited right outside the elevator and while hotel staff might have cleaned up the "mess" they hadn't addressed the smell. Not a pleasant start to my visit, and as the smell remained as I left my treatment (almost three hours later) it also wasn't the nicest parting gift. Fortunately the smell was only near the elevators, and while it did seep into the spa lobby it wasn't noticeable in the treatment or lounge areas at all.
If I'm going to shell out $150+ for a massage, I expect it to come with "extras". Not THOSE kind of extras, but things like plush change rooms, delicious snacks and complimentary beauty products. Otherwise, I'd pay half that to get an awesome, actually-therapeutic massage from Synergea in the NW. Stillwater has attempted to fulfill my spa desires, but they failed in a number of areas. When I entered the women's change room I was told the hot tub was in the process of heating up, as a repairman had just been in. I waited about ten minutes before dipping my toe in, and being scalded by near-boiling water. There was a thermometer floating in the tub that indicated the water was much, much, much hotter than would be safe, so I robed up and went to the lobby to tell the receptionist. She came in and played around with the hot tub, finally letting it reach a safe temperature. The hot tub was rather weird... it was quite long and narrow. I was glad I was there alone, as I don't think there would have been room for two people to sit comfortably without engaging in some kind of inappropriate contact. The change room also had showers (much appreciated post-massage oil) and a dry sauna. There was also a quiet sitting area with coffee, tea, fruit-infused water and other snacks available- one of the better snack selections I've seen at a spa! You might say you don't go to a spa to eat snack food, I say I don't pay $180 for ANYTHING unless chocolate is involved.
The treatment? Your standard hot stone massage. It was actually quiet and relaxing (no post-apocalyptic trip-hop music, like they play at Spa Ritual), the hot stones held the heat well, and the therapist checked in on my comfort and the pressure level. I was mildly uncomfortable for a bit longer than normal- maybe up to five days after the massage- but I like to think that was my body releasing tension and aligning itself properly. Right? RIGHT? After a quick rinse off in the change room shower I left the spa, noticing they had a good selection of Butter London nail polishes for sale (I'm kind of addicted to glitter) and parting with a pre-paid parking ticket, mild neck discomfort and a little bit less of the vomit smell.
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