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| - It was my first time attending The Elmwood Spa. My boyfriend and I had bought each other a Couple's Retreat package called "Exotic Escape". It consisted of Water Therapies which was an overcrowded pool area with 2 small pitch dark steam rooms (which I couldn't even see where I was going), only to discover that someone was in there with me when I thought I was alone. The whirlpool was small and overcrowded and didn't have the 'couples' feel. We had expected something slightly larger. The pool was nice. No complaints there. We were also given a nice warm cozy robe with flip flops and unlimited fresh clean towel usage. Which was nice. No complaints there either. There were also fully operational showers, change rooms, and change areas and lockers. You were also supplied with the necessary toiletries to get showered and ready. Anything else you were required to bring yourself. Which is expected, and that's fine.
The package also included a 50-minute couple's Swedish massage. We were lead onto the 4th floor and welcomed into a nice relaxing environment. We didn't have to wait long for our massage therapists to come and greet us. They were very friendly and welcoming. The room we were led into was very nice. The ambiance was endearing, and consisted of 2 massage tables dressed nicely with matching sheets. The room even had a fireplace! My boyfriend and I both agree that the massages were great, but its no different anywhere else you go.
When my boyfriend and I checked out we were given our 'complimentary' take-home spa products, which quite frankly, could be bought at Winners in the section where no-name stuff could be bought for $3. However the staff were all very friendly and made sure they asked if we felt relaxed and enjoyed our first spa experience.
The final touch to the package once we were finished in the spa was dinner at The Bangkok Garden right next door. The Elmwood Spa and Bangkok Garden are affiliated with each other so, this must be how they incorporate the dinner within the spa package we chose.
The restaurant was very dim and dark, although the decor was quite cute. I've seen better. But I still honestly liked the decor.
Now for the disappointing part: The food. The menu we received was a set menu. The items on the menu sounded appealing enough, so we picked our choices and then we waited........and waited.....and waited. Our waiter was very slow, and considering he was only waiting 3 tables each with 2 people per table, we expected faster service. But thats not the full reason. THE SERVING SIZES WERE SOOO SMALL! I ordered the Thai spring rolls as an appetizer, and only 3 came on a plate, with WATERY plum sauce and shaved carrots. Their website menu makes it sound like its so much better than what we actually ate! My appetizer, a 'beef salad' although tasty, was also small, but lacked substance in the sense that my 'beef salad' had no actual 'salad' in it. Again, just shavings of carrot, and meaningless sprigs of mint, and scraps of other nameless leaves. My boyfriend and I ordered the same main dish: Chicken Pattaya. Chicken patayyNOTHIN! It was 2 small grilled chicken breasts lightly seasoned and cut into strips, with (again) WATERY Thai chilli sauce which only exaccerbated the BURN in the roof of my mouth from the piping hot Thai Spring rolls. I understand the need for food to be HOT when served, but to be too hot to eat when you are HUNGRY? Not too pleased.
Our desert, was ok. I ate it, but my boyfriend didn't. We both ordered the Deep Fried Banana with icecream and 'fruit'. (which consisted of one SLIVER of strawberry, & half of an orange slice!) I figured I would eat it because truthfully, it tasted better than anything else on the menu.
NOW FOR THE PART THAT GAVE US THE HEART ATTACK! : THE BILL!
Our voucher was handed in at the beginning of our meal, and was used to put towards our bill at the end of our meal. When we recieved our bill we were SHOCKED to discover, that the bill WOULD HAVE BEEN ***$112 DOLLARS*** had we actually PAID for this meal! WTF! We had to put $11.32 because of my wine spritzer & my boyfriends Coke towards the meal which was TRUTHFULLY all the entire meal was worth anyway! We were practically handed a Winterlicious menu & paid $112 for it.
My boyfriend and I are of the opinion that the whole entire package is priced backwards! We both feel that for the price we paid for our spa package (which was $303 + taxes & gratuities), we should have gotten MORE out of the spa services (such as a mani/pedi or a facial or something) rather than the dinner which was worth the price of a Swiss Chalet meal for 2 & that's being generous!
So basically the breakdown of the $303 was as follows:
Water Therapies: complimentary
50-min Couples Swedish massage: estimating at $191 for both of us together
Dinner at Bangkok Gardens: $112
Overall - the experience was ok. I won't attend Elmwood again, though.
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