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| - Bota amounts to a very good public bath. If you bring your own necessaries, it's lovely. It could easily be a good spa with the following additions:
1 - Drinking water. Aside from the small jar of decorative lemon water at the front entrance, there is no other water provided. Anywhere. The desk attendant flat out denied my use of the plastic cups squirreled behind her. Plastic cups are only for the small jar of decorative tea that lives behind her desk, apparently. She advised me to use a faucet, presumably by hand or face. So bring your own reusable bottle if you're going which is always a nice idea anyway.
2 - Towels. It's customary to provide bathers in a spa with towels. To their credit, Bota does provide one towel for use in the changeroom after bathing--which is more than a public bath--but that's it. A lengthy conversation won me a towel for use inside the steam room.
3 - Sandals. It's also customary to provide sanitized shoes for use in the facility, especially when part of the facility is outdoors, across several grated and serrated metal gangplanks. Contrary to advice from the front desk, bare feet was not the norm. And, tall people, they weren't selling sandals in large sizes the day I visited.
4 - An aromatherapy adjustment. The sauna scent was so strong, groups of people walked in then bolted out coughing and rubbing their stinging eyes. No, not an exaggeration. It would have been a nice addition though had it been subtle.
5 - Changeroom amenities. Even average spas (and yoga studios and gyms and salons) provide body lotion and a towel drop in the change area. Suggestions to bring things up to par: a robe and towel bin for used linens, good body lotion, deodorant spray, hair elastics (to keep long hair out of the pools). Really, linens shouldn't be left in a heap on the floor.
The icing would be verbally reminding visitors to shower before entering the pools. Inexplicably, most customers stepped into the tubs unwashed/dry. Ugh. Spa mavens note: water temps across the pools are fairly similar. Don't expect a true hot pool or cold plunge. It's perfectly pleasant though.
So yes, it's completely ridiculous to complain about a spa but when paying for a service and experience and when it's advertised as top-tier, it's good to feel the expense and expectations were met. People save up for this kind of thing. It's supposed to feel special. Personally, even though the setting was perfectly delicious, I left frustrated by thirst and cleanliness issues and put off by staff and super-painful walkways. I'll come prepared next time and all will be well. If you want a proper spa, there's a good one across the street (http://www.yelp.com/biz/spa-scandinave-montr%C3%A9al-montr%C3%A9al-2?osq=scandinave).
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