Patricia's Day Spa - Spa Etiquette

Spa Etiquette . . .

What do I wear? Must I get completely naked for a massage? Can I choose whether my therapist is a man or women? Is it customary to tip therapists? The International SPA Association defines the spa experience as "your time to relax, reflect, revitalize and rejoice." Rest assured that spas want your experience to be completely relaxing and enjoyable.

Here are some tips to get you started:
~ Ask, ask, ask. Your first step should always be to call the spa and ask them all your questions before you arrive. Professional spa operators will be anxious to answer any question and put you at ease.

~ Spas offer a menu of the services they offer that will describe each treatment and its therapeutic value in detail. Also check out the ISPA Glossary for a full glossary of spa terms and their definitions. Becoming familiar with the service you are having performed will make you more comfortable.

~ Spas will never compromise your modesty. Most often, you will be given a robe to change into before your treatment. Under the robe? It's up to you. Therapists will only expose the portion of your body that is being treated at the time. If your treatment involves water therapy, a swimsuit may be appropriate.

~ Spas have different policies on tipping, but generally it is accepted. It's important to ask a spa's tipping policy at the front desk when you arrive.

~ At the time of booking, express whether you prefer a male or female therapist. Many spas will ask this question when booking your service.

~ If your therapist's touch is too rough or too light - mention it! They're there for you and their goal is to provide you with your perfect spa experience.

~ There's no pressure to talk during a treatment. It's entirely up to you. If you have questions or would like to talk during the session, certainly do so. The staff takes their cues from you. If you're quiet they will be too.

~ If you have a particular injury or physical condition, explain it to the therapist. They can suggest the appropriate adjustments or enhancements to treatments.

~ Most spas are co-ed, but offer separate facilities for men and women.

~ In order to maintain a relaxed setting, we ask that you refrain from bringing children with you for your treatments.