Choosing A Day Spa

When choosing a day spa, there's a lot to be said for convenience. Find the day spas in your area, and go pick up a menu of services to see what it offers and its prices. While you're there, ask for a tour. You should be able to look at the changing rooms, though treatment rooms might be off limits.

Observe how you and other customers are treated, which will indicate whether you'll have a good spa experience. Look in the changing rooms to make sure the spa has safe, sanitary conditions.. Hair in the drain? That's a no-no.

Another factor in choosing a day spa is size and atmosphere. Day spas can be as homey as a bed and breakfast or a multi-million dollar facility. See if the spa’s style (and prices) suits you.

Look at the menu of services. Day-spas tend to offer as many services as possible, sometimes small day spas overreach. If you're interested in specialities like Ayurveda or Thai Massage, ask what kind of training the therapists have had. (Preferably more than a weekend seminar.)

If the facility is a medical spa, is it run by a physician? Is there always a physician or registered nurse at the facility? Ask what type of training the technicians have been given to do advanced procedures like laser hair removal or chemical facial peels.

The most important component is the quality of the personnel. A good massage therapist or aesthetician should be able to put you at ease from the start. Some people are more gifted and committed than others. I can feel the difference between the people who are going through the motions and the people who love what they do, and I rebook with the people who do the best work.

Questions To Ask When Choosing A Day Spa

* How long have you been in business?

* Are you licensed by the state? Are all the therapists and technicians licensed?

* What are the benefits of the treatments?

* Are any contraindications to the treatments you are interested in?

* Look over the spa’s intake form. Is it comprehensive?

The Spa Association in Fort Collins, Colo., uses these questions in its spa licensing program. Spas with the “Spa Secure” logo have been inspected to see that they meet the highest health and safety standards.