WORLD SPA — Attraction in New York

I originally left a 4 star review, and I am back to change that to 5 stars. It’s a long story but I’ll explain. I originally removed 1 star for this reason: On 9/13/2023, I visited WS for the first time. I used my credit card to pay for the both of us, and for both of $75 deposits that was required at the time. We also had food and drinks. I was explained that the deposit would be returned within 2/5 business days. I’ve never had to do that anywhere else but I had heard so many great things about it here so I obliged.

I had such an amazing time that I actually wanted to return on the 4th day, not even a week after my last visit. The deposit from the week before hadn’t been returned yet.

I returned and spoke to a manager and asked her if it would be okay for me to pay in cash only moving forward. She was kind and understanding and assured me that cash would be okay. I paid everything in cash that day and have returned several times using cash only for the deposits and whatever services and food I have.

So with the original charges, on the 5th day, the deposits vanished from my charges, but so did the charges for the 2 access passes and the food we purchased. (Like $365 in charges. Gone and returned to my account.) Then on Oct 1, the charges hit my account again as if like they did their credit cards in month batches. So I was charged for the food and services literally over 2 weeks later. This caused a lot of chaos for my bank account. And it’s the only reason I removed a star. I’ve returned several times, including yesterday. As of yesterday, they no longer require a deposit, and I was told that they have heard us.

So with the story out of the way, let’s get down to the facility. It’s incredible. I spend 7-8 hours there. The onsen pools are so beautiful. I’m in love with the Turkish hammam room and could spend hours in the salt room. I love the size of it here, at the times I’ve gone, it was never crowded. There are so many rooms to explore, pools to swim, lounge chairs to relax. It’s the kind of place you can spend all day in. My former favorite spa was very very small, and there is no place to just relax there without being on top of each other. Every time I have visited, I’ve gone to the venik platza ritual demos and have so much been wanting to try this experience full on. It seemed like it could get intense. Well yesterday, I finally did! I had my venik massage with Serge. It was the most amazing experience possibly of my life. The massage was the most intense and incredible experience of my entire life. It gets intense, it’s gets hot and vigorous. He put an ice cold cloth on my head. That felt amazing. He seemed to alternate between smacking and deeply patting the leaves into my body.

After the full body venik massage, we went into the cold plunge for 10 seconds. After that, he brought me to a set of showers where one was ice cold and one was hot as hell. In the hot one, he massaged my head and neck and then turned me around and doused me in “buckets” of freezing water from this shower thing. We went back and forth with that about 4 times.

He gave me some cold water, and brought me into the salt room, where he laid towels down for me to sit on and then covered me in towels. “Relax now.” Relax I did. I had already been there for several Hours before the venik, and afterwards all I really did was relax in the salt room and Infared sauna. One more trip to the jet pool.

I came home and slept like I never have in my life. I feel like I woke up in a new body. The stress in my body feels like it melted away.

I’ve made WS my home now, and go every other week. So sorry to my former favorite spa, move over because world spa is here and it’s here to stay.

There’s only one thing I’d like to see improved. Phones. “No phone signs” not enforced. Many photos probably have been taken that have my rear end in the background. It’s beyond me why anyone would want to go to a spa and then be on the phone the whole time. That aside,

I am already dreaming of my next...

Living in the neighborhood and watching this project come to fruition, I thought I would never see this beauty completed in time. From the industrial exterior to the unique and glamorous interior, the craftsmanship speaks for itself. As with every new venture there will be flaws and challenges to overcome in order for it to be perfect for all. It’s grand opening on 12/8/22 was one that I was not fortunate to attend but was happy to have booked an afternoon pass for my friend and I to enjoy after work on 12/14/22. Price after 4pm with a 4-Hr time limit is $100 per person. This does not include swimsuits and slippers (must bring your own or available for purchase) There is a restaurant (Ren) which serves an American-Mediterranean style cuisine, has a beautiful ambiance and decor but is not affiliated with the World Spa and must be booked for a different time as it’s outside of spa facilities. If you wish to come for dinner, book dinner first or after your spa experience. There is no re-entry from the world spa, there are no outdoor facilities like in Sojo or Spa Castle. -The lockers are immaculate, very clean, nice heated floors, beautiful showers and toiletries. Robes and towels are included and available in abundance. The locker room staff are friendly and accommodating. The facility is broken up into 3 floors- spa and treatment rooms first floor, saunas and cafè on the second floor and a members only lounge upstairs on the third floor- not a member yet so not sure what the members lounge offers. The saunas were truly crafted with such precision and their individual styles showed appreciation for each origin respectively. I enjoyed the Moroccan hammam, the snow room, the infra red sauna, the Himalayan salt room, their Russian banyas and had a Russian Leaf (Venik) treatment done, which my friend and I were very satisfied with. Their ice plunge pool was cold- Frigid- and they also have ice showers you can enjoy between each Russian banya. Their pools (Hydrotherapy) were ok… not what I expected temperature wise and felt it lacked a certain je ne sais quoi. This part I have to leave to each individual to experience. their Cafe was in the center of all the saunas and pools. They had a delicious array of appetizers, salads and mains… we orders two salads, one appetizer and fresh juice drinks. Their cocktails look phenomenal, I did not order but saw my neighbors who have and their drink menu is entertaining. I tried to minimize my alcohol intake because I wanted to keep hydrated. Their staff- very professional, truly accommodating, respectful and seek to please each customer. It’s a new facility, demands and expectations are high from each customer and it may appear like staff is lacking but they are overwhelmed as anyone can understand from an administrative perspective. Be aware: there are gratuities (tips) automatically added to treatments and meals- may be an issue for some depending on their experience.

Cons-

1- Their opening hours- for someone who starts their day at 6am and has a 9-5 job and kids to manage, morning hours are much appreciated. They open at 12pm and in the evenings it becomes too crowded to appreciate their facilities. 2- There should be signs for individuals who do not understand sauna/spa etiquette: no speaking, no telephones, close doors behind them, clean towels after themselves. 3- Their memberships should be more tailored to the masses. A $5000/yr membership does not suffice when you can only enjoy their facilities once a week in the evenings or weekends when it’s crowded. 4- The prices are higher than their competitors; granted it is a new, more elegant, upscale facility- The experience is unique to say the least but for some, the price may not fit their expectations when compared to sojo...

First off, it is absolutely insane that I have to write what I'm about to write.. I still cannot believe the experience we had today.

Like it when FIGHTS BREAKS OUT at a spa? How about when they openly welcome guests with SWASTIKA tattoos? I had to come on here to be the first to give a review on today's incidents but I'm sure I won't be the last.

This place is awful, I beg you if you're reading this, ignore all positive reviews, go elsewhere, and never spend a dollar here.

It's as much a "spa" as an abandoned strip mall is like a bergdorfs. Place should be shut down.

It's funny cause before even getting to the most insane incident I've ever seen in a public place, I have to share the "cabana massage experience." I was originally going to book 2 private sessions but the lady on the phone said "Oh you can do a couple's massage in a cabana and it's a little cheaper", so I'm like sure. Show up, they place you in a tent in the middle of a high school cafeteria looking "restaurant" and your head is 4 feet away from listening to two guys chomp down on their food and yell about politics. Plates and glasses smashing etc.

The actual "specialist" massage therapists were so bad, both my girlfriend and I wanted to stop the treatment half way through. The only way of describing it is as if they took someone off the street who was thrown in to cover for an actual massage therapist. The credentials of the staff need to be investigated for sure. Not to mention it was $180/person, the same rate as what an actual massage therapist would charge you.

We went right away to go downstairs to complain to the staff and ask for management, and they scoffed and said "there's no management here on the weekends" lol you mean the busiest time of the week and there's no management on site?

Saving the worst for last, we're sitting at the hot tub recovering from what was the single worst massage either of us have gotten (if you can even call it a massage). A guy walks into the hot tub with a LITERAL SWASTIKA tattoo on his chest. I couldn't believe what I was seeing, and it wasn't long until everyone in the entire pool room became super uncomfortable. So someone calls security in, the security guard shows up to ask him to put a towel on (then a staff memeber actually gives him a free World Spa shirt, laughs while he hands it to him and goes "don't worry I got you bro") then the security guy walks away despite tensions rising.

Surprised this isn't a news story, I couldn't believe what I was seeing, to see that in 2025. I felt awful for all the jewish people in the room. Still call this a spa?

I have a video of this whole thing happening but I can't risk World Spa using it as leverage to say filming isn't allowed in their establishment but we were all worried for our wellbeing and the staff was literally doing 0 to solve the situation, and then have my review taken down. Next thing you know, there's a group of 10 people screaming and pushing eachother, and the security guard was nowhere to be seen. That guy needs to get fired too.

BTW I'm not some annoying google reviewer with insane expectations. I'm reviewing publicly and non-anonymously because I would have no problem with anyone I know seeing this, in fact I hope they all do.

One day I'll never get back. I wish I could give 0 stars and I never leave reviews. Thought about reaching out to management but given the other reviews, sounds like they'd just call this a "subjective experience" haha okay, wonder what's subjective about what I'm...