Riverside Spa — Local services in Calgary

I am so glad this spa came up for a review. My husband and I came here for about one year and it was pretty good services and treatments but they are very particular and sometimes hard to deal with. Especially if you have any special requests. However the one time I booked a full day service we were stuck in a car accident and we could not get there on time. I instantly contacted them and explained I was going to be late. I asked what my options were as traffic was not moving. They told me not to worry and to come as soon as I could. The lady on the phone was very helpful. I then called back and told them we were still In traffic. Again they told me to arrive as soon as I could. I asked if I should rebook and they said no problem and to just come. As I arrived the manager got involved and said since your late all your services will be shortened. I asked why to the front reception and all of a sudden the story changed and they were not kind and completely unaccomodating. The manager who I guess is named Dan got involved and told the staff to shorten all my services. I was rushed through and I was given the Express version even after I said I will just do half the services and the rest another day they said no we can't reschedule without 48 hrs notice. My pedicure was rushed by half the time. My facial was shortened by half and charged full price for everything. Absolutely no flexibility and options for the client. Dan did not come out to speak to me or work anything out. He hid behind the door. I called the next day to let him know the services were not only short and rushed but not even good when he picked up the phone he didnt even say hello He says "Yah what do you want?" I asked him is this how he treats his clients and speaks to women? He did a loud snort on the phone and I said it was a terrible experience and rushed and why tell me to come and I would of rebooked. In the rudest tone he says" Well if you had cancelled and rebooked without 48 hrs notice I would of charged you the full amount and you would be out $500.00. His tone his attitude was absolutely horrible. There are many wonderful spas in this town and even though this spa is nice looking inside after treating me this way you will be better off at another spa. Dan was one of the rudest ppl. I have met and now have met other ppl that have encountered him and have not had very nice things to say either..I was so disgusted by our conversation. We live in a small city and word travels fast about really bad service. He should be ashamed of how...

Editing review to add: I was just pampered with another package - I spent the afternoon with Jordan and had a signature facial, mani and pedi done. It was so relaxing and my skin, hands and feet look amazing. She was knowledgeable about all the different products and did a great job with all the treatments. Thank you Jordan for a wonderful afternoon!!

Original review: I’m not really a spa person but was treated to a gift certificate so I decided to get a pregnancy massage.

I was given a key to my locker and showed my way to the change room where I could store my bag and change into a robe and slippers. The waiting room across the hall has comfy sofas and loungers where you can sip water, lemonade or a tea while you wait for your appointment.

My massage therapist was Edwige and she was amazing. The room was comfortable and there was soft music playing in the background. The pillows were setup on the table so I could lie down on my belly. I was able to close my eyes, relax and she checked in a few times to make sure the amount of pressure she used was right. The hour flew by.

After my massage, I enjoyed a nice hot shower in the change room. The showers are stocked with shampoo, conditioner and body wash from Rocky Mountain Soap Company (one of my favs) and they have towels, Eminence body lotion, razors, deodorant, hair dryers and brushes and combs for guests to use. There’s also a steam room but I didn’t use it.

The facility was very clean and the ambiance was calm and relaxing. Yes, spas are expensive but considering that I pay nearly the same amount for a mobile massage therapist, the very slightly higher cost, which allows me to use the spa facilities, is well worth it.

My husband gifted me a mani/pedi/facial package for my birthday and I’m going back in a couple of weeks again. I’m looking forward to going back and trying out other services.

I enjoyed my first experience here and the front desk staff that I spoke to on the phone and dealt with in person were lovely and professional....

If I was basing this review on services only, I would have rated it a 4. My facial was outstanding and my prenatal massage was great. The reason why I am rating Riverside a 3 is based on one of their policies. When I called to book my services I requested to have lunch at their cafe in-between my appointments. My facial was 70 min and my prenatal massage was 90 mins. They require you to arrive a minimum of 15 min before your first appointment (I arrived half hour before,) and there is a steam room and showers to use after your treatments (add another hour of time.) The receptionist told me that I wouldn't be offered lunch because I didn't choose one of their packages (none of their packages offer a prenatal massage.) I offered to pay for the lunch. I explained that I am 5.5 months pregnant and it would be a long time without food. She said there is no option for me to pay for the lunch either but there will be snacks and refreshments available in the lounge. I thought I would just bring myself a salad or piece of banana loaf, but it states on their website that no outside food is allowed. I ended up being at the spa for a total of 4.5 hours. The "snacks" in the lounge were tiny little cookies. I was absolutely starving and felt faint by the time I left. They need to change this silly policy. If you don't want to offer an option to pay for a lunch then there should be an option to bring...