LA SPA Helvetia & Bristol — Local services in Florence

Im honestly surprised by the high rating... the spa itself is beautiful, the architect who designed the aesthetic space did great. though, I would not call this a 5 star experience. the staff is kind and attentive, maybe even too attentive, talking to me endlessly telling all their events and specials and idk I zoned out after 3 minutes just waiting to go to the changing room to start relaxing. Everything is clean and like I said aesthetically on point. my issues were the actual spaces. the steam room smelled like mold to me (I have a very sensitive nose to mold after 8 years living in florence). the "tempedarium" is just a room with bean bag chairs and salt on the floor, it smells stale in there like no air flow and to me this room should have the salt floors heated... the one and only pool smells strong of chlorine and is barely tepid, and they call it "hot water". the only space I could actually warm my muscles up was the dry sauna which was fine and hot enough. laying in a lounger near the "hot" pool I looked up and the ceiling was covered in mold, ew. I gave up trying to enjoy the spa at this point and just sat in a chair and read my book until my massage. the massage was the redeeming factor. Marco was very good, technically but also intuitively, he took my correction well and adjusted his approach perfectly. he was professional and the treatment room comfy (tho I felt cold so he turned on the bed heater). if you are a man or your body runs warm then you will probably enjoy the spa more than I did, a small female body that needs more warmth to actually heat up will find this space missing the mark. would have given 2-3 stars for just the spa but gave 4 bc the massage was redeeming. I do not intend to ever use the spa again. and I will state im not a complete spa snob, but my standards of quality are high (which tend to be abided in europe only by 5 star locations.. if that). a place doesnt have to be luxury but it has to hit the mark, like I am very happy at a basic korean spa in los angeles whos entry is 30 dollars, but each amenity is considered down to every detail (scent, sight, feel). hope this review helps others. if you go, go for a massage and skip the cold mold, unless ur happy paying entry for just...

The spa was overall nice but I’ve been to 3 similar spas in Europe, three in England and one in Iceland.

I would’ve liked if the masseuse checked on pressure during the massage, and even beforehand, as she put literally no pressure before and only made it more firm half way through when I asked. The massage didn’t help my knots at all and my neck is still sore as it was before the massage… felt like I wasted my money on that massage.

For the price, it would be nice if they had some complimentary products to use in the steam room (just as an example). Also, I was shocked that there were only two showers in the locker room/changing room?? The other spas I’ve been to had plenty, so I was surprised. People had to wait to have their turn…

I also was surprised they didn’t have the complimentary products accessible in the locker room, as I had to go to the reception to get basic things (like a comb). The other spas I’ve been to have this readily available in the locker room, even my gym. That’s not very convenient IMO.

I do acknowledge I’ve been lucky to visit lovely spas in Europe. I just was expecting...

DIRTY! I tried not to judge too harshly, but I kept noticing so much lack of hygiene. Hair all over the floors; both long head hair and body hairs. All over the steam room’s sitting counters, all over the salt room (which was a big disappointment because I was looking forward to that one bit!). Salt room smelled FILTHY, like, not normal filthy; bodily fluids filthy. It was unbearable. Dirty foot prints all between the rooms that nobody bothered to wipe for the two hours and a half I stayed there. Sauna was the most decent part (but strangely enough there is pop music playing in the Sauna… Why??) Even the aesthetic pools they have were dirty, and I don’t expect any pool to be clean, but this pool was SLIMY. Half the water jets didn’t work. Women’s changing room floor was dirty. Hair everywhere. I was too disgusted to shower...