Palestra Spa & Studio — Local services in Charlotte

I decided to go to Palestra because I was given a gift certificate. My appointment was at 11 a.m. When I arrived, I was given paperwork to complete and was shown to the waiting area. At 11:20, I was still waiting. I went to the front desk and asked if they were behind. I was told the person I was scheduled with was 15 minutes behind. At 11:35, I was still waiting and had watched other clients come and go. I went to the front desk AGAIN and asked how much longer it was going to be. Someone went to go ask and I was told she was still getting the room ready and it was going to be longer. The person before me arrived late and that was causing the delay. At this point, I decide I no longer want to keep waiting because who knew how much longer it would've been. I asked the front desk staff why I wasn't told they were running behind when I arrived or why someone didn't call me when the person before me arrived late so that I could take my time getting there. I was told they were busy at the front desk and didn't realize the woman was running behind. They asked if I wanted to reschedule and offered an additional complimentary service (which I appreciate) but I opted for a refund of the gift certificate back to the person who gave it to me. At this point, it's 11:45. This was my first experience with this spa, so why would I chance coming back for this to happen again? I drove 30 minutes in the rain to get there and it was a waste of my day. I asked them if someone is late, do they usually cut their service short to stay within the original appointment time so that every appointment after is not late. I was told it depends and they try not to anger the person who was late because they could get a bad review. Well, now you're getting a bad review from me, the employee missed out on a tip that day, and you lost the value of the gift certificate. I understand things happen sometimes, but my issue is that I was never informed that they were running behind until I asked - twice. The communication was very poor. You don't leave a new customer waiting for almost an hour for their...

VALORIE LOWE IS A MIRACLE WORKER! It is so hard these days to get connected with a true therapeutic therapist who is very knowledgeable of bodywork, anatomy and pain relief techniques but boy did I ever hit the JACKPOT with Valorie! I do not get massage for relaxation. I NEED massage therapy for chronic pain relief from years of poor posture, 27 years in airports, hotel beds and traveling, and 12+ hour days hunched over in front of a laptop. All of this led to severe pain in my shoulder and neck. Dozens of therapists have tried over the years and some have been somewhat successful but after just ONE visit with Valorie, I have experienced significant improvement and LASTING pain relief! Seven days later, I’m still in shock that a single 90 minute session has provided so much benefit! Needless to say, Valorie is now my full time therapist and she should be yours as well. Valorie contacted me the night after my session to check on me and what follows is my response to her with how I was feeling immediately after the session: “My posture is noticeably better just on its own now, which has never been the case. I have so much more flexibility in my chest and upper back. My shoulder joint itself is a bit painful but that is because I have so much more flexibility in it now. It is not restricted from movement like it was before. All of this after just one session with you! You totally are amazing!! I will be writing reviews for you and handing out your business cards! 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻 One week later: I am still noticing that the muscles and connective tissues in my shoulder are so much more loose and motile than before. I had significant adhesions that Valorie spent a lot of time just breaking up and now the muscles are free to move without being bound to the surrounding connective tissues. 2500 characters are not enough to sing Valorie’s praises. JUST GO SEE HER FOR YOUR...

I booked the Head to Toe package for $320. I was first appointment of the day, and was taken back 15 minutes late. Massage was good, but massage room was very crowded, had another massage table literally crammed in the room up against the wall being stored there - did not give a relaxing vibe. There was not a chair to sit on, just a square ottoman - atmosphere very odd.

Package is advertised with lavender and mint for scalp massage which was not available for my massage. Also massage table not heated. There was a strawberry basil aromatherapy at the beginning of massage. The scent was nice, but you just smelled it at beginning, it wasn't placed on a tissue under the headrest so you could smell it throughout the massage.

Package also advertised you would receive a massage with hot stones or bamboo, so I took that to mean I would pick one of the two. I just received hot stones, bamboo choice not offered. I had never had a massage with bamboo so disappointed that wasn't an option as advertised.

Also not given a towel to wipe off oil at end of massage which I thought was odd. They offer a 'glass of water' rather than bottled water, so you would have to stay there to drink it after your massage rather than taking a bottled...