Vela Massage Retreat — Local services in Grass Valley

I had a very confronting & rude experience w/ the receptionist, Cordelia Bartash,when coming to use the sauna.It was far from a relaxing & rejuvenating experience due to her pestering of myself &2 clients. She came 3x’s intruding on the sauna space giving us 15m warning, 5m warning & then came again 5 after we had gotten out of the sauna while drying off & negotiating whos would use the shower. After reaching out to the owner, Brandy Hill 3x’s to discuss the incident before posting this review, she finally got back to me.We talked on the phone for 1hr—It was a fairly low level of communication—no resolution was found,no ownership,little sense of responsibility for her employees behavior. Late in the convo,B.would ask ?’s that I had communicated clearly early on important points during the incident as if she had been checked out-bypassing behavior. I was open to friendly resolution & negotiation,I remained unimpressed re the level of consciousness the business owner demonstrated especially being an established well-being center owner.Having used the sauna 6x’s over the last year, I would NOT recommend it to anyone now—Instead heres some LOCAL SAUNA— S.Yuba club, $20 day pass (instead of the $15 1hr Vela) 2 saunas& 2 cold plunge tubs & hot tub. Unlimited hours&no rude staff. RESPONDING TO VELA’S- My offer-sit with your staff & come up with a simple & effective way to resolve the long-standing problem of people exiting the sauna at closing time-a problem that has existed for yrs according to yourself &staff in exchange for some sauna passes. 2. U have surveillance cameras all over-how many? Do people know?Have you asked my consent to record me while using the sauna, showers & facilities? 3. Sarah stayed present & listened as C. & I discussed the matter. C. introduced herself on the video looking at my phone as it was recording. When she asked me to leave, I said goodbye & left w/o contest. 4. Every time I’ve saunad at V., the staff has not once given me or anyone else a notice to wrap up. They’ve been hands off & chill. There’s been multiple x’s I’ve ended my sauna around 6.30, showered,dressed &left w/o problem giving the impression that although these are the hours of use,its a relaxed atmosphere that isn’t counting the minutes. my solutions-put a clock in the sauna-No brainer! According to my Iphone myself & 2 other 1st time guests left the infrared sauna @6.15 when we crossed C.’s path who said to the new guests to just follow me to the other sauna b/ I knew where I was going,@ 6:25 she gave us a 5m warning in the outdoor dry sauna. We wrapped up our convo in the sauna & left the sauna, & I explained that there was only 1 shower,so we were deciding who is going to use it C.came out, interrupted us,spoke to us in a reprimanding way, & suggested that we put our clothes on even though we were sweaty& hot & take a shower at home. I asked her why she was speaking to us so rudely. I told her there’s no reason to talk to us that way. After arguing with C., I took a quick shower, & the other 2 guest put on their clothes & left. Upon exiting I asked C. if she was OK, & hoped to have a peaceful convo re the rude interaction. I see C. may have been feeling insecure-she WAS wearing a Covid mask. S. stood there calmly listening to the conversation,I made no threats or anything of the like.I was trying to check in w/ her to make sure she was OK. I too, was concerned about C.’s well-being, b/ she did seem very stressed & she seem to be taking it out on the clients-very unfair & unfortunate, given that I’m a repeat client & there were 2 new clients, who will never come back again. I believe this situation came out of 2 things-1st is a precedent being set every time that I’ve come to Villa @ 530 & exited 630-7, w/ staff that have never said anything about it,but on this occasion,it got a rude&aggressive unexpectedly & I let C. know that I wasn’t going to get spoken rudely to. 7. I only hear defensive,lack of ownership,no admission to this problem with people getting out of the...

I cannot say enough good things about my experience at this spa. It has been years since I've done any sort of massage or facial treatment so it was long overdue but I have been to my fair share of spas and this one was hands down the above and beyond best experience I have ever had. The staff are truly incredible and you can tell they care about their clients and love what they do which is so important! Simone gave me the best massage I have ever had in my life. Like if the best massage I had before this one was a 5 star, this one was a 12 star. Then Alison gave me a facial but not just a facial, she actually cared to help me change my skin care routines and interviewed me about my skin so that she could help change some problems I was having. Basically, I was destroying my skin and she's helped me to save it. I just got to use the product she suggested I start using for cleansing and I am beyond thrilled. I just can't say enough....

I didn't get to go. I was in Modesto for a family funeral and thought about canceling my May 1st appt. while I was driving and after arriving at families house and under the circumstances of a death in the immediate family I forgot to call and cancel. I knew I was suppose to cancel 24 hrs. prior to appt but it slipped my mind. When they called to confirm 22.5 hours before appt I was told they'd have to keep 'some' of my gift certificate. It was a $100. gift from my son for Mothers Day 2020. I couldn't schedule then due to Covid restrictions. Last Mother's Day I was recovering from having my appendix removed so I made my appt close to Mother's Day this year and we had a death in the family. I understood that she may have to keep some of the $100. but was shocked when I was told I had to pay them $25 more on top of them keeping the $100. I said fat chance on me paying the $25 and I will...