The SPA Club — Local services in New York

I was looking forward to a nice self care day at the spa club after seeing you all over social media but was I was highly disappointed. When i arrived i was told the jacuzzi wasn’t working that although it was hot there were no bubbles. I said ok maybe they have other pools or jacuzzis. To my surprise they only had one jacuzzi where the open showers are and a small steam room that looked unkept, smelled like there was mold and you can see some of the rusty metal. I didn’t even last a minute in there. I proceeded downstairs to the area where they have 3 small saunas, a resting room, food area along with the massage rooms. Wasn’t pleased at all. I initially booked my massage for 1:30pm immediately changed to 12:00 pm because there was really nothing there for me to do from the time I arrived at 11:00am to the time of my initial appointment. At the time of my appointment the masseuse asked if she can record real quick for her students because she’s a teacher and they were taking midterms. I said yes as I thought it would be a quick intro to create content but to my surprise after a few minutes into my session that cost $140 for a Swedish massage, I hear her giving all these instructions, and explanations of each massage technique. At this point I said wait a minute! I asked her if she was live streaming as I was half naked laying on my stomach she said in her heavy accent “no it’s just quick demonstration for students midterm and brushed me off” and proceeded. There was silence so I didn’t know that the camera was still on. Then again she proceeded to explain to the students what she was doing and now I felt uncomfortable. I couldn’t enjoy a quiet peaceful massage. I let her finish because I was definitely going to bring it to the receptionist attention. This was not a written consent, I was not aware until I was in the room about to get undressed that this was going to happen, and not once did the masseuse say that the session was going to be for the duration of my session which was 60 minutes. I didn’t pay for that, and I only agreed because she made it seem like it was going to be quick intro. Even when I asked her in the middle of the session if she was recording & for how long she brushed me off. Once I was done I informed the massage area receptionist and she looked confused. Then I proceeded upstairs and informed the main front desk and they were trying to say that I agreed, that they can only refund me the tip which for a bill of $210 was an insult. I asked to speak to the manager and the receptionist said she was on her way. The receptionist called downstairs to speak to someone and all of a sudden the masseuse was in front of my face. She was trying to justify her actions and blame me for agreeing but I told her she never communicated to me that my full session was a demonstration which means that before starting my session, I would have had to sign a consent form agreeing to the educational session. When this happens they know they are supposed to inform you before hand, offer a discount or free service. Not charge me for the full service. They tried to give me a hard time to refund me because the massage was completed but I was unable to relax. The point was to have a peaceful quiet session. I didn’t want to create a scene but they tried to think they were slick. They know that was unprofessional of the masseuse and unfair to me that I paid for a full service. I had to call my friend who is an influencer that referred me, to talk to them because they did not want to offer me a refund and had the nerve to offer to refund me the tip $28. My friend had to tell them there was no written consent and it was wrong and unprofessional. They knew it was wrong and if my session was for educational purposes , I should have been offered a reduced massage session or free. After all the back and forth they refunded me for the massage and masseuse tip. I feel like if this wasn’t escalated they would have gotten away with it. I was highly disappointed and upset and will NEVER go back....

I really wanted to like this place, but boyfriend and I left sorely disappointed.

The good: Felt clean, comfy uniforms, great complimentary skin products, clean restrooms, lots of food options, kind front desk staff. Women's jacuzzi had laying area.

The bad: To be fair we went on a 50% off deal, but if I were to pay 90 bucks to enter this place on a weekend, I would be furious. The space is small. VERY small. The steam room wasn't working, there's a single 1-temperature jacuzzi per gender. There isn't even a cold plunge. The common area has zero comfy places to sit. There's a about 20 small floor tables + booth and chair sitting for dining, but there is zero space to relax without a sauna. There is a clay room that has about 10 mats on the floor without much heat at all and nice calm music that seems to have been planned as a napping room? However, because of the main issue with the facilities -- lack of staff and enforcement, it's impossible to nap because there is CONSTANTLY people talking loudly in it, probably because there's no other semi-quiet place to even chat and the lounge are is extremely loud.

The lack of enforcement is just absolutely terrible. I fully understand that there are probably many people that have never been to a korean spa before and don't know the basic rules and etiquette, but the fact that there is no one in the staff that will even remind/explain/or enforce any etiquette anywhere in the facility makes it so that clients that are looking for a korean spa experience will forced to endure rude behavior or enforce rules themselves to that other guests will respect their peace, privacy, or hygiene. I'll name a few of the many things that I saw: Facetiming and phone calls INSIDE THE SAUNA rooms. Spreading over multiple mats in the sauna rooms. by a single person (when there are literally 4/5 mats in each sauna) People in bathing suits (totally fine, I get why not everyone would be comfortable being nude in the wet area, even though that is also outside etiquette) taking off their uniform top and laying in the mats with bare backs in the saunas as if they were tanning. People leaving the doors of the saunas open for mulitple minutes People literally screaming in the lounge area. People using their phones inside the jacuzzi in the wet area (this is where I actually saw another guest tell the rude person with her phone the BASIC COMMON SENSE RULE that phones aren't allowed where there in bathing areas where most people are in the nude)

The last thing I'll say that there is GREAT enforcement of is shaming you into tipping 20% even for TERRIBLE services. My massage was FINE, so we tipped 20% even though normally I wouldn't tip that much for a basic OK massage but we felt pressured by the front desk because they ASK YOU how much you tip vs just let you write down an amount and then tell you you should tip 20%. My boyfriend's massage was TERRIBLE - his masseur never asked him any questions about pressure so he ended up getting a VERY light massage. Masseur also kept HUMMING for like 30/60 minutes of the massage, kept laughing at random times, and coughed many times without a mask on. My boyfriend wanted to leave 10% and the front desk, although trying to be polite the desk was trying to insist for him to leave 20% even though he did NOT want to. I'd forgotten something in the room so I came back after a few minutes and the front desk lady AGAIN told me that next time he needs to tip 20%. Listen, if you're not paying your staff enough, lift the prices of the massage and give the difference to your massage staff. Otherwise, if you're using a tipping system, you cannot FORCE someone to give a certain percent tip for BAD service. My boyfriend gets massages regularly, and he said this was the worst massage he's had in years and that $60 massages in Chinatown he's gotten are FAR better than what he got at Spa Club where we paid $130 per person. His tip was generous considering the terrible technique and bedside manner.

Needless to say, I will not...

Updating my review to say that Joy is the best for massages!!!! Ask for her

First time at The Spa Club today and had a nice experience. I have been to a Korean Spa twice before (once in NYC at Tribeca Spa of Tranquility and once in San Fran at Pearl Spa). You have to prepay and book your appointment for The Spa Club online. I used a discount code to receive 30% off admission. Admission to the spa is not included with your services unfortunately. I paid $150 for a scrub and massage combo plus $63 for spa admission on a holiday. Regular admission is $70 on a weekday and $90 on a weekend. It's pretty pricey, especially when factored in on top of your service. I wish the service included admission or at least a 50% discount.

The other spas I have been to have not charged for admission, only the service. The spa is located on a 4th floor of 22 West 22nd and has an elevator to get to your floor. Check in was pretty easy, you provide your order number and they give you your key for your lockers. They do check and hold your ID at the front desk - if you are not comfortable with this, I don't recommend coming here.

This facility has a mens and womens section. Upon entering, you store your shoes in a shoe locker. You are given a uniform and a towel and then you undress. Your personal items go into a bigger locker provided to you. Korean spas are always nude in the pool area, but was surprised to see women going into the pool area with their swimsuits on. It is unclear to me if swimsuits are permitted in this facility or not. I was instructed to not bring my uniform into the pool area and so I went in without it.

The downstairs area is co-ed and you must wear your uniform. There is a cafeteria, though I did not try it this time. There are 3 dry sauna rooms - Salt Room, Clay Room and Jjimjilbang Room, in addition to a clay sleeping room. I tried all of them and the Jjimjilbang room was my favorite. The rooms are not super big and with 4-5 people in there, it can feel crowded. The sleeping room is much bigger, and cooler.

Upstairs in the womens locker room, there is a steam sauna in the pool area that I did not get the chance to try out. I heard the steam sauna in the mens area is currently out of service. My service started early. The scrub was very good, as well as the massage. I also received a cooling jelly face mask and a hair shampoo and conditioner. I felt like $150 for the service was a very good price with everything received. After my services, I went back down to the dry saunas to relax. I didn't want to leave! So peaceful.

I went early and noticed in the afternoon, it started to get busier. When I come back, I will continue to make early appointments to avoid the crowds.

The facility is extremely, extremely clean. The bathrooms were spotless. They have hair dryers and amenities to get ready once you are done with your services. I found the staff to be kind and accommodating. A bit of confusion during check out though, I asked where to leave my cash tip for my scrubber and the woman working the front desk didn't seem to understand what I wanted to do. I noticed some of those working the front desk struggled with English a bit. Just be patient and kind with them. They are trying their best. They didn't have an envelope to leave my tip in so I just handed the woman the cash. I hope it goes to the woman who performed my services.

Overall, I found The Spa Club to be just what I was looking for. I did not want to travel to NJ to go to King Spa or Sojo and the Spa Club met my needs. There is no need for me to travel to NJ for these...