Sapphire Spa — Local services in South Padre Island

I'm honestly struggling to see the experience behind the high marks here by others. The atmosphere was great as was the receptionist. The masseuse, however, I have a hard time believing was formally trained or maybe just didn't have much experience. He was great at going over a checklist and adhering to concerns about allergies or physical issues, but the rest of the experience with him was questionable. The two things he did well were shoulders and after rubbing, drew his forearm across it, (which was probably the best feeling thing he did and the only thing he actually relaxed) and when lying on my back, went underneath the shoulder blades with heated shells, which ive never had a masseuse go underneath the shoulders but was a good thing.

On the other side, massage is a very personal thing. And this particular masseuse seemed really uncomfortable with his job. Or with me, one. Even in just calling me back or initial consultation, He did not look at me once, when speaking, but kept his head down or found another focal point with every exchange of words. When adjusting the headrest for me, I lifted my shoulders about an inch of the table, and his speech and urgency quickened 10x over... just high enough to get my face off the headrest, while any woman that isn't flat chested could easily go 6"and you still aren't getting an eyeful. While he asked me about pressure, and I did tell him a wide range of pressure, even when I asked for more, there was no strength behind his hands or alternate technique used to achieve it, which is the biggest reason to even have a guy Other than shoulders, there was no variation of pressure or stroke technique. Everything else was a medium pressure with no touch or obvious knowledge different than I can find at home, which absolutely defeats the purpose of paying, esp when prices are higher than most others. The room was chilly and three feeling put off just made it somewhat uncomfortable, which makes it hard to relax completely. Whether it's the guy or the facility, I've never had a masseuse stay so far away from the thigh area. While there was a good job done on the outer thigh, that was pretty much the extent of it. We didn't even make it mid- thigh on any other portion of it and apparently, anything below the collarbone was out of the question, too, which is disappointing bc there's a lot of muscle tension there esp for someone 5'3 , pulling themselves in and out of a lifted truck everyday or a whole host of other activities that someone like me needs help relaxing-chasing toddlers, kayaking/ swimming, sanding. Etc. I don't even know what the poking in the head thing was, no head massage, but poked me on 3 places on my scalp, which was just weird. If I am paying that kind of money, though, I expect to feel like jello or at least ready for a nap at the end of a session, release a ton of tension.. something. The Sapphire Spa really needs to step up their skills game with CEUs for the therapists and if they want to hire boys, have some tiered pricing or price like a massage school. Any man doing that professionally needs to have a little age on him where there's more experience and he's comfortable with his job, comfortable with women, and a genuine understanding how to achieve the best results...

Though the atmosphere of the spa is inviting, the wait time, end result, and cost of treatments left much to be desired. My husband and I booked manicure and pedicure services for 2 o'clock in the afternoon. The spa, though understaffed, requires guests arrive 15 minutes prior to the appointment time. We, however, had to wait 15 minutes past scheduled time, with no refreshments offered (throughout entire 3 hours we had spent in not most comfortable of seats, while the same nail technician rotated between two stations). This would have been easier to deal with had the result been satisfying. Being charged a $100/person we both ended up with some unremoved cuticles. After leaving the spa, which was closing as we were cashing out, I had bubbled up polish on finger/toenails (the spa uses a product that is intended to 'dry polished nails in 20min after application'). Additionally, the polish on my toes was uneven - difference between number of coats on the same nail apparent. It was our last day on the Island so we could not go back the next day to fix all mentioned above. I would recommend the management to review treatment rates and plan for appropriate number of staff members to accommodate future clients of...

I’ve been visiting SPI multiple times a year for the past five years, and each visit has always included a massage at Sapphire Spa—something I’ve consistently looked forward to. Unfortunately, my most recent visit in April 2025 was a letdown. It seems some changes have been made, possibly since Margaritaville took over, and not all of them have maintained the spa’s previous level of quality.

While the massage itself was excellent and exactly what I asked for, the overall experience lacked the luxury feel I’ve come to expect. The sheets and blankets felt thin, scratchy, and cheap—definitely not the plush, comfortable linens I’ve been used to. Even the shower amenities have declined; the shampoo and conditioner no longer feel like the high-end products that were once part of the experience.

To top it off, I wasn’t offered a mimosa, which has always been a special touch I’ve received at every previous visit.

I’ve loved coming here for years, but sadly, the overall experience no longer matches the premium price. It just doesn’t feel like the same spa I’ve come to know and love. I’m not sure...