Phresh Spa & Wellness Club

Kinda funny when you walk in to a Spa during business hours only to be told they have no Spa Attendants today
Properly staffed business go a lot farther then those with no staff

My only experience here has been acupuncture with Julie, and ordering skin products. Julie is amazing, I would recommend her to anyone. The spa is clean, peaceful, the staff are friendly and very helpful.

I waited 5 minutes at the front, listening to employees talking in the back before the front desk girl arrived. She said «Hope you weren’t waiting too long». The service was unprofessional. I asked what kind of tea was brewing and she said «Oh my god I don’t know, mint something?» The facility was somewhat run-​down and old — definitely not spa-​like. There was mould in the shower. Just not clean all around. I used the infrared sauna and there was only one light out of 5 (?) that worked properly. Two were flickering and two were flashing on and off. It was really bad. I mentioned this before I paid, assuming I wouldn’t be charged under the circumstances, and the front desk girl said «Oh great thanks for letting me know — no one ever lets us know so we can never fix it right?»

I was given 3 $ 50 gift certificates from a client. Phresh would only allow me to use one certificate at a time, for services only!!!
Is that even legal?

*update: so after two months, I finally got to go and enjoy the services. All I can say is that they definitely made up for the inconvenience from before. The staff was helpful and accommodating. They normally close at 7 but stayed open later for us and even at 815 they hadn’t rushed us out or anything. We were also given an extra half hour in the hydrotub. Happy to say that even after everything, I would definitely go back.
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If you make an appointment, you better get the persons name who took down your appointment, record when and what time you called and make sure to get an email confirmation because I had made an appointment for today way in advance (before Valentines day to be exact) after buying a coupon off social shopper. My boyfriend and I worked our whole schedule around this since they aren’t open very late, drove all the way there only to find out that I really had no appointment and they didn’t even have my name on the system. Now we have to change our schedules around again to come back a week and a half later since that was the earliest date they had available. Not impressed. Super big inconvenience. 1 star for now since we have yet to come back and have the actual experience. Maybe they’ll be able to redeem themselves.

I purchased a groupon for a couples massage that included a infrared sauna, and a hydrotub session for my boyfriend and I. I was hoping for a Saturday appointment, but was basically told that wasn’t going to happen as they are very busy. So I settled for a weekday afternoon. My boyfriend typically works out of the city and it would be difficult for him to make the appointment on time. The receptionist was very friendly and understanding, she explained that they would accommodate us to the best of their ability.
When I arrived I was very impressed with the décor and atmosphere, it was chic yet still relaxing. I especially liked the waiting area, with the chaise lounges, and the curtain.
Because my boyfriend was running a few minutes behind in order to insure we got our full treatment she asked if I wanted to fill out my boyfriends paperwork as well to save time.
The massages were fantastic, very thorough. They paid special attention to both our areas of concern. We both felt extremely relaxed, and rejuvenated afterwards. Both therapists were very friendly, yet still professional. They offered us tea and water afterwards, and while were waiting for our next treatment they both came to check on us to ensure we satisfied.
The hyrotub was the perfect way to finish off the treatment. Filled with Epsom salts, lavender, and peppermint my skin felt so soft leaving the spa.
My only complaints would be while we were waiting in between treatments another employee came to great one of the other clients and was not very professional. She quickly shook hands, said her name then said follow me, it seemed very impersonal. I am very glad I did not have to deal with her.
If I could make any suggestions it would be to provide complimentary toiletries in the change rooms ie deodorant, hair spray, lotion. After such great treatments you want to look as good as you feel, and definitely smell good too! A blow dryer couldn’t hurt either, my hair was quite wet after to the hydrotub, would have been nice to dry it before going out in the cold.
I would definitely go back!

Hit or miss at this place. I think they implemented more rules for the staff to improve the customer experience. No more staff carrying their cellphones into the massage room. Some used to text message during a treatment.
Otherwise, nicely appointed mid-​price point spa within the Sandman hotel on Davie Street. Busy with groupon deals. Polite and pleasant staff but usually understaffed at the front desk. ie. limited telephone answering. I went for 6 sessions of laser hair removal and 2 sessions of massage. I also only booked during Monday to Friday office hours. Never tried to book during after work hours or weekends.
Not returning for more groupons deals or treatments because their masseuse did some number in my back which left me with neck/​shoulder pain for 8 months. Tried to work out a knot but triggered something bad. Laser hair removal sessions were fine. No hard sell of product.
I’m just choosing to go to more expensive spas so that I’ll get better service (ie. less pain) and appointment availability (more available staff).

I’m really surprised that there are good reviews on this place.
I had 2 groupons, which I booked for my fiancé and I, 3 months in advance. Unfortunately he was called out of town last minute and couldn’t make the appointment, and it slipped my mind to call 24 hours in advance to reschedule.
The receptionist who received my call was so rude. The first thing she said is that your groupon will be redeemed even though you didn’t receive your treatment. That is not in the policy. I decided to go to my half of the appointment because it seemed like a waste since they said it was their «policy». There was no such policy in the fine print of the groupon I purchased. And their newer groupons have a different policy on the fine print. It says «24hr cancellation notice required or fee of up to 50% of the Groupon price may apply.» I paid $ 80 for a $ 175 service, I would much rather pay the $ 40, than $ 95 (plus original 80) to get the same service. You should just stick to 1 policy.
Anyway.
Since I was already a few minutes late by this point the receptionist said I couldn’t come until it was time for my 90 minute massage at 11:15AM. Then she said be there a bit earlier to fill out the forms etc. I said, Ok, I’ll try to be there by 11.
I walked in at 11:05, filled out the form by 11:10, and then went to have my massage. Didn’t get to enjoy the sauna as per part of the groupon, the receptionist didn’t even bother looking if they could fit me in after the massage or shift things around a little. She was rude, glared at me and didn’t even bother being courteous.
My massage was decent, it was relaxing, and did the job, but it ended about 20 minutes early. my appointment was for a 90 minute massage starting at 11:15AM, I was changed back into my own clothes and out the room by 12:30pm. Actual time spent being massage was more like 70 minutes.
I paid the tax, and even left a good tip, because at least it was relaxing. I mentioned the shortened treatment time and the receptionist immediately tried to blame it on me, saying «Well weren’t you late?» I said «No i was not. You said 11:15 and come a little early to fill in the forms, and I did», then she says «Ya but you said you were going to be here at 11». Rude as hell. Some people just shouldn’t be in the service industry.
I will never go back. And I will contact groupon to get my money back.

I seriously regret that I didn’t read Unilocal review before I purchase the Groupon for 2 massage sessions.
I had a similar experience as other Unilocalers– the receptionist had a horrible attitude. She was not helpful when I booked my appointment over the phone and my voice mail message was never returned. She made me feel unwelcomed and she was rude when I was trying to make my next appointment.
The masseuse was nice, but the session ended 10 minutes before the scheduled time. I felt a bit cheated by her.

The receptionist refused to book me in for a 60mins massage, stating she was busy for the entire week because I had a $ 100 Voucher given as a gift, not even a Groupon. Until I reasoned with her on the phone she said she can book me in at 11, then later suggested «How about 10.30?»
No problem.
I was attended by a very unfriendly lady who was soooo bad at her job! Her nails dug into my skin as she was massaging me and did not even ask me how the pressure was or where I needed extra attention. Her massage was weak and so I asked her to apply extra pressure and her response sounded pissed off… just saying
«Oooo-​k…»
She started massaging pressing against the bones on my back, not on the muscle and I had to tell her to STOP! I was really thinking in my head at the time. «If I had to fork out $ 100 for this crap, I would complain at the front desk as well as write a formal letter of complaint!»
She never wiped the oil off my body and when requested, she said that is another service altogether. So then I had to take a shower (which I was glad they at least had that option, because otherwise I would have had to put my clothes on all over my oily body).
Altogether, her technique was horrible and she needs to cut her nails.
I go to Smile Thai every 1 – 2 and I always walk out with the biggest smile on my face feeling very fresh, but instead I walked out feeling quite the opposite UNPHRESH!
Terrible and unfriendly service.

This was the worst massage experience I’ve ever had.
The ambiance was horrible. There was the constant loud low-​pitched whine of perhaps the hotel’s pool filtration system. To try to cover that, the spa played loud music that was more appropriate at a dimly-​lit torch-​club — the music evoked the cloying sensation of cigar smoke.
Ads everywhere of before and after pictures of clients with cellulite, with the waiting room also showing an endless loop commercial for services to deal with unsightly fat.
I was given a bundle with a robe and slippers and changed in the change room. My slippers were both left-​footed. My wife’s bundle’s slippers were for both right feet. At least mine were the same size.
There was a lack of towels when using the IR sauna (when does a spa ever scrimp on towels???) and the sauna was only set up for one person, not 2.
The massage tables were thinly padded.
But the worst were the massages themselves. Lifeless, unconnected, untrained — my «practitioner’s» touch (and I use the word practitioner in its most generous definition) was horrid. My wife and I were massaged in the same room and the practitioners were small talk whispering to each other while doing their work.
I will never go back and advise any and all to never go. We were Groupon customers for this and have complained to Groupon and are trying to get our money back.

PHRESH GROUPON = FUNNY MONEY.
Got a groupon as a gift — and from the negative groupon reviews below was already apprehensive, but I wanted to give Phresh the benefit of the doubt.
Yesterday, after about 3 phone call attempts in an hour, someone finally picked up the phone.
I spoke with someone whose name rhymes with Hashley.
I asked for a session this Sunday for the Total Escape — 2 hr package — supposedly a $ 175 value that my friend got at a deal of $ 85 for my birthday.
First thing she asked «Do you have a groupon?»
Unfortunately I was honest and said yes. She then said «Oh we have nothing for Sunday.»
I said, ok what about another Sunday?
She said — «We’re actually fully booked for weekends until October. And starting July 1^st, we will be closed on Sundays».
I asked her to clarify «So… no weekends slots available at all until October, and starting July 1^st no operations on Sundays at all? And my groupon promo value just happens to expire July 10… ?»
She said «yes, but if you book it before July 10 the promo value will be honoured»
I said, «yeah but I would be booking for 3 months from now? «I have a corporate job Monday to Friday, will I have to take a day off work to come see you guys — or otherwise wait til October to get a Saturday session?»
She pointed out that they close at 7 PM most days. I pointed out my package was a TWO hour session meaning I had to magically be at their spa by 5 PM at latest — pretty difficult for a corporate person when office hours end at about 5 pm. So I would still have to take time off work to cash in my «relaxation package». I told my friend about this and he is getting a refund.
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Honestly — why bother having a promo that your spa is unable or unwilling to actually apply? The whole experience of speaking to them was absurd at best… and actually kind of ghetto. I work my ass off and my friends were so thoughtful and wonderful to give me this gift to help me de-​stress.
I am the type of woman who can easily afford non-​groupon treatments, but this gift meant a lot because my friends who don’t make that much got it for me out of love.
Sadly, this «$ 85 Deal for $ 175 value» is in realty pretty much worthless.
So I booked with my usual spa instead — ABSOLUTE SPA at River Rock. They fit me in for this Sunday immediately. I will — and do — gladly spend $ 250 there for some ACTUAL service — and they are absolutely awesome.
_​_​_​
PHRESH — please DO NOT continue offering your essential fraudulent groupon promo. Pathetic. And for your reference — I make $ 68K a year, and I love to tip great service providers at least 20%.

Wow — worst customer service I’ve had in months!!!
I called Phresh to book an appointment for my Groupon package that included 30 mins in the infrared sauna, a full body massage, and a mini facial — for two. I have never used Groupon before but thought this would be a great couples day for a decent price — I was wrong.
I left a VM at the spa during business hours and some receptionist returned my call close to 6pm April 29^th to tell me that for «Groupon People» they didn’t have weekend availability until August and if I wanted to get in before the Groupon actually expired (july 15) my only option would be 4:30 on Monday June 10^th, as I tried to discuss other possible dates she got snippy and told me «yeah well you booked with groupon not us and I already told you that’s the only day you get». Wow my girlfriends bday celebration was starting to sound like death row, I wish I could properly communicate the disdain and terribleness this woman dripped over the phone but alas I cannot. Let’s just say I hung up borderline in tears feeling like I’d just been told that «people of my kind» must drink out of a different water fountain. I hung up shocked and instantly phoned back, I wanted this woman’s name so I could let her bosses know why they’d lost out on my revenue and any future business… of course she didn’t answer!
Here’s the thing Phresh, if you are going to offer your services to Groupon and even extend the date of the package as you did in this specific instance then you need to tell that goblin at your desk that we too are people and deserve her respect.
As a result I promptly cancelled my Groupon, will never put myself through the humiliation of «coupon-​ing» again and vow never to step foot near Phresh.
From reading other reviews I’m seeing that this is not the first time this cantankerous person has cost Phresh business — why is she still there?

I had a great experience at PHresh, even on a groupon!
Purchased 6 laser treatments on a large area. I was always greeted by a friendly receptionist, and had Kate perform the actual laser sessions. She is very sweet and nice to chat with throughout the treatment. I found her to be very professional and liked that she closely monitored my skin’s reaction to every session, noting down any histamine bumps and the like. All in all, I had about a 70% reduction in the hair on my upper legs, which is decent for 6 sessions.
I would definitely return to PHresh.

I had a Groupon for a spa ‘day’, that included 30 mins in the infrared sauna, a full body massage, and a mini facial.
I must have gone on a day a nice receptionist was working, because the girl was very pleasant and knew what she was doing unlike the other reviews. The reception area was nice, as was the change room.
I was first lead to the sauna. I’ve never been in an infrared sauna before, and I didn’t like it so I’m not going to factor that into my rating. For me, sitting/​awkwardly laying in a little wood box for 30 minutes isn’t my idea of fun. So after 20 minutes I just got out, drank water, took a shower, and went to the waiting room to meet my masseuse.
I met the masseuse (don’t remember her name) and went into the massage room. It was warm, but I asked her to turn the heater under the table off as it was quite hot. This is where the problem begins. At first the massage seemed fine –albeit a bit too gentle for my liking. I’m used to really getting beat by my normal masseur. Hurts so good. My muscles stay knotty otherwise. THEN, I swear to god, the woman must have been on her phone. She started giving me this pathetic ONE HANDED ‘massage’, aka basically just pressing randomly and without rhyme or reason. She must have been texting, because after a bit she’d move and then start massaging with more vigor with both hands. Yo, I don’t even know dafuq up with that. That is not acceptable. I was getting so fed up, but I didn’t want to sit up and say ‘are you texting???’ because I am not a confrontational person. Ugh, just thinking about it makes me :(I tried to do an angry face but apparently Unilocal doesn’t let you type greater than signs.
After that ordeal, she gave me a mini facial. The products were nice and smelled good, but the facial was indeed very mini and she didn’t ask my skin type or anything. When that was done, she told me I could rest and then wander to the waiting area for cucumber water and hang. However, the experience of the ‘massage’ left me wanting to beeline it outta there. So I did. No plans on returning.
Also, I was made to pay tax on the services, which nobody informed me prior to the end of my experience when all I wanted to do was hightail it home.

Well, Phresh is amazingly decorated; Love the calming blues and greens and whites, The cucumber water in the waiting room, The overall atmosphere is awesome.
Sadly, their performance and service is lacking. I am a Brazilian waxing connoisseur. As a middle eastern girl, Brazilians are just a staple of life: P I am also a perfectionist and I usually go home after a wax, soothe it with aloe, and pluck out any little hairs that the wax missed. But Shannen here at Phresh leaves SO MANY that I am resigned to living with my terrible, patchy wax till it grows out and I can take it to someone more professional. She doesn’t know how to check which direction the hair is growing, and stretch it while waxing in the right direction. She just slather on some wax on one side, rips it off and then moves on to the other side. There are strips of hair left there, and she won’t notice. I was super uncomfortable when she didn’t make effort to separate the lips and protect the sensitive bits while waxing the tricky areas.
This is all just normal Brazilian waxing knowledge. Why is she so bad at it?
I’ve been there twice and had prepaid for 3 so now I have one left but I REALLY don’t want to go back. I’m taking my cooch back to Donna Lucia where the Polish lady [forgot her name but I will come back and add it] knows exactly what she is doing. Phresh really need to step up and offer professional service to live up to their décor.

First impression, it’s in the Sandman hotel with a smallish lobby. Walked in and stated my name and appt time like what I always do. The receptionist looked kinda lost or can’t find my appt. So I told her my last name and finally confused as she looked. After I said for massage she replied me with, «oh. for your RMT massage.» with a terrible tone. Kinda discriminating. I guess they’re unhappy with me using legit Wayspa gift certificates to pay this one RMT massage, which is only allowed this once. They previously responded via email they accept wayspa with RMT appt. They apparently don’t accept wayspa for ‘RMT’ massages when I called for the appt, but they let me this 1 time.
I got here 40mins prior to my appt. Didn’t need to fill any form what so ever and was called right at my appt time and got my massage just like the Clinics. Totally not what i was expecting for a «spa» like massage with robes etc. My RMT was fine, no complaints there. No point of bring my bathing suit cuz they don’t seem too welcoming.

What started out as an impulsive groupon purchase turned into an incredibly relaxing afternoon.
I actually loved the infrared sauna. So much more comfortable than regular saunas. You still sweat a bunch which is nice but your breathing isn’t impeded by excessive steam.
The massage was on the greasier side and as someone who is a little more acne prone I appreciated the shower amenities to wash the massage oil off.
The facial was great! They place a hot towel over your face several times during the facial which seems really helpful in opening up the pores. The scrub they used wasn’t overly abrasive and I felt like they were really gentle with the scrubbing. My skin looked fantastic after.
The bathroom was really clean other than the attached steam sauna which we skipped.
Overall they do a great job!

I’m a sucker for the blue-​green theme going on here, so I’ve always wanted to step in a see what it’s like inside. I had a laser session here, and the staff is so helpful. They go through all the procedures and give you time to ask questions.
They’ve also got the best service imaginable. The other day I had a scheduled appointment that I was all set to make, when all sorts of problems arose at the office and I found myself still sitting in Burnaby 10 minutes away from my appointment time. I frantically called them up between email typing to apologize profusely, but they were so nice about it and let me move my meeting to the next week without fuss. Now that’s service!
Results have also been great! So great, in fact, I think this will be my go-​to spot! Once I’ve used up all the other groupons I have, I’ve decided to make this my regular home for laser treatments.
Also, I’m a sucker for cucumber water. I know, it’s just a cucumber in water, and yet I’m too lazy to make it at home — what gives?

Did you hear? pHresh is back in action! For the better part of the last couple of years, pHresh was turned into a Hummingbird Spa. I never went for pure protest. I loved pHresh!
I had an infrared sauna and a massage — both heavenly.
The décor and atmosphere can’t be beat. Ultra modern and well, fresh! If you can, check out their outdoor pool — in the summer, they do outdoor cabana massages.