Galos Cave Spa

Great place. Very calming. The cave is amazing. I purchased a groupon for 5 sessions and am so glad I did. I highly recommend going. It’s relaxing and you leave feeling calm and refreshed. So relaxed. It’s really easy scheduling an appointment. I recommend wearing something you don’t mind getting dusty. White socks. I end up turning my socks inside out so my feet can soak in all the salt that ends up on my socks. I actually laid on the floor (I was alone in the cave).

Held a celebration luncheon at the Jolly Inn, same building. Many guests decided to try the spa before. The spa accepts 10 at a time. My group had 15 deciding to take advantage of the spa.
10 before lunch, and 5 during a time period making them just slightly late for lunch. As the Jolly Inn is a buffet, there was no problem. Speaking for all, I’d say all enjoyed. In respect for all in a group, It is best for everyone to be accepting of sitting in quiet meditation. I found it delightful to open my eyes from quiet relaxation, to viewing stalagmites. The cave’s temperature and air quality were excellent. We all enjoyed. I have daily sinus headaches, and I had no headache for the following several days. Today in Chicago, we have freezing rain, ice, and high winds. I’d like to return to Galos Cave to renew the comfort it provided, but being a half hour drive from my home, and the weather is now bad for driving, I’ll go another day. I plan to visit Galos Cave frequently, and follow with a meal or carryout from the Jolly Inn. Free parking in lots on both the east and west side of the building is provided. Don’t know how to post photos, else I would.

What did Rosa J. do when she had a Sunday off? She started her day slow and relaxing at the Galos Cave.
I purchased a groupon awhile ago. A groupon costs $ 35 for five (5) individual sessions ($ 70 value). Each session lasts forty-​five (45) minutes. I was trying to get some inside scoops on what exactly this «cave spa» was about, yet all the Unilocal reviews on this place so far were somewhat «incomplete» in my opinion.
I finally experienced this this morning with hubby. I felt comfortably relaxed. Was this therapeutic for real? Perhaps, but I would keep an open mind since that was my first time being exposed in this environment.
Before the session begins, you should
1) make a reservation: call the # listed on their Unilocal business page. The earliest appointment starts at 1000 hour. I booked for two (2) adults, but there are pricing differences between children and adults. I believe that senior citizens get 15% discount between 1300 to 1600 hours on Wednesdays.
2) ensure you have white socks: I’m not talking about the baseball team on the south side of Chicago. You should bring clean white socks with you. If you forget these, I assume that there are some «hospital booties» available at the receptionist’s desk. Otherwise. TJ Maxx is across the road in Dunning Square if they are open.
3) arrive at least ten (10) minutes early: give yourself some time to check in with the receptionist, pay for the session or redeem the groupon, use the washroom, change socks, and put your jacket or coat away because you won’t need it!
P. S.: the entrance is located on Natchez, just off the Irving Park Rd.
When you’re situating yourself in the cave, you should
1) turn off your electronic and cellular devices.
2) not engage conversations so that everyone can pay attention to the computerized PA announcements (with introductions and disclaimers) and start relaxing.
3) adjust the chair according to your comfort level because those lounge chairs make some significant noises.
Let the session begin…
They played some classical music mixed with sounds of waves and seagulls in order to simulate the «Oceanside» environment. Some people were taking a brief nap; some were mediating; some were playing with the salt. The temperature and humidity were just perfect. It was approximately 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Wearing a tee or t-​shirt would be appropriate.
There was no children in our session, but I noticed a little «salt playground» on the corner with some toys.
I was getting sleepy toward the end, but I was fairly awake the entire time. I played the salt and held some in my hand. That felt great, and I found more paper cuts that I never knew!
I saw a client walking around the cave quietly, which was definitely allowed. I rubbed my feet with salt (of course with socks on), and it was fun.
Then we heard the PA announcement again to remind us that session has ended. Everyone then grabbed his/​her belongings and exited the cave.
How does Rosa J. think of this cave without a caveman?
«I would definitely visit the Galos Cave again. Although the experience wasn’t extremely fantastic, I thought the price was affordable and was able to clear my mind, release my stress, lessen the tension during the session.»
I will be calling to make my next reservation with hubby.

Loved going here! The staff person was very friendly and efficient, and welcomed us into the salt cave. A guided meditation with music played during our 45 minute session, and I got so relaxed, my body started twitching! :) I would absolutely recommend this for a fun gals’ spa outing or just to have some «me time». The entire experience was super relaxing — I’ll definitely be coming back.

Took a friend here as a Christmas gift. We arrived about 30 minutes prior to the appointment. Greeted by the receptionist and sat in the waiting area until it was our turn.
There were 5 people total in our 3pm session. We engaged in light conversation before the recording came on. Upon entering, I felt a spicy, tingling feeling in my sinuses, which let me know that this may actually work!
As the session began, I purposely did deep breathing to really engage my sinuses. It was very relaxing! The time went so fast; I didn’t realize that I fell asleep!
I did feel rejuvenated after leaving. My sense of smell also seemed heightened.
Really enjoyed the experience, and really felt I got a good value for the price ($ 15). I would definitely come here again of my schedule permits.

I purchased this with a Groupon. I am trying different ways to take better care of me. This is close to work, so could not resist. This is my second time in the Cave. I hope Batman does not get jealous.

Got a groupon for this place. Thought the idea was neat so I tried it.
Park at the Jolly Inn parking lot. You will NOT see any signs for Galos Caves.
Walk around the building from the parking lot, the entrance to the caves is the third door on your left.
We booked an adults only session.
You should bring white socks unless you want the hospital booties Galos provides.
There are no lockers, you will have to bring in your coat and purse.
You are led into a salt and iodine man made cave with 8 chairs and a children’s play nook. They play a recording and then you just sit there for 45 minutes.
The receptionist was friendly and punctual, I had a concern having the first appointment of the day (10am) because other reviews mentioned the door wasn’t opened on time, but it was not like that for me.
Health benefits? I don’t know. Relaxing? Sure.
I would recommend this place.

I was told about this place and it took me a while to give it a try. I bought a groupon for five sessions and have enjoyed this experience.
There is easy parking along the street or in the lot across.
Make sure you call ahead to make an appointment. Bring white socks and don’t place your purse on the ground or you will have any chocolate melted since the salt emits heat.
Make sure you disconnect to get the full experience. A young woman was on her cell phone the entire time texting away. This is supposed to be a treatment so take advantage of the 45 minutes to unwind.
Grab a meal at Jolly inn after or what I prefer to do, walk a block west and then south to Montrose deli and buy some authentic foods and have a nice meal.

I bought a Groupon for for five sessions. This is my first appointment and first impression. I have an appointment at 10:00 am on a Sunday (March 23, 2014). I read to arrive 15 minutes before my appointment. It is now 10:30 am and the doors are still not open. I have been waiting for 45 minutes. Unfortunately, I have a busy day and can not afford to wait around. I left a message to reschedule. I hope this I not a recurring issue and receive a call back to reschedule.

This is a great place! The session was very relaxing, the music was relaxing and you hear the ocean… the chairs can be adjusted up and down. The sessions are 45 min. The air feels lightly salty. My friend suggested to walk on the salt and this is good for the feet. I will be back!

Announcements are first in polish and then english each paragraph where they give history and advertisements for their specials, benefits and rules. 18 mins of that. Then after about 10 mins the door opened and she let in 5 – 6 more women who shuffled around talking about where to sit and squeaky chairs, leaving about 13 mins to try to relax again. It’s also pretty rundown and needs repair.
They need to type and laminate the announcements to read while waiting to maintain the quiet calm feeling attained outside, especially if have been there before. Never ever let anyone in once door closes on the hour and interrupt the reason you are there. The other place you get settled in before the start and message is short, i.e. don’t touch salt, or talk.

Very Interesting. I came with my mom and sister last week and we almost had the cave to ourselves at 11:00 AM on a Tuesday. The woman working there was really friendly and we were able to park in the free lot across the street. Free parking is awesome! There was a «kids only» session right before ours and it seemed like all the kids had a wonderful time. So… I had a horrible cold when I came here. I spent most of session trying to choke back coughs because that horrible part of the cold where you gasp for air had just hit me that morning and I felt like a jerk for being in public and didn’t want to be loud for the two women in the cave not related to me who were trying to relax.
The cave is a fun experience. I want to have this room in my house. I don’t know if you can really feel that much better after one visit but laying on those comfy chairs staring up at the foam stalagmites is pretty relaxing and I am really glad I finally went there after having it on my to-​do list for years.
OH MAN… if you come you must check out the buffet at the restaurant in the same building. Pierogi Heaven!

So, this place nails it in terms of atmosphere! It is fantastic and so relaxing. A friend and I went together and only one other lady was in the room, so it was great, but next time I would bring headphones just in case. I walked around for a few minutes, and then laid on a chair, and then decided to lay a blanket down and just sprawl in the salt. Super fun.
So I wasn’t necessarily going for health benefits, but rather to try something new. The funny thing is, I had a crappy start of a cold and felt congested. I sure feel great now and did within 30 minutes of the session. So, I am a true believer and am going to get the Groupon before it expires!!!

My friend’s mom would always tell me about this place and it was on my list of things to do. So, when I saw an awesome deal on Groupon, I knew I had to jump on it… so I did. I had a horrible cold, so I decided to pamper myself on night. I scheduled a massage and then it dawned on me… I should check out the salt caves. I read on the website that it helped with respiratory issues and I figured it would be like a giant saline rinse to get rid of my mucus Queen status.
I scheduled an appointment and when I arrived, I realized I would be the only one in the cave for my 45 minutes. At first I thought it would be awkward, but I actually enjoyed myself even more this way. It was very relaxing and I felt super calm. I was ready to move on to the next spa for my massage.
The next day my cold was gone!

You must come with an open mind. If you don’t, the whole experience IS a little strange, or at least bordering on «new age.» That being said, with the right attitude it is an extremely enjoyable and therapeutic process.
Upon arrival, you enter a very small waiting room. There are cubbies for your shoes, and it is recommended that you bring a pair of clean socks to enter the cave. No bare feet allowed. Keep in mind the whole place is pretty small, and they prefer silence in the waiting area as not to disturb patrons already in the cave. There are no magazines, and with no small talk allowed, its really best to get there fairly close (within 10 minutes) to your reservation time.
The reception desk does their best to schedule «like» patrons together, so its good to mention if you are bringing kids (or not) so that they can plan the best experience for you. If you are bringing kids, there is an area in the corner with beach toys that the kids are welcome to play with. The large grains of salt have the same play quality as sand, so it can be a fun outing for even the little folks. Be warned however, the munchkins will probably be covered in fine white powder residue at the end of the session, so don’t expect them to leave here 100% presentable!
If you are not bringing kids, be sure to ask if there are all adult sessions so that you can relax/​nap and don’t have to listen to little shrieks of delight or 45 minutes of gravely shoveling noises. Adults get to lie in zero gravity beach chairs and just «rest.»
The cave itself is a little Disneyesque, and very pretty. All white salt walls, ceiling and floor with multi-​colored lights, piped in ocean sounds and cuddly white blankets all create a very peaceful atmosphere. The air is truly saturated with salt, and it reminds me of being at the ocean times 2. At the ocean you can really smell the salt, but here if you breathe really deeply through your mouth, you can taste it too.
Since salt is an anti-​microbial substance, it makes sense that breathing microparticals for 45 minutes might help the respiratory stuff that ails you. I think the combination of down time, relaxing environment AND salt air really does leave anyone who comes feeling better than when they came. I thought it *might* be a little gimmicky at first, but after 3 visits and reading about socialized medicine in the UK using the same salt caves for treatment of asthmatic children… I think there really may be something to this. Its definitely worth the experience.

Who knew semi– public napping could be sooo relaxing? I think I have found a new habit! I love it. I am already a pro napper, put me in a great relaxing environment and hey– this is something that I can TOTALLY excel at!
When a friend who is into alternative energy and healing asked me if I wanted to try the salt cave, I thought why not? I love caves, I love the ocean, this sort of combines the two. The worst it can be is cheesy (it is not).
We ventured WAAAAAAYYYYY FAAAAARRRRR into the northwest side of the city to get to the Galos Cave Spa. It was well worth the drive. That is not something you will normally hear coming out of my mouth.
We got there, ditched our shoes in the cubbies, hung our coats, paid the modest fee, and entered the salt cave. It really was pretty cool.
Tons of salt crystals crunched under your feet, they felt great. Stalactites were all over the ceiling. Yes, they were manufactured, but they were made of salt. The room had ambient lighting and the most comfy reclining beach type chairs I have ever sat in.
There were only a few of us there, we spoke briefly before we all got comfy, had our blankies, the lights dimmed, and a recording about the benefits of salt in the air played. I forgot exactly what they had to say. So many minutes in this cave is equivalent to 2 days at the ocean, blah blah blah. Then Pachelbel began to play. I kind of wish they would have stayed with classic composers, but they went with more new age music. About 40 minutes later the lights came on, one of the guys in the room apologized if he was snoring and our session was over!
I felt relaxed, energized and happy. Totally unexpected. I really enjoyed the session, was comfortable and am looking forward to going back. What a great place!

Granted, I’ve only been to one other salt cave so I’m no expert on salt caves but I do know that this place needs some adjustments.
Positive:
— They’re not sticklers to the start time of the cave experience if you made reservations and it’s not busy.
— Very pretty cave.
Negative:
–Too much lighting. I’d like it a little darker.
–The opening and closing sound bite is a tad bit too loud. The guy speaking does not have a soothing voice. It’s boarder line annoying and he talks for way too much time.
–Receptionist is very aloof. I guess they figure you know why you’re there so they just point at the door and off you go.
–It can get loud with all the squeaky chairs and snoring guests. I would suggest bringing ear plugs or your mp3 player for a more serene experience.

Another update. All the info I wrote below still applies. Went again today, and for $ 15 and 50 min of my time, I felt a lot better afterwards. Glad I went.
The only extra tidbit is their clock is about 5 minutes fast, so don’t get there at the last minute like me because they start by their clock, ie. 5 min early. Try to get there about 10 min before the hour (real time) so that you have time to pay and relax before they start the session.
Also read my notes about free parking, white socks, and also requesting a kid-​free session below.

I spent 45 minutes at Galos Cave Spa, and it might have been the quickest 45 minutes of my live.
Today was my first visit to Galos Cave Spa. My friend took me as my birthday present. This would be her third visit.
You call to make an appointment. We chose 3pm because there were no other reservations at that time, so we would have the place to ourselves.
When you enter, you are asked to remove your shoes and leave them outside the spa room itself. You also should turn off your cell phone. My friend advised me ahead of time to wear white socks, because you pick up salt dust.
The room itself is dimly lit with salt lamps. There is about two or three inches of thick salt on the floor. The pillars are made of salt blocks. Stalagtites (stalagmites? I can never remember which is which.) hang from the ceiling. There are about 15 patio chairs which can recline. One corner is separated and asks like a sand box for children, even equipped with a couple buckets and shovels, but it is full of salt, not sand. Soft music is piped in. There are also several light blankets piled on one chair, so you can cover yourself if it gets cool (temperature is about 70 degrees), or you can do as we did, put a blanket on the salt-​covered floor and just relax.
When your hours starts, there is a voice-​over giving you simple instructions. It suggests you walk around the room for 5 – 10 minutes to get accustomed to the salt, and maybe even just hold some salt in your hands while you do so. So, we did do that.
Afterwards, I reclined in a chair for a few minutes, but then I decided to lay down. Now, I had taken a nap for over an hour earlier in the day, but I still was so completely relaxed, my mind just went floating away. It was like being in a deep meditation.
At the end of the 45 minutes, the soft voice comes on again. A few minutes later, the lights come up.
The whole experience was like being in a deep meditation. I was definitely in an alpha state. No way, no how, did it feel like 45 minutes had passed. But they had.
Almost three hours later, I am only starting to feel like the peace and relaxation is starting to fade. I got a lot out of this experience, and will definitely be back.
It was $ 15 for a single visit. They have packages available for someone who plans to visit on a regular basis.

I have a penchant for alternative healing and random adventures. I don’t necessarily require healing at this point in time, though I do necessarily need the adventure aspect. I figure the spa/​relaxtion/​health quotient can’t hurt as an added bonus ;)
I mean, really… what other reason would I have to trek out the far regions of the Northwest side in search of a salt cave?
Ok, a bit of background. The Galos Cave Spa is basically a replica of a real salt cave (duh). You walk into this room, and there are about 15 beach chairs (VERY comfy, I need to get a few of those) amidst piles of salt. Think… water softener salt, that’s what it looks like. There are large «stalagtites» (no idea on the spelling, my apologies) hanging from the ceiling and then lots of gem crystal wall fixtures that are illuminated in neon colors. Also, for added authenticity there are conch shells as light fixtures as well ;)
A soundtrack of waves and enya like stuff is played throughout the 45 minute session. Good luck staying awake, I think I made it about 6 minutes.
My first recommendation: Call ahead to see when there is a session starting. They are very helpful and nice, and will tell you if there are children booked in the session (yes, there is like a little area with children’s toys, etc… this place honestly could not be any more surreal.
Then…
1. Wear white socks, or you’ll have to put on these little hospital booty things.
2. Turn off your cell phone
3. $ 15 for a 45 minute session.
relax, breathe, let the salt heal you and think to yourself «where on earth am I?»
Then go next door to dine in a salt cave restaurant… I didn’t do that (yet), but I imagine it adds to the overall experience.
Ahhhhhhhhh. good stuff.