Pacific Spa

I love this place. Ya’ll are cheap if you want to complain over $ 50 an hour. I will admit, not all of the women are the same. Some have more massage experience than others, but an hour for that price… I’m not complaining. If you want a completely isolated room (open ceiling could be for security reasons), you’re likely going to cough up more dollars at a chain or fancier establishment. Private enough for me, very clean, and very calm. Everyone is really nice too. Thumbs up to a wonderful crew.

So, I’m on a quest for the perfect combination of price, quality and convenience from a stripmall massage/​spa. I know, I know, a dicey proposition to begin with. But, I’m convinced that given the plethora of these places with new ones springing up all the time in nearly every neighborhood, there must be one within 10 miles of my home that can deliver a relaxing massage without giving me the creeps. I’m not looking for the entire spa experience with cushy robes, real slippers, relaxation room with snacks and lemon water, or high end décor. I’ll settle for clean, professional and moderately trained staff. After all, you get what you pay for and $ 60 just doesn’t go that far these days.
Having been disappointed a number of times at other places; I had low expectations for my first visit to this «spa». From entering, I noticed that the décor was tastefully done in a minimalist style. The counter person was friendly and attentive. I was asked to pay up front, which could have been problematic for tipping as I was paying with plastic. And there was a $ 1 surcharge, but no problem.
I was escorted back to my cubicle — ahem — I mean room and told to disrobe but to leave my underwear on. This seemed a bit strange to me since it’s never happened before and it made me wonder of there had been some past allegations of misconduct or if their staff was very prudish or if their general clientele was just very sketchy. But, I put those musings aside as I prepared to give myself over to the experience and deeply relax for the next hour. Of course, that was a bit difficult because the wall partitions did not go all the way to the ceiling which meant that the whir of the washers and dryers could be heard, as well as some other patron’s conversation. Obviously they were not there for a «relaxing» massage since they were chatting up a storm without using their library voice. In any case, the low music in the background helped muffle that a bit.
I didn’t have to wait long for the MT to enter and I was encouraged that she asked me how much pressure I wanted. I asked for medium since I’m delicate. (I know what you’re thinking — why didn’t she go for deep tissue, everybody knows that’s the best. Well, it’s over prescribed and under performed in my opinion; but more on that another time.) She started out with a medium stroke that was somewhat lacking in the finer points (incomplete, didn’t follow musculature, poor transitions) but felt okay. However, the massage deteriorated from there. You might think the complete absence of a routine, the frenetic movement from one side of the table to the other or the leaving the room 4 times without a word were the most disconcerting parts of the massage, but you’d be wrong. It’s a toss up between tucking the drape into my underwear for a killer wedgie (not once, but twice) and getting up on the table and straddling me. I don’t know about you, but I’m not expecting the MT to join me on the table unless I’m paying extra for the «happy ending». Besides making me uncomfortable, it didn’t even add to the experience.
I gave this place 3 stars because it’s not the worst I’ve been to (how sad is that?) and it could be improved by merely teaching their MT how to do a simple effleurage.