Tuesday, July 12, 2011
Spa day, anyone?
I was introduced to the wonderful world of ‘spas’ a little later in life – or at least later than I would have liked. I feel cheated that I missed a few years of spa indulgence. But I suppose if I look back honestly, I would know that in my early twenties I could not have afforded it, nor would I have fully appreciated this ‘investment’.
I do see visiting spas is an investment. I am investing in my sanity. I regularly find myself on the verge of flipping out, but then along comes a day of tranquil bliss, and I’m transformed into a reasonable and logical individual once more.
Head Space
When one of my girlfriends asks ‘spa day, anyone?’ a finely polished, hyper-multitasking brain immediately goes to work checking how schedules can be rearranged, deadlines shifted, and priorities realigned to fit in a day off.
Let’s face it, we could always go on a weekend, but the psychological benefits of going to a spa in the middle of the week are vital in relieving stress. That feeling of playing hooky, and knowing your stressed out colleagues are slaving away at the office has a profoundly positive impact on your psyche.
SA's Spa Scene
South Africa has gone spa crazy. On www.healthspas.co.za alone, there are more than 300 spas listed. This is good and bad for us consumers of relaxation. It is good because these spas are all competing for our business. If you scan the net for special offers, you can treat yourself to visiting top retreats at very reasonable prices.
The bad aspect of all these establishments popping up is that anyone with a large garden and Jacuzzi has started a day spa. They create a website with photos stolen online, stock up on scented candles and frilly tissue boxes and voila, a spa is born.
You arrive at this make-shift spa, after dodging gigantic potholes on a dust road in the middle of nowhere (the website described the venue being situated in the tranquil countryside). You are then jammed into a dining area with twenty other patrons, in shabby dressing gowns and worn-out slippers, all waiting for your factory-line treatments to begin, while sipping concentrate juice that you can quite identify.
I have had my share of interesting experiences from hot lava stones falling between my thighs and burning me, to salt scrubs so vigorous that it scrubbed away my skin. Yet, I keep going back in search of the perfect escape from reality and hope that, for a few hours, I will be able to forget everything happening in the real world.
Reviews
I am a freak for customer service, so from my very first visit to a spa I have carefully looked at how it is done; who does it best; and is it good value for money? This all led to doing some ‘mystery shopping’ on behalf of spas and now to publishing my reviews.
Please note that I don’t go to a spa for anything but relaxation treatments. No formal health treatments by professional somatologists are required. These treatments normally involve some sort of pain, best left for an appointment at your trusted salon with a certified therapist, and are not suited for a day of indulgence.
Here, is my first blog reviewing Umlazi Destination Spa from my visit in May 2011: http://reflect-review-opinion.blogspot.com/2011/07/ulwazi-destination-spa.html
Review: Ulwazi Destination Spa
Ulwazi Destination Spa - Half Day Spa Package (May 2011)
Tel: +27 (0)12 370 7917/8
Website: www.ulwazispa.com
Email: info@ulwazispa.com
Address: Velmore Hotel, 27 Main Road (M26 Erasmia), Mooiplaats, Erasmia (North West of Johannesburg)
Rating: 7/10
Treatments: Winter Special Package included:
This spa is close enough for those situated in Centurion and Johannesburg (Northern and Western suburbs). Overall, our experience at Ulwazi Spa was good, and I would visit again. The special offer we took was very good value for money.
When you arrive at the estate and spa, the venue and décor indicates that you have entered an up-market establishment. The spa layout has a clever, compact design that still allows you to feel as though you are the only guests.
The communication skills of the therapists need some work, but they were polite and did what was required.
Detailed Review
Directions on the website from Sandton are good, but they do not make it clear that the spa is situated in the Velmore Estate, which makes you look out for signage for Ulwazi instead.
The spa is situated within an estate that comprises a hotel, conference rooms and wedding facilities. The day of our booking was very quiet within the estate, and it felt as if you had been abducted into this tranquil little planet, just outside of Joburg.
There is ample parking situated directly opposite the door to the spa. The decor is a lovely fusion of contemporary and African pieces, including a beautiful collection of statuettes.
The reception staff members were friendly in welcoming us and taking us through to the small refreshments area. As with any first visit to a spa, we needed to go through the hassle of completing the required paperwork, and then could help ourselves to light refreshments.
Once all the members of our group had arrived, we were ushered to the treatment room and provided soft fluffy gowns and slippers.
The therapists were a little shy and did not have the confidence to explain what was required of us. They also battled to provide clear explanations of the treatments, forgetting to ask what our preferences were in terms of the preferred pressure for the massages.
The full-body massage was a little too firm for me, and I needed to keep reminding my therapist to go softer. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the massage, and my two friends had glowing reports about their massages.
It was a freezing winter day, so we used the break to stock up on coffee and scrumptious scones, finding a veranda to sit and soak up the sun. The therapists saw this and made arrangements to give us our next treatment (Indian head and shoulder massage) outside.
We moved inside again for the hand and foot treatments, which were very enjoyable. All the time soothing background music was playing, and the lights were dimmed creating the perfect relaxed atmosphere.
We changed and took our time to enjoy some sparkling wine and fresh fruit. The bills were settled efficiently and were sent on our way back to planet earth and the harsh reality of Jozi traffic.
I do believe there may have been a few other guests at the spa, but we were unaware of their movements a felt as though we had the facilities to ourselves.
Tel: +27 (0)12 370 7917/8
Website: www.ulwazispa.com
Email: info@ulwazispa.com
Address: Velmore Hotel, 27 Main Road (M26 Erasmia), Mooiplaats, Erasmia (North West of Johannesburg)
Rating: 7/10
Treatments: Winter Special Package included:
- Swedish full body massage
- Indian head and shoulder massage
- Hand and foot exfoliation and massage
This spa is close enough for those situated in Centurion and Johannesburg (Northern and Western suburbs). Overall, our experience at Ulwazi Spa was good, and I would visit again. The special offer we took was very good value for money.
When you arrive at the estate and spa, the venue and décor indicates that you have entered an up-market establishment. The spa layout has a clever, compact design that still allows you to feel as though you are the only guests.
The communication skills of the therapists need some work, but they were polite and did what was required.
Detailed Review
Directions on the website from Sandton are good, but they do not make it clear that the spa is situated in the Velmore Estate, which makes you look out for signage for Ulwazi instead.
The spa is situated within an estate that comprises a hotel, conference rooms and wedding facilities. The day of our booking was very quiet within the estate, and it felt as if you had been abducted into this tranquil little planet, just outside of Joburg.
There is ample parking situated directly opposite the door to the spa. The decor is a lovely fusion of contemporary and African pieces, including a beautiful collection of statuettes.
The reception staff members were friendly in welcoming us and taking us through to the small refreshments area. As with any first visit to a spa, we needed to go through the hassle of completing the required paperwork, and then could help ourselves to light refreshments.
Once all the members of our group had arrived, we were ushered to the treatment room and provided soft fluffy gowns and slippers.
The therapists were a little shy and did not have the confidence to explain what was required of us. They also battled to provide clear explanations of the treatments, forgetting to ask what our preferences were in terms of the preferred pressure for the massages.
The full-body massage was a little too firm for me, and I needed to keep reminding my therapist to go softer. But I still thoroughly enjoyed the massage, and my two friends had glowing reports about their massages.
It was a freezing winter day, so we used the break to stock up on coffee and scrumptious scones, finding a veranda to sit and soak up the sun. The therapists saw this and made arrangements to give us our next treatment (Indian head and shoulder massage) outside.
We moved inside again for the hand and foot treatments, which were very enjoyable. All the time soothing background music was playing, and the lights were dimmed creating the perfect relaxed atmosphere.
We changed and took our time to enjoy some sparkling wine and fresh fruit. The bills were settled efficiently and were sent on our way back to planet earth and the harsh reality of Jozi traffic.
I do believe there may have been a few other guests at the spa, but we were unaware of their movements a felt as though we had the facilities to ourselves.
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