#8 A Day At The Spa

What's better than spending a few hours sitting in a comfy bathrobe, sipping hot tea, listening to calm music while someone pampers you with a manicure or massage?

Every once in a while, my friend Jen and I spend a couple hours at a day spa, where we usually get massages and either a mani or pedi.  It's a nice little escape from our every day lives, and kids! :) We've had our share of laughs too.

So far, we've learned the following:

• If you book massages for the same time, the people working there may assume that you're a couple. Not too sure why, but it's happened twice now.
• If you get a deal off of WagJag, LivingSocial or anything else like that, check out the spa BEFORE you buy it.  Look for a day spa that's in a good hotel, or one that has good user reviews online.  Try to avoid new places, unless you're up for a total adventure.  
• When booking a massage, check to see if your benefits cover a RMT massage.  It might cost an extra couple bucks, but it's TOTALLY worth it! You can ensure that your massage is done in a respectful and private manner, AND the RMT can work on trouble spots like your shoulders and neck.
• Show up about 15 mins early. It'll give you time to get undressed, and if you're lucky, even get a hot tea or something before your massage.
• If you're getting a mani or pedi, don't be afraid to tell them if your nails are too long, short or filed to the wrong shape. Even if you're getting a deal, you're paying for it.
• Generally you tip at the end of your services. But if you're not happy with your service, don't tip.
• And last, but not least, if you've had a facial, be prepared for them to try and sell you some products at the end. 

Our last spa day was actually quite successful. Nothing crazy or too weird happened! It was at the Zen Spa (www.zenspa.ca which is located in the DoubleTree Hotel in Etobicoke, ON).  I would recommend going.  Oh, and the best part was that our day included a mani, facial and RMT massage. We paid $80 I think, and we got a RMT receipt for $77!! 

So if you're looking for a relaxing few hours, do a little research to make sure that it ends up being just that.  www.wayspa.com is also a good resource (and if you get their gift cards at Costco you save $$$).