Inman Oasis
243 Hampshire St
Cambridge, MA 02139 (617) 491-0176
- Hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00 a.m.-10:00 p.m.
Fri-Sat 10:00 a.m.-11:00 p.m.
Sun 11:00 a.m.-9:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Accepts Insurance: No
- By Appointment Only: No
64 Reviews for Inman Oasis
Love the Place. Love the People. Love the Tubs. Love the Massages. Love the Location. Love the Music. Love Everything.
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'S Wonderful, 'S Marvelous! No seriously. After a long week, or a long Monday, this has become my new favorite activity. The staff is so friendly, it's like you're coming home to family. The place is clean, well maintained, and stocked full of goodies. If I could, I would shower there everyday, if only for their lush robes (which I plan on snagging one of their "vintage ones" (they changed their name) next time I'm there), wonderfully smelly soaps and shampoos. The community tub is the "best" deal. However, if you go into the private room with a couple of people, it comes out to be about the same. I haven't tried a massage as of yet, but they offer a wide range of services, for a pretty good bargain.
They recently changed some of the dcor, which I'm not really a fan of, but it's still very cute. Inman Square is full of little surprises and this is one of the better ones!
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While small (They have 2 private tubs and one public tub.)
Inman Oasis is really nice.
Very Clean & Organized
Great attention to detail
water, towels,robes, shower gel , shampoo, and rinse
all in one's tub room
And additional rooms for changing afterwards...
a really nice touch; at some other places you must attempt to shower and get dressed in your last 5-10 minutes of tub time; it's not much fun to try and race after one has melted....
They also have a community tub option and repeat soaker passes
No one else seems to have said it, so I will, the sisterhood is strongly in evidence here...but All To The Good...I went with a man and we both thought he was treated 'like a regular customer'; no one was uncomfortable.
(I was advised the last line of my review could sound like a back-handed compliment----it is not, I personally prefer this type of joint; an auteur owner stamp in evidence...
I absolutely do mean this as a positive, a compliment, and an invitation to the hesitant. Perhaps my observation is only necessary for those in my age group, who have seen some perhaps necessary yet very unpleasant militant backlash.)
My wife and I come here about once a year in the winter- for a splurge, I think the private soak prices are pretty reasonable. It's a lot cheaper than a spa. The wooden tubs, especially, are just soooooo comfy and relaxing, and being somewhere warm and humid for an hour is a fuckin' treat in the middle of February during a Boston winter. As others have mentioned, the EO bath stuff is awesome, and I'm pretty much completely a dude about bath products so it takes a lot to make me notice. The staff is also super friendly and very accommodating. Being able to bring your own music for your soak is a big plus.
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I get the feeling that this review is just going to sound like one big echo, since I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said by everyone else who loves this place!
The place is cute, and automatically earns points for being pretty unique. The decor is welcoming, low-key spa-like without making you feel uncomfortable because there is no hoity-toitiness and no "you must relaaxx, feel the spirits and breathe, you MUST be calm cos you're in a spa!" kind of attitude. Phew. In other words, it's perfectly chill and comfortable, space-wise and attitude-wise, which is great. The staff is friendly, polite and helpful.
Though they are not huge, the massage rooms don't feel claustrophobic at all (at least not for me), and my massage with Chrissy was excellent. She soothed away my pains and was very accommodating to my needs, and it was overall very relaxing. My bf had an excellent massage with Tamika at the same time (in another room, can't fit more than one person per massage room here!) and his aches melted away too. I still think the best massage I've ever had in Boston was at Le Pli, but this place was still excellent and even better than one or two places I've tried on Newbury, massage-wise. Hmm!
And then there's those tubs. Just amazing! A friend of ours joked prior to our visit, "why are you paying someone just to go take a bath in a giant high-temperature tub?!" But if you go and experience it, it's so much more than that - plus it's not a 'bath', it's a hot tub! This place, although indoors and not natural, still made me feel the way I do after coming out of natural hot springs in Asia - utterly relaxed, rejuvanted, decompressed. And that was exactly what I wanted.
There are clean, cute showers in the hot tub rooms, so you can change into your bikini in there (or in one of the two large, clean bathrooms if you prefer), and shower off either massage oils or outside grime before your soak. There's a flask of cold water provided for you to keep drinking, and if it gets too hot, in the middle of your soak you can just get out for a breather or take a quick cold shower before going into the hot water again (I like doing this, the change of temperatures is great). We got the fiberglass tub with hydraulic jets ($38 for 30 mins), and although they ask you not to change the temp, you can change the jet settings and they're great! It's like another mini water-massage.
I like that they give you your privacy in the rooms (whether you're with friends, your sweetie, whatever), and everyone just needs to be respectful of each other, really. They respect your privacy, and you respect their wishes of "no bodily fluids" to not abusing your liberties in the room. Plus, as Ligaya T. noted, sweat poring out of your pores is really not sexy, hehe. The place is really clean too.
The robes are plush and thick and comfy, they provide clean, soft towels and a nifty basket to carry your stuff in between the rooms. Slippers would be nice though, if they could get them, since the floor is wet and sliding damp feet into closed shoes (it's Boston, 3/4 of year is cold!) feels icky. In the bathrooms (where you can change) there are thick plastic bags for you to keep your wet stuff (bathing suit) in after, and there's even a hairdryer in one bathroom and de-frizz products and body lotion in another. You can stream in your iPod's tunes, pick a CD of theirs, or sit in silence, whatever floats your boat. Bring your ID if you're a student and get 10% off.
Overall, an excellent spot for a bit of relaxation, decompression, or just self-indulgence, whether you're going alone, with a friend, or with your sweetie. We decided, as we walked out totally rejuvenated, that we would definitely be back.
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Having traveled extensively through Japan, one of the things I miss the most upon returning to the states besides the food, were the baths in the various guest houses and ryokans, but then I discovered Inman Oasis.
My boyfriend gave me a gift certificate for Christmas, and though I've already used it up, we keep on going back for more. Sometimes we'll just drop by in the afternoon and early evening and lounge in the community tub. Rarely, do we have to share the tub with anyone else. For around $10 (they have student discounts) you get a half an hour soak in the community tub. There are also other discounts available like a 10 soak series.
I've also tried some of the bodywork there. My personal favorite is Alli, she does Craniosacral (Upledger) massage. Its not your typical massage, and some what hard to describe, and is better experienced. But what matters is that I always come out of the session relaxed, at ease, and with a great sense of well-being. Alli also works at Harvard Square Acupuncture, so you can read other reviews there about her work.
All in all, I'm just glad that Inman Oasis exists and is in my hood.
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We love Inman Oasis and as a troupe have booked their huge community tub for a private soak- mamazing!!! If you can get a bunch of your friends together, you should really book their huge tub. It is gorgeous, everything you need is right at your fingertips, and the staff is warm and gracious and amazing. We have never had anything less than a wonderful experience, from booking to leaving. Thanks IO!
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Hands down, the tubs here are amazing! I love a good soak and this place is great for it. Comfortable, luxurious yet affordable and relaxing with a super friendly staff. Everything you could possibly want is already there for you. I haven't done a private soak but used the community tub which was clean, quiet and not at all what my secret fears were expecting.
I did get a massage as well, which just wasn't fantastic. Relaxing as all massages are, but didn't do much for the muscle pain I was having. Perhaps it's just me. The tub actually helped that the most. My suggestion? Go for the tubs, stay for the tubs, return for the tubs.
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OH MY GOD! YES! This place is glorious. The Japanese soaking tubs are so relaxing. A very UNintimidating spa. The woman who is usually at the front desk is super accommodating and friendly. You can pick from the music they have there for your soak, or bring your own. And they usually have some special or another going on that is a definite bargain.
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Okay Sarah got us a 1 hour gift certificate for the private hot tub and I was excited. We went down this past saturday and the lady at the front desk was really nice. I looked through their cd booklets and found a burnt cd that said Soul/R&B mix She put the cd on and before we went in she told us they suggest sitting in the tub for 10 minutes then taking a break with a cold shower, then getting back in the tub. We both kind of rolled our eyes at her suggestion but let me tell you, I was in there for maybe 15 minutes and I was hot, real hot. I was also very relaxed but she wasn't kidding when she said shower breaks are helpful. After an hour of soothing soul/ r&b songs and going back and forth between the tub and the shower I was very relaxed and more than satisfied with our soak. But boy was it HOT!!!
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Tried the tub, it was awesome!!!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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06/14/2008
Of course I didn't try the tub, because I'm a cat. I did, however, have a great 0.5 hour massage… Read more »
IO already has like 50 reviews, so I doubt I can contribute much new info, but I just want to add this...
Is there ANYTHING better than soaking in a hot tub on a frosty cold winter day when you are chilled to the bone? It is the most delicious feeling to walk back out into the cold 30 minutes later and feel warm (w/o your jacket on!), light on your feet, and taking big deep breaths of the cooling air while just LOVING life at the moment.
The space is low key, the staff are really nice and friendly, and they provide thoughtful touches to enhance your experience (i.e. sturdy plastic bags for your wet clothes, plush bath robes, a selection of nice towels, and cold water in a thermos so you stay hydrated on the inside). Note: you can also bring your own CD or iPod and they'll stream the music in to your private tub room! So go splurge on a a hot tub session for two with your sweetie and just decompress...
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Someone please tell me if they know anything about MAUREEN??
[i shall update review after]
Very zen spot to escape from the pressures of every day life. It has a private tub, and a larger public one. The facility is extremely clean, and I love that it is conveniently tucked away in Inman Square. They have music to play for the duration of your soak, or you can bring your own. Steer clear of the massages, though- it more resembled the kind one gets at a mall kiosk than at a spa. All that aside, this a fantastic stop for a reasonably priced and relaxing soak.
My lovely boyfriend bought me a gift certificate to Inman Oasis for my last birthday, and I decided to finally spend it tonight. I'm so glad I did!
I had a 30-minute massage with Phil, followed by a 30 minute soak in the beautiful wooden community tub. It was my first professional massage and I was very satisfied with the service I received -- targeted to my problem areas where all my stresses and tension collect, with emphasis on my comfort throughout the treatment.
After my massage I showered off in the impeccably clean shower, changed into my bathing suit, and spent 30 minutes soaking and relaxing. The water was pleasantly hot, maybe even too hot for me! I was a little dizzy when I got out, but the big pitchers of cold water to drink and a brief rest in the private changing room had me feeling better quickly. There was even a blow-dryer for my hair in one of the bathrooms, so I was looking cute for my dinner date afterward.
Probably the best $58 I've ever spent. DEFINITELY the best $8 I've ever spent (since the first $50 was covered by that gift certificate). I need to adjust my budget so I can come more often. Maybe I'll give up Starbucks...
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I haven't been for very many massages, but of the places I have been this is my favorite. I like that it's not quite as uppedy as what you would expect from a spa- the people are just nice, down-to-earth regular people. The place is very nice- clean, and comfortable. I had the hot stone massage, and my boyfriend had a swedish massge, then we went for a 45 minute soak in one of the private Japanese tubs. Everything was wonderful- I had never had the hot stone massage before, and highly recommend it. The Japanses tubs are adorable! I also thought it was really nice that you can choose your own music, and that the staff offered to feed our meter for us so we wouldn't get a ticket- now that's customer service!! We will definitely be returning to Inman Oasis....hopefully soon.
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I consider myself very satisfied with my current situation. That is to say, if I were making $5k more or $15k more, I wouldn't change much about my lifestyle. There is one exception to this rule. I would visit Inman Oasis WAY MORE than just on special occasions. They would know my name, dammit.
Not that this place is prohibitively expensive. It's just a luxury that I can only afford every now and then. I've tried both of the couples' tubs, and I can't pick which one I like more. I am bursting there are so many good things about this place, from the people running it to the fact that they let you choose a cd before your bath to play to the deliciously cold water they provide in the tub for your to hydrate to the plush robes and towels to the yummy bath products you use in the shower before/after your bath.
No matter what I'm dealing with, I come out of here warm, relaxed, and a bit loopy. It's possibly my favorite thing about Inman, and, let's be honest, there's a lot to love in delightful Inman Square.
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Wow, where do I begin? The first time I ever went here I had a 30 minute soak in the community tub and a massage. We had the tub to ourselves even though it was like 11AM on a Saturday morning. The room was bright, calming, clean, and comforting. There are plush towels and bathrobes everywhere for the taking. The tub was surrounded with cups and containers of ice cold water to stay hydrated. The shower and changing rooms were clean, well maintained, and very spacious. The tub is hot and soothing - everything I could have hoped for. The massage was out of this world. The massage therapist was professional, skilled, mindful, and just really awesome.
The second time I went was about 6PM on a Monday night. The tub had 3 other people in it but it was fine, everyone was really mindful of their own space, not uncomfortable at all. The massage was good but in different ways from the first. The massage therapist was younger, played funkier music, and had a different technique. I like getting different things everytime I go, it adds something unique to Inman Oasis. The prices here are really reasonable too - 30 minute soak with a massage, $8? Crazy deal. Hands down, I highly recommend this place to get away from life for a while
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I cannot speak highly enough about Inman Oasis. I've been there multiple times and it is a consistently excellent experience.
My usual fare includes a half hour soak in the public tub and a massage. The quality of both have been wonderful. The hot tub is well-maintained, clean and comfortable. The massages are performed in soothing rooms by skilled professionals. When you're there, you are quite literally in good hands.
Of all of the spas I've visited, Inman Oasis is the most reasonably priced. Massages are less expensive than any other place I've found in Boston, New York or Las Vegas, and you can add a soak in the public tub to a massage for less than $10.
The location is in Inman Square, which is a plus due to the variety of restaurants and bakeries in the immediate area. Nothing compliments a massage quite like a good meal afterwards.
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clean, relaxing, innovative. friendly staff. awesome massages. reasonable prices. so great to pick a CD and soak in your own private wooden tub for a little while, forgetting the world outside. especially during nasty new england winters. why aren't there more places like this in the us?
my only complaint: i liked the old name better. urban oasis just had a better ring to it. but i totally understand wanting to express some inman square pride.
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I love this place. Gary is hands down the best, and not to mention their owners are extremely friendly!
I come from a spa background having worked in an upscale spa for several years and have toured and visited some of the best and most luxuriously spas/resorts around the country.
I like Urban Oasis for it's laid back unpretentious environment, anyone can walk in, it's a spa for the regular joe. It's cozy, warm and the staff members are always very welcoming.
I suggest you soak in the wood bath for 30 mins before your massage, Relive some built up tension and get your muscles relaxed and ready for a nice massage.
Speaking of which. I'm over due for one!
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b-e-a-utiful.
japanese soaking tubs, the ability to play your own music (from your mp3 player, discman, or even walkman if you want to kick it way old school), and deliciously scented soaps and shampoos in the private showers. and CLEAN, to boot! i have a "thing" about touching, well, just about anything in public. especially in rooms where people are down to their skivvies. but no skeeviness here... just very affordable, sparklin' clean relaxation.
friendly staff top it off... no one is going to make you feel out of place here if you aren't the spa-going type in general, that's been my experience. make sure you check out their website before you go... student discounts all the time, plus lots of monthly deals.
appointments aren't necessary, but i'd reccomend it... you want to make sure you can get the nice, deep wooden japanese soaking tub, and not the boring plexi-glass, americana style.
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Been here a couple times recently & it seriously rocks. I was
certainly leery of the group hot tub & it certainly smelled clean
& chlorinated & the whole area is immaculate. We also did
the jacuzzi (can only do 2+ ppl there, I think b/c if you pass out).
Either way, I wouldn't recommend much more than 1/2 hour
soak before getting worked on (it's pretty warm & will wear you
out!). I've been worked on a lot & my therapist was constantly
asking me if everything was okay & was there too much/too little
pressure. Great quality therapeutic & trigger point work. IO has
really nice & quiet rooms & generally fantastic facilities.
Btw, IO's prices are VERY competitive. I've looked all over &
Newbury is much more pricey & you save a substantial amount
w/going here & getting a soak before/after. Look around & you
will find that they are at least on par w/everyone else in the area.
One more note, the jacuzzi (private) is absolutely awesome -
the jets in there are so strong, it's like you're getting worked
on, it's just very warm & we couldn't stand it for more than 1/2
hour.
Keep up the great work IO!
PS Parking in Inman completely blows, so if you're driving,
allow plenty of time to park & they will feed the meters for you
(if you give them the quarters :)
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First time customer, I found Inman Oasis after my regular place WellSpace in Fresh Pond was mysteriously boarded up and abandoned.
I had a 60 minute massage with Beth, preceded by 15 minutes in the wooden hot tub. It was a very very nice experience. The water was 105 degrees F, hot enough to really loosen up my muscles but not too hot that I couldnt last 15 minutes soaking.
The facilities are clean and just funky/new-age enough. You shower before and after the soak in the tub, and are provided a flush blue robe and flip flops and a basket for your clothing.
The private massage room was clean and austere, with appropriate minimalist music playing softly throughout. Beth listed carefully to me about the areas I wanted her to work on, and gave one of the best massages I've had. She checked in with me to ensure she was using the right amount of pressure, and spent a lot of time on my shoulder which really needed it.
I am definately going back.
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I get regular massages because of back tension that causes headaches. I had been going to a massage therapy place in the area which I found beneficial, but not enjoyable. The first time I went there I walked out in pain and was in pain the entire next day. Granted they always worked hard on getting all my knots out, but I would never really feel relief. So I decided to try a new place this time around. I found Oasis on-line and called for an appointment, which was easy enough to get. I had my massage last night and I feel great today! Beth knew what she was doing. The old place I went to told me I needed to get extra pressure massages. Beth, however, fixed the problems in my back while remaining gentle and keeping my massage relaxing, not painful. I walked out of there so relaxed that maybe I shouldn't have driven home.
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Amazing place! My friend and I came here after a 2 hour drive from western Massachusetts and had a great time in the private hot tub. The pricing was great for what we got - welcoming receptionists, clean facilities, and an hour in our own hot tub for $50!
Highly recommended.
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This place is great. The 30 minute massage I got here from Chrissy was better than any hour long massage I've had. If you want to be relaxed without going to a chichi expensive rich lady spa, then Inman Oasis is perfect. The facilities are clean, organized, and comfortable. I am going into this weird trance-ish relaxed state just thinking about it. I also went into the community hot tub for a 30 minute pre-massage soak. I was a bit skeptical of this, imagining the foamy, filled to maximum capacity, human stew type hot tubs you find on cruise ships and in hotels, but my friend and I were the only people in the community tub for all except the last 2 minutes of our soak, when 1 other person arrived. And it was very clean with no band-aids or mysterious froth. I will definitely be back. Highly recommend a pre-massage soak.
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I liked this place very much. First time doing this, they were very nice to explain how everything worked and that they'd dim the lights to signal we had 5 minutes left. They gave us extra time for the time it took to go through everything and fill out a form (first time customers only). And it was 10$ off in the day. They also do 10% student discounts when not in the day (they will take the larger of the discount)..
We used the japanese wooden tub, which I think is so relaxing and great. I want one!!
The only -1 star is for the temperature in the tub. It was not warm after about 5 minutes in -- it was luke warm, ewwww -- and it started getting cooler. Just ~5 minutes before our time was up, it started getting warmer again, which was very nice.
I think we could have stepped out and asked them to turn the temperature up, but we didn't They were very friendly though and I am sure would not mind, we just were too soaky to want to get out.
If you go there, do ask to make sure they keep a hot temperature on the tub!!
I think doing anything too sexy in these tubs is really pretty nasty. Sure, you have the opportunity to and nobody will stop you, but just Its sexy enough to sit in a private tub, relax, kiss a little and chat, listen to music (you can bring your own on an ipod or use their cds). It's very intimate and relaxing.
An absolutely wonderful experience... We ended up being around 10 minutes late for our reservation and I was initally bummed out because they were all booked for the rest of the day but much to my surprise they went over the initial time to make sure that my friend got the full half hour massage... also when we arrived there was a guy complaining at the counter so they gave us our soak in one of the private hot tub rooms for free!! Best customer appreciation I have encountered at any establishment. period.
I just don't find jacuzzis to be conducive to babymaking. "Oh yeah, honey. The sweat pouring our your pores is making me sooo hot." Umm, no. I do find the tubs a lovely way to decompress though. Gleaming facilities, admittedly a bit Ikea, but comfortable and clean, an easy going staff, and awesome EO bath products, make for a wonderful experience.
The prices for a private soak are a bit high for such a low key place, averaging a dollar a minute. So the communal tub is a more reasonable alternative, plus they have a multipack bringing the price down to $7.50 a dip. Students, whip out your ID for a 10% discount.
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Each month there are wonderful specials. I got a half hour tub and a half hour massage for $50. It was a perfect way to end the day. It was immaculate and the service was great. The public tub is great as long as you don't mind sharing...
SO WORTH IT. We moved here from Austria, and in Austria Spa is just a different term: In Austria, a Spa is a place where you will get 5 different saunas, 5 different hot pools to soak in and all of that will be available for 30-40 Euros for the entire day.When you get out you will feel as if you had a week of vacation. Here in the US, Spa means something different: Getting your nails and you hair done,and a massage, which is just a different interpretation. And there is no place where you can just hang out, relax in warm water, go from one sauna to the other, read in your chair and spend your day with your favourite books and your thoughts.We thought this does not exist here, UNTIL we finally made it to the Inman Oasis: My boyfriend took me there on my birthday and we had a private hot tub (a totally private room with a HUGE, hot tub) and on top of that i got a massage afterwards. There is not better place to relax close by, i swear!
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I hate the fact that I have to give them three stars, but here is why.
Erin G. called up to schedule the massages and asked for two relaxation ones. She was offered an alternative that she kindly rejected for both of us. However, once we got there I learned that I was going to get this special massage.
The man who did my massage was extremely nice and definately knew what he was doing, however it was not what I asked for. It was a combination of various techniques that involved pulling and shaking parts of my body at times and at times, it was uncomfortable and not relaxing.
So that is why it loses two stars. Its a shame too because everyone that I knew has had a great experience at this place. I don't fault the guy at all because he was doing his job and he was great at it, but it was not the relaxation massage I requested.
It makes me leery to go back here not knowing what I might get the next time I ask for something. I feel like it is terrible customer service not to listen to what people call up and request - especially when it was made really clear that we did not want that. If I am going to spend close to $70 on something, it should be what I asked for.
I really wish I had a better experience. However, the environment is very relaxing and clean. The employees are also very nice and skilled. And Erin absolutely loved her relaxation massage.
EDIT: The owner sent me a nice email explaining what happened and offered me a gift certificate for a free massage. She said she would put it in the mail. A few months later I get the same exact email from the owner offering the same thing and she tells me again she will put it in then mail. This had to be months ago and still, no gift certificate.
I don't really care about the GC, but come on, if you're going to make it up to someone don't say you will TWICE and then not.
I really wish I had an amazing experience here like everyone else.
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10/6/07 update: I can now also endorse Beth and as she just gave me an awesome massage. Plus, as always I'm impressed by how nice everyone was. They were running a bit late and gave me a call 30 min before my scheduled massage to warn me. I showed up a bit early anyway and got a complimentary soak! Glorious!!
I love this place - ridiculously convenient in the bitter cold boston winters. When you feel like you'll never be warm again, just do a quick soak in the community tub. I've been a number of times and the place is pristine. Plus 75% of the time, my boyfriend and I were the only ones in the community tub. They even let us put on our own music.
I've had massages from a few different people - ask for Lauren or Jo and you will find yourself in a trance like state only capable of wandering around the corner for ice cream from Christinas or gravy fries from All Star!
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I heart massages in general but Urban Oasis in Inman Sq. is a particularly good place with reasonable prices. It is also a lesbian owned business - just an added plus!
The atmosphere is relaxing and comfortable. In addition to massages, there are both private and public hot tubs. I went this winter with my gf at the time and we both had great massages and then spent an hour in a private hot tub which was awesome! You can even bring your music to listen to as you soak it up.
Personally I think Ali is the best maseuse there but everyone is very good!
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This place is perfect for relaxing and going into a different, zen-like world. I'm a student and I need to just "get away" once in a while. This is a good place, especially during the working hours (lunch break). I'll come in for a 30 minute soak and feel great. I come once a month just to destress from the rigors of academic life. After work, its also very relaxing. The prices are reasonable and the staff is very friendly. I've only had the massage once, but I really enjoyed it. I grab a bite to eat at one of the nearby spots afterwards. Great for that "take care of yourself" date.
I went here for an hour massage and fell asleep halfway through! I don't know if it was really relaxing or if it was because I was dog tired and had walked in the rain from Central (buses do run right by the place though.. I just like taking the road less traveled). Good massage for the price though...my back felt the sweet relief of pressure from something other than my ginormous messenger bag.
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i love this place! inman oasis recently played a major role in one of my #1 _best days ever_. the only drawback to this place is due to state regulated h2o temps (several degrees below an optimum bath in japan)... can't blame the inman oasis folks for following the law, though. the owners are friendly and helpful, the staff is equally so. i _love_ the japanese wooden tubs! i have used both the large communal tub (and was lucky enough to have it all to myself post-massage) and the private tub, where you can bring your own cds to have a soundtrack of your own to accompany your bathing experience. great business, well run, soooooo glad they're here!
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I never thought I'd have a professional massage.
Count me among those who used to think that massages were some sort of new age touchy-feely hippie crap.
I have been converted. Went here yesterday for a 30min massage + 45 minute private hot-tub soaking as a pre-valentines nicety, and I was pleasantly surprised.
I don't think I've ever felt so relaxed before. On our walk across the street for brunch at S&S, I felt like I was walking on clouds!
While it costs a little too much for it to become a habit, I could definitely see myself going back when in need of some extra pampering!
Btw. Does anyone know what the tipping conventions (if any) are for massages? There was no spot for tips on my receipt when I signed it, but I have since read some places that people suggest tipping in these establishments. Any thoughts?
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If you're looking to not hate the world for a little while, this is the place. I have gone here on my worst days and left feeling as if I were walking on air. I've been consistently impressed by the quality of my massages here (Alli and Beth are both great). It can be pricey, but they offer really good specials on their website if you're willing to pay up-front for package deals.
The massage therapists are also really skilled and pay a lot of attention to their clients over-time--they keep pretty close track of what your likes/dislikes/needs are, which is really nice.
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