Downtown Day Spa

My 16 year old daughter and I spent about 48 hours in Santa Fe on a quick trip from San Diego. Our visit to downtown Day Spa was a highlight. I got a massage and a facial and my daughter got just a facial. The building is lovely and the services were terrific. The facial was actually the best I've ever experienced. No picking, poking, harsh scrubbing, and yet my skin still came out looking great.

I'm updating my previous review and urging you to also read that one, I'm rather proud of it. I like to rip on Santa Fe and there's no shortage of rippage in that write-up, but there's also a fair description of the owner of this business and her policies, which are important to know should you decide to pamper yo'self.

The reason for the extra star are the new digs. This business relocated at some point during the current public health crisis, from an old building off a side street with plenty of spooky juju to a clean, pretty little place right off of Paseo de Peralta. One would imagine this might translate to fewer ghosts and more ambient noise, but really only the former is true. It's a remarkably peaceful vibe with respectful Covid practices and it's a great way to shake it off, as Taylor Swift would say. Okay, that's it, read my last review, it's super snarky.

Do not waste your time or money!

I've been a massage therapist and business owner for almost two decades, and I would never recommend this place. The owner, who rarely answers the phone (it took hours for her to call me back to even book appointments), took total advantage of us and showed her lack of human empathy. We flew in from Chicago, our plans changed, and we called as soon as we landed at 11:40 a.m. to cancel our reservations for 11a.m. appointments the next day! 40 minutes past the 24 hour mark and this woman charged us full price! Not a percentage of the service, but the full price. She initially said she would only charge us if she couldn't rebook the appointments, yet charged us a couple hours after we cancelled our appointment. We don't have proof she didn't rebook those appointments, especially since it takes a plethora of calls to get her on the phone.
When I called back to inquire about her cancellation policy that was NOT stated on her website at the time she got defensive and HUNG UP ON ME!! Followed by an afternoon of her texting me while I was on vacation with my mom and sister with justification for why she charged us and why she hung up on a paying customer. She also kept calling me by other people's names. Get the peoples names right that your screwing out of $700! She didn't give up and kept texting about how I should understand because I'm in the industry. I said I would never pull what she pulls.
Absolutely unethical, a terrible business owner, and extremely unprofessional. Again, do not waste your time or money.
She also charges $10 more for a 'nut free' massage service. Like having an allergy should constitute paying more for less ingredients.

Downtown Day Spa seems extremely attuned to Covid concerns and best practices. We enjoyed excellent massages on multiple days. (Bruce is especially fantastic, as is Nancy.) Also, we had really good experiences with the front desk woman/owner (Christina). I would wholeheartedly recommend this place to anyone.

I'm not sure what caused the negative reviews, but we think these services deserve to be paid at full price. They are that good, and their rates are relatively lower than many in Santa Fe.

READ THE REVIEWS!!! I should have read the reviews before I booked our appointment and I regret it. Like many others, I bought a Groupon and when I went to book the appointment, they couldn't honor the Groupon for the day. She said she would still give us the Groupon rate just not using the coupon (so now I'm already out $145).

Right as we got there, my partner clocked the awkward and chaotic energy. I brushed it off as maybe it was just a strange day for them. The lady at the front told us that when the therapist checks in for more pressure that we could let them know if we wanted more pressure and it would be considered deep tissue. No mention of an up charge.

We got into the room and were allowed less than 30 seconds to take off our clothes before a knock at the door. We were scrambling into our beds which is not a way to start a massage. As for the services, it was fine. Nothing made me feel like it was the best massage of my life but also nothing made me feel like it was outwardly terrible. It was fine. When the massage ended, we were COVERED in oil. We weren't given any warm towels or anything to wipe down with.

Now, I was actually fine and accepting of all the strange things until we went to go pay. When I was told $210, I was stunned into silence. How the heck was I paying $210 on a $145 service? The price now made the services not worth it to us. It made us start scrutinizing all the strange things that happened to that point. Then I was asked what I wanted to leave for a tip and I wanted to leave nothing because of how much extra I was already paying. I couldn't justify leaving more than $30 total bringing my services up to $240, now $100 more than what I went into it thinking I was paying. Never mind the Groupon that is now just sitting in my account as a credit because after the services I immediately traded it back in with no intention of returning or recommending this location.

All of this to say, I don't recommend this place. Awkward energy, secret up charges, groupons we couldn't redeem. We are in Santa Fe for work every summer and I was hoping this place would be my new monthly massage home but I will continue my search. Save yourself the grief and find a different place for your massage services.

I used a groupon as well and was told there has been too many groupons so I would be put on a waitlist. Luckily there was a cancellation. The front desk was polite but I felt like the therapist was just annoyed to be giving me a massage. I felt zero compassion or connection. At the end he just said ok its over. No goodbye, no greeting after, just seemed cold. Maybe an off day. I overheard him saying something about a break so maybe just a stressful day. We all have them but I feel in this field you need to leave your stress at the door before you do bodywork.

The quality of the massage I received was good. I was happy with the techniques used. I usually like my massages really deep since I am usually extremely knotted and tense. This time, I was looking for something relaxing because I went to relieve some emotional stress. I actually liked the pressure she used. I was originally worried that I wasn't going to feel it at all and I didn't want to pay extra for the add on of a deep tissue just to actually feel it. I'm glad it worked out. The oil she used smelled really good and had a nice feel to it. It seemed to soak into my skin nicely rather than sit on top of my skin! Loved this! I also really liked that she used a hot damp towel and let it sit for a minute on my back and on my feet when she worked on those areas. It was a nice touch.

I did have two minor issues that weren't even big enough to bring up to anyone who worked there but it may be something you may want to consider if it would be a big issue for you.

1. Like most places, you start on your stomach. Going from eyes closed, no light coming into my eyes with slight pressure on my eyes to turning over and opening them, I was surprise blinded by the skylight that was overhead and slightly to my right. That threw me off for a bit. When I came into the room, the skylight didn't seem that bright and the lighting in the room was soothing, so I'm thinking it had to do with my eyes becoming accommodated to dark while they were closed. So beware of the skylight.

2. I was annoyed that I could kinda hear the street traffic from inside my massage room even with the soothing music playing. Was it horrendous, disruptive, and causing me stress? No. Was it loud? No. But was it annoying? Yeah, a little. Although this is not a highly-trafficked road, there was still a good handful of cars that drove by during my massage. I heard each one.This isn't a deal breaker for me though. It may be for you. And it may not be like this in every room. Just something to think about.

Bathroom was clean and well stocked. The rugs in the massage rooms could use some sprucing up. I have no comments on parking since I walked here from the plaza downtown. It was about a 15-minute walk. They do offer deals at the location and I recommend buying the deal there rather than on Groupon.

If I am ever in Santa Fe again and looking for a good deal on a massage, I would definitely come back here again. Overall, I would say 3-3.5 stars, but the massage I received and the oil used was really nice so I will round up to 4.

Woman beware!!! My massage therapist made me so uncomfortable the entire time! From the beginning when they gave us maybe 30 seconds to undress and get to the table, then just walked in, to him leaving my body exposed the entire massage. This was the worst experience I've EVER had. The massage therapist was completely unprofessional, he made me feel very uncomfortable, and exposed during this "massage". Didn't even feel like a massage, or was more of a rub my body with oil and leave me exposed situation. Do NOT go here. I will be reporting this higher.

We visited this place on a whim while on a girls weekend in Santa Fe and had mixed reviews! While two of us had wonderful massages, one friend had a horrible experience.

Debra is absolutely fantastic! I had a full-body massage with great pressure and relaxing atmosphere. She worked the pressure points and really put time and effort into every area. Our other friend had a young man (forgot his name) who was also just as talented. We were extremely happy with our 50 minute massages. Our other friend had a different experience with her therapist not exerting pressure after being asked to as well as cutting the massage short.

My one complaint was this spa was marketed all over Groupon, but conveniently they did not have any times open for a Groupon, but they did have time for an in-house Groupon rate. I would recommend maybe not advertising all over Groupon if you can't ever utilize it!

For the price and service - I would absolutely recommend this place! It's a wonderful gem of a hole in the wall and the service was met with a smile.

Very hospitable. Everyone was so kind, respectful and friendly. My daughter and I both received amazing stress relief massages. Bruce was amazing! I will return!!