The Spa

Several years ago, I used to go to the spa at the Brown Palace regularly for facials. The aesthetician was wonderful, the accommodations and overall spa area were wonderful, the front desk treated me like I was special.

Then the front desk started getting snotty. They treated me like they were doing me a favour by allowing me to come spend my hard-earned money at the spa. They screwed up appointments, and nobody ever apologised or seemed to care. I stopped going.

It's probably been 15 years since I gave up on them, but I wanted to do something special for myself for my birthday. I called in March to try to book an extensive spa day for myself, but was told they couldn't make an appointment for June and to call back "in a couple of months."

It's now a month before the day, I called, and they're all booked. I'm irritated, but that may not be their fault.

What is their fault is the snotty, nasty attitude of the front desk. Still. Again. There was no warmth, no attempt to be helpful - just a sneer and an attitude like I'm a pain in the ass for asking for the appointment(s).

They could get part of what I wanted, but offered me 9 am. I said, "I have reservations for tea at 4 pm. Is there anything available a little later than 9 so I don't have to wait around for hours or go home and come back?" She sighed in exasperation (I could hear her eyes rolling over the phone) and talked to me like I was a child, telling me they close at 5 and she can't make tea reservations for me. It took me a second to figure out what she was talking about, since she hadn't remotely answered my question. And I think she was deliberately obtuse so she could talk down to me, since the question was pretty clear.

So it seems they've gotten worse, and from the other reviews I'm seeing here, the lovely locker room/shower areas are now in disrepair and dirty. Maybe I should be thanking the snotty witch at the desk for saving me that heartache.

This isn't a spa I'm going to go to regularly because it is on the expensive side, but I had a wonderful experience for a splurge. It started when I arrived and the valet parking is validated when you have a spa service. I was greeted right away, offered some champagne, and taken downstairs to the locker room. One improvement area here is that they basically sent me off to look through the lockers to find my own robe with the size I wanted. I've gone to a lot of fancy spas and usually they take care of that part for you. It also would've been nice to know that they have amenities like a sauna that you can use because I would've arrived earlier to use that. My massage therapist came down to get me and I had the most wonderful relaxing massage. Definitely a place I will keep in mind for another special occasion.

I had an 80-minute massage with Savannah and she was lovely and did a wonderful job! The steam room in the Men's Lounge with fancy teas was just what I needed afterwards as well. They've made the necessary upgrades and repairs compared to past reviews, and it shows. The steam room needed a reset when I first tried it, but Jordan was quick to flip a switch and get it up and running. Thank you!

Would not be back unfortunately. I do love the brown palace and I am a local and this review is not associated with a stay at brown palace. But just a complete lack of attention to detail at this spa. Absolutely NOT a destination spa-It is very dated and could use some attention from Marriott corporate. Massage was good-not great. Very little amenities and what they did offer was in disrepair. Had to ask for additional towels as the towel rack didn't have any towels. Very full waiting room and some women were even standing waiting for their treatments. This could be a huge opportunity for this historic property, but sadly it missed the mark.

Was able to get a walk-in express manicure with only a twenty minute wait, which I/we spent in the bar. Don't remember the manicurist's name.

Excellent work, still looks good after ten days.

Who says gentlemen don't like to get pampered? I may not be getting a facial, manicure or pedicure but I still left feeling ready to adorn the cover of GQ magazine.

- The hotel is a part of Denver's rich history.
- Complimentary valet parking with spa treatment.
- The spa is in a date of disrepair in a very obvious way.
- Treatments are exceptional and staff friendly.
- Prices are medium to high.
- Separate locations for gender and no real facilities available.
- Forbes Five Star rated.

Having good skin is an important asset, even for a man. You're not left out to dry with treatment options although the industry standard facilities are non-existent at the Brown's Spa. There is no pool, jacuzzi or sauna, only a small steam room with missing tiles and locker room with peeling laminate.

The treatments deserve five stars but the facilities (missing tiles, peeling laminate) and condition of the spa (lockers filled with towels and supplies wide open) were too much to overlook in a spa that is supposedly Forbes Five Star rated.

The Ritz Carleton offers services for a similar price with much higher standards of quality. I don't think I will be back.

I was in Denver for vacation and wanted to take some time to relax. I did some searching on the options and overwhelmingly the recommendation was the Spa at The Brown Palace. I booked the "Traveler's Relief" package, which included a 50 minute massage, 25 minute facial, and 25 minute pedicure.

In general the spa was fine, the massage was by far the highlight. The only major thing that bothered me is that when I booked and was given a total on the phone I could have sworn the woman said "including a 20% gratuity" - but the mandated gratuity was added to the price listed online.

The services were about what I was expecting, but I was a bit disappointed in the facilities. The ladies lounge was stocked with some odd snacks from my view - chex mix and peanuts. The water pressure in the shower was almost comically bad, and the drain in the shower must have been clogged because I was standing in a pool of water. To make things more frustrating, I'm sure they have not replaced the hair dryer for years. Given that I was required to pay a 20% "service and gratuity" on top of my overpriced service, I would think they could replace some simple amenities.

My massage was wonderful - the therapist was communicative and experienced. Another strange facility thing though is that I was brought into a room for a couples massage, not a big deal at all, just weird.

The facial was promoted as and "express" facial, but I still think it was worthwhile. The esthetician said "We have a one hour facial that we're going to fit into 30 minutes". She was bustling around and she sure did make it through an entire facial in 30 minutes. My skin felt very soft and wonderful afterwards, it just took back from the relaxation a bit because she definitely needed to rush to get through it.

The pedicure was also promoted as "express" I believe. Honestly I wish I had just gotten a longer facial and skipped the pedicure. It was fine, nothing special. Probably would have gotten a better and more cost effective one had I just gone to some nail salon.

I did use the steam room, which was very nice and clean. The staff of the spa were all polite and helpful in giving recommendations. I sat in the lobby of the hotel for a bit, which is also very nice.

Was this the best spa experience I've ever had? No.
Was this the worst spa experience I've ever had? No.
Was this a good value for the pricetag? Definitely not.
Would I go again? Perhaps just for the massage.

This was a splurge and a last minute idea of going to get a facial. It was very quiet atmosphere loved the spa robe offered water or champagne and I really wanted to love it. I did, but as a esthetician myself in the spa biz for 14+ years. I talk about products ingredients and if I use modalities what they can expect and what the benefits. I didn't tell anyone I'm in the spa biz, I just wanted to enjoy the treatment. Well no explanations of what to expect during the service especially when she hit me with the micro needling, totally unexpected. The micro needling if actually trained properly is done in certain patterns not zigzaged all over the face. But I didn't say anything she continued with the service. My face did feel fine afterwards. The esthetician just needs to tweak the service a little to be more pleasant and informative of what to expect before making the client uncomfortable and not knowing what's going on. Also especially after COVID and still in a pandemic no mask was used during the treatment and no gloves. Just my thoughts I know everyone is ok being so close to a stranger without a mask and she did wash her hands. But again as I'm In the biz and knowing everyone runs there business different, I'm all about safety and knowledge for the guest. Hope this review helps the staff and management or not? and anyone else can enjoy a better treatment.

the worst most unprofessional experience. i purchased a spa day for my wife. my wife invited a friend. the spa was $330, you would think this establishment would do it right. they didn't credit my wifes gift card and charged my wifes friend an additional $330. what???
the rude and consenting manager john finally issued a credit, no apology at all!!
i am a native of colorado! my family has been a regular for afternoon tea for over 50 years!
the brown palace is not the same as the consistent excellent customer service of the past. do not waste you money as i did. the oxford hotel will provide a better old courteous colorado experience.
stay away from the brown place only the name exists not the service

Very disappointed in atmosphere, cleanliness as well as service on arrival. Scheduled spa package for three people in December. No one at the front check in desk when we arrived, but two girls did appear w/ in 10 mins. We were told to "just go downstairs". There was no direction as to what to do, locker, robe sizing, no slippers. We eventually found what we needed and asked for slippers which they brought (sizes too large). We were then rushed through our massages, told to take robes off and go upstairs for nail treatment. All spa amenities were closed due to COVID, which is understandable. The nail techs were kind and very good at their jobs. The salon itself is run down w/ warn out leather seating and carpet. Nail area presents as dirty/dingy. Girls at check out desk seemed disinterested and on their phones but succeeded in checking us out in a timely fashion. Just not what I expected from a spa at a luxury hotel. We also decided later that evening to have a drink at the bar and while there was no seating available inside the bar we sat just outside in a cozy seating area near the escalator. I cleared a table that was covered w/ used glasses and food that looked to have been there awhile. As we sat we witnessed the overflow of a toilet in the women's bathroom, the use of a plunger that was dripping across the carpet after use, women walking through the muck of the bathroom, no signage put up. The bathroom smelled like urine, no hand-soap or paper towels. Again, the hotel seemed dirty and in need of a good cleaning.