Terrible experience. They cannot communicate, they are rude. The massage was extremely rough. Almost as if the massage therapist was angry. The sheets looked so old, I wondered if they washed them. Even if they did washroom, they still looked awful. I had second thoughts the moment I walked in, but was in a bit of a desperate situation with my shoulder. You almost get this feeling that this is a human trafficking situation, and that the people that work there are forced to work there. I seriously wonder if that's the case. read more

Run. Away. My friend called ahead for 2 massages and when we got there they said cash only. Could have mentioned that over the phone....Ok, guess we will walk to the bank and come back. We specifically asked for 2 females but one of us got a male. Rooms were dirty, cluttered and linens looked used. Dark and musky. No mood lighting, aromatherapy or anything to help the vibe in this rotten place. The massage was honestly terrible. I was never able to relax. Just kept wondering when it would be over so I could put my clothes back on and gtf outa there. So awkward. My friend and I always have a good laugh when we talk about our experience here. Laughing is better than crying! read more

Do not step foot in this freaky place. I've seen so many things and heard so many freaky conversations. The bedding is filthy, never any hand soap so they go from touching on body to another. They try to rip you off. The owners sister got violent with one of the workers when I was there. AND they are taking Starfish from the the ocean and killing them. Do not support this business. read more

Flying Crane Spa - Dead starfish drying out - Massage Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Amazing massage as a walk in and for the price. The massage therapist was strong yet kind.

I had a pretty awkard and unpleasant experience here. The Cashier could not speak english well enough to communicate with me on an even basic level. I was given a gift certificate as a birthday gift for an hour massage. 2 minutes into the massage they interrupt me by asking if I want to upgrade, which was fine but done so in a very strange way with google translate on a phone and the pricing menu. That was fine, just odd. The Massage itself was fine, Mediocre in comparison to the few others I'd have but nothing worth complaining about. The problem came when I tried to pay the 10 dollar upgrade, along with a 10 dollar tip. The cashier attempted to charge me full price, and acted like I never had a gift certificate. I showed her the envelope that it came with and said "I received a gift certificate, this isn't the right amount" shown on the credit card device. After a couple minutes of confusion and us trying to communicate, she tries to charge the card again. This time it was showing as a 130.00 charge to which I immediately said no this is not right. She went ahead and processed the charge anyway, and tried giving me 3 gift certificates. I did not want them, I didn't ask for them. I simply wanted to pay 20 dollars and be on my way. Another woman came in, and they both argued loudly. A 3rd came in which could speak english and I explained the situation. She called what I'm assuming is a bank, only to hang up. Finally, she handed me cash instead of refunding the card which at this point I was fine with. She slammed the cash down, cursed me I'm assuming in her native language. slammed down the receipt on the counter and pointed for me to sign. TL:DR This was the most unprofessional transaction I've ever taken part of. I've never been treated so rudely due to someone else's mistake. I'm never coming back, and don't recommend to anyone. read more

Worst massage place ever. The owner answered the phone 5x during massage and didn't make it up with extra time. Not to mention the lack of training in comparison to a real massage with a certified therapist that is aware. Went back several times for another chance and disappointed each time. 2nd time the lady didn't speak any English and had a sharp hang nail that kept scratching me. 3rd time, the masseuse had tobacco fish breath and he attempted to massage my face with smelly hands before I said please stop, no face. Did I mention the front desk staff at the Santa Cruz location is beyond rude. If I could give 0 stars I would have. read more

One of the lousiest massages ever!! Spotty work, on my upper back, not even on the muscles but on the bones. No warming up the muscles either just a bunch of pinching, clawing and digging. The worker knew nothing about anatomy or giving an integrated massage with care and intention. After 20 min it was abruptly stopped because they only took what cash i had (i was informed after i got on the table, rather than when i made my appointment). I am a massage therapist myself... I have seen this place for years and thought i would give them my business. I was needing some deep nurturing attentive bodywork.I guess you really DO get what you pay for. Feel free to give Nurturing Body Mind and Spirit a call for the real thing. one to greet me when i arrived on time for my appointment, I waited 5-10 minutes before calling them. Whoever made my appointment was remote. She directed me to go to my room down a shadowy multi-door hallway. (i refused and just called out) When we finally met i was placed in a room, disrobed and got on the table. read more

I've tried to like this place and have been 6-8 times. But I just can't take it anymore. The price is very fair and it's great not needing an appointment. But truthfully, these folks have no clue what they're doing. I can't believe they have any training and may never have actually experienced a massage. They rub bones more than muscles, they slather you with oil and then just apply fast friction in one place over and over. Only about 20% actually feels good; the rest is an endurance test. I usually leave feeling tense and beat up vs. relaxed and rejuvenated. One visit, I had a woman massaging me and was interrupted by another woman who came in to argue with her. Then the first woman left and the second started massaging me with no clue where the first had left off. And she kept the door open so I could hear a man urinating across the hall. You really do get what you pay for here. read more

I was given a gift certificate to these place and decided to go try it out. The first time I came there were no people available and the woman at front desk told me to call before coming. I called and spoke to a man and made an appointment and came at the time I was told only to find the place empty and no one available to ask. I called the number provided several times and was not able to reach anyone nor leave a message. We waited 1/2 hr and rang the front desk bell before a woman finally showed up. We were barely able to communicate with her (short lady with curly hair) who then told us we needed an appointment!!! I told her we had one so she said ok and huffed away and came back to show us in. The condition of the room was really subpar, only one of the beds was warm so my daughter was super cold the whole time. There was a funky smell on the massage room it could be from lack of ventilation and musty linen. The masseuse I had was actually pretty good (curly haired lady) but she walked away a few times to deal with people who came to the reception, she did not even add time for my massage for the time she was gone. Plus she was in a hurry to finish for the next person. The other lady who massaged my daughter did not know what she was doing, she basically followed what the woman with the curly hair told her to do the whole time. Needless to say this is a perfect example of you get what you pay for, if you can do with ratty conditions, unclean space, smelly linen and constant interruptions then the cheap price is worth it. The massage itself was good (from the lady with the curly hair) so that's the reason I gave this place a star, if it weren't for that then I'd give it minus 5! But hey it IS cheap!!! read more

The Chinese are known for strict discipline and tough love. I can say this having grown up (and been traumatized -- okay, slight exaggeration) in this environment. Once grown up and your childhood issues resolved, you can venture into a place like The Flying Crane. This is not your typical sea-of-tranquility spa with all types of high-end, expensive amenities. This is a no-nonsense, to-the-point, get in to get the knots worked out and then get yourself out type of clinic. But don't get me wrong, the Flying Crane is a very nice place to get an excellent massage. The space is pretty much one large room marked off by curtains. Open foot massage stations line one side and body massage tables (in "rooms") line the other side. The staff are friendly and, although I haven't communicated much with them, they seem to really want to help you. They wait for you afterwards with a cup of water and no one is rushing you to leave. The Chinese-style massage is focused on rubbing and kneading your muscles with strong hands and elbows. Even the female therapists use stronger force than the typical massage therapists we might be used to. After a full four months of an outrageous workload and lack of exercise and sleep, my back and shoulders were knotted up more than usual. No one could touch me without my muscles screaming in pain. I had previously had a great foot massage here, and hubby had a body massage that he appreciated, so we decided to come here again when we had the chance. For me, coming here was a last-minute, bite-the-bullet experience and my therapist probably had no idea the agony I was in. I'll need a few more appointments and a change in lifestyle before the problems go away, but I am very glad we made it as I felt much better the day after. For relaxation and real bodywork (i.e., for athletes or those with injuries), I would still recommend going to traditional spas and massage therapists, but a lot of people who, like hubby, just need a regular place to go to to relieve tension and muscle aches from daily stress will appreciate the solid, strong style offered here. I think the key word is appreciate, rather than enjoy -- but we did also enjoy it. You can also come here if you're feeling some kind of guilt or the need to be punished; The Flying Crane's tough love will leave you feeling better at a parental-approved price. ===== Tips: 1) You might as well go bare. You're just another body and they don't understand why you would be shy. 2) Lie down on top of, not underneath, the small linen on the massage table. There are little handkerchiefs to cover your private areas. Again, being shy doesn't make much sense to them. 3) Just let go. They will find all your trouble spots on their own. 4) Do not go in with make up on and perfect hair. Be prepared for the face and scalp massage -- personally, I'm not a fan, but that's just me. 5) The foot massage is indeed a great value, and a light body massage is included, but the full body massage really focuses on the body if that's what you need. read more

Stepped in and asked for cash right away. They lack communication and one of the employees seemed to be extremely rude to another employee and my partner and I. She was very rough and caused a lot more back pain than what I came in with. They made us give them a $10 tip or above even though they did not deserve it. Honestly the worst place to go and relax I would definitely not recommend. Sheets seemed dirty, so did the place and it gave a weird ambience. Save your money and save up for an actual decent massage don't waste your hard earned money here. read more

It took me a while to get up the nerve to try this, but I'm really glad I did. One reason i hesitated was that an earlier review mentioned liking the fact that they got a hug from the proprietor when they came in, and I'm not a huggy person. But if that did happen years ago, it is not part of the routine now. Peaceful, meditative surroundings; excellent massage work; no gratuitous talking ... it's not luxurious, but they get all the essentials right. Both the foot rub (includes face, scalp, shoulders, legs, arms) and full body rub are tremendous values: I have had massages that cost three times as much that were not as skillful and relaxing. I got the discount card and have been going every few weeks or so. This place is an under-utilized gem. read more

I had a great massage from Tina. She didn't speak very good English but understood the key areas I needed a little more work on. I had the 60 minute full body massage and she did a great job with deep tissue work on my back. I will be back again since I just did a walk in and did not have to schedule an appointment. The place was very clean and quiet private rooms. read more

Flying Crane Spa - Here are the rates... - Massage Near Me - Santa Cruz, California

Seems like people either love or hate this place. I am not a fan. For me, it's not good when I can't communicate what I want or don't want easily to someone who is touching my body. I've had a chair massage and a table massage, and after the table massage I won't go back. My upper back hurt for at least two days afterwards (the skin and muscles were extremely sensitive to touch) and ultimately I still had knots because I could not relax while there. I heard dogs barking from another room throughout, and whenever I winced in pain my massage therapist laughed. I tried repeatedly to talk to her but she literally understood nothing, and did not seem attentive to body language. I'll spend the money or wait a bit longer to see someone good at Well Within next time. read more

Good massage but terrible service at the front desk. You get relaxed from the massage then you get tense again if they don't think the tip is "GOOD" enough for them. Santa Cruz location has never made us feel like this. Won't be back.!!!!!!! read more

If there were an option for no stars I would've picked that! When something is too good to be true ($90 for a 2 hour massage) it usually is. Worst massage ever and they barely speak English. There is no music and through the paper thin walls you can here the music and voices of the next door bike shop. They only take cash and don't even tell you that before you get there. They have no clue how to give a massage. You might get injured here, no joke. Had to tell the woman 4 times not to be so rough!!!! read more

This is a nice cheap place to get a good massage. But don't expect a great spa like environment. I had the 1 hr foot massage and it was very relaxing read more

As some other people said, this is a very basic get-down-to-business massage place. They don't speak much English. They have a VERY fair price. But most important, these people (the two I've seen so far) have been just the most awesome massage therapists I've seen in Santa Cruz. If you want woo-woo energy work go somewhere else, this is about getting the knots out of your muscles and giving you a bit of an earned experience (that is, if you want, you'll be dealt a fair bit of pain getting from point A to point B, where point B is feeling ten years younger and completely relaxed and realizing your life is in fact amazing. What I also like, is it is a 'drop in' type place -- just drop in and usually you'll get a session going immediately, or in ten minutes. The clip-card is a good deal. 1 clip = foot massage (a totally decent massage for a ridiculously small amount of money) and 2 clip = one hour full body massage. Now that I've had the full body massage I can't go back to a mere foot massage, although that is also a complete full body treatment. One thing, like somebody said, get naked on the table. There are muscles going from your mid-back to your mid-thighs that will thank you. Don't be shy to have your glutes worked on, but also, if you are shy you might want to go somewhere else where you can communicate your shyness in English -- there wasn't a lot of verbal communication (because of the language barrier) and I like that -- nothing to get in the way of just lying there and having an incredible expert go after all the trouble that ails you. read more

This place is excellent, I have had numerous 60-minute full body massages over the past two years and I keep coming back. I wouldn't go anywhere else - most importantly because whichever massage therapist I've had, they always do a very good job. And being below the price of other places in town, $48 for 60 mins, they have my business forever. The ONLY drawback is that sometimes you can hear one of the other shops (either the pizza place or bike shop next door) playing their own music. I can easily tune it out and this is by no means Flying Crane's fault obviously. So for me personally, this place is my go-to for deep tissue massage. read more

I will never go there again. I came in with a very bad back and signed up for 2 hour massage. I was getting a great massage then Anna came into our room upset and stopped the massage after 1 1/2 hours. She got mad at the masseuse and made me really stressed out completely what a place like this is not meant to do. I complained to Judy (the owner and sister of Anna) but she was no use. I will not be back. read more

Wonderful foot massage by Sophie, which includes some leg, back, head & neck work. Late hours convenient hours. Super competitive prices w/ the option of prepaying to get a few $$ off. Going back tomorrow for another one. read more

I've gone here a few times and have had different massage therapists who have all been great. It's a wonderful place to get an affordable massage. read more

I just left the flying crane after having a horrible experience. The first person that was doing work on me was distracted and left me for a period of time only to have the guy at the front desk to do the reminder of the messaging. He was forceful, yanked the towel and pillow from my head, and when I squeezed in pain it didn't seem to faze him. After a rushed job, I tried to explain how uncomfortable the experience was only to have him slam the door as I left the place. It was my first time going to this place because I just moved to the area. I will be returning to the foot message on soquel ave. read more

Awesome! Boyfriend and I went in and did the hour long foot massage. Way more than I expected! The man that did my massage was very professional and knew what he was doing. Best way to relax after a long work week. Will definitely be back. read more

Solid well-priced foot reflexology spot. I got the combo 30-min foot 30-min body massage for $39. They charge $1 if you want to use your credit card. My masseuse did a great job finding my knots and focusing on those areas to work them out. Would def come again if I'm ever in Santa Cruz again. read more

Foot massage $25. Shared room with quite loud Asian music. I've got mixed feelings about this place. The good- This is so much more than a foot massage. The head and neck and arm massage when you first lay down are lovely. They do this while your feet soak. This all feels great except for the awkward angle of laying down flat with your feet in a bucket of water. A bit rough on the lower back. Next step is the foot massage which is pure heaven, about 20 minutes of the best massage ever. The bad- The last 20 minutes of the massage after turning over onto your stomach, and it's deep, but pretty painful. It's hard to relax cause you feel like you're gonna pull a muscle or something. Also there were some ridiculously loud women having a conversation the entire time. Shrill, loud. Not relaxing. read more

Friendly staff, clean place, but the massage could've been better. Also, I asked for a full body massage, but just got a back massage. I specifically said full body like 5 times, even pointed at my body as I said it in case they didn't understand, yet I just got a back massage. At that point I was over it, since the lady seemed tired and like she wanted to leave. I wouldn't come back. read more

Massage: Very good. Some kind of Asian massage I've never had before but included aspects of shiatsu. Not your ordinary feel-good western kind. Done by a man. I've never been massaged by a man before but always thought they might do a better job than a woman due to superior strength - it's true. He had strong hands and I enjoyed it once I got past my squeamishness about him being a man (not that I don't like men!). You may need to speak up and ask for less pressure at times. Cleanliness: Excellent Atmosphere: Good. Tasteful decor. Usual relaxing mood music. But could loose the ticking clocks. Also a timer and a phone rang but maybe that couldn't be helped. Value: Excellent. $24 for an one hour foot massage! It included the neck and arms. read more

We went for a couples massage; half feet and half body. The room was dark, quiet and neatly decorated. We undressed completely and were treated to an very different massage experience than the Swedish style that we have enjoyed in the past. Two women came in and treated us to a very robust rub. I felt we were well served and the price was reasonable. I would advise you to ask for light to moderate pressure. The English communication skills of the employees are not superlative. We agreed that we felt better after the massage than we did while enduring the process. Give it a try. read more

A very enjoyable massage at very reasonable rates. Sometimes the noise from Dominos next door can break the relaxing atmosphere, but it provides the opportunity to practice your meditation. read more

I had a one hour foot massage last night by jenny. It was great. The lady at the front desk spoke English, which is not always the case at massage businesses. The atmosphere was quiet and relaxing. I Dont live in the area but would go back next time I'm looking for a good massage read more

I had several massages there over the span of three years. I don't think I ever had the same masseuse twice. Some were really good, but others were not. I stopped going because of the staff behavior with each other. After one massage, the person at the front desk was visibly upset with the person she was talking to on the phone, and responded angrily with them. Another time, two staff were arguing with each other apparently over who was going to give me a massage. One was finishing up with someone, and the other seemed to want him to massage me. Finally, one started my massage, and then the other stepped in and continued my massage. What bothered me was their arguing with each other. Hard to relax when the staff are angry. read more

I've been here 3 times now and they're so good I'm going back today. They say they take walk-ins, but it's always better to call first. If you are like me, and want a very firm, deep massage, I think you'll be very happy here. The rates are quite reasonable. read more

My wife just went here and had a massage by a man named Wei. What she described to me sounded like a creepy near abusive experience. The body massage was very rough and at one point Wei got up on the massage table over top of my wife. Then he raised up her arms and appeared to be sniffing and blowing on them. Creepy!!! If I had been there I would have punched him. If we could give zero stars we would... read more

Very clean, quiet, dark, restful and very accommodating even though I'd changed my appointment twice in 24 hours and then arrived 30 minutes early. I got a very vigorous massage -- first one in more than 6 yrs. The masseuse was a man (technically that would be a masseur I guess) and he had to work very hard on some VERY big knots in my shoulders and back. I was a little uncomfortable at first because this was my first visit and I expected a woman would give the massage (I'm female); I should have asked. I was given a cup of water at the check out (very nice and very important to stay hydrated before and after a massage). The price was very reasonable. The reason I gave 4 instead of 5 stars is that I was told to undress except for underwear; within minutes of starting the massage, the masseur had to lower my bra straps and then unhook my bra. That felt weird since it was my first visit to this particular massage "parlor" and didn't know anything about it (I didn't even check Yelp!!!). After the massage I felt energized and yet relaxed. I live in Santa Monica but the next time I visit Santa Cruz I'll be sure to come back here for another massage read more

I had a good foot massage experience here. The woman combined some different massage techniques which impressed me. You really get a great value when you get a foot massage because they do your whole body not just your feet. I recommend being generous with tipping if you like your massage because the price is so low and it takes an hour. I am grateful to The Flying Crane because I can't afford to pay $80 - 100 for a massage. When I moved to Santa Cruz in 1987 massages were $50. and I went often. Over time like the rents the prices just kept climbing at the local Hot Tub Spas. read more

I'm not sure they are certified massage therapists. My person pressed on my bones a lot not my muscles. Pressure very weak. Dissatisfied

Great massage a reasonable price. No frills, just deep tissue work and relaxed atmosphere.

AVOID!!! Worst massage experience I have ever had. No communication at outset about what level of pressure or type of massage. Quickly ushered into smelly room with no place to put my clothes. Barking dog and loud music from adjacent business. But the worst part was the massage which was excruciatingly painful. When I asked the person to use less pressure she couldn't understand me and kept the same pressure. I eventually had to stop her. I asked to leave and she refused me I think because she didn't understand. They got the owner on the phone and she offered for someone else to finish but I was sufficiently traumatized at this point. They didn't charge me for the service I abandoned half way through. I wouldn't ever suggest this place to anyone. read more

For what it is...very good it's a massage for $24. Anyone expecting a five-star experience should pay more and go elsewhere. But if you want to take a rest and have a mediocre massage, this is great! It is next to Dominos Pizza so you can usually hear the employees partying on the other side of the wall. I recommend earplugs. And some times your therapist will take a phone call or two during your massage...but again...$24. read more