This place used to be the bomb 3+ years ago. Recently it's become a sad excuse for a relaxing getaway. The main reason is the cell phones in each sauna. Spa Castle needs to implement a no cell phone rule because it shouldn't be my job to tell people to lower their phone because they're too rude to know it's not the right thing to do. Overcrowding is another issue. The price recently went up and now it's just not worth it. The food is horrible and wayyyyy too expensive. If you go, go on a weekday when it's quieter, bring ear plugs, and eat before you go. read more

I've been wanting to go for a year now- Why go to spa castle? -To soak outside in a giant hot-tub in winter and look up at LED lights play against a starry night. -To do this after enjoying 2 swim up blended rum drinks. -To lay on woven mats in a hot jade encrusted sauna. -To enjoy glass tiled jetted underwater chairs Tips -In the winter, spend 4 dollars and rent a white robe for coming to and from the frosty outside pools. - Don't get too frisky or a Korean employee will come put the block on you (we saw a couple get told off- which was awkward but it was done in a non judgmental efficient manner) -Take any self medicating substances before you arrive, there is a security checkpoint. read more

The facility was nice and considered clean. BUT DON'T EXPECT ANY HELP FROM THE WORKERs THERE! Most of the Korean workers don't comprehend English, and you won't be able to communicate with them. When you finally find someone who can speak English, they will tell you that they can't leave their working spot, so you need to go and ask another person for help. I was in the outside pool to enjoy some hydro-massage (even though I don't know how to swim). Unfortunately, I lost my balance when the water suddenly rushed through while I walking. So my glasses fell, and god knows where it went. When I asked the staff for help and explained that I can't swim, he kept on telling me there's nothing he can do about it. Just kept on repeating the water isn't that deep (4ft)...you can dive in and look for the glasses yourself. WHAT A GREAT SERVICE AND ADVICE THE STAFF OFFERS! Thank god I didn't drown or anything. Otherwise, I will dead in the pool and no one would have cared. read more

One of a kind spa which used to be a water paradise! However the servicing and pricing has put a lot of questioning into whether you should come or not. With the history (death of customer) and lack of sales, one would assume they would drop prices to promote sales and increase revenue but they do the exact opposite! Enough about the pricing and service! The indoors are actually very nice, locker rooms are clean and have all the amenities. Water seems to be clean and not contaminated all about the facility. Their food/dessert is also very tasty(still pricy though) Potentially youre looking to drop about 100$ if you stay a full day! This spa however is far more superior compared to other spas in terms of luxury/food/size/options. read more

I'm not a fan of Spa Castle for several reasons: 1) The staff are pretty rude. Towards closing time, the women were being screamed at like cattle. I know it's late, but some respect and courtesy would be nice. 2) The cost is so expensive, $45 when I went. There is a similar place in Palisades, NJ for $30. 3) It felt too large and commercialized. This is supposed to be a health place, and they are selling such unhealthy deep fried food! What an oxymoron! But the upside: 1) It's large and there is a lot to do - i.e., go into the different igloos and get very hot and sweat! 2) Spas are fun in general, great for groups of friends. I would rather drive to NJ then to College Point, but then I'm just a spa snob. I like a more relaxed place, less chaotic. read more

Situation: Went with my companion to unwind as we were both stressing from work. This was my first spa experience and I really enjoyed it! Felt very calm and relaxed afterwards. PROS -They often have good deals online e.g. Living Social, Groupon, so make sure you check before you go--we were supposed to pay the weekend rate of $50.00/ticket but he found a deal on Living Social for $25.00, woo hoo! -They have clean facilities and many different saunas (I liked going from the very hot ones to the very cold ones and meditating in the "heated relaxing room" in the women's changing room. -They discourage PDA, and while I can see how this may be slightly frustrating for couples, it was very considerate in keeping nauseating distractions to a minimum. -Interesting tech: you wear "keys" which are basically watches that you can use to get into your locker and pay for add-ons e.g. food, bathing suit rental, etc. so that you can be hands free while you're in the spa. CONS -If you go during peak times you'll have to wait a while to get in. -It's hard to enjoy the spa when it starts getting too crowded. -If you're uncomfortable being in the nude or seeing others in the nude, stay away. Also saw some seriously hairy guys (think gorilla fur). -The food is expensive (you pay per pound and the plates are already heavy to begin with). -Massages are not included with general admission and they are pricey to add on. -They make you wear these ugly uniforms on all the floors except the outdoor pools. Make sure you bring a bathing suit (I didn't and had to rent one which was way too big for me). In a nutshell... Go if you want to try a bath-house experience and don't want to break the bank. I don't plan on going back frequently, but I'm glad that I went at least once. read more

My first spa experience was a successful one thanks to Jando and a fantastic YEE. When I first heard of "Spa Castle" I was so intrigued. I thought to myself.... "Does it really look like castle? Do they have a moat? Do people dress up in medieval attire?" Alas, they do not have these things (with the somewhat exception of #1) HOWEVER they do have amenities that will ease any stress you may have. It's funny because I would think anything in a castle would be old fashioned but on the contrary they're pretty high-tech. They give you watches that make you look like a stealthy secret agent and they give you access to the facilities around the place. Upon entry, the staff will explain the different levels and what you'll find on each one. Make your way into the locker rooms, get changed and you're ready to go! They have heated outdoor pools, jacuzzis, heat rooms to dry off, bars/seating within pools, bubbly-jet goodness and more. They serve plenty of food (and bubble tea!) throughout the facility, but don't go too crazy and then race laps. One of my favorite features had to be the saunas. These mosaic masterpieces range from 99 (lowest) to 187 (highest). You bet I tried both... that 187 is a doozie. But they have the cool "ice" room to ease the temps a bit. If you're looking for a ultimate relaxing experience and don't mind dropping some cash, go to Spa Castle. Definitely come prepared with a towel, bathing suit and any other necessities you may think you'll need. (i.e. shampoo/cond/body wash) If you have any questions, feel free to ask they staff. They were extremely friendly and accommodating! Next time I come, I plan on spending alllllll day here. No joke. With all they have here, you can realistically do just that. read more

I finally got a chance to go to Spa Castle during this past holiday break. I went to the spa with my boyfriend and his guyfriends. We went on a Thursday, so the price was $35 for weekdays instead of $45 for weekends. I wish the admission price is a little cheaper and they offer some kind of discounts for students, military, etc. =P I heard weekends have more people but it seems like the Thursday we went was pretty crowded too. Spa Castle provides free shuttle (I think it runs every 30 minutes) so check their website or call the place up for more information. As soon as we paid our admission fee, we each receive a wristband. The wristband is to be worn all the time since it is use to open your shoe and clothing lockers as well purchasing things. I separated with my boyfriend and his guyfriends for a while as I had to go to the female locker... I'm sure both lockers are similar to what I'm going to say. =P As I enter the locker room, electronic lockers are on your left side. You will also receive a uniform which you wear when you go upstair to the co-ed facilities such as the saunas, pools, relaxing room, massages, etc. Private baths are located only in the lockers. For the private baths you cannot wear any clothings or swimwears... There is a person at the entrance of the bath and she, if you're in the female locker or he, if you're in the male locker will tell you to strip down. =P Everywhere you go is barefoot. Anways, I didn't go to the baths because it wasn't my thing. However, the damn shower area and the private baths are in the same location, sooooo yeah. At first it was awkward but then it didn't matter anymore. =P My boyfriend and his guyfriends stated they enjoyed the private baths. The co-ed facilities was pretty cool. The first level included 7 themed sauna rooms. 1) Gold, 2) Mineral Salt, 3) Iceland, 4) Jade, 5) Loess Soil, 6) L.E.D, and 7) Far Infrared Ray. I tried all the sauna rooms... However, I really like the hot saunas so my favorites were Loess Soil, Mineral Salt, Jade, and Gold. I definitely sweated a lot in those room and I felt great! =D I didn't really go to the Mezzanine area which is the Relaxing room or I call it the wasting time room where people lie on lounge chairs and watch TV... I mean why? Why waste the money to do that when you can do that free at home! =P Second floor is the bade pools, indoor and outdoor. I didn't really hang around the inside too much. The day I went was pretty chilly but I still went to the outdoor pool anyways. Some pools are okay temperatures while some are a little hotter. For me though, none of them were hot enough so I thought the pools were okay. I think I would enjoy it better if... A) I was in a tropical location, B) Less people in the damn pools, especially in the smaller pools like ughhh c'mon, and C) Hotter water please. I didn't go to the third floor. I think it was the gym center and more massage rooms. I give Spa Castle 4 stars. I guess the spa was not what I had imagine it would be and not wallet friendly, at least for me. The spa was a bit crowded, especially families. I like kids but it's a place to relax so I want to relax... How am I suppose to do that with kids screaming and running around... Yeah I don't think so! But I was able to kind of push that aside somewhat. =P Honestly, I liked the saunas the best. Maybe when the weather is warmer, I might enjoy the outdoor pools better. Would I go back? Yeah I probably would go back again. If I do I will definitely be there at least half a day or longer to make that money worths. =P read more

I couldn't put half a star so had no choice but to give them 1 star. Wanna relax? Want a getaway from the kiddies? Want peace? Stay home. You're better off. Trust me. read more

Spa Castle CAN BE amazing, but it can also be a nightmare. Basically, the 2 biggest things you need to know are: 1. For the best experience, come early on a weekday. SKIP THE WEEKENDS here, or you greatly increase the chance of having your relaxation ruined by screaming kids running around, and "adults" who are Proud To Be Too Loud. 2. Eat before you come, everything is expensive. Also, my girlfriend and I got a couples massage, which was indescribably wonderful. If you're there, and Connie is available, BOOK HER, she's incredible. read more

I don't write reviews often, but feel compelled to this time. I've been to spa castle with my family many times including kids (well behaved) as young as 6. I found it to be clean and civil every time. I don't know where the Post got its information from, but I have NEVER seen folks going at it the way they describe. In fact, it almost smells like a smear campaign to me. I wonder if some over zealous reporter didn't show up there one Sunday Morning with his/her rowdy after-hours friends just for the photo op. Seriously. VERY undeserved and I hope the folks at Spa Castle survive these attacks. Yes, the food and drinks are exorbitantly priced, and yes these folks are all about rules, rules, rules (see honest negative reviews before the smear campaign) but they run a clean, quiet, pristine Korean spa experience. read more

We took an Uber from the bronx to the castle literally 25 minutes away. We went celebrating our 10years married anniversary. It was great!! amazing customer services and food. I might add it was a tad bit expensive even with a Groupon but well worth it. Locker rooms were great. Saunas were interesting. Chilly cheese sandwich was to die for ! (Don't get the weighed food the plate weighs 5lbs alone and they charge you for it ) aside from that great experience and I would return again . read more

I came here on 2/5 and new york got hit hard with ice storm. I was crossing my fingers and hope not that many people there. No...I was wrong. I guess this place so attract for people to come here no matter what. But, the weekday crowds make me relax as well b/c not that many kids. I think I saw not more than 5 kids. That is good...~~ I don't want any kids fighting outdoor pool with me. Ha~~ Food: way too pricey. The salad bar is small and not that many variety. Fruit only: $10 per lb Mix: $12 per lb. I had lunch bento box. $15 , awful...awful.. I should have choose Korean food since it's own by Korean people and it shouldn't go wrong with their own food. Eat your lunch / dinner before you come here. Well, at least one hour before come here. So you can enjoy lay down in those hot sauna rooms and feel good about it. Smoothies: $6 each. My gosh, it's kind of small. Shaved Ice: $12 Water bottle (in spa castle) : $2. Vitamin Water: $2.5 Gatorade: $2.5 Bring your empty bottles. They have a water fountain by the entrance of private showers Towels : Bring your own "home" / "big" towels. Big towels : $2 per each at spa castle. Their white small towels are very small and you have to get a lot of them to wipe your body after showers. facial moisture cream: bring your own. I don't theirs. Hair Brush: I don't think you want to share with other people. Shampoo/ Conditioner/ Body Wash: they have there. Don't need to bring any. Parking: Valet Parking (free !!!) until midnight. It's up to you if you want to tip them or not. Overall, i enjoy relax here. I will purchase more discount tickets at this year's korean fare. Save me some $$$...:) read more

The Spa Castle was.... AMAZING! Went here for New Year's Day and was 100% impressed by their facility. The discomfort of being nude totally eases off within 5 minutes of showering, chillin' in the saunas(wet/dry) cold baths, chilled baths, event baths, bathroom sections, etc. all located on the 1st floor - which is same sex. Afterwards, we hit the Sauna Valley all up on the floor above it - which featured Saunas of all kinds - Infrared, Mineral, Salt, Gold, etc. And when they say Mineral.. it's LITERALLY room made of salt bricks and lined with minerals, same for Gold, same for Infrared - Everything is super legit. They have fresh pure-air dispensers all throughout the entire castle which makes it real nice to breathe easy. They are very temperature-conscious - it's never too hot or cold in any general common area. The pools upstairs were pretty cool - they weren't deep enough to be swimming pools. They were more like little trenches and whirlpools of heated, steaming goodness; Which worked out great because it was really cold outside. At night the lighting adds a nice touch. Now, here's where the REAL awesomeness sets in... and that is in "Avenue S", their VIP Private Spa room. These special treatments are NOT included with General Admission, and are actually a bit pricey.... but MAN is it worth it! The experience as soon as you enter your cozy, private little get-away is truly amazing. You're greeted by very knowledgeable and courteous staff who asks you to choose your preferred tea. Then you're escorted into the Private massage room, where your tea of choice and a light chocolate biscuit is waiting for you. They leave you alone with mood-music to delay gratification and increase anticipation... and boy do they deliver! Punctual arrival by the massage ladies, who were kind but also very professional and down-to-business. I got the Bodyglow Aroma Oil (lavender oil rubdown) Massage, and a Honeymilk body wrap... Each session lasted 45 minutes for a total of 90 minutes. 90 minutes. of Pure. Bliss! CONS: The general staff in the common areas kinda suck. They're always texting and talking amongst themselves before attending you. And also, they could have improved on briefing you about how to get started with the watches and lockers to eliminate all the guess work. But these minor cons are heavily out weighted by the Pros! Highly recommended! Get down to the Spa Castle! Bring your girlfriend, friends, family, whatever. Would even make an awesome family (mother's day) or Client gift experience. read more

This is a Korean "Jjim jil bang" which is basically a spa/sauna, Korean style. It's a gorgeous facility and it has multiple levels. It's relatively new in the area, and is a great way to relax and rejuvenate. Yes, it is very "Korean" but I saw quite a few non-Koreans enjoying the facility. If you go to their website you can see many photos of their pools, common areas, baths, and many other services. The entrance fee was $30 for adults and you can use the wristband they give you to open the very clean very modern lockers for your shoes and clothes, and also to keep a tab of all the additional services, food, and whatever else. It's all very hi-tech and very clean. The sauna rooms were very spacious and well-kept, and there were plenty of nice tables and chairs for eating, and lots of comfy chairs for lounging, sleeping, and watching TV. The pool areas were roomy, clean, and just enticing. The men's bath and shower area was very clean and just a pleasure to be in. They gave soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, shaving cream, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and various grooming products. I've been to Korean bath houses or spas/saunas in LA Ktown and this definitely rivals or is just as good if not better than the ones there. Overall a good experience. I would totally bring my mom or even my non-Korean friends. They would thoroughly enjoy it. read more

I was debating between 3 and 4 stars and just rounded up... It is definitely an experience to share with your friend(s) at least once, so for that fact, 4 shining stars~~~ Travel: somewhat convenient if you can get your butt to Flushing's The One Hotel. The shuttle leaves 10 and 40 of the hour to head to the spa. (i forgot the return time, 15 and 45 of the hour?) Otherwise, it's not too complicated of a drive. Spa Castle's hours are pretty long (up to 12am?) so it's pretty much available all day all yr 'round. Price: if you get lucky with Groupon and Living Social, you can find discounts at $20~$25 for wkday visits and +$10 for wknd. Otherwise, the regular full price is enough to limit my visit frequency... plus how much everything else costs once you get INSIDE O_O Pool: um, almost always full, and pretty warm in temperature. Not sure if this is normal, or just due to the amount of ppl in the pool. There are various jets and water massage mechanisms if you catch a courteous bunch that's good on turn-taking. Otherwise, just try out some other stuff and come back later :) Saunas: this is probably the only reason i come or would return. there are about 5-6 dome shaped sauna rooms on the second floor, between the temps of 130~180+ degrees Fahrenheit. They each serve different purposes and consists of different... "ingredients"? I honestly wouldn't recommend anyone try to sweat it out for more than 15 mins in either of these bad boys, and I would recommend starting with the "coolest" (ha! "cool" used loosely here) and up to the scary Loess Soil Room. If you had not done any of the massages or reflexology treatments, you should close your pores in the end of your sauna trip in the ice room. Otherwise, maybe skip the ice and try to cool off another way so you don't counteract the massage effect. Massages + Food: if you're celebrating a special occasion with special person(s), then give them a try. Otherwise, if this is just part of your plans of the day, then def eat somewhere else and go to Flushing for good and cheap massages! ** What to bring: money or card, bathing suit, no food or drinks, comfty shoes and clothing (for removal in the locker rooms!), people you see yourself spending 6+ hrs with *** new rule effective whenever: no PDA allowed xD such as hugging and kissing... cuz Spa Castle is a family-friendly environment. But we still saw couples on top of each other and shiz... haha! read more

ok...so i FINALLY checked this place out. I'm not a huge fan of sauna's...i feel like my mom took me to them a lot when I was younger. The whole nudity thing really puts me off, but just to know that they had co-ed facilities w/ a uniform pushed me to come here w/ my bf. We booked a couples massage and manicure and was on our way over. First off, there was no parking. Granted we arrived around 3:30 on a sunday, even the valet was full!! So we kind of had to stalk ppl on their way out. So fine, we park and head in...at first u say wow, $45, what a deal~ doesn't see too bad!! (yea, and then add on 2 massages, mani, food, drinks = $300+ additional...so yea ~ a little over $400 for 2) I knew my bf would be confused upon entering the locker room and sure enough he jammed his bag into the tiny shoe locker!!! (def. made me laugh) Ok, so they give you a uniform after you wander inside...i mean...i went all the way to my big locker and had to venture out to look for this uniform. Anyways, i changed and jumped upstairs to meet him bc I knew he would be TOTALLY lost. So yea, as soon as I go up, I see him coming up the stairs as well, and he's still in his clothing we walked in with. (he's obviously never been to a spa like this!!) So i just start cracking up and tell him he needs to put the uniform on even though we're going up to the pool area. We were thoroughly impressed with the pool area. Of course it's not like a leisure swimming pool. There were jets and waterfalls, and wading pools. We got a kick out of how many people fit in the pink hot tub. Wish we got here earlier so we could lay out on the limited # of chairs there. The rest of the place is kind of lethargic. Most of the huts (heated rooms) were too hot to stay in for long. And the ice room was just like leaky (i think the door was just being opened too much) Food is mediocre...and the buffet part is WAY overpriced. We got the soon-du-bu and galbi...which tasted decent. But $15 for a few pieces of fruit downstairs?? RIP OFF CITY! damn!!!!! Now on to the "swedish massage". My bf's shoulder is still f*ed up from the massage. We've had massages in other spa's before and the feeling you have leaving one of those massages and the massage @ spa castle are different as night as day. You want them to hurry bc you are either in pain, or just not enjoying or relaxing. At the end of the massage they sit u up and like pull ur arms back. I swear i saw her put her foot on my bf's back and pull his arms back and he was def in agonizing pain. He says if he sees her in the street, he'd punch her in the face. Needless to say, never again! They need to be trained on how to give massages, for the price i'm sure they can afford some classes!!! Mani was your typical mani...not a huge selection of polish. So, we'd go back, but just the basic $45 package. The naked spa part in the locker room def. freaked me out a bit bc i'm only used to seeing naked asian women. I guess the diversity kind of caught me off guard. w/e not a big deal. read more

Wahhh..... Ok, enough of the whining and crying. Read the reviews before you go so you aren't surprised by what this place offers. Yes, the scrubs hurt. But you get glowing skin after! Yes, the shiatsu is supposed to bring tears to your eyes. Yes, you should be naked in the gender-specific bath areas. Nobody is looking at you. Puh-leez... vain. Yes, folks are right. Bring a big towel if you want, bring a water bottle, etc. They give you toothbrush, shampoo, soap, etc. Yes, its like $3-$5 in Korea, but we are not in Korea! Yes, it is a cultural thing. Deal with it and learn or stay home :) And no, it's not for everyone... In Korea, these bath houses are common. I grew up going to one myself as a kid so I frequent King Sauna in Jersey. However, this past Friday was my very first trip to Spa Castle. I took my very apprehensive husband, bribing him with the awesome outdoor heated pools to swim in and snacks like baked eggs and paht-bing-soo (shaved ice, fruit, ice cream, red bean, rice cakes, yumminess)! EVERYONE loves these... We parked, walked in, paid $35 per person, got our uniforms, changed and met in the 1st floor by 10 a.m. I like the locker system better than manual key system. It's easier and it's like a watch! After a quick "tour" then went up to the top floor to eat breakfast. We split an order of kimchi jigae ($10) and baked eggs (3 for $2)! My husband liked the abundance of pork in the soup and I savored the eggs which are browned from the baking :) Soup was mediocre. We then waltzed down a level to the outdoor heated pools with all the various jet streams to massage all parts of your body! We loved the "seats" built in the pools best! It was cold out, but sunny and the pool was heated nicely. The hot tub was a nice soak before heading back in... After we got out of our suits, we hit the snack bar. We got a shrimp dumpling (do not get, its WAY over-priced and not good), a corn dog and a shrimp noodle bowl. It was definitely over-priced but a treat for us on this mini-vacation. With our full bellies, we tried the dry sauna rooms. We visited every one to feel the different temperatures and "effect" like gold, salt, sauna, jade, etc. We spent some time in the salt one and jade one. To cool off after sweating it out in the saunas, we got our paht-bing-soo. It was $12 but really big and so good! They didnt skimp on the ingredients and we really enjoyed it. At this time, we had booked a swedish massage for him and a body scrub for me in the women's bath area. My husband said it was a really good massage and he would do it again. After I soaked in the hot tubs for 30 min, I was scrubbed from head to toe. I LOVED my scrub. I always do... after the scrub, she gave me a mini-facial and washed my hair. NOTE: they will go there and everywhere so don't do this if you are shy. It's like a longer bikini wax session in a way? Dont' say I didn't warn ya... Best part was that we went when there was no crowd. In fact, toward the end of our day is when it started getting busier. I highly recommend weekday visit and going earlier in the day. $265 and almost 7 hours later, we left clean, polished, relaxed, full and happy. read more

My wife and I have 3 screaming children. We love this place because it reminds us of Times Square, but where everybody is naked and wet with their screaming wet children. This is our story: I love this place! I was able to bring my three screaming children here, and let them run about the entire complex, without any restraint or adult supervision, with hundreds of other children. It's so hard to find time to catch up with my friends, but at Spa Castle, we can let the little ones free while we get some "me" time. I'll sit down with my friends and order the amusement-park-priced food, while the kids play hide and go seek in the saunas. It's so cute! They open the doors every 3 minutes to hide from their friends, knock on the windows, and scream like subway cars that haven't had a brake change in 2 years. I think this tends to let the heat out of the saunas. And I wonder how the people inside can possibly ignore the ruckus. But that's not my problem, is it? I mean, they should go some place quiet if they want to relax. Like a library. "Sauna" Floor: Speaking of, there are only 5-6 small sauna rooms, with space for eight people at most. I wonder why someone would come here (without their kids), just to wait in line to lie down in a hot room? The line out the front door was already 30 minutes - why wait in more lines? Some crazy fools in here... Pool Floor: This is where things get *really* rowdy. Once our kids get tired of letting all the hot air out of the saunas, we send them on up to the pool floor. Here, then can wrestle with each other and splash and bump into everyone around them, in the outdoor pool and the indoor pools. It's so cute, they even throw french fries in the water and wash their forks off. I hope they chlorinate! The adults congregate in two outdoor hot tubs, and awkwardly try not to touch the feet of strangers, in these shallow, small circles. I feel so bad for them, especially the couples trying hard to make that $45/per person feel romantic. I wanted to say to them, "You can! If you close your eyes and wear ear plugs, and forget that you keep brushing somebody else's hairy toes!" Locker / Separate-sex Floor: Aha! So this is where all the other adults are! I knew the child-to-adult ratio was third-world on the upper floors! Here I found the typical showers, hot/cold pools, steam rooms, etc that Korean spas are known for. I hope my kids were ok while I was down here. I heard dim screaming on the upper floors while I had some moments of relaxation. Other Amenities: I couldn't find towels to dry off, so I used a T-shirt. The T-shirt was actually quite useful, because they didn't have any medium outfits, so I had to wear a size two-times larger. This extra surface area helped me dry off. It also made me pull up my shorts the entire time I was there, which is like exercising for free! And adds to my "cool" look by saggin' my shorts. Why one star? I give one star for making us see people who were trying to relax!! *WHY* on earth would you try to do that, here? I'd recommend SpaWorld in the K-town-ish suburbs area of Washington DC, in Virginia. Or any other traditional jimjilbang, like they have in Korea. In fact any spa anywhere. But don't come to my special Times Square Wet & Naked, trying to ruin some good family chaos, mkay? I suppose for those suckers, the silver lining is that Flushing is full of amazing Korean BBQ's which could almost erase the memory of a spa disaster. If you simply can't resist coming, despite my review, here are some tips: - They checked our bags coming in. Luckily I discretely brought in a couple snacks, saving us the expensive food. - The above advice has an amazing benefit at checkout, which was JUST AS LONG as the line to come in. Spend no money inside, and you can leave quickly. - We brought our own towels, but didn't absolutely need them. Provided towels are very small. Your choice. - At $45 dollars, we didn't feel completely ripped off. But we would certainly never come here again, unless to make a case for our continued deferment of parenthood. read more

Spa Castle - Every single picture of Spa Castle empty is misleading. This picture, the tribe of screaming children, is the truth. - Massage Near Me - College Point, New York

Very clean! Which I was happy about because they do not allow you to wear shoes at all... the pools are very clean as well. I would not suggest going here during high peak times.. WAYYY too crowded. When it's not so busy it is a very peaceful environment. I always come here to let off some steam and just relax. I love the hydro therapy jets in the pools indoor and outdoor. The saunas are also a major plus! So many to choose from and they tell you all of the benefits of each sauna. The food is also decent as well.. the only complaint that I have is the prices. The admission is already pricey and it doesn't include a massage or anything else. You get charged up for any other purchase that you make inside... and it can add up! If you're looking to spend a little money but be relaxed, this is the place to go. read more

I think this place gets such high reviews because of the ambiance because if you don't plan on spending money, all your getting out of spa castle is unlimited access to pools and saunas ($35). Everything else from massage to food costs extra. So you walk in, pay, and then get changed into this outfit that they give you for the day..but you put you bathing suit under the uniform. For girls the uniform is pink and Orange, and for guys it's light blue and dark blue. You keep all your belongings in a locker with a provided lock, but there's no privacy to change. In the women's locker room there is an indoor nude pool -_- ( your required to shower before you get in (also naked)). After your all dressed you go upstairs and there's a bunch of saunas, massage chairs, heated floors, seating areas, and a cafe with food. There are also private enclosed areas where you can pay for various spa treatments. The food here is crazy overpriced and not good at all , but i can say they have THE BEST coconut bubble tea I've ever tasted. There's also a third floor. The the third floor has the pools. There's indoor and outdoor pools, that are heated, and have jets. The pools are pools; nothing different or special about them then any other swimming pool. I hear they look really nice at night when they are all lit up. Spa castle is a nice, fairly inexpensive place to come to for a day if you want to get away from the world for a few hours, and just relax with some friends and enjoy the atmosphere. read more

Only two stars just for the fact that the chicken fingers were the ONLY thing that was pleasant. Horrible experience from minute of arrival. Rude non English speaking workers on every corner. Nobody was friendly enough to spend time with me and my friend to explain what amenities and where everything was located within the spa. Me and my friend tried to ignore all of this and continued with her our day, hoping our TWO massages we had booked would be a relaxing experience. BOY WERE WE WRONG. The massage was NOT pleasant. It was painful, and we both could not wait for the hour to be over. Then we went to get our feet massaged, (dumb on our parts, should of just left, but we desperately wanted to like this place especially paying 100 on admission fees). THE FOOT MASSAGE WAS ABS WORSE!!!! He hurt me and my friend so bad. Dug into our feet.. So we both said please don't do that it hurts and he laughed! And continued with the same strength. He kept getting up, did not get full 30 minutes. At the end, we asked to speak to the GM. And it was a horrible experience. He basically laughed at us in front of all the other guests. He didn't do anything. Horrible. They should care about each and every customer. I understand they have many others that will replace unhappy ones, but eventually their reputation will fall.. Based on the other reviews. ALL IN ALL don't spend your money here! Not worth it. Go have a nice day in the city instead. read more

Never AGAIN!!. It was my first time at Spa Castle, i was so excited to go there because i`ve always wanted to visit and enjoy a spa day. My friend and i arrived to an unfriendly host who gave us a watch and didn't explain anything to us or ask us if we had any questions, When my friend and i got to the locker room the attendant was very rude and yelled at me for not following direction( that no one told us about) Long story short i had high expectation for this location but instead the people that worked there was rude, the food is overpriced, the locker room is full of naked females of all ages which i think is inappropriate for children, not enough things to do for such a pricey entrance fee. i would avoid this location until they make some changes. read more

I am giving this place a 2 star review because it has "potential" for being a better place. I will start off by saying I am not going back again. i have a very big problem with nude people running around and sitting in the pools. The spa doesn't allow you to wear a swimming suit if you want to use the pools inside the bathroom which is ridiculous! Do you know how many diseases you can catch from that? I was forced to see an overload of vaginas that I most certainly did not want to see. The "Pools" are not pools at all, they are about 2.5ft deep and you are not allowed to swim in them, they are suppose to be for relaxing. They have this stupid stupid stupid thing of making you wear a uniform to go around the spa and even in the sauna rooms! who the hell sits in a sauna room with shorts and a t-shirt? what is wrong with you people?! Monday is my only day off and I though I could go and relax but no, I had to hear kids screaming, annoying guests talking in the quite rooms and various vaginas that I sure as hell did not want to see. The place has potential because if they change their stupid rules about nudity and wearing a uniform and kick out some ridiculously loud obnoxious crowds then maybe they can be a real spa, but for now this is a zoo.... read more

Well this is how my experience went. We first got there and went to valet parking which was great, because you don't pay a fee, you just tip the guys. We enter the facility and with ease check in was a breeze. They explained a few things to us, also let us know we didn't not need our cards, or cash until when we are about the check out which was great. Me and my girlfriend booked a couples massage, which was amazing but it seem to be less then 60 mins, I think they start the time from the moment you walk in. Afterwards we got hungry and went to get a bite to eat. The drinks was awesome as well. I recommend the circoc punch!!! But afterwards we want to go to the pool and it was extremely full with little kids, they should have a family section and a adult section. We just wanted to relax, and enjoy a little time in the pool. We got sleepy, so we decided to go to the sleep room, which in my judgment it was just to hot in there. I could not even get to rest a few mins. I got thirsty so I wanted to try a fresh squeeze juice. When I get to the counter the lady tells me the power is off so she can't make anything. I didn't really understand this until later.... It was weird because everything else had power. So I didn't get my juice. Now to my favor part, the sauna!!! Amazing rooms, they had about 7 rooms, and a ice room. All different types of temperatures. Of course me I love to sweat so I said bring it on! It came time to use to start getting ready to leave, when I head down to the locker room they once again say they have no power so the showers don't work....wtf??? What does shower has to do with power? Water usually works through pressure. I asked over and over to let me take a cold shower that I had an event to go to. He just kept saying I can't, the manager said no. Not only was I upset but hundreds of other customers, and my girlfriend as well. Mind you i was extremely sweaty from the sauna but I couldnt leave like this to go to the next engagement that I had. I got upset and booked a 4 hour hotel, had to spend more money because they don't have back up generators for moments like this. So because I had to spend more money I give this place 2 stars. read more

I've heard my NYC friends raved about this place so I decided to make a trip from Philly for it last Friday. 1. No-show Shuttle service: My girlfriend and I arrived at the shuttle pick up location at the pick up time on schedule in 100 degree heat and there was no shuttle in sight. We were not sure if it had left early or was never there. Calling the spa got us no answer. Luckily, one of our friends in Queens was kind enough to pick us up. 2.Extremely crowded in the pool with rude and inconsiderate people: We didn't expect it would be so crowded on a weekday. Almost all the jets in the pool were occupied and people were very rude. We were standing in front of them waitig and the jets stopped and they just looked us in the eye and push the button to restart it again. I only got to try 3 of the jets in the pool and I think I would have greatly enjoyed it if I could had gone through everything once. 3. Screaming kids: I have to say, I am skeeved about going into pools with kids and it's definitely not the most relaxing environment 4. Food was good. My friends' salad bar food looks great and my sushi tastes great, too. Only a small complaint about the way food was ordered. They could have seperated the order line from the pick up. All these people have already ordered their food and was just waiting to pick up were mixed up in the line waiting to order. Guess it's only a problem when it's crowded. 5.Air conditioning not working? I undersand the floor with the saunas would be hot. But does the locker room had to be so hot too? Took a shower and by the time we were walking out we were totally soaked again. Overall, it would be great if they could have one adult only day in the week. I would take off from work for it. Also there should be rules about sharing like in the gym, when there is a line waiting, there should be a limit on time at each machine/jet/seat. Not totally writing the place off yet. Some reviewer said to go there late to avoid the crowd. How late is late? read more

For a guy, those little day spas in Manhattan aren't really an option for me. I don't like to sit in a lounge chair with a mud mask and cucumber slices in my eyes while my toenails are getting filed down. Then I have to walk out within 3 hours for over $200? Not for me. That's why Spa Castle is perfect for me because for about $75 I have enough things to do under one roof to make a day of it. I can soak in the male only pools, sweat with the oldies in the saunas, catch some rays in the outside pools, and grab some decent food at meal time. If I just had a really rough day playing football the day before, I can get a decently priced massage to work out the kinks. Tip: The kids start to take over the place after lunch time on weekends and on school holidays. If you don't like crowds, take your vacation day strategically. read more

first time going used a 25 dollar groupon voucher. i went for my birthday. here's a list of pros and cons pros theres a locker for your shoes and a separate one for your stuff which calls for a very sterile floor (but i said FLOOR) theres a watch you wear where you can open your locker with and you can order your drinks and food the pools are generally clean and the sauna rooms are great theres one for detoxification, and and ice room to close your pores the food and drinks are good cons the staff is just ok i wouldnt say they are very friendly or accommodating with the exception of a few people the girl at the front desk, the lady who serves drinks and the crepe girl and about 2 lifeguard everyone else was just acting like they wanted the day to just go by and treating everyone like herds of cows. the pools have sooooo much chlorine it was so bad that my husband and i broke out with rashes all over us the food is expensive portions are small and they check your bag for food before entering. small drink alcoholic start at 16 and for a small cup and regular juice is 9 bucks food is like 15 and up. read more

Spa Castle - the rash we got from having way too much chlorine in the pools - Massage Near Me - College Point, New York

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My kids and I visited Spa Castle in queens NY today and the experience started off ok until we ordered lunch. My daughter ordered Ramen Noodles and found a bug in the soup after eating half of the soup. I complained to the chef and she tried to say the bug was lettuce. and asked for the other half of the soup back. After some back and forth she credited me half of the soup. I have never heard of anything so ridiculous. When I went to the front desk the manager said that it was an open establishment so bugs can make their way into the food as if this explanation in any way was acceptable. as we looked around at the windows we saw several bugs crawling on both the inside and outside of the area we were eating. I am extremely disappointed in the poor level of customer service and sanatary issues at this establishment. this was the first time in about 10 years since I visited last and I will make this the last! SPA Castle is not what it use to be and I cant express how disappointed I am with this disgusting establishment. Visit at your own peril!!!! read more

So after hearing all my friends talk about their pleasant experience there I decided to try it out with my girlfriend after a lot of convincing from her. My overall experience was okay, I wasn't exactly exhilarated about going so yep. Without further ado I here we go. While checking in we were offered the wristband to purchase drinks. Great idea right? Should make the experience more enjoyable a little bit buzzed, but wait there are restrictions. You're only allowed 3 drinks per wristband and each drink is almost 15 dollars each so if you do the math you basically paid for your admission from 3 drinks. I'd also like to add that food is grossly overpriced but its should be expected from your typical establishment. Onto the Spa part, from the moment we split up we saw signs plastered all over the walls saying that no public displays of affection whatsoever. Oh and lots of full nudity so if this is not your thing I mean you're going to want to leave. Aside from that there are numerous saunas all with varying temperatures.and the pools are the floor above the saunas. Everything is packed to the brim, I mean literally the hot tub felt like a bathtub with 9 other people. It's not a pleasant feeling All in all I really feel like there are better alternatives instead of this place. read more

I LOVE YOU SPA CASTLE. I talk about Spa Castle every single day since I last went two weeks ago. Only con I can think of is the trek out there. $35 is definitely worth it to use the Woman's baths, outdoor heated pools and the various steam rooms. Everything is amazingly clean considering how huge the place is. I love the fact that I can eat Bi Bim Bap without my shoes and wearing a dorky orange and pink outfit (this is what they give the women to wear). My favorite part (besides scanning my bracelet for whatever food/services I want) was going to the different temperature saunas. They even have an ice room that literally is like an igloo inside. read more

My coworker raved about this place, so when I saw the Groupon, I jumped at the chance to go. Within 10 min of getting into the locker room, a fight between two patrons broke out. One woman accused the other of videotaping her while changing and let's just say it got UGLY. The other woman threatened to bash her head into the ground and yelled a host of other profanities. Another onlooker looked at me apologetically and explained that fights like these happen from time to time. Went upstairs to the sauna rooms. Great potential, but unfortunately the people in them were rude, obnoxious, and downright vulgar. The things I heard while I tried to relax are just unspeakable. No couth whatsoever. Finally, made my way up to the jet pools. The inside pools were closed, but the outdoor ones were still open. The hot tub was ok, but definitely not as hot as it could have been. The best part of the experience were the outdoor jet pools, but again, I couldn't relax AT ALL. Tons of kids were splashing around unsupervised. Even worse, there were tons of couples who totally ignored the house rules and were all over each other! One couple next to me were grinding and groaning... I'm sure you can guess what they were doing. It was disgusting, and there was no lifeguard in sight. It took a good hour before anyone came down and told people to cut it out. I saw the article in the New York Post... Totally not surprised. This place has potential, hence the two stars. However, it needs improvement. Even if it did though, it wouldn't be able to change the crowd that frequents this establishment... Just obnoxious! Furthermore, the spa treatments are outrageously priced. I wanted to give this place a chance, but I probably won't be coming back. read more

I paid $50.00 to get splashed in the face............,hey spa castle....I mean KIDS castle I could have done that as Astoria pool for free! I knew going there on a beautiful weekend day in June might yield different results than a cool weekday in March! what I didn't know is how much of a difference there would be!!! Will I visit spa (KIDS) castle again? Yes, on a snowy, rainy weekday in March....NEVER will I go again on a weekend in June. It was awful!!!! They have totally taken away the meaning associated with the word spa... As in a place to relax!! Far from a relaxing day. The pool (jets made for adults to relax) was full and I mean full of screaming kids! Here's a hint parents the name of the place is SPA castle, people go there to get away from their screaming kids. I mean really, I would NEVER bring my child to the SPA castle!!! A spa is meant for adults!! Here's a hint owners of spa castle if you bother to read this.... Either raise the prices to make up for the NO CHILDREN ALLOWED policy or section them off.... Please! Don't get me wrong, I am not blaming the children. This is not their fault, it is however the fault of the parents but moreover of the "SPA". Parents ...FYI for $10 more you can bring your kids to an amusement park for family fun. Owners, you will continue to lose valued clientele if you do not heed my warning!!!!!! Don't go to KIDS castle unless you like pee and being splashed in the face for $50.00!!!!!! read more

the idea of this place is much more appreciated than the place itself. From the outset the bathrooms just off the locker rooms did the place in for me. After dropping off my shoes for my day of barefoot scariness, I made my way to the bathroom. Are you serious? no shoes while using the very public bathroom? really? Now, I had more issue with my bare feet in the bathroom then the nudity around me - btw, some of the other reports dramatize the nudity, its not that bad at all. so the concept is nice, however once you make your way to the second level, do yourself a favor and head to the third level....that is unless you want to partake in the many heated spas....very nice concept and layout over there...but on the side where the food is located, i will say this much - don't do it. For the money its not worth it, actually for the money it should be worth, its not worth it. A for EFFORT here. on the third level are the bade pools, the aqua bar - the pools in this area had a very bathtub like feeling and within minutes began to gross me out. on the left side on the same floor were actually really nice heated jet pools indoors that overlook the various jet massages in the outdoor arena. we enjoyed the jets and sauna while we were there, and yes the class and taste of some of the clientele there is lacking severely - this is more of a testament to the questionable use of the facility, for a dating scene, to the more laid back early 20's crowd who care more about their sexual desires than the courtesy of the persons around them. watching the equivalent of teenagers hump in the jet pool, certainly killed it for me. all in all, im not sure this a place i would advise you visit once, nor will i make my way back to college point for a second attempt. I get it, I get the concept...if you really just want to check the place out once here is what i would suggest: go early during a weekday - they open at 6am it won't matter if it rains, they have indoor pools, not as exciting however relaxing. be prepared to be barefoot there are kids, not a ton, and there is a kiddie pool (fyi the infant in the bade pool near the aqua bar was a def. no no - no wonder i had the feeling i was sitting in a warmly urinated tub) - uh yea there is a uniform - its no big deal don't bother with the food on the second and third level - it will cost you on so many levels - trust! didn't bother with the fourth level - bottom line - if you've been to a luxury spa this will feel like the nice hotels' pool place....its nice, and worth the 35....but because thats it......you can pass and save yourself the future foot scrub! read more

What can I say, I loved my first visit to Spa Castle! I went on Saturday, March 16th. We arrived early - around 11:45 and the valet parking was open and FREE. Semi hard to find, but worth the search. I think the price is a bit steep for the weekend ($45) but the weekday price is more reasonable for what you get ($35). We paid, and split into mens and womens locker rooms (two girls, one guy) but after that, it was a little confusing. We, thankfully, are smart girls, so figured out how to use the lockers rather quickly. We got our uniforms - my bottoms were a little tight and I had to ask for bigger bottoms. It was a little awkward to wear a uniform in there, but *everyone* was so it felt less weird as the day went on. It felt a little like summer camp! You can go barefoot, or buy their sandals. I opted for barefoot. Their tiny green towels work, but if you're ok with lugging a wet towel home with you, I recommend bringing your own. Also: it seems to be a "thing" to wrap/tie/fold your green towel onto your head in a crazy fashion - we loved this! The sauna's were amazing - my favorites were the mineral salt one and actually, the cold one! It felt so nice. The biggest, and most hot, was unbearable for me. At 187 degrees, it actually burned my nose and chest to breath in there. I loved the little nap area with foam recliners but it was pretty much always full, even with people on the floor napping. The food was expensive, but not nearly as much as I expected. A blended juice smoothing was $7, a fruit smoothie was $8, they also had bubble tea. You can get 3 baked eggs for $2 and they were very yummy! The buffet is $12/lb which is about Manhattan prices. My friend got the veggie dumplings and they were yummy too, I tasted one! When we went to eat later in the day, I ordered chicken fingers (and this is most of why they lose a star, along with the crowding later in the day and all the kids...). They were $8 which is kind of a lot for JUST chicken fingers (no fries!) but whatever - I was hungry! My friends got their food first (a pork cutlet that was HUGE at $14 and chicken udon which was also HUGE, but I forget the price) but soon enough, numbers way higher than mine were being called. When i inquired about it, they told me "They're frozen, they take longer to cook" and I pointed out that yes, they were frozen, but they were being deep fried. THIRTY MINUTES after I'd ordered, I finally got my chicken fingers. This was after I asked a second time, and they told me they forgot to make them. What really happened was they sent them downstairs on accident. I asked to speak with a manager and he agreed not to charge me for them. We ventured back downstairs (we did NOT try to the rooftop pool because it had started to snow, and there were couples who seemed to be doing things one doesn't normally do in a public pool) and it was so much more crowded. The Relaxation Room was full - they really need a bigger one. It's basically a nap room with super comfy looking beds. We opted to spend a half hour in the nude jacuzzi rooms instead and headed to our respective locker rooms. I enjoy being nude, so this was NO problem for me. I loved seeing so many different bodies and types of women feeling comfortable around each other. Seriously, I almost cried a little. More of America should be like that! Nude hot tubbing is amazing. I highly recommend everyone do it. They had four main hot tubs - one was a weekend special and was healing herb and smelled great. They varied in temperature from 99-108 degrees. There was also one along the wall with massage seats - chairs in a hot tub with jets. They were ok but shut off every 90 seconds - two minutes and you had to touch a sensor to turn them back on. The showers and open body scrub area are also down here. It's $50 for a body scrub and after watching them. I wanted one! It wasn't in the budget for this weekend but when I go back on a weekday, I will be getting one. The only thing about them that bothered me, was that the women doing the scrubs appeared to be wearing bras and panties...I'm glad they weren't naked, but their tops could have look more like bathing suits and less like black lacey underthings! The showers are great and they provide generic shampoo/conditioner/body wash for you to use. The other girl in our group brought her own things which is also allowed. They even have a little area with little plastic stools where you can sit and shower with a hand shower. Overall, I will be going back! I cannot wait to go back, in fact, but I know a lot more now. For a weekend with the water/food I bought, my total was the $45 admission fee + $14 (minus the chicken fingers!) so a total of $59. Well worth it. Well well worth it. Although I will likely go on a weekday next time to save money and avoid the kids (of which I highly disapprove. They need adult only hours/days) read more

Came in for the first time with some friends. Staff was rude, and unpleasant, the food tasted old and expired. Even the Dips ice cream bites was frostbitten. Half of the jet in the pools and hot tubs don't work. Everything is seriously over priced, they'll even ask you to pay for a lemon wedge for your water. A LEMON WEDGE! Like come on! I asked the cashier if I could have my chicken tenders tossed in buffalo sauce. I was told it couldn't because the buffalo sauce was specifically for the wings. Not that's insane because is chicken tenders and wings CHICKEN?! Baffled. At then end of it all, we requested to speak to a manager. AGEM couldn't give a s*** about our complaint. His response was 'You're the only person who's complained about the food'. Extremely unprofessional. DO NOT GO THERE ! Go to SoJo's in NJ! read more

Disappointed. Went with my girlfriend for the first time in several month. The place is not maintained, with half of their spa equipment being out of service , plus it's dirty and disgusting. Staff, who is suppose to supervise the guest area seemed to be absent resulting in guest breaking the common etiquette/rule of the establishment resulting in disturbing experience. Saunas seemed to be the only the bright spot of what has become deserted day spa. However, that too is not well maintained. The prices are rather too high for worn out day spa that is way out of touch. I suggest staying away from this hideous place. read more

Since everyone is posting mostly the same information...I will try to just write about highlights and important stuff. I tried calling them to ask where their shuttle bus picks up because I haven't seen in lately in the Flushing parking lot. No one answers their phone! Also the information isn't listed on their website. Shuttle bus: NOW picks up NEXT to the Flushing Municipal parking lot. 39th ave, in front of the fire hydrant. Food: the food in general is a bit pricey for what it is, especially the food court stuff, so I think its better to go upstairs and eat the Korean food. You get a lil more for what you pay for. Uniforms/Nudity: There are all these signs about where and when you are supposed to be wearing a uniform -which is ultimately just funny and silly. Like on the pool area, right when you're about to leave that floor there is a sign that says you must put your uniform back on! Whatever! And the naked locker rooms...once you go into the shower and pool area its totally naked, they don't want people going in there with even a bathing suit on. I don't think they enforce these things too much though. OH and I saw someone getting a naked massage in the shower/bath area and the only reason I noticed it was because the masseuse was rubbing down the woman's breasts?! I really did see that. Things to remember/keep in mind: Better to go there on weekdays obviously. But if you choose a weekend -the crowd starts rolling in 12:30 and later. So its much nicer when you go earlier than that. Bring your own beach or shower towel. They allow kids here so it gets annoying on weekends when kids who are too young to be in saunas are opening and closing all the doors and talking while you're trying to relax. Just FYI! read more

Since I've been here twice, I figured I should probably leave a review. If you're expecting a quiet, calm, spa where you're wrapped in a fluffy robe and doted on, this is not the place for you. You pay to enter ($40 weekday, $50 weekend) and that gets you access to the gender-specific nude areas (yes, the hot tubs, saunas, jets in the gender-specific areas are nudity required) and two levels of co-ed saunas and hot tubs. You lock your shoes up and they hand you a uniform. When in the locker rooms/gender specific areas, nudity is the rule. If you're not comfortable with that, it's ok! Just put your bathing suit on under the uniform and head upstairs. But please don't gawk at the naked people--that's super rude. If you decide to book a service like a scrub (oh my god the scrub, yes) it'll also be in this area. A 30 minute korean scrub runs $50 (includes tip) and you will literally see the dead skin roll off you. They scrub everywhere. Literally everywhere. And it's awesome. You will be so freaking soft and it's just the best thing. All the saunas are on the first level. There are something like 8 of them I think? (check the website to be sure) And they're all different temperatures. We like to alternate between 10 minutes in a hot one and then another 5-10 in the ice room. Yes, there is an ice "sauna". No, it's even more awesome than you can imagine. The second floor has the co-ed outdoor pools/jets/hot tubs and it tends to get really busy later in the day. Expect kids on weekends. But it's a blast. Make sure to try the japanese cedar hottub. On the very top floor there is a ramen place which is pretty good. The salad bar on the first floor is also alright and kind of expensive, but I think I'll try something else next time. All the food/snacks we had there were good, so it's really difficult to go wrong. Your entry fee gets you in for as long as you want during the day and they have a few areas to nap if you need a break from all the soaking and relaxing you have to do. It's a rough life. Be open to new things and hopefully you'll enjoy the place. They're opening one in manhattan this fall in midtown, so soon there will be one that's easier to get to. oh, bring a towel with you for the outdoor areas! Otherwise you can rent one for $2 read more

Spa Castle is an experience that I think everyone needs to dive into at least once. Derived from the many jim jil bangs (meaning "sauna room") found all over Korea and other parts of Asia, Spa Castle is a watery paradise. I wouldn't recommend this place to someone who is a bit naive, self-conscious, or just down right unwilling to try something new. The building is separated into sections and each level offers something unique and interesting for patrons. Walking into Spa Castle, I felt as if I was transported back to Seoul where I would go at least once a week to relax and detox. Below is a breakdown of each section and my personal ranking - - Sauna Rooms: The good thing about Spa Castle is that they offer multiple hot sauna huts for you to sweat and relax in. The bad thing is that customers at the spa do not understand the concept of courtesy or a general knowledge of saunas. Too many times people kept leaving doors to the spa wide open releasing all the heat/cold. A simple fix to this would be to have a spring door that automatically closes the door behind departing patrons. 4 out of 5 - Sleeping area: Most disappointing. This is basically an area within the spa section where customers are allowed to sleep on On Dol flooring (heated floors). I am used to experiencing these rooms on a completely separate level, away from the saunas and in the dark. 2 out of 5 - Pool level; PHENOMENAL! The top level features numerous hot pools with water jets that helps massage different areas of the body. My friends and I loved this area and spent a large amount of time in each pool getting the most out of the experience. The pools are located outside and are still open during the winter. There's nothing more amazing than hopping into a large pool of steamy water in the middle of winter. 5 out of 5 - Jacuzzi room: On the first floor, next to the locker rooms is the jacuzzi room. Similar to the pools outside, but.......wait for it.......naked. Here's where those who are timid, nervous or just overall concerned about their appearance or that of others will have a difficult time. It's very liberating just hanging out naked in a hot tub and they also have scrub down rooms so you can exfoliate and relax. The only let down here was that they didn't have any herbal jacuzzi's. I didn't see any jasmine or natural water jacuzzi's in the room, they were just pools of hot water for you to lay in. 4 out of 5 I definitely think everyone needs to try this at least once and benefit from the experience. You can spend the whole day here and its not as expensive as other spas in the city. These places are a commonality in Korea and its great that we have this here for everyone to enjoy. I just wish the prices were similar to those in Korea - 8,000 Won for the day (or $7.25)!!!!! read more