I love this place.... It's my place to get away when I need to recharge. I've been going for over a decade and never get tired of it. It's best to go if you can find a Groupon, because I do feel it's a little pricey for regular visits at regular pricing. And over the years, I will admit that they could do a better job maintaining the facilities, but it's still an old favorite. Overall, I highly recommend it. read more

I won't write a super long review because the essentials/rules of Spa World have already been covered. I will say one thing: if you are feeling tired, depressed, weary, pessimistic, lonely, sad, and any of the other maladies of modern life, going to Spa World will make you feel whole again. Whether you go with friends or by yourself doesn't matter. Highly recommend staying for a night. You will leave refreshed, at peace, and ready to begin again. read more

Okay, where to begin? Should I mention the culture difference of engaging in public bathing, and don't stare, or trying to communicate speaking Korean with Chinese massage therapists (who don't speak English), and the one-time issue of Jjimjilbang uniforms? Okay, I gave it 4 stars ... didn't I? I think maybe a 3.5 is more accurate. Quick overview: the 30 minute foot massage was pretty good, the food was okay, and generally everything was pretty clean. The short of it: go and give it a go, if only once. Get a massage and eat there also... maybe even bring workout clothes and workout upstairs. It's worth the experience. The long of it: The young girl at the reception desk wasn't mean, but could have been cordial and a bit more helpful. I felt like I was at Wendy's ordering fast food off of the fast food menu - meaning I felt as if I was expected know what I wanted and just "order" it. This was my first time there, so I wasn't aware of the protocol, like having to lock up my shoes before I went past the reception desk or any details about where to go or what else was expected. I was using a Groupon and apparently that meant automatic surrender of my iPhone. She didn't say anything just held our her hand. Finally she asked to see the Groupon [to write down the number.] When I handed her the phone she chortled a bit and then scoffed. While she was writing the number down I explained that I would be using the next Groupon (scroll down) for a friend who would be arriving in 30 minutes and I wouldn't be available because it would likely be during my massage session. (I scrolled down to the next one and pointed at it.) I had to reiterate and explain all of this after she finished checking me in since apparently she missed it all the first time. This was a bit annoying after tolerating her slightly cavalier attitude. I suppose it's more to do with the Korean mentality of "just do it" or "just say what you want" ~ but this is where an hour of training could go a long way to making most all of the clientele feel more welcome. In customer service I think it's the minimum wage employee most often who is the most valuable employee. First impressions, most interactions, et cetera. So on to the lockers... I donned my Jjimjilbang uniform and headed out into the unknown... I found where I should go for the foot massage and also found that no one spoke English. I suspected the receptionist was Chinese also... anyway, even though I was 30 minutes early they pushed me into the foot massage room, told me to sit... and then after my short protest about being too early and my friend would be coming shortly, they said, "It's okay, you go now." How could I argue with that? (Should I mention I was a massage therapist instructor?) The foot massage was good; painfully good. It was a lot like shiatsu. After he finished, I asked for my hands to be worked on. This was confusing for everyone and they enlisted the aid of the best English speakers around. So after agreeing to pay more "$45 more, okay?" my therapist started giving me a shoulder massage. Hmm. Something might not be understood here. So after it was clear my hands weren't going to be worked, I tried futilely to explain again. The phone rang and one of the other therapists answered speaking Korean. Hmm. Should I try? Okay, I'll try. So, speaking Korean I asked in Korean if my hands were going to be worked and tried to explain that's what I wanted. Quickly my therapist was replaced and the arm massage ensued. I reiterated, "my hands"... I got the requisite, "Yes yes" (in Korean from the Chinese therapist) and so I shut up. Yes my hands were part of the second massage. But, next time I'll (try to) speak Korean from the start. I was done, my friend finally showed and then we went to the steam igloo to sweat. After that we went to the cooler to freeze and then we ate went to the mini-clay ball room to sweat some more and then to the cooler to freeze some more and then decided to shower. Okay, the culture differences? Don't stare at me when I'm naked. Thanks! lol So, I showered and while getting dressed a guy who had a locker near mine said, "I saw you in the shower room. Do you workout a lot?" Hmm. Let me finish dressing first... I explained to him that I have been active all my life, et cetera. He said, "Your body is good; I want my body to be like that." I smiled and thanked him for the compliment and told him to have a good evening. It's funny, right? Check out time! $65 and I received a $10 coupon good towards my next entrance fee. After asking, she explained customers who get services, like massage, are given the coupon. I said, "I understand" and "thank you" speaking Korean. Interestingly she was shocked at that and said, "Oh my god, Korean?" I think that's funny because I'm sure I'm not the only white guy speaking Korean nowadays. But, I enjoyed the shock value nonetheless. ;-) read more

Spa World - An nyeong cruel SpaWorld, an nyeong... - Saunas Near Me - Centreville, Virginia

This was a spa experience like no other! I will definitely go back...REGULARLY!! I am a 38 year old woman and ended up going with my step-mother who is 55 years old (just to frame the discussion). I've never heard of a korean spa so the idea of paying an admission fee and staying in a spa setting for 12 hours certainly peaked my interest. I quickly found a Groupon and started in on my research to better understand what I'm getting myself into. I must admit that there were a few things that concerned me straight away after reading the reviews (customer service, nudity, cleanliness, noise, lack of information specifically what to bring, and tipping) but I was curious enough to give it a shot anyway. I will start by saying that all the positive things you've heard about Spa World VA are 100% true. Our experience here was amazing. We arrived about 5 PM and left about 11pm (only because we had to drive more than an hour to get home and we were way too relaxed). We did EVERYTHING except the gym, Blue Onyx poultice room, and body scrub (which I will definitely do next visit). Now on to my concerns! CUSTOMER SERVICE: Everyone was SUPER friendly (patrons and staff). Treat people with respect and you'll get it in return. NUDITY: Pools are not co-ed!!! That is the only area where nudity is required. There is nudity in the locker room (to be expected) but like others have stated you will quickly get over it! Nobody cares (and if they do...it sure doesnt show)! I had full on conversations with naked women drying themselves off and didnt think twice about it. All age groups, all body types, all sizes, manicured or not...coexisting in one room...no problem! If you are not getting in the pool, simply put on your uniform and head to the poultice rooms. If you're a little shy about walking around in your birthday suit among strangers, they have small hand towels to cover up your tid bits (I am not a small woman and it was more of a hassle to keep the thing up so I ditched it)! First time doing something like this in my life and I LOVED it...it was LIBERATING! NOISE: Not an issue. People were enjoying the experience and were respectful when having conversations. LACK OF INFORMATION: Read reviews, posted signs, and most importantly...ASK! The guy at the front desk was so helpful. He gave us the full run down...EASY! WHAT TO BRING: This is subjective but here is what I brought. *Small bookbag *Change of clothes *Ankle socks *Water bottle (water is available in common area with disposablecups -no charge). Dont even think about alcoholic beverages...you will perish ..the rooms are over 100 degrees.. be smart! *Travel size toiletries (shampoo, conditioner, and soap are available in bade pool area but I prefer to bring my own...not open enough to share a bar of soap with complete strangers...nope...no way) *Sports bra *Entertainment: Just bring whatever you enjoy. *Facial Treatment Masks: they sell them at a reasonable price but bring your own. Great addition to the poultice room experience. *Pair of NEW flip flops/slides (nobody wants to walk barefoot on a floor that has dirt from the outside) *hand sanitizer Note: The uniforms they issue have pockets... CLEANLINESS: The place looks clean but you cant help but wonder. No visible dirt but a few musky wet odors (ice room and poultice rooms) however it's to be expected and it's not overwhelming. My step mother has asthma and she tolerated the environment well. I did not see much cleaning/sanitizing going on but I jumped right in. It does appear that precautions are taken to ensure safety but it is a public bathhouse for crying out loud. Will update in 6-8 weeks to let you know if anything corrodes but overall there is chlorine in the water, common areas are free of debris, and furniture/decor is in pretty good condition but I still have my reservations. For people with compromised immune systems, when in doubt ask your physician but this is why I couldn't give them a full 5 star rating. Would be nice to have sanitizing wipes throughout the common areas. I also got a foot massage (for $50 bucks) and they did not wash my feet before slathering them with oils. Not even sure if the masseuse washed his hands between customers BUT they do follow it up with hot steam towels and you do kinda walk out barefoot so maybe it's all in the mind (lol). Water in the bade pool was cloudy (indicative of poor filtration) but there was a chlorine smell present (and my mind wont allow me to fully accept all the possibilities...the water got in my mouth...ok!). I did not see any pubic hairs floating in the water (a few reviews actually mentioned this). I think it would be wise to groom BEFORE you arrive to prevent this from happening. TIPPING: No pressure...it was fine! Reminder: Kids should be accompanied by an adult AT ALL TIMES! This is not a place where you let your kid roam. read more

Don't get a manicure/pedicure here. Everything else is really great, and it's all been said, but I seriously doubt this person has a license OR knows what he is doing. The guy cut the nails way too close to the quick, and that can cause ingrown nails and infections. I stopped him after seeing one foot but the little nub nails he left there are awful looking. On to the manicure, I noticed the tools he took form the "sterlizer" were not sealed but already opened. He tried to fold over the package when he noticed me looking so I couldn't tell it wasn't sealed. The kicker came afterward when he put the dirty used tools back in with other unused ones in the same old package, folded the top and put it back in the sterilizer to pull out for the next sucker. Then I looked around and there is no license in sight. I didn't say anything on the way out only b/c the trip was a gift and the giver was with me. I'll call back tomorrow. I would give them a higher score because everything else is so great, but this seems like an important health issue. read more

I have never been to a spa like this and this was my first time at Spa World. My experience was excellent! I walked in there, despondent over a recent court case and hurting from sciatica. I came in about 10:30 Saturday and when I left around 6:30 pm, I hardly hurt at all, and I felt balanced and happy. I thought I would stay maybe a couple of hours, but I honestly could have stayed even longer. I went the whole 9 yards and got the $125 spa special (which is on top of the $40 admission fee). I am not a rich person and in my opinion, the 90 minute special was worth every penny. I had Anita as my scrub/massage person. The I was exfoliated, rubbed down with honey oil, cucumber facial and shiatsu massage (this was after the fun Bade pools). I asked her to be gentle with my back and she was. It was just perfect. Oh tip: the jet that is closest to the door and the faucet kind of waterfall? That is the best :) It gets your WHOLE back. Heaven. The whole place was immaculate and I found the staff to be kind, polite, and helpful. Also the customers were civil and quiet, even the kids. I am not a skinny girl by any means, and I did not feel the least bit "judged" walking around naked. There are people of all sizes, races, ages, and backgrounds there. I felt like it was an accepting atmosphere. After a while, it kind of felt liberating to be naked like that and not care (in the single sex bade pool area only). I did not know I would like the poulitice rooms so much. How I did it was to go in a room for 5 or 10 minutes, then come out and drink some water and rest before going in another room. I took my iPod in there with me. I liked having the music and headphones (but the iPod will get toasty hot). People really did not talk in the rooms when I went. They mostly relaxed or checked their phones. I did everything twice but I stayed a long time, read, and had lunch. Oh and I had the Pina Colada boba tea and that was wonderful, too. Oh the lunch was amazing! I have not had Korean food before, really. I got chicken teriyaki. You get a lot of food and I thought it was just delicious and very reasonable for what you get. Next time I will bring my BF and we will split an order, also I want to try that bimi-something dish -- it looked AMAZING. I think you could just pay the $40 admission fee and have just as an amazing time. I put a book in my locker and read that and the paper. I'm a mom and I work two jobs. Reading a book without interruption is a huge deal for me. So Spa World was just what the doctor ordered :) And my back feels terrific now. read more

**Body Scrub/Shiatsu Massage Review** After hearing so many wonderful things about the body scrub, I decided to check out Spa World. The body scrub is $50 dollars and you can pair that with a Shiatsu massage for a total of $100 bucks (30 min scrub/30 min massage). BTW, tip is included in all of the prices. When you first enter, you must pay the "spa entry" fee. I asked if I could just get the scrub but everyone has to pay entry into the bade pool area which is $25 (the minimum you need to get your scrub) and $35 dollars for entry to the Poultice rooms. As mentioned in many of the reviews, if you are not comfortable with being ass naked in front of strangers, this is definitely not the place for you. Of course not many people would be, but trust me after the initial shock, it's not that bad. Really, it's just a titty, we all have them! They come in all shapes and sizes so who cares! Even though Spa World seems to cater to the Korean clientele, don't feel like you might stick out! One thing I noticed was a very diverse mix of people. I saw groups of young girls, moms with their toddlers and old people of all races. The first step to the body scrub is to take a shower and soak yourself in the hot tub to "soften" your skin. I would recommend bringing your own soap/shampoo as I had to shower a few times though out the day. They also supply these items for free if you forget. The shower area is lined around the bade pool and are open for all to see (one side note, the facilities are VERY clean). After soaking in the hot tub for about 15 min, this little old Korean lady in black bra and panties comes to get me for my scrub. The body scrub area is located in the corner of the bade pool area. There are 7 tables that are in very close proximity of each other which provide for absolutely NO privacy at all. The scrub is performed with these mitts which felt like sand paper. It sounds bad but doesn't hurt too much. The lady next to me was laughing so hard because it tickled her. She scrubbed me hard for a good 30 minutes, ALL OVER! She contorted my body in all sorts of positions to get every crevice!! Whatever she did worked b/c i noticed tons of dead skin afterwards. My skin felt so so so soft and smooth. Well worth the $50 bucks!!! Oh, and you can buy the mitts for $6 and use them at home!!! The Shiatsu massage was performed directly after the scrub by the same lady. She poured some goop on my face and piled a bunch of fresh cucumbers. Then she doused me in oil and went to work! For such a small lady, I couldn't believe how strong her hands where. Again, she contorted my body in all sorts of positions and dug her elbow into my tight muscles. At one point she even jumped up on the table straddled me and dug both of her elbows into my back! I was shocked! hahahahahahah! Afterwards, I felt so relaxed and clean! I would definitely recommend the body scrub. read more

Spa World is not for the shy. I'm not saying you go in and you're shaking your baby maker but yes... some areas of the spa are nude only so if you're not open minded to other cultures, please leave. I'm used to "Korean Spas" having come from Washington State. I was thrilled to learn that a similar type spa was in driving distance of me therefore allowing me to experience the one thing that made me happy back in WA: Relaxing in a large heated pool, naked, without a care in the world. I like the variety of heated rooms here (this part is co-ed and clothed). It's amazing!! Rooms for blood circulation, cellulite, etc* A great time to relax and get the toxins out of your body. Another great feature I enjoy about Spa World is the ability to buy things a la carte on your key card. You pay on your way out allowing you to keep your valuables secure at all times. There is a cafe which serves subpar food so don't expect Korean glory food wise. That, and the bubble tea isn't all that great. While I haven't been, there's a full service salon offering hair cuts and perms. OOH! and for you smokers are there, there is an indoor smoking room! HEAVEN!! Give it a try if you need a getaway to relax. Your entrance fee covers 24 hours so stay as long as you need (there's even a sleeping room) PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to stay hydrated! While they do sell water here, keep on drinking it. The first time here I failed to do so and actually got so ill I had to seek medical treatment. This is of no fault to spa world, though. *these statements have not been evaluated by the FDA read more

I'm sorry but never returning to this place. I had a really bad experience. My husband bought a groupon for admission with a 30 minute massage. He also purchased a $150 gift card so I could literally whatever I wanted. The gift card was suppose to be there when I got there, but it was no where to be found even though I called a few days before going to make sure it was there. While trying to look for it the kid at the front desk would answer the phone then hang up on customers when the phone rang again I mean I guess they are so successful that they could hang up on customers. I asked to add an extra 30 minutes to my message to get an hour massage. I was told I would be charged for 30minutes because I already had 30 minute paid which was fine. The base pool seemed dirty. Getting out of the pool left like a weird film on my skin. The food was good but expensive. The cold room wasn't working. They have a bunch of comfy chairs but signs everywhere saying you can't fall asleep anywhere because it's rude to other guest. Keep in my I went on a Tuesday so there was not that many people. It felt unwelcoming. When it was time for my massage the masseuse was late and she was really rough even though I asked her to go "lighter" my body feels bruised. And after the massage she was haggling me for a tip. She kept saying the Groupon doesn't include tip. So let's do some basic math. It's $40 to just get in the door, it's $65 for a 30 minute massage so the total should be $105 on Groupon you only pay $88. So if they take out $40 for the admission then the massage was $48. I told the lady I would tip her $15 which is $2 less then if I paid for the full $65 then the b*tch had the audacity to tell me that wasn't enough. It's called a tip lady I don't have to leave you one if I don't want to. And clearly I shouldn't have since my body was bruised the next day. Honestly this place has gone down hill. Workers didn't want to be there and the place felt dirty. read more

I have been visiting spa world since 2010 - six years! And I can say the prices have definitely increased overtime. It used to be $35 for a 24-hour stay (cheaper than a hotel) and some people can sure stay that length. Now the price has increased to $40 for 12 hours and I don't find worth unless there's a groupon. The food is also more expensive. They raised the prices of the smoothies, bingsoo (Korean shaved ice dessert), Korean hot & cold dishes, and the ramen! Ramen used to be $3 and that still was costly considering how much they buy it for in bulk. Now it's $4 or $5 if you want the big bowl and it no longer comes with a side of radishes. Come on, I want my radish! They even got skimpy on the banchan (Korean side dishes). My meal literally came with two pieces of cucumber radish, three pieces of kimchi, and a half sample dish size of bean sprouts. With that being said, it's still the best Korean spa we have in the area, and the entire east coast as a matter of fact. I visited King Spa in Jersey not too long ago and I have to say, Spa World is cleaner, less chaotic, and the pools and poultice rooms are nicer. Even the massage rooms here are nicer, though it will never compare to Aveda or Red Door Spa. The several hot tubs and one cold tub in the women's bathhouse are still spacious and the surrounding air plants add a homey touch. The seven poultice rooms in the huge community area are still nice treats, with the charcoal and salt ones being my favorite because I can take 130 degrees for 15 minutes versus 150 degrees! And best of all, it's right in VA, so you don't have to travel far for the still awesome amenities and services, such as the body scrub, foot massage, and body massage. I think services are still without tip (quote me if I'm wrong) and those Korean mamas know how to help you relax! Come during the weekdays if you want to avoid crowds, or days that aren't close to the groupon expirations. read more

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Don't go to Spa World if you aren't comfortable being naked. I, myself are in no way a super model and it's taken me a long time to accept my body, flaws and all. When you arrive at Spa World, you set up your payment system and then take off your shoes in these mini lockers. The key to that locker is also the key to your large locker and pays for any additional add-ons to your day. You wear your key on your wrist like a scrunchie. A tad overwhelmed by the nudity, my friend and I chose to explore the poultice rooms after changing into our prison-like uniforms. My favorite of the rooms are the red clay ball room which I can only describe as a full body version of sticking your hands in a bag of uncooked beans and also pleasantly warm. I also enjoyed the the gem room because it was so gosh darn pretty but it was pretty hot. The hottest room was the red clay room that did not feature the balls, and clocked in at almost 200 degrees. Luckily, there was an ice room which was pleasant but did have a slight musty smell to it. I also enjoyed the salt room because I've heard lots about it's healing powers and even if you don't believe in holistic healing, your skin will feel amazing. So, on to the bade pools. I just decided then and there to not care what other people think and it turns I was right, literally no one cared. You have to shower thoroughly before you enter which is weird at first and then it's not. But I can only describe the experience as human bodies of all shapes just coexisting together in harmony with no feelings of judgement. There's lots of different jets that are targeted for your muscle pain. There's also an ice pool that is a WAKE UP CALL. I really want to try getting a scrub but I decided against it my first time. The food was delicious, I got bulgogi and it was delicious. My friend got dumplings and soup and they were both amazing. Overall, this was an enlightening and relaxing experience. The facility was clean and beautiful and I had a really good time. Honestly, the nudity wasn't a big deal so just try it once. read more

While not quite the nudist extravaganza I was expecting based on these reviews, the best place in the spa does require you to be nude: the pool/hot tubs. In the non-nude section, I had a full-body massage, with shorts on, and the masseuse was pretty rough on me. She punched and pushed and walked all over me, stretched me in ways I never believed possible, and then spit me out. I laid in the various poultice rooms, with the red clay ball room being my favorite, until I could no longer breathe in the heat. I relaxed in one of their reclining chairs at their smoothie section (the smoothie was not very good, made from syrup rather than fresh fruit). I then went into the nude, single-sex only bath area. When I walked in, I didn't understand the various sections, so I explored. There appears to be both stand-up and sit-down showers available, though I do not understand why you'd need both. Two men were sitting down next to each other in the sit-down shower, one spritzing the other with his shower hose in the mid-section. I decided to walk on, and found a section where they do body scrubs and I guess massages as well. They also have small hot tubs of varying temperatures, steam room, sauna, sunflower head shower (cool shower that dumps a heavy pour of water on your head), some sort of infrared section to lay down, and of course the main pool. In the big pool, there are some cool jets, and I encourage you to explore. The neck shower and wave jets being my favs. I should mention, as I walked around or relaxed in the pool, I could see men look at me or caught others looking at other men. Some of course, adhered to guy code, and looked away quickly. Others tended to linger or stare for a very long time, so you need to be comfortable with this going into it. Some men were a little too friendly with one another and pretty comfortable with each other in this environment. read more

I LOVE Spa World! It's got to be the absolute most relaxing spa in the DMV. The price to get in is about $30-$40 depending on if you go during the week or weekend. It's extra for massages, facials, etc. I've heard it's the largest spa on the East Coast, but I don't know. Here's how it goes, you walk in and pay and get you key for your locker and little spa outfit. The Mens and Womens saunas are separated. When you get the locker room (women's side), left is the big bade pool/sauna and to the right leads you to the poultice rooms. The bade pool is huge and nudity required. (If you are worried about the nude part, get over it, cause spa world is awesome. LOL it's really not bad, it's very judge free and once you see how comfortable everybody is and how relaxing the environment is, you quickly forget that you and everybody else is nude)/ It's got jets and waterfalls throughout, showers and bathing areas along the sides, dry sauna, wet sauna, UV ray beds, smaller hotter jacuzzi tubs, and a chill/cold pool. There are thermometers everywhere, so you always know the temperature of the room or pool you are about to get into. The poultice room is co-ed, there are 7 or so different rooms. Each room has a sign that tell you what that room is meant for (ie, increasing metabolism, synergy balance,etc). During most hours, there's a restaurant that serves pretty good Asian food, a bar serving Bobo tea, smoothies, tea and coffee, etc. There's free wi-fi, coaching, chairs, floors, lil pillow blocks to relax and lounge. The poultice room is where you can break out a nice book to read, your ipad or laptop to work, etc. But the volume remains pretty quiet and chill. Not so quiet like a library, but everyone talks pretty hushed, or naps, or just hangs out! There's a room for kids, there's a full gym upstairs with treadmills, bikes, weights, etc. Did I miss anything? I come here once every 2-3 months, I live kinda far, but I'd come here every weekend if it was in my budget. I'm an athlete and I love coming to Spa World to relax and recover before a fight or tournament. 5 stars absolutely! read more

All women should be required to experience this soul-filling adventure. Seriously, this was the best self-esteem boosting, female-bonding experience I've ever had. My sister and I bought the Groupon and ventured here late one Sunday night. I'll admit, my American modesty was significantly challenged, but I emerged victorious, refreshed, and filled with confidence. The Bade Pool was immaculate. At first I was overcome by the intense smell of chlorine, but it also comforted me to know nothing icky could survive in that water. If this is your first time, read up on how to use the spa, it will help you not feel so lost. The different therapy rooms were my favorite part. read more

Let me start off by saying I LOVE being naked, and it does not bother me to see anyone else naked. This is apparently perfect for spa world because there is a lovely bade pool that requires all to frolic around naked (separate for male and female though so don't get too excited!!). Right before the big debut of my body though, I got a bit self conscious (crazy I know!). But I soon realized that that was silly--everyone's bodies comes in different sizes and shapes, and they are all beautiful!! Cheesy, but truly I never felt an ounce of judgment the whole time I was there. Soon my friends and I were just straight up chillin/walking around the area naked and feeling great. Super liberating!! My favorite rooms were the clayballs and charcoal ones. They were super relaxing and peaceful (well after you get settled in to the clayballs one because it's impossible not to clomp around like an ogre around when you first enter). I also was a big fan of the steam room in the bade area--I felt like all of my pores were being opened right up! Since we got the groupon for $50, we also got the Shiatsu massage. Damnnnnnnn....the masseuse really went to town with my body. When she started walking on my body, I kind of thought my organs were going to get squeezed out, but I still let it happen. In retrospect, I'm glad I let all of that happen because my body feels great now! Overall, a great, freeing and relaxing experience. Now I understand why the Korean mafia wives take limos from all over the nation to come here....(joking....)(but am i??) read more

An instant messaging log with Lester (may not be 100% accurate) Day 1: Anson: What's for dinner, boss? Lester: dunno Anson: Get me some Spa World coupons Lester: don't got any Anson: You're useless to me Day 2: Anson: What's for dinner, boss? Lester: go get a wife Anson: Where are my spa world coupons? Lester: {Lester is away} Day 3: Anson (under different screen name): Yo Lester: Are you the Asian she-male I ordered? Anson: What's for dinn...wait what? Lester: damn you Anson: Where are my spa world coupons? Lester: {Lester has blocked you} Needless to say, I never got my spa world coupons...but don't let that stop you from harassing Lester for coupons. Everyone else has done a pretty good job of describing the entrance procedures, so I won't bother. A few comparisons between Spa World and Spa Castle in NY. First off, Spa Castle seems bigger and has larger sweat rooms. They have a co-ed, swimsuit required, pool area. They do head and neck massages whereas Spa World only does foot massages and regular shiatsu ones. They have recliners with tv's built into them (which may or may not work). Spa Castle has different scented pools in the men's sauna area. Spa World has ample parking (try parking anywhere in NY...good luck). This is in a safer area (it's Centreville...not exactly murder capital of the US). The pool area here is in the men's sauna area. There is something to be said about the exhilaration of the jets of the pool hitting you square in the nether regions. They have separate men's and women's sleeping rooms so that you can avoid the general population resting area where kids may be running around or people are talking. Also, I think the variety of sweat rooms is better at Spa World than Spa Castle. A few tips. 1) Start with the hottest sweat room and then work your way down. I just found it easier to deal with. 2) Save the sweat rooms for the end of your stay. It's going to reek after all the sweating and some of the sweat rooms have an odd smell to them which may stick to your clothing. 3) Don't bring swim trunks unless you need something to help make small talk with the attractive Eastern European/Russian woman behind the counter at the front. 4) Save the pool for the very end of your stay. You can chuck the prison uniform and get cleaned up. 5) Go during the day during the week. Not too many people here during that time. I'll definitely be back for another personal health day. read more

Recipe for Steamed Asian Dumplings Ingredients: 1 200 lb. Asian 4 oz. lemon grass soap Instructions: (1) Remove dirt and grim by scrubbing and rinsing thoroughly under hot water. (2) Rub liberally with lemon grass soap to lock in the herbal aroma. (3) Tenderize in the bade pool with jet streams. (4) Soak in a chlorinated bath at 104°F for one minute per 50 pounds of meat. (5) Steam at 176°F until skin turns pink. Avoid browning. (6) Blanche in a cold bath at 61°F. (7) Serve at room temperature with bubble tea, smoothies, or other refreshing beverages. [Last Visit: April 10, 2009] read more

I guess I might be the only person who thinks this place is overrated. The entrance fee is $35 without exit and re-enter privileges so set aside 4 hours. The entrance fee buys you an ugly scratchy orange uniform if you're a girl (mustard yellow if you're a boy), a locker, towel service, use of the Bade Pool, and access to the saunas. For the uninitiated, you're given a bracelet with an electronic key (that's waterproof) with a number. Everything gets charged to this number account and you settle your bill when you exit. - Common area - This is a central area where men and women congregate. There's a TV airing Korean news and you can sprawl on the ground and nap. There's complimentary WiFi. Everyone had morphed their hand towels into these head pieces that made you look like Princess Leah. I guess it's so you can lay down on a padded towel at the side of your head? - The Bade Pool area is very heavily chlorinated but the jets are great for a back or shoulder massage. They really pound your muscles. I really hate this waterfall thing that's shaped like a mushroom. It's horribly loud and serves no purpose. This Bade Pool is the nude area and therefore, men and women are segregated. I don't understand the 1 hand towel per person rule. I just can't dry my hair with that towel size. - Exfoliating scrub - $50 for 30 minutes and trust me, you don't want to be scrubbed for more than 30 minutes, otherwise, you'll be completely raw. This is the best part of the visit. The Korean women (dressed in black panties and bra combo) wear these exfoliating mittens and scrub you from head to toe. Then they turn you over and scrub you some more. I think I lost a layer of insulation just from this scrub. The only complaint is that it's in the corner of the Bade Pool area, which is loud and not relaxing. - Sauna rooms - Saunas are not my thing but the dry sauna rooms are intriguing with the best one being the clay room where you can nestle in among a sea of little clay balls. It's always packed in there though. Otherwise, there are dry rooms, wet rooms, rooms with different stone/mineral themes, different temperatures, etc. - Mani/Pedi - I would not recommend this. It was $45 for both and completely amateurish. It's done by a large man and looks like my 5 year-old niece got her hands on my nails. It only lasted 2 days before it was peeling and looked like a mess. - Skip the snack bar. The boba in the tea are like rubbery pellets. Next time, bring a pair of flip flops or slippers (I'm a little phobic walking around barefoot in wet areas...would rather not catch myself a nasty case of athlete's foot), bring a water bottle, and your own soap bar (communal soap bars are gross...especially when you see people scrubbing their crevices with it). However, I'm not sure I would come back...I like my spa experiences to be more civilized. This facility is a little more utilitarian than other Korean spas I have been to. read more

The walls in the salt room sauna are... salty. But my favorite one, of the 2 million different kinds of saunas, was the red clay ball room. Wow, they should make beds out of those things! (C'mon, Ikea, are you reading this?) So, there I was, bouncing from sauna room to sauna room, trying to figure out my favorite. Do I like the 150 degree one? Or the 152 degree one? Hmmm! Wait, do I even like saunas at all? No, I don't, I always feels like I'm going to die in there and then everyone will eat me because I'll be evenly cooked from the convection oven technology. And I had heard that us brownies taste delish, too! So, after sweating profusely and for no good reason, I go to take a shower. I had been warned by the others that walking around commando in the locker room was the norm there. I thought, okay, well, it's a locker room and guys walk around naked sometimes. No big deal, I played high school sports. But I didn't realize they would be swimming in the pool naked, too. I called my Korean connection in Seoul and asked her if this was par for the course: "That's just how we roll." Okay, then, so now I'm in the pool... in my birthday suit. Best pool I've ever been in, except for the naked dudes floating about. The water jets that massage almost every part of your body was the best part. Thank you, you clever bastard who thought to do that. Very relaxing. And what do relaxed people do when they're... I dunno, relaxed? They go eat. They have both a bar area that serves smoothies and boba teas, and a cafe-like area where you can have bulgogi or chicken teriyaki and other stuff. Nice touch, right? The food was just okay, though. Not much to write home about. What else is in this joint, you ask? A sleeping room, where you don't have to be afraid of being assaulted in your sleep, because there's a camera taping the whole thang (Paranormal Activity style); a common area with big screen TVs and mats for you to lay on; a massage area where a 30 minute shiatsu session is $40; a hi-tech key to open your lockers, but only ONE pair of those in-mate-looking uniforms they give you, which after you've sweated like a hog in them, is quite a challenge to put back on and remain sexy. All this for $35 entry fee is not bad, though. read more

Recipe for an awesome weekend: Spa World Sleepover! 1.) Get a bunch of friends together Saturday night 2.) Drive to spa world 3.) Have a sweating, eating, lounging, bathing extravaganzaaaaa 4.) Spend the night in the napping rooms (your $35 admission fee lasts for 24hrs) 5.) Get up and do it all again. It's like 2 Spa-World trips for the price of one! 6.) Optional side-trip to Honey Pig Korean BBQ spot and/or the Asian grocery store in the same strip mall (though not so optional for me) Don't be scurred, get nekkid! Unless you have a third arm growing out of your chest that's rehearsing the Turkish alphabet in sign language, nobody is going to stare at you. But feel free to take in the vast array of shapes that the human body comes in. I call it the Photoshop Body Image Detox Bath. The fashionista in me wants to smuggle in a waist cinching belt to deal with the whole prison smock situation, but I resist. I resist. read more

Spaworld is all about relaxation in an non-pressured, awesome environment. Following is the rundown of what to expect at Spaworld (I was clueless my first time there, so I thought this might help): 1. Upon arrival, you pay at the desk and get a locker number. At the entrance are shoe lockers. You lock up your shoes and take out your key, which will stay with you at all times. You will also get a Spaworld uniform. 2. You head to the gender-specific locker room. You UNDRESS COMPLETELY and lock up your clothes, including your Spaworld uniform. Keep your key with you. Grab a towel (yes, they are small and not really sufficient, but you're supposed to be naked) and head out to the gender-specific bathing area. If you want a body scrub, talk with the person at the entrance to the bathing area to make your appointment. I HIGHLY recommend the body scrub. Money well spent. 3. Once in the bathing area, you need to shower off completely before going into the pools. Once you've showered, you are free to try the bade pool, the whirlpools, and the saunas. I did them all and they were all wonderful. 4. If you have a body scrub appointment, you need to make sure to get into the hot tub about 10 minutes before your appointment. Wait there and the scrubbing ladies will call out your number once it's your turn. The body scrub is awesome. Yes, you are completely naked and yes they scrub you down good, but your skin will be so soft once it's over. Not for the modest, but the great thing about it is EVERYONE is naked too! So don't be shy ;-) There are people there of all shapes and sizes. 5. After your body scrub, you need to shower off again. At this point, you can go back into the locker room and change into your Spaworld uniform. Keep your key with you and follow the signs to the unisex Poultice Room. 6. In the poultice room, you can wander around and try any of the saunas. The red clay one is awesome. It hurts your feet but it feels so good to lay down in those red clay balls. I also loved the amethyst room. Make sure to finish off with a visit to the cold room, as this is really good for your skin. 7. Get some bubble tea and just relax in the main area of the poultice room. You can buy a little face mask and apply it then and lay down on one of the mats. Once you're done here, you can go back for another round in the bathing area or head home. It's your choice and that's the best part! The good: The place is immaculate. Everything is kept very clean and the staff were always helpful. There were plenty of towels and supplies and everything appeared to be very well run. The body scrubbing ladies KNOW what they are doing so just lay back and enjoy! The price is good for what you get IMO ($35 to enter plus $50 for the basic body scrub). I love how you can make the day whatever you want it to be. You control your schedule and you're free to go back to your locker if you need to check your blackberry/iphone/whatever. Some people even bring their laptops and work in the main poultice room (I think they have WiFi). The bad: I didn't get a massage, but they seemed over-priced. I would stick with the body scrubbing service because that's really what they are known for. If you don't like nudity, this is not the place for you. Honestly, it didn't bother me because everyone is naked when you're in the bathing area. People do bring their children, and I'm not sure how I feel about that. The only plus was all the kids I saw there were very quiet and well-behaved (and this is coming from someone who really hates kids). There are televisions in the main area of the poultice room and people are chatting. But I was still able to relax, and you can't hear anything in the different saunas. If you live in DC or MoCo (like me), you will find the drive to be the worst part. Make sure to take off a day from work to get the most out of this experience. I spent about 4 hours there and could have stayed longer. I was really just looking to relax and unwind and that's exactly what I got. Also make sure to not eat anything heavy before going. I followed this advice from someone and was glad I did. Some people can get nauseous going in and out of the steam/sauna rooms, and a heavy meal can make this worse. Also make sure to not do your hair or apply makeup before going, because it will all come off the minute you walk into the bathing area. Again, I highly recommend this experience if you're looking for a few hours of self-directed relaxation. read more

I'm not going to go into detail about what the place looks like or how it functions because there are enough reviews already that detail all that. I just want to say BEWARE of the massages here. I had a 60 min massage on Friday night and it's now Wed and I'm still in pain. The woman totally beat me up and bruised me so bad. My lower back is in so much pain and I'm pretty much limping when I walk. My shoulders were so badly bruised and hurt that it almost felt like a sunburn the next day..I could barely have anything touching them. I tried to tell the lady to not be so rough but like many others here have stated..the employees that work there don't speak much English. I hated it and felt like a cult member in the stupid uniforms you have to wear while in there. HORRIBLE experience!!!!! I wouldn't go there even if it was free. read more

About the place: Two bade pools (imagine a full spa area) fully nude, seperate for men and women. Then a large gathering area with 8 different rooms (coed/clothed) where you can hang out, grab food/snacks, take a nap, etc. The place is extremely clean, and I definitely give some props to the staff inside the locker rooms. The place is for all purposes clean and pleasant to be in. What takes them down a few stars is the absurd amount of people here at any given time. I get that the company is in it to make a profit, but when I have to wait on line to enter a steam room/sauna, it a bit ludacrous. It does get absurdly loud in the rooms in the common area, and if your looking to meditate/unwind/relax .. this is probably not the spa you want to come to. I'm a fairly patient person, but when I'm paying $35.00 I'm not expecting to wait in line. Maybe there should be some sort of cap/limit put on per day or they should presale tickets and not at the door .. dunno? Whatever it is, hopefully they do something. My last three visits have been mediocre as a result. If, on the otherhand, you are looking for a place to hang out and mellow out a bit with friends for the day .. then by all means check it out. YELP TIP: If your a guy, be prepared to be eye-fcked by old dudes. Seriously, just come here expecting it. It's not uncommon to see some frisky business going on either, just gotta roll with it. read more

Wanted to come back again but recently saw on the news that they do Happy Endings...damn shame..still the facility is nice and i didn't have any issues, but the whole happy ending thing kinda ended it for me.. http://www.wjla.com/articles/2014/07/court-documents-report-mistreatment-at-spa-world-in-virginia-104749.html read more

I went here a couple of weeks ago for some self-care and I would have to say that the experience overall was really great! I got a Groupon for a 30 minute massage +12 hour access for about $75 and then I decided to add on an additional 30 minutes to that massage. I will say that if you're uncomfortable with nudity THIS PLACE IS NOT FOR YOU!!!!!!! Pros: very clean facilities, the food was absolutely amazing, the convenience of being 24 hours, the poultice rooms, the bade pool, the massage (I had full body).. Cons: 1. A bit confusing if you are a newcomer as they don't really give you any instructions after they hand you the uniform and your key. 2. The service that I received at the front desk I would describe as "stale" but everyone else was nice. 3. It can get kind of noisy in the common area & if the entire point of coming to spa world is to relax, that kind of ruins it a bit. 4. I had an aroma massage but did not smell anything during the entire 60 minutes of it. All in all I would definitely come here again because they gave me exactly what I needed: a mini getaway. I'm actually stalking Groupon for another deal :) read more

Having visited there nearly a dozen times, I'm very overdue in reviewing Spa World. Problem is, by the time I leave, I'm always too relaxed to do anything! Spa World is an amazing place! When I tell my friends how much I love Spa World, their first reaction is that it is a bath house (with all of the negative connotations that phrase carries), but everyone who has been brave enough to go has gone back, or is anxious to do so. Spa World is divided into four large main areas: THE MAIN LOBBY. In the main lobby, you check in and pay (either for the whole spa or only the wet area.) The cashier gives you a spa uniform (shorts and a smock), and directs you to a shoe locker, where your shoes will rest during your stay. You get a key that will not only lock and unlock your lockers, but serves as your charge card if you decide to purchase food, merchandise, or additional services. THE LOCKER ROOM. You go to the locker room (one for men, one for women), remove your clothes, and place them into a locker. You can either change into the Spa World uniform (if you are going to try the poultice rooms, snack bar or restaurant), or proceed nude to the wet area. WET AREA. There is one wet area for men, and one for women at Spa World. That's because everyone in this area is required to be naked. There's nothing seedy or seamy about this, though. The nudity is required because it helps to maintain the pristine water quality of the Bade Pool and soaking spas. The first thing you must do in the wet area is shower. There are many shower stalls, both Western-style standup showers and Eastern-style sit down showers. Once you have showered, you have your choice of many great areas. First is the Bade Pool. The Bade Pool is sort-of like a 70-person hot tub, although the water is kept at body temperature. In the Bade Pool are many stations, each with water jets designed to relax different areas of your body. There are stations where you sit, stations where you stand, and some where you are actually supported by a jet of water. It feels incredible! The jets are very powerful, and like nothing you have ever experienced! Also in the wet area are a number of soaking spas, ranging in temperature from 106 degrees (really hot) to 60 degrees (really, really cold). In addition, there is an infrared resting area, where you can lounge on warm marble, a hot sauna and a steam room. Off to the side, there is a semi-private area where you can have a body scrub or wet massage, at an additional charge. I have had the body scrub, and it was wonderful! DRY AREAS The rest of Spa World is in the dry areas. These are coed, and you must wear your Spa World uniform. POULTICE ROOMS. There a number of poultice rooms. Most of the poultice rooms are like dry saunas, made of various materials (things like oak charcoal, amethyst, red clay, salt, etc.) Spending time in these rooms is supposed to do various special things for your health, helping with everything from male problems to menopause. On the wall outside each poultice room is a sign describing the room and its effects in Korean and English. My favorite poultice rooms are the red clay ball room (like a hot grownup ball pit) and the amethyst room (like a giant bedazzled igloo). There is one cold poultice room, the jade ice room, where you can go to recover from the hot ones. SNACK BAR and RESTAURANT There is a snack bar, where you can get lots of Korean snacks, as well as smoothies and bubble tea. Since you're in your Spa World uniform, and left your wallet or purse in your locker, you just show your key to the attendant to charge items. There is also a casual sit-down restaurant, with more substantial Korean and Eastern European food items. It's reasonably priced, and the food is good. These are the main areas of Spa World where I spend time, but you should know that there is also a nice gym, two arcades for the kids, men's and women's sleeping rooms, a massage studio, and a place where you can get manicures and pedicures. If you're considering trying Spa World, I have three words of advice for you: Go! Go! Go! read more

Superman was having problems gaining elevation recently, what with all of his over-eating and hard-to-disguise weight gains. So he biked about 25 miles from DC out to Spa World (with his trademark cape fluttering behind him) to whip himself back into shape. Spa World is owned and operated by Koreans, who are always polite and helpful. And what a place! Even Superman, with muscles of steel, was able to relax and unwind after a busy season of apprehending criminals, maintaining law and order and arguing with local DC officials over some bogus jay walking accusations. Superman doesn't walk. Superman flies! So how can he Jay Walk? DC is just jealous of Superman since he, and only he, keeps things under control here in our nation's capital. OK, it was a little weird in the Men's Only pool area where everyone is strutting around stark naked. Superman went unrecognized without his trademark cape and spandex outfit and was prancing around buck naked for the first time since he was born on Planet Krypton. You see, Superman must always be ready for action and therefore sleeps and even showers in his costume. And, truth be told, Superman has body image issues and has a hidden corset in his outfit to maintain his stallion image. After unwinding in the men spa, Superman put on the cute little jumpsuit Spa World provides and entered the co-ed area. This large section of Spa World has several specials rooms of different temperatures (mostly hot).... but Superman's fave was the cooling down room with walls of ice. This big co-ed room has a restaurant, TVs, mats to sleep on (Superman never sleeps, however, since he must be available for action plus he's afraid someone will steal his cape), comfy chairs, etc. Superman will lend his name to this place and rename it "Super Spa World" since he liked it so much. Super Spa World often does Groupon deals, so be on the lookout for these bargains! Superman bummed a ride back to DC since he was too relaxed to ride his bike anymore and was still having trouble getting airborne after ingesting massive amounts of water and kim-chee. Try this place.... it's a great and unusual experience. read more

The place was nice but at heart was really just lots of variations on hot and cold. Hot saunas, cold saunas, hot tubs, cold tubs, and many levels in between. In practice it became a nice place to nap. The one big negative was the fact that I used a Groupon to go and as a result the massage woman practically argued with me tipping. She was quite forceful about it multiple times and pushed so hard that it actually meaningfully detracted from my experience! A massage is supposed to be relaxing; having someone try hard to guilt you about money immediately after really doesn't serve that goal... The food was very good though, really excellent. Overall the experience was nice enough, but not worth even the Groupon price to do again. read more

I was a little hesitant to bare all in front of total strangers, but I'm glad I did. Spa World was the ultimate way to spend a Sunday afternoon (my sister, friend and I spent 6 hours here!). If you can get over the fact that you will be buck naked, it's super relaxing. You pay $30 for admission, they hand you a uniform and key, and you're on your way. Tips: 1. They don't really go out of their way to explain things to you. 2. Remember to take off your shoes and place them in the lockers in the lobby (we got scolded for walking into the locker room with shoes on) 3. Don't spend too long in any of the hot rooms. They don't tell you there is a recommended time limit, but you will seriously pass out and dehydrate if you spend too much time in any one of the hot rooms. Alternate with the chill tub or ice room. 4. Try the food and boba! I love Korean food. Nom nom nom. We shared the Russian dumplings and stone pot bibimbap. Both were delicious. 5. Stay hydrated. Drink lots of water throughout your visit. 6. Don't lose your key! 7. Try a body scrub. Damn, I had a lot of dead skin I didn't realize I had. 8. Relax. There will always be someone fatter, skinnier, older, younger, hairier, wrinklier (insert word here), etc. than you. Everything was great. Minus one star, though, for questionable ethics...they didn't make us sign anything or confirm whether or not we had any diseases. The place looked clean and sanitary, but you never know... read more

This place is really going down the drain. Its no wonder they are really pushing sales through promotions like groupon, hmart $5 tickets, etc. Facility gets dirtier and dirtier at every visit. I love the services they provide here..massages at the sauna. They are very forceful and thorough. Despite that, I am just really turned off by how the dirty the facility has become and the rude service, particularly by the guy who mans the main common area by the poultice rooms. I stepped aside to the corner to make a phone call for 3 mins and he kept staring. He interrupted my phone conversation asking me how long I've been there. read more

I've been here about 5 times so far. To be honest, it's hard for me to cough up $40+ to share a hot tub with strangers while naked. But I basically come here when I'm desperate for alone time/destressing, or my roommate is being obnoxiously loud and I just want some peace and quiet. I definitely enjoy coming here by myself far more than when I'm with other people (like most things), because I can plan my trip however I want. I've come here both in the morning and in the evening. It's really interesting, because younger people will get there later (around 9/10pmish) and older people will arrive early in the morning. I guess that's to be expected. The pool area is super clean. The main complaint I have is that several of the water jets don't work in the main large pool. It's kind of annoying, but I spend more time just dwelling in the smaller hot tubs anyway. If you try to sleep here, I would definitely recommend earplugs. I only slept here once, and kept waking up from these younger groups of people having loud conversations around midnight (hey, I need my beauty sleep) right next to me on the couches. The food isn't the most amazing, but is still really good and you get a huge portion. Come hungry. As others have said, the boba tea isn't really worth it here. I like Spa World because it's the perfect amount of pampering for me - you don't have to get a massage (I normally don't), so it's more of a meditative escape for me. I just try to think about nothing as much as possible and it's beautiful. Will continue coming here, because it's the easiest place for me to relax and take a mini-vacation. read more

SARA SAY'S: CAUTION THIS REVIEW CONTAINS NUDITY! 50,000 square feet of relaxation! A typical of traditional American spa's this is a very large Korean bath house. Immaculately clean, quite and tranquil. I have been about a dozen times and it never gets old. You have four main features to experience here...the poultice rooms, bade pool, the restaurant, and spa. Be prepared to leave your shoes at the door, put on a lovely prison orange shirt and short set provided by Spa World and walk into bliss for the next 8-12 hours. Yep that's right, plan to spend the entire day if you really want to get your money's worth but a couple of hours can do the trick as well. THE POULTICE ROOMS: This is the main area of the spa and the co-ed part as well. This is where the prison orange outfit comes into play. 7 dry sauna type rooms that all have different healing properties to them and set at different temperatures between about 135-165 degrees. The clay ball room is my favorite as there are millions of marble size clay balls that you lie down on providing you heat and relaxation. The healing properties range from de-toxing, respiratory functions, cellulite breakdown, reproductive functions and much more. You spend about 5-10 minutes bouncing in and out, grabbing some water or a nap. In the center of all of the rooms. THE BADE POOL: Alright, so this is where the nudity comes into play. In the men's and women's locker rooms each have their own respective bade pool. NO CLOTHING ALLOWED for health reasons, so be prepared to see lots of birthday suits as you enjoy the spa experience. Everyone is respectful and you get used to it. The bade pool offers 9 different jet options for massage targeting different areas of the body. If you like Jacuzzi or hot tubs than you will love it. You can also elect for a body scrub in that area...if you like your skin rubbed off. It wasn't for me. I prefer massage. THE SPA: I will say that the message pricing is expensive, about $100 per hour for a shiatsu massage, but well worth it if especially if you have some serious aches and pains. They can target your pressure level. Be prepared to be stretched, folded into a pretzel, and walked on...but I promise it all feels amazing. Ask for Lisa, she is AMAZING!! THE RESTAURANT & JUICE BAR: The restaurant provides Korean and Japanese offerings that are simply delicious. My standard order is the Sizzling Stone Bibimbop with beef. Seemingly cooked at about 1000 degrees it crisps the rice underneath and the egg provides a creaminess to the crunch of the vegetables. All of the dishes come with several standard Korean/Japanese sides such as kimchee, miso soup and a vegetable of day. I have also tried the Curry rice, Russian style dumplings and short ribs which were all on point and very tasty! The juice bar is a separate area where you can get all different flavors of bubble tea (one of my personal favorites), ice cream, other juices and snacks if you aren't hungry enough for a full meal. The reason it got four out of five stars was because of my husbands first experience (a few men in the men only bade pool area were using inappropriately having a happy hour one Friday night.) I have had a couple scheduling issues for my massages on three separate occasions. They really need to have two people behind the desk, especially during busy times. Trying to check people in, out and answer phones to schedule appointments is just too much for one person. read more

This is my go-to place for much needed quality ME time! My first visit here was with my younger sister, who was in town from CA and visiting before she heads to Korea for a year to teach English to school children. I thought this spot would be the perfect place for sister quality bonding and as a last hurrah before my sister spends the year ahead in Seoul. What can I say? I absolutely love this place! It is a clean playground for those of us who love to pamper ourselves! It may not be for everyone. But, if you're somewhat comfortable with the naturist mentality, and can share and be around others, then I think you will enjoy it here. We spent 9 hours here, arriving at 11 am and leaving at 8 pm. It was one of the best days of my life and one of the best days I've ever had with my sister! We wanted to take full advantage of the facilities and enjoy the spa services after a satisfying endorphin high. So, we kicked things off with a run on the treadmills in the fitness center. The fitness center itself is mid-size, decent and has the basic equipment (treadmills, elliptical, weight machines)...nothing super fancy, but met our needs. The bade pool is so heavenly! My sis and I switched it up between the bade pool, cold water and hot water. But, back to the bade pool -- this space was perfect for just zoning out and kicking back. Awesome opportunities for my sister and I to engage in the best gossip sessions! The steam from the sauna room helped me de-stress and unwind from busy days. In addition to the sauna and poultice rooms, we arranged for the scrub special, which was an hour service consisting of a 30-minute scrub down and 30-minute massage. Be mindful that this is in the open sauna area, so if you want more privacy, I suggest signing up for a service in the designated massage area on the second floor. I appreciated the scrub and the feeling of such soft skin afterward, but I'll pass on the massage that comes with it in the scrub special next time. I believe a Shiatsu style is used, and I'm a big fan of Swedish. So, I may try the Hot Oil Massage next time on the second floor. We enjoyed steamed dumplings, bibimbap and bulgogi for lunch, and mango boba and chocolate creme pies for dessert. We vegged out in the common area, took naps on the floor mats and surfed on Facebook on our laptops (thanks to the free wi-fi!). We tried out the poultice rooms, staying in each for at least a few minutes or so (it's recommended to stay no more than five minutes in each room). I never knew the capabilities and limits of my body until trying these rooms...sitting inside one at 165 degrees?! Wowza! My favorites include the Red Clay Ball Room, Amethyst Room and finishing off in the Ice Room. I believe you get quality in value for what you pay. At the base rate of $35, the continuous access to facilities is well worth the price! I felt the side-effects of my visit in the following days -- I found myself drinking a lot more water, eating less greasy foods and overall, just feeling better. My skin felt soft and smooth, and I felt replenished. All-around, I felt a lot more serenity, Zen and just a new-found confidence in myself...and my body! I am woman...hear (and see) me roar! I can't wait to return! read more

What IS this place? But seriously, this is unlike anything I have ever done. And it was awesome. Maybe I am a newb. Yeah okay I'll even freely admit it - I am a total newb. But I know spas and this is unlike any spa I have ever been to. The sheer size and variety of self-driven healing situations was straight up crazy. Loved the heated clay balls. Can't remember any of the other except for the ice one! So fascinating. Lunch was fine enough. Sizzling bibimbap was delicious. Other things were semi meh. I would just get the bibimbap. Then of course there is the strip naked like we do it all the time thing. Lets all be honest, this is not U.S. culture at large...but it SHOULD BE. How liberating and downright cool. Jets and temperatures were awesome. The steam room with chamomile sent was divine too. The scrub. That deserves its own mini-paragraph. You're in for a treat if you splurge for this baby. You have never, ever been scrubbed like this - unless of course you have. But damn what an amazing feeling. I can't say it was totally pleasant (it kinda hurts) but it was cool as hell and I have never had such soft skin in my life! I would go again. And again. Oh and H Mart is right there. Asian grocery store with the best selection of everything ever. And come on, someone putting together samples of sashimi like it was Costco handing out freezer chicken wings? So amazing. Take me to Centreville! read more

It has taken me two weeks to write this review because I am just not sure how to explain what it is like to drive to Centreville, leave this universe and be reborn. I had wanted to go to Spa World for some time and this is my story... I occasionally rent a car for the weekend and on one such weekend I ventured out to the alternate world of bliss. I got to Spa World in the middle of the night around 3AM and was greeted warmly but the staff at the counter. I deposited my shoes in a locker and proceed to the locker room where I disrobed. Let's pause here because this is when I paused. It took me a minute to get up the guts to walk into the spa room and the bade pool. But I quickly discovered that when everyone is naked then everyone is naked and it's really no big thing. The rest of the night was blissful. Highlights: -The Bade Pool, its like a floating handless massage -The steam sauna with the lavender misty stuff (made me giggle like a new baby) -The Red Clay ball room -The Oakwood room - The Ice Room THE ENTIRE PLACE. I showed up at 3AM and stayed until 8AM. I will be back for food, the salon and scrub and the gym! read more

I used to love this place. It is a relaxing place to escape to for a few hours. Sadly recent allegations of abduction, refusal to pay employee wages, not allowing them to take time off to see family or for sick leave, and even prostitution led to a raid by Fairfax County Police last week. This is on top of a severe decline in cleanliness and service. The price of admission used to allow for 24-hours. They raised the fees and shortened it to 12-hours. The jets in the pool continuously break down. The water is not filtered properly and there is something nasty growing on the side of the large pool. I hope King Spa is approved for Loudoun County. read more

After falling in love with Atlanta's equivalent of Spa World (Jeju Sauna and Spa), I was super eager to give this one a try. While I'll try to avoid comparing the two businesses too much, there are some notable differences. 12 hour entry into the spa is $40. I miss Jeju where I paid $25 for 24 hours. :( but make sure to check out Groupon before you decide to go. There may be a special. With two visits to Spa World under my belt, I can honestly say that customer service is lacking. Unlike my previous experiences with spas of this nature, the attendants at the front desk basically give you no instruction on what to do, where to go, the importance of taking off shoes and putting them in the locker with the number that corresponds to your "receipt", how long you can stay, the list goes on. I basically had to ask for information that I think should be provided at check in. That's problematic, especially for first time visitors to spas like this. And both times when I've visited, there has been no attendant in the women's locker room when I entered. No one to tell you that you can get body scrubs, massage, hip baths, food, pools, etc. Or even how to do schedule those things. Overall, was it relaxing? Yes. I can't help but feel relaxed when I'm in this type of atmosphere. I visited the dry sauna, ate in the cafe, sat in a few pools, and took a long nap. I purchased a Groupon that came with a 30 minute Shiatsu massage. Although that massage was not pleasant (my first time), I felt my posture improve afterwards almost immediately. I always eat while there (you can't bring in outside food or drink), mainly because I stay hungry and usually plan on being there for 4+ hours. The menu is mostly Korean, with some Americanized food, too (for the people who believe that ranch is a condiment, you're covered. There were two Costco sized bottles of Hidden Valley Ranch next to the hot mustard). Overall, food is just ok. Only a few dishes appealed to me, and I ended up getting the same thing both times: #24, I think (beef with sweet potato noodles). I honestly wish there was another Korean spa in the area that I could visit, but since there isn't, I'll probably be back. read more

I have been looking forward to my first visit to Spa World since my wife told me about it several weeks ago. I've read nearly every review on yelp, so I won't restate what has already been said, except to suggest that you take some time and read the reviews before going. As has been noted, there is a process and procedure here and sometimes it isn't always evident, especially considering the occasional communication problem if you don't speak or read Korean. None of this should keep you from going, but be aware of it and things will be much easier. My visit was on a Friday morning - I actually took a vacation day to check this place out. At 8am, there were four or five men there and probably double the number of women. By 11am, there were probably 20 men and many more women. The place never seemed crowded ... Plenty of room to relax. I had never had a shiatsu massage before coming to Spa World and now I may never have any other type of massage. Once you go shiatsu you never go back. Simply a great massage - so good that I actually came home a few hours after it and had to take a nap! I did the hour long massage and in the future I would opt for longer. I also got a 25 minute body scrub, which was thorough but not as vigorous as i expected based on other reviews. Still 25 minutes seemed long enough - not sure I would go longer next time. I did not use the fitness center but I did go upstairs and check it out. I wasn't impressed, but that also isn't the reason to go to Spa World. Everything was super clean, as others have mentioned. The staff was friendlier than I expected but there wasn't a lot of dialogue. As far as cost, $35 to use the bade pool and the various mineral rooms was spot on. Well worth it. I also felt the price for the massage and body scrub was very competitive. I cannot wait to go back! read more

I really like this place. It's very relaxing. There are 6 dry sauna rooms that range from just above 100F to roughly 160F. Then there is one cold sauna room that is roughly freezing. The bathing area is pretty relaxing and peaceful but please note that it is fully nude in there. The facility also sports a massage area, gym, restaurant, and snack bar. This place is overall great and is a great day's rest. Only thing that is bad is when there is that rush of people when Groupons start expiring. read more

Okay... so after Spa World-gate broke, I didn't think I'd ever come back here. I was more than angry and saddened. But... they did apologize... http://www.spaworldusa.com/news19.html And forgiveness is a virtue... so we decided to come back and see what was up. 1. Business is bad. Rough. I feel sorry for them that the scandal pretty much turned off enough people that there's only about 10 people here. It's Thursday night at 8PM. Back in the day, this place was packed at all hours even weeknights and especially after work hours. Ghost town. Before the scandal, I figure a significant chunk of their clientele was LGBT or queer supportive. 2. Business is so bad that they have to up their admission from $35 to $40 AND only offer half the time -- 12 hours instead of 24 hours. So... $40 for 12 hours? $1.46/hr to $3.34/hr? Oi! 3. Everything is about the same. The rooms are still hot. The pools are still nice and provide incredible hydrotherapy. The food is still good (prices have gone up .50 on some things). I still think it's clean if not better because there are less people, which also lends itself to being more relaxing. 4. As half of a lesbian unit, I have been worried about being asked to leave and we aren't as flirty as we usually are because of the vague right to eject people for "public obscenities and misbehavior" -- ok, no groping but who do I ask if hand-holding is ok? I shouldn't feel this way but I respect different cultures and how they might not be as hip to queerness as the rest of the DC metro area pretends to be (yeah, I said it). As a product of Asian diaspora myself, I want Asian businesses to succeed. 'Merica! But I also want old-school Asians to learn that it takes a gay village to survive in the DMV. I think they learned their lesson. Help Spa World pay off their loans. Get a Groupon! Gay take-over on Pride Weekend! Rainbows! As you can see, I have mixed feelings about the whole thing lol... read more