I''m a local and I visit Woodcliff often. I genuinely love the rooms and the restaurant, which are consistently amazing. Because of that, I usually add the spa to my visits for relaxation. Unfortunately, after many attempts, I can confidently say the spa massages have been a repeated disappointment.
I've been to the spa many times, and I have had no luck with massages whatsoever. The most recent visit was for my birthday, which I shared with my 20-year-old daughter. Even though the spa has my personal information on file, no one acknowledged my birthday not even a simple "happy birthday."
We had a side-by-side massage scheduled. We arrived 7 minutes late, and as a result we were rushed directly into the massage room without being allowed to stop at the locker rooms. Two male therapists began asking questions about pressure and focus areas. My daughter, who lifts weights, asked for more pressure, while I asked for less. Sadly, those questions seemed to only waste more time rather than improve the service.
My daughter later shared that her therapist touched her as if she were a "delicate flower," despite her clearly requesting deep pressure. My experience was the opposite in the worst way. I felt like I was receiving a bone massage. I can now confidently say my bones are not fractured.
My therapist spent what felt like an eternity massaging my head, getting oil all over my hair and face, while never touching my legs or feet. I booked what I believed was a full-body massage, and it absolutely was not.
When the massage ended, the therapists were waiting outside the room. There was no water provided, but we were told our service included a glass of prosecco or a mimosa. I requested prosecco and was directed to the tranquility room, which is beautiful and relaxing. I drank an entire cup of tea and realized we had been sitting there for quite some time with no wine.
I went to the front desk to let them know we would be changing in the locker room if they wanted to bring it there. That's when I saw my therapist getting a pedicure, laughing with another employee. Now I understand why he forgot my prosecco and apparently gave himself the foot massage I never received.
The front desk attendant did apologize and eventually brought the wine. Despite everything, I still tipped 20%, simply to avoid causing a scene. Tipping is expected regardless of service, but this was honestly one of those situations where no tip--or no charge at all--would have been appropriate.
To emphasize that this wasn't an isolated incident:
* On my previous visit, I had to call and speak with a manager because the therapist kept sitting down and rolling his chair every minute, completely interrupting my relaxation.
* The visit before that, I again had two male therapists who did a terrible job.
At this point, if you must use the spa, I strongly recommend the body wrap. I've had it many times, it's relaxing, and frankly, it's impossible for them to mess up.
My honest recommendation is for management and the hiring team to stop relying solely on verbal interviews. Therapists should be required to demonstrate an actual massage before being hired, to ensure they understand technique, pressure, and how to follow client directions.
I'm giving the spa one star. I'm simply sick and tired of wasting money here. The hotel and restaurant keep me coming back but the spa massages have become a consistent letdown. read more