Spa Etiquette:  What You Should Know

Have you just recently scheduled an appointment at one of your local day spas? If so, have you been before? If this is your first time visiting a day spa, you may want to first take the time to familiarize yourself with some important rules of spa etiquette. When you know how you should act and what you should do, you are more likely to leave pleased.

If you have yet to make your appointment, you will want to do so. You should make an appointment at least a week in advance. Although there are some spas that do accept walk-ins, you will want to avoid this approach, as it can be considered rude. Your walk-in appointment may have an impact on other guests, especially when employees fall behind and is not good spa etiquette.

When making your appointment, if you haven't already done so, be sure to choose a convenient time. This is likely to reduce your cancellation chances. Speaking of which, if you must cancel, be sure to do so as early as possible. At least twenty-four hours notice should be given. The worst thing that you could do would be to just not show up. In fact, you may still be charged for your appointment or you may be subject to a no-show fee.

It is also important that you make any special needs known ahead of time. Are you disabled? Do you use a wheel chair or need assistance getting around? All day spas should be able to accommodate you, but notice is important. As for other special needs, are you pregnant or breastfeeding? If so, special steps may need to be taken by the staff to keep you comfortable for the whole day.

As for your day spa appointment, be sure to arrive on time. In fact, you should arrive around ten to twenty minutes early. Depending on the spa in question, you may have to fill out patient forms or sign releases. If you do arrive late, know that you can have your appointment cancelled or shortened, while still being responsible for the full cost.

The goal of a day spa is to create a calm, peaceful, and relaxing environment for guests. With that in mind, you should also know that you play an important role in this environment as well. All guests are encouraged to leave their young children at home and it is good spa etiquette to adhere to this. Try to schedule an appointment when you have a babysitter or a family member who can watch your children. It is also a good idea to leave all cell phone, pagers, and PDAs at home or at least shut off and in your purse.

At the end of your appointment, be sure to give honest feedback. If you were pleased with the level of service you received, as well as your results, be sure to let the staff, especially mangers, know. If you were not pleased with your results, you will also want to make your dissatisfaction known, but please do so in a polite, non-treating manner. As for tips, it may be a wise idea to ask ahead of time if they are included in your costs.

Of course, showing up for your appointment under the influence of drugs or alcohol is not advised, as is lewd behaviour and is the worst case of abusing spa etiquette. If you display offensive behaviour, you may be asked to leave the premises immediately. Remember that a day spa visit should be calm, cool, and relaxing for you.