to think that if I pay for a 55 minute spa treatment I should get 55 actual minutes of treatment?

[HunterWellies]

Not just over 40 minutes?

Apparently the rest of the time is designated for 'consultation' (took less than a minute) and sitting about in a robe afterwards fuming at being short-changed 'relaxing'

YANBU! I had a 25 minutes treatment recently which finished after about 15 minutes, the rest of the time was for me to shower off all the gunk and sit around in a gown. I felt proper ripped off!

I have been to places where a lot of the time was wasted with "consultation" and "stretching" and other such nonsense, followed by sitting around in a robe at the end.

If they're going to do all that stuff, they should either specify this on their adverts or increase the appointment time to allow for this.

Exactly! New that is a shocking rip off! I did actually complain at the end but got nowhere and I hate confrontation so it completely undid all the good of the brief massage. Bugger...

It is a Center Parcs spa so I suppose I should have expected it to be expensive. Maybe they thought I would want the extra time for bumsex :o

I imagine that was exactly what they were thinking
Mine was at a fancy spa hotel, I didn't say anything but refused to write in their compliments book and wandered off muttering to myself about how I could shower in my own time and didn't need to pay for the privilege. Go me and my assertiveness :)

I once had a Center Parcs massage and it felt like the girl was hurrying through the treatment so she could try to sell me the overpriced products.

I also had a facial at a 5-star hotel costing twice as much as at my local beautician. It lasted about 2/3 of the time and the girl's hands smelled funny!

I hate being left to "relax" with a facemask on.

I get bored of the whale song and start stressing about random stuff because I can't seem to turn my brain off.

I really can't be arsed with these sort of treatments, I have never been shortchanged cos I ask what I'm getting first! And if I chose it, it's always what I expected.

I hate the relaxing in a robe in some sort of silly cabin that you get at posh places. I felt like a fool and didn't know how long I was meant to stay in there. Never again!

Ah now..Thankyou for bringing this up Hunter!

I've never really got much into spa treatments (couldn't afford them) but a few months ago I decided to stretch to a regular facial at my local emporium.

On the three occasions I went I thought exactly the same. A big load of chat for 10 minutes before before then another at the end trying to flog the face cream.

I really only went to be relaxed not lectured but I felt the beautician was very school marmish and patronising. I do know about cleansing and moisturising. By my age I should hope I do. I just wanted someone else to do it for me for a change whilst I dozed off.

I haven't been back.

i hate it when they piss off after putting a mask on - bloody do a hand massage or soemthing
I say now

Yes! Mine vanished and I was lying there like something off Silent Witness in a dark room on a table.

I hate the face mask and then them leaving room too. I fume and caculate how much it's costing me to be lying there doing fa.
The best places are those where you they a foot/hand/scalp massage while the mask is on. Which is never a posh place.

not sure if its allowed on mumsnet rules but would be good to have a topic in mumsnet locals of recommended local salons who actually do a good job. i only use small independent places now as totally agree paying for time to sit around drives me mad!

It may well be against Mumsnet Rules but I bloody well do not recommend Center Parcs Spa!

Honestly, it is just a money factory. Absolutely packed, I've really never been in such a busy spa, all fake twattishness from the 'therapists' and a load of time wasted at great expense.

Quite the opposite of relaxing, or treating yourself. I will not bother again.

Eugh, yes, the smelly hands thing...

Five star fucking rip off gaff we went to a while back for a friend's 40th. The therapist I was allocated had just eaten as she rushed in brushing crumbs from her outfit thingy. She stank of spring onions and had obviously just had a cigarette as well as her hands and breath were honking.

I complained and we got a refund voucher. I know they need lunch/fag breaks but in that line of work surely a quick handwash and possibly teeth brushing would be a good idea.

I have never left a spa and thought...'well that was good value'

I'm going to an expensive spa in a couple of weeks - now dreading it!

Ugh the leave you to relax with a face mask thing is crap isn't it. I'm currently at a posh hotel and there's a spa and dh is encouraging me to have a treatment (this is not me being smug at all it's my birthday and we are on a long awaited holiday) but anyway I just can't bring myself to book a treatment which is basically 100 euro for an hour massage which I already know will disappoint me (and the stress of that even before the treatment is just daft).. A foot massage while the mask is on should not be too much to ask really