Abby D.
Yelp
Stayed at the Joule this past weekend w/ another couple for hubs' birthday. Booked 50 minute massages for all 4 of us, (3 ppl at 2pm, my husband at 3pm since that was the only time a female was avail). My friends' husband wanted a female too (didn't know that when I booked) and upon checking in, they said the only way he could get a female was if he switched with my husband. Super awkward to put my husband on the spot like that in front of our group. They should have just said there were no more females. That was the first odd thing.
We realized we got there 10 min before our treatment started and we were running a little late, but my friend and I noticed in the female locker room every other girl had a mimosa or cocktail in their hand except us. We were never offered one (even after our service).
The girl who showed us to our locker room asked if we had masks (which we told her we did) and we were just hurrying to put our stuff in our lockers since we were running late... (mind you, we are both vaccinated and the lobby of the hotel did not require masks). The employee stared at us and did not leave until she saw us put our mask on. (Which, is ironic, considering you are not going to wear a mask in the steam room or suana... where the germs spread 10x as easy in those tight rooms)...
Speaking of the steam room, they really need to do a deep clean on it. I was sooooo excited for the "eucalyptus steam room" and upon opening the door I quickly told my friend "ew, close it. I can't go in there it smells like moldy feet" and she replied "yeah, thats weird, I don't remember it smelling this bad last time..." (It is not just the women's side, my husband said the men's steam room also smelled bad, which is probably just from water buildup).
Massage was AMAZING. Honestly, this was the only saving grace.
The co-ed plunge pool looks amazing, but I did not try it because I forgot my swimsuit, which...brings me to my NEXT POINT (eye roll)..
After the massage, I asked if they had disposable swimwear since I forgot my suit. They do, a plastic 1-piece for a 20.00 charge. (20.00 for a plastic one piece? My friend said she was given one complimentary at another spa.. so I found it a bit funny to charge 20.00 for a piece of plastic paper when I am already paying 200+ for my 50 minute treatment including tip).
WHICH...brings me to my next point. At checkout, she tells me my total is 221 including the 23% tip they add. She did not ask if I wanted to adjust the gratuity but instead implied it was mandatory. I find it very odd. They must have alot of cheap people coming not wanting to leave tips because to include a pre-set percentage and not ask if we want to adjust is very bizarre. What if I had the time of my life and wanted to leave 30%? Or what if I was not that impressed and wanted to leave 10-15%? Guess there is no option, so be prepared to leave 23%. My friend thought it was odd too.
Overall? Decent spa with fanastic massages. My friend loved hers too. Will I be back? Probably not... because I feel like for the price of that massage and 23% tip I should have not had as many hiccups in the spa day.