Spa Etiquette | Top 10 Guidelines to Know Before you Go to a Day Spa or Spa Resort

I work hard and I play hard, then I relax…at the spa.

The spa is a place to relax and unwind.  Here are 10 guidelines, helpful tips, and basic etiquette to follow for a more enjoyable experience at the day spa resort.

1. Arrive early – Arrive at least 15 minutes before your service to check in, find your locker, change into your robe, and have a few minutes to wind down before starting your service.  Better still, arrive 30 minutes or more before services and familiarize yourself with the amenities. I usually look at each of the relaxation rooms, use the bathroom, pour myself a drink, and scope out the snacks before I settle in with a book or magazine waiting for my service.

2. 

   Use the lockers provided.  Real day spas/resort spas will provide a locker, robe, and usually sandals.  Do not lug a diaper bag sized handbag around with you during your treatments (or class at the gym), you will not need it.

3. Silence your mobile phone.  Most of the time, my phone is in my locker anyway, but if you carry your phone keep it quiet.  Part of the quiet phone is not talking on it.  If you must make or take a phone call, leave the relaxation areas and head back to the locker area or other appropriate area.  Look around and observe, it will be obvious if you are disturbing everyone around you.
4. Silence – not just your phone, but keep your voice down.  I have a naturally loud voice, so I make an extra effort to lower my voice and not disturb everyone around me.  The tile floors are great acoustics for sound, just this evening I heard everything several ladies discussed just outside the steam room.  I doubt these women planned for everyone to hear their conversation, but we did, loud and clear.
5. Enter rooms slowly – many relaxation rooms are dark or dimly lit, enter slowly to let your eyes adjust and avoid startling anyone.  Some of the relaxation rooms are small and you could run into someone if you barge in.
6. No photos – okay, I admit I do take photos for this blog.  I do not take any photos when people are around.  Most of my photos are towards the end of the day, or a slow period when no one else is around.  I am referring to avoidance of the group photos and selfies with semi-nude guests in the background.  Wearing only a tiny towel, I was recently in a background shot from an idiot teenager taking selfies in the mirror.
7. There are robe hooks near each sauna, steam room, hot tub, and other areas.  Only take towels into the sauna & steam rooms, leave the robes outside. Remember to take the towels out with you when you leave.
8. Coordinate where to meet after the service – knowing where you are going to meet up after service will make life easier for you and avoid wandering around lost or disturbing others while you are in search mode.
9. Keep your possessions contained to your area and avoid spreading out to multiple chairs for each person.  Most spas will have tables for books, magazines, drinks, and snacks.
10. Leave someone with your stuff, or take it with you doing your service.  Consider staggered start times for private services (such as individual massages) if you want to save a specific area for your group.

There is also a significant amount of cross-over between the spa, gym, and many other places.  I have seen many of these behaviors at the spa, gym, and hair/nail salons.  Share this with folks that could benefit, in the end it will make spa time a happier time.