It pains me to say this- but I am SO disappointed in Mandarin. I think the property has incredible service0 I love the brand and LOVE the bar / bar staff especially. Rooms are small and not nearly as great as I had hoped. However my big disappointment was the Spa. I received a 90 minute spa treatment gift for my birthday (so excited!) - the price was ~$375.00 (twice the cost of most nice spas in NYC) which did shock me, but expected the value to measure up.
First off, the spa is MUCH smaller than I thought. Upon arrival, you take off your shoes in this small sterile check-in area, sit there barefoot with the little slippers, surrounded by other tourists/customers right next to you, and then 5 or so minutes later finally get to go inside. The lockerroom facilities are very small- to the point where you are very near the entrance, so if you are changing and someone walks in, there is literally no privacy whatsoever. The best part about the spa is the whirlpool jacuzzi and steamroom- great facilities that I loved. HOWEVER, the therapist I had was possibly one of the worst ever. I had to ask repeatedly for her to go deeper (the most gentle and boring massage I have ever had, and I get treatments monthly)- she never asked how the treatment was. My biggest pet peeve is having to continually ask for something, feel bad about it, and then have to ask again- I'm supposed to be relaxed and not thinking! They also use basic white towels as opposed to soft sheets/bedding, and the floor to ceiling windows makes it hard to have a nice dark room which I like during massages. Overall I am very disappointed- for that price tag I really should have walked away feeling incredible.
Equinox, just under the hotel, is half the price and has much better therapists, from what I have experienced.
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