Only if someone else pays! (The Sanctuary)

Member Name: Maiakins

Product:	The Sanctuary
Date:	10/09/03 (1449 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Good treatments, Pamper yourself

Disadvantages: Expensive, Distracted staff, Massaging armchairs hurt!

You are supposed to leave feeling like a goddess, but to be honest, I left feeling a bit of a pauper! As a treat from work (lucky me!) I was given a gift voucher for the One-Day Sanctuary Day Spa, costing £60. Membership ranges from a one-day entry to unlimited year-round use. Even without my free entrance fee, I still had to cough up almost £100 at the end of the day. Because once you add in the price of your lunch and any treatments you decide to have it, it all adds up very quickly!

ABOUT THE SANCTUARY
Sorry men, but the Sanctuary is a women-only spa, situated in Covent Garden, London. It is quite difficult to find and you have to enter through a small shop on Floral Street (nearest tubes: Covent Garden or Leicester Square) where you can buy all of the Sanctuary products. On weekdays, it is open from 9.30am to 6.00pm and on Saturday until 8.00pm. You should call before your visit if you want to book treatments because they fill up quickly and when I was there, I saw a few disappointed people.

When I went towards the end of 2002, it had recently been redecorated. The décor is very stylish, particularly downstairs by the Koi Carp Lounge and Atrium Pool.

FACILITIES
There is lots to do at the Sanctuary. Almost too much! When I went, I took advantage of:
- the Atrium Pool (a beautiful, shallow pool surrounded by greenery). It is famous for the swing and while I was there, several women were swinging naked on it (you do not need to wear swimming costumes)!
- a proper Exercise Pool, with running machines, stairmasters etc inside the pool (did not linger there too long as after all, the purpose of the day is to relax, not work out!)
- a Whirlpool, which looked a bit dirty to me with cracking tiles, but perhaps they had not got around to renovating it yet
- the Spa restaurant (yummy, healthy but expensive)
- the Koi Carpe lounge, where you can relax on loungers, pillows, comfy chairs and read all the many magazin
es around
- plentiful lockers, showers and places to dry your hair
- a shop to buy all the products (you can also try them all on beforehand)

I did not use the following facilities, but they do have: a Rasul Room (for mud packs and steam baths), a Steam Room, a Sanarium, and Sauna.

TREATMENTS
The Sanctuary offers a range of treatments: facials, scrubs, body polishing, pedicures, massages. There must be at least 30 possible options. Although the cost is more for a longer treatment, I would recommend having ones that last at least 50 minutes because you have only just begun to relax with the shorter treatments (25-30 minutes) and then they are over!

I had two treatments:

(1)THE PRESCRIPTION FACIAL: I chose this treatment, because it is supposed to be custom designed to suit your skin. The therapist begins by looking at your skin and choosing products that will suit you. She cleanses, tones, exfoliates and then massages. The actual process was the most exquisite treat and felt divine. So if you have a hedonist streak in you, you will love it! But, within six hours, my skin felt very irritated and I believe it did more harm in the long run than good. (55 minutes at £49) The good news is you get to choose a free cleanser or toner from the downstairs shop.
(2)MARMA FOOT TREATMENT: Cannot fault it. It felt so good. I was a bit worried that because I am so tickly that I would spend the whole time giggling and squirming, but it was perfect! You get a foot scrub, massage and moisturing treatment. They do not paint your nails. As above, you also get a free foot product (I got the scrub) from the shop downstairs. It lasts 25 minutes and costs £25

DRAWBACKS
So what are the drawbacks apart from the huge expense? Although the staff are very pleasant, I could not help feeling like it was a bit of a production line. When I went, the treatments were running late so the therapists appeared somewhat harassed. They al
so cut
down the time of the treatment (I guess to make up for time), meaning that you weren?t getting your full value for money.

The biggest anti-climax for me though was the room of massaging armchairs. I cannot remember the name of the room, but it is above the Koi Carpe lounge and you have to book in a time as soon as you arrive (it is free and therefore very popular). Basically, at your allotted time, you go up to the room and sit in a large chair (much like the big ones in 1st class on airplanes, not that I would know!) You can listen to relaxing music and there are lovely candles around the room. Sounds good? The chair then starts vibrating up and down your back. You can control the speed, but even so, I have to say I found it blooming painful even on the lowest speed! I have never in my life had a back problem and am still in my twenties, but I found it the most uncomfortable experience ever! Since it was the last thing I did for the day, perhaps it left me with a less than fantastic impression of the Sanctuary and hence why I am only giving 3 stars.

The other drawback with the Sanctuary is that on the day I was there it was quite noisy with groups of businesswomen conducting strategy meetings in the lounge, swimming pools, restaurant, everywhere! Ok, they were in their slippers and robes, but they were still discussing work! I know of several people who have gone there on so-called strategy days to relax, bond and discuss ways forward for their organisation. I guess it is like how some men forge business negotiations over golf. But honestly, in the shower?

WHAT TO BRING
- a relaxed peace of mind
- any books you want to read (they provide TONS of up-to-date glossy magazines, so do not bother bringing a magazine)
- swimming costume/bikini (although you do not need one and as mentioned earlier, many women walk around the pools naked!)
- some form of footwear suitable for walking around wet pool areas

TH
EY PROVIDE:
- lockers for all your clothes
- bathrobe
- clear plastic bag to put everything you need for the day
- lots of Sanctuary products everywhere in the changing room, so no need to bring shampoos, shower gels, moisturisers etc!

For more information, see their website: www.thesanctuary.co.uk

CONCLUSION
I enjoyed my day at the Sanctuary and there were elements of it that I found very relaxing. However, it is hugely expensive (as I am sure many London spas are) and rather crowded. Therefore I would only go again if it was a present. If I had to pay with my own money, I would go elsewhere. I hear from friends that the Spa at Mandarin Oriental hotel in London is much better and because it is smaller you feel much less like you are on a factory line and also avoid the chattering businesswomen forging deals and the hen parties! I would be interested to hear ops from anyone who has been to the Mandarin Spa as to how it compares! In conclusion: I was pampered and did enjoy relaxing by the pool with a magazine, but left feeling irritated, both at the cost, how crowded it is and the fact that actually some of the treatments were not that great after all. If you have a partner, I am sure you can create the same effect by lying in the bath, with candles, reading a magazine and then when you come out, ask your partner kindly for a massage! Same degree of relaxation and you will have saved over 150 pounds!

Summary: