05/20/09

disappointing

by quietmouse33

I was very disappointed in Bliss World at the W Hotel. I have been to several spas in SF and really enjoy the experience. I enjoy soaking the tubs, steaming in the steam rooms, hanging out in the common areas, and mostly I enjoy feeling relaxed and luxurious. Unfortunately Bliss World offered none of these things. There is no hot tub, no steam sauna, no dry sauna, and definitely no relaxation or luxury. The locker area is tiny. There is virtually no vanity area. The common area is cramped and bare bones. The entire place with the exception of the treatment rooms is brightly lit. I never knew I could feel comfortable in a spa but I did there. It's like the McDonald's of spas. They want you to get in and get out. No lingering. Apparently that is actually part of their business plan. It's a NYC philosophy of spas. Had I known that I would never had visited. The price is higher than much better spas in the city. The massage I had was excellent but that's all I can say. I recommend trying Burke Williams spa in the Westfield center if you want a nice experience. It's pricey too but actually less so than Bliss World and much more comfortable.

• Pros: good massage, good location
• Cons: uncomfortable, spare, pricey

04/12/08

keeps getting worse

by celso

I arrived for my waxing appointment having been shopping. When I checked in, I wasn't offered a locker so I asked if I could have one. They guy at the desk said, no, lockers are only for customers who need to change into a robe. Then the guy said, "Do you need the restroom?" I said yes, to which he bizarrely responded "Oh, good!"

I finished up in there, and was waiting in the lobby, completely ignored by the staff. Everyone else there, including two people who had no services but were just waiting for friends, had a cup of tea or a bottle of water.

Finally, fifteen minutes after my appointment was supposed to have started, I walked up to the desk and asked the gal there if she know how late they were running. Her response was, "Yeah, we had a problem with the schedule. Yeah, we're late." No apology, no actual time estimate.

A few minutes later I walked back up and said that I had a flight to catch that evening and things to do and that I needed to know how much longer they'd be. She responded with, "Well, I don't know. Probably soon." Still no apology or anything.

At that point, I was fed up. I told her I was leaving, and that I expected not to be charged as a no show. She said, "Well, sure. You were here. I guess you'll hear from the manager." A week later, and having emailed customer service (since I couldn't get a phone number), I've heard nothing back. I'm also having my credit card company fight the charge, since I was in fact charged for the appointment.

• Pros: great products - buy them elsewhere though
• Cons: terrible customer service

01/03/08

blah

by sallysally11

I came here with excitement and high expectations and left feeling very disappointed. The treatments were very cleverly named and the facility is nice, but it just felt too corporate for me. Over the years of bliss getting so big and well known they've lost their need or care to make the customer feel special and appreciated which is a plus of a spa day for me. I don't have anything to complain about treatment wise per say, but nothing to rave about either. the whole day was just lack-luster. Doubt I will be returning to this location.

• Pros: beautiful facility, good products
• Cons: price, treatments

12/20/07

First time visit pretty good

by roostar

My first visit to Bliss...I had a massage with Irene, and it was honestly one of the better massages I have had...a good massage depends so much on the practitioner, no matter how many amenities the locker room has, or what kind of cheese they have in the waiting area.

She was very intuitive - my muscles needed a little special work, and she zoned right in on what I needed. She has a very refined and deliberate style - I didn't feel rushed at all.

Didn't feel pressure to upgrade - the extras were just offered - and I know that is what they are required to do - everyone gets more money when they upsell, and I really do want to know what my options are...

The parafin foot pack is nice, nothing to write home about

The spa itself is very nice...I really like that the locker room had all sorts of stuff, and the steam shower is really a cool perk.

The front desk staff was nice - and even though the gal was on the phone when I got there, she acknowledged me right away (I hate it when they don't) and gave me a clear tour of the place, and told me clearly what I was supposed to do and where to do it.

They have put so much attention into the services, the waiting area, and the locker...but (I know this is nit-picky) the hallways and floors look like a hospital...despite the hip floral arrangements - when I got off the elevator, I thought I was on a maintenance floor.

I guess my point is - that the overall experience is pretty good - but I definitely noticed that someone forgot about making it continuous - maybe a coat of warm paint....soft lighting, bamboo flooring?

10/03/07

Mediocre facial services/Nail services stink

by nic_ca

I've been to several Bliss Spas in NY and to the SF spa once. I love their products, I've just never been impressed by the spas. Their facial treatments are fine, nothing special and while the techs seem to be trained in the Bliss way, they don't seem to be very experienced overall.

The chairs they make you sit in for nail services are HORRIBLE! I seriously couldn't wait for the treatment to end. Not only is the chair uncomfortable, you get treated to a half hour of isometric exercises trying to keep your foot up on a flimsy stool while the tech works on it. It might look chic and clean, but it's just uncomfortable. To top it off, the polish started peeling off my $90 pedicure after 1 day.

There are too many other good spas/manicurists out there to waste your money here.

• Pros: Nice products
• Cons: Expensive for the skill level of the techs and very uncomfortable nail service chairs

08/10/07

blah

by langl

Stick to buying their products in Sephora. Bliss is a pretty spa, but over priced and seem bored and have a lack of care about their treatments. I like their products but will go elsewhere for services.

11/30/06

Jeez...What a disappointment

by lovelylockes

I have been going to a spa near Union Sq. for quite some time for services but decided to try out Bliss after a recent trip to New York. (Bliss is everywhere in that city) ALthough the brand is marketed well and the packaging is cute, the spa experience was less than enjoyable to say the least. I booked an oxygen facial and a Hot cream mani. When I arrived I was surprised to find how LOUD the lobby music was. Sort of like a Techno kind of music and I found the facility to be sterile and not very inviting. The staff at the desk never said, "hello", while talking with me never even made eye contact and overall were not friendly. I felt as if I were "putting them out" by having them tell me where the locker room was. The oxygen mask during the facial was a new spin on the steam I usually get but the application of products and massage made the whole thing seem forced and rushed. I got my mani and it was fine, nothing special. The polish did last almost two weeks however I don't attribute that to the technician. What I do attribute to the technician is the deep cut under one of my fingernails and peeling around my cuticles that started two days after I got the mani. The spa snacks in the lounge room were not refreshed by the time I got to the room and looked well-picked thru and not appetizing. Overall,I wish this place was worth the money I spent. I would classify this as a waste of my hard earned money and cannot bare to chance the next experience being equally or even remotely as bad. I will not go back and do not reccomend this spa. I'll head back to my spa spot on Sutter and pretend like Bliss never happened.

• Pros: The products make great gifts
• Cons: There isn't enough space

11/11/06

I visited because I like spas and this one has a lot of hype

by rarthur

I visited because I like spas and this one has a lot of hype, but I think I must be too old or something. Unlike a previous reviewer who mentioned that the music wasn't wasn't working the day she was there I found that the music was working entirely too well during my visit. So well that possibly the previous mentioned instance might have been sabotage :)

Anyway, perhaps the best description of my visit is to say that apparently it isn't only the manicure tools that are on a conveyor belt....

Now admittedly I did visit because of the "buzz" surrounding this spa, and I'd have to say that I'm probably not the demographic that they are aiming at. (I'm definitely a little too old, and definitely from the wrong zip code, so your perecption of your experience might be entirely different than mine ... a sort of reverse twist on "caveat emptor."

The entire enviroment, while hip, is too sterile for my taste (I like a spa to be welcoming and have some humanity to it!) and the entire experience too rushed. True there are a ton of products to try, and I guess the brownies are OK, but the whole zen-like spa thing that I'd expect from a spa called "bliss" is entirely missing - it's not there when you walk in (quite the opposite) it's not there in the locker rooms, or the waiting area, and, sadly it wasn't there during my massage either.

• Pros: Clean
• Cons: Just not my kind of place, expensive for the experience, parking was a bit difficult

10/19/06

Great for a Special Occassion

by s891

I LOVE bliss and you'll love it too if you like products! I have been twice. The first was for a facial which was good, not great. They didn't incorporate much massage into it which was a bummer. Plus, the radio wasnt working that afternoon so there was no music.

The second time I went for a massage which was AMAZING!!

The best part about the bliss experience= the brownies that are in the "rest room." I could go back just for those alone. They are to die for.

• Pros: brownies, fabulous Bliss products to choose from, ambiance
• Cons: pricey, parking is hard

10/04/06

Awesome brazilian

by kfredericks

They use a special wax and my brazilian was almost painless! I couldn't believe it! In fact, it was such a pleasant surprise compared to how dreaded and tense I usually get before a brazilian, the waxer actually told me that I looked very relaxed. -Because I was!

Facial was great as well. They use an oxygen mask instead of a steamer, which was also a welcome switch from the norm.

• Pros: yummy finger foods in the waiting room.
• Cons: everything is very white, but it does look very clean