Spa Claremont

So far I’ve had an overpriced lackluster massage, and now really rude people on the phone. They don’t have their shit together at all unfortunately. Save your money.

Overall: I will NOT be returning to the Claremont spa (details below). I saved for a big spa day, and after shelling out $ 500+ for services, I left feeling disappointed. I wrote to the manager of Claremont Spa about my poor experience, but never heard back.
Services:
Facial and scrub: excellent! It was obvious that they were experienced, professional providers and their services left me feeling «pampered». Those two providers understand how to provide a high quality spa experience!
Massage: Poor & disappointing. The massage routine literally reflected your neighborhood reflexology massage– not soothing, at times rigorous, shaking my joints, and missing entire parts of the body. I remember thinking during the massage, where is the quality control at this spa? I left feeling like I wasted $ 160 + 19% automatic gratuity.
Amenities: I specifically chose Claremont spa because it offered hydrotherapy and a eucalyptus steam sauna — and neither were functioning correctly. Immediately entering the women’s spa locker room, I noticed a strong chlorine smell everywhere. There was so much chlorine treatment in the whirlpool, I could only sit in it for 15 seconds. The jets turned on and the bubbles were releasing chemicals that burned my sinuses and lungs. This was not a relaxing, so I moved to the steam room, which lacked any eucalyptus. Products in vanity area are low quality, and you have to ask for a razor or showercap? The robe was huge and scratchy feeling (more fabric softener please!). Dining credit was included, but there was no communication between the spa and dining– I had to ask when they handed me the restaurant bill.
Staff: excellent! attentive, friendly and locker room well stocked. top quality tea and OJ (this may not mean much, but the little things matter in a spa experience).
I really wish the massage and amenities didn’t taint my entire experience, but it did. I left Claremont Spa feeling cheated because it is so hard to swallow that I paid top-​notch price for such a flawed experience. For reference, my prior spa experience has been with Burke Williams, which I use their services maybe once a year as a treat. They are doing the spa experience better and charge their clients less. I hope under the new ownership, Fairmont will invest a little bit more in elevating the quality of the spa.

Returned for my second prenatal massage today and must rave about Amy! She was very experienced in prenatal positioning, had a relaxing presence, and a very thorough style. It’s tough to find a good prenatal massage that doesn’t leave you feeling somehow cheated out of a full-​body experience, but she nailed it.
The spa itself is 5-​star all the way. Stunning views, luxurious stylings, and impeccable amenities. Can’t wait to come back!

I would give four stars if I were rating the spa staff (not reception or therapist). Yet, the overall experience was two stars. My massage therapist was late, making hands on treatment 40 – 45 minutes. She genuinely wanted to give a good massage but was not in a category I expected for the price. I had decided to tip her 10%, still a good sum for the price, but when I checked out, a 20% tip was applied. When I told the receptionist I felt the service was worth less he ignored me and told me it was generally accepted to give that amount. (I made the appointment directly with the spa and as not informed of this policy). And yes, I agree I have tipped more for a very good massage and experience, which this was not.

Wow. I’m reeling over what I was just told by the (used to be) infamous Claremont Spa. Purchased a Groupon a while back for a facial. Called to make an appt. The receptionist was confused and kept asking if I was a guest at the hotel «no, I live about a mile away, not a guest.» When I explained the Groupon thing she comes back with ‘oh, you have to be a guest at the hotel.” HUH? Nowhere on the voucher is that said. Then she comes back with ‘oh you must be talking about the Claremont Spa in southern California.” WTF? No, it says OAKLAND right on the voucher. Now I’m getting mad. She comes back again with you have to book through the hotel. Wait, I book a facial through the same people I request a king sized bed from? Makes no sense. Finally takes my number and says someone will call me back. Ten mins later she (not a manager) calls me back. No, you can’t use the Groupon unless you are a guest of the hotel. Wow, that’s amazing.
They’re currently running a special with Groupon — obviously they need the business. I’ve had good luck with Groupon refunding $$ and hope same will be true. They’ve totally gone downhill. Stay away.

I wanted to update. I wrote this review, as well as one on their website. I was contacted by spa manager Anthony. He handled my issue beyond my expectations. He was professional, understanding and made this «wrong» «right». Very nice to see a business handle an unsatisfied customer so well.

Again, I’m not sure why this is seen as a luxury spa. The staff was lovely. They did their best but they aren’t trained like staff at higher end establishments. My service in the wet room was good enough. The technician was kind and professional. I was just disappointed with the spa itself. No spa water?!! No razors, no shower caps. They lady at the front desk thought I was crazy when i asked for face soap. She suggested I use the body soap. No face lotion either, no toner, or sunblock. No hair products except hair spray. Only those little combs for men. And the spa itself was sweltering hot and humid. Prices are that of higher end spas. I was also surprised not that an 18% gratuity is included (or forced) by the house gets a percent too. Not sure how they can justify that since they are getting the majority of the spa service cost anyway. Felt a little taken by the whole experience.

I used to go to the Spa regularly until the hotel was sold and is now owned by the Fairmont. Prices for services increased dramatically and the schedule for services on the weekend was limited dramatically, making going to the spa almost impossible. The Spa requires a percentage of your gratuity to go to all staff– not just your person providing the service. You have no choice in the matter. I have a steady service person I like to use and can never book with him. Moreover, the person answering the phone at the Spa was unhelpful and unprofessional, hanging up on me once. I am not going back and will get my services at another Spa instead. It is too bad, because I really really liked my service provider.

Never go on a holiday, or special celebration days like Mother’s Day. It was so crowded that the experience was the opposite of relaxing. I was avoiding people left and right in the locker room and the «quiet» area was so loud with chatter. Claremont shouldn’t have booked so many people.
My facial therapist was ok. She kept coughing into her hand and then touching my face, which wasn’t fun. And she wanted to talk the whole time, which was nice and friendly, but not too relaxing.
They charge so much money and it was a sub par experience.

Received a spa gift certificate here for prenatal massage. All other prenatal reviews are true. Massage is just okay as they don’t have the special bump table– just provide pillows to support yourself as you lay on your side. Atmosphere is pleasant, but would recommend elsewhere for prenatal massage. Also they forgot they booked me a female therapist, and introduced me to a male therapist. It was awkward to tell them I preferred a female therapist while I was pregnant, right in front of the man. They adjusted for me, but massage started late.

Five stars for facial with Norine! Based on three visits, all with exceptional results. I came away with revitalized skin, good information about a daily skin régime, and a genuine sense of well being. Norine is smart, trustworthy and talented – essentials in an esthetician.

Feeling generous so I will give 3 stars instead of 2. Based upon the treatment I received today (facial) it was great however, a friend and I were told to go back after checking in with reception– we weren’t showed around and had to wander back towards the reception area to find out where to wait until our appointment time. I had the pure relaxation facial today which was great, however I don’t care for the included 19% gratuity. What incentive is there for the worker to go above and beyond if they are guaranteed a specific tip?
Glad we tried it, but nothing that blew me away

3 hours of free childcare included! (if you have two children, it’s 1.5 hours free — beyond that, it’s $ 24/​hour). Relaxing massage, and great steam-​spa-​deluge shower experience beforehand. When I went, a lot of folks were in bathing suits, some without (like me) — a mix. The rates went up by 20%, as of Oct. 1 — so the gift certificate my friend generously bought me this summer, which had included tip, no longer did!

They have on their spa list — prenatal massage. I scheduled myself for it. They don’t have pregnancy pillows, had me lie on my side, which is what I have to do every night and every time I lay now. Plus you the massage didn’t focus on anything that would be first thoughts of tension in pregnancy — lower back, hips. Neck and shoulder are great to be massaged, but really? Don’t advertise for pregnancy massage if it is just a routine, only okay massage with the only change is me lying on my side.

Holy crap, I don’t deserve this!
They’re a little pricey, to be sure, but for the quality it’s a bargain. I got there right as my massage started, which meant that I couldn’t take advantage of the showers and spa beforehand. I made a note to hit that up later.
David is a magic man! He was very professional, gently guiding me from the waiting room to the massage room with his hand on my back as though I were a cherished child.
The Swedish massage was amazing. David hit all of my tension without causing any pain, and I’ve had a few really uncomfortable massages in my day. I think he could tell when I seized up in anticipation of pain, and then he would back right off. I asked him to focus a little on my shoulders, which he did without ignoring the rest of my body. Other points I really enjoyed: scalp massage, foot massage and forehead massage. I would have enjoyed if he’d used the same technique on my hands as on my feet, but perhaps that effort went to the shoulders. no complaints here.
After my massage, David guided me back to the locker rooms where I learned an important lesson: rich people use a LOT of water! The shower had nine heads!!! It was crazy and I’m still not sure it’s necessary. I personally didn’t find it any more comfortable that a single-​headed shower, and I fretted the whole time about the drought. Well, admittedly, I could have used the single-​headed wand, but didn’t. ;-)
Then there was the spa. Clothing optional, but I was the only person who was nude. I was too relaxed to feel awkward. Jets, amazing view, wet towels with ice on them… What more could I want? Validated parking. Which they have. Jam!
One more note: I forgot my wallet at home and they were TOTALLY cool about it. I didn’t realize until I was already in the parking lot 15 minutes before my massage, which was nowhere near enough time to run home for it. I scrounged up a few documents from my car (insurance, work badge), and the manager let me use the credit card on file. I appreciate that. In a world where no one trusts each other, the faith was quite refreshing. And so was the cucumber ice water.

I took my daughter to Spa Claremont and stayed at the hotel for two nights. I live in CT and my daughter is now living in SF. This was a 25^th birthday present for her so we were willing to pay a little more to have a grand, memorable experience. Also, we were given a 15% discount because of being a birthday gift! In our opinion, Spa Claremont delivered.
Beforehand I had spoken with several very helpful associates on the phone to help select the three treatments we would each receive. As the timing turned out, in happened to be Valentine’s Day weekend and so I was warned that the spa could be quite crowded. We opted to begin our treatments early Saturday afternoon and though it was busy, we never felt like there were too many other people in the lounge or whirlpool at any given time. The locker/​changing areas were clean, well appointed. Each of our treatments began exactly on time.
My daughter and I each had a 50 Min Deep Tissue Massage. My daughter’s female technician, apparently talked more than my daughter liked. My male technician was fantastic. I’ve never tried deep tissue and he told me to speak up if it got too painful. My sense is that he could can go much, much deeper but adjusted to be just right for me. I was completely satisfied with my massage. I had the Moor Mud Wrap which was heavenly and my daughter had the Ginseng Herbal Facial which she said was SO great.
The last was a Valentine special: Chocolate Covered Strawberries Pedicure. This is the point where I don’t give the review 5 stars. I’d called ahead to make sure that a nail repair could be done. I was assured on the phone that this would not be a problem. Once there, the technicians said they were not equipped to do this type of repair on my toe and the best they could do was to re-​glue my previous repair. I wasn’t happy about this because I knew it wouldn’t last… and in 4 days it popped off. There was no light in the area to select the colors so it was hard to see. The big pedicure chairs had controls for back massages but you could barely tell they were turned on. I think they were broken or burned out. I think next time I would skip the pedi and opt for another spa treatment.
Overall, we felt completely pampered and loved our afternoon at the Spa. It was really nice to be staying there because we were both so relaxed and wanted to make it last! The Claremont is a grand, legendary resort that delivered in service and style. Perhaps we’ll do this again for my daughter’s 30^th!

I couldn’t even get past the receptionist!
My friend gave me Spa Ritual passes for my birthday (unfortunately for me, I’m born in December and these passes expire at the end of the year).
When I called to try and schedule an appointment, the receptionist told me that the pass wasn’t valid on the weekends. This was not stated in the fine print of the voucher that I read multiple times. She told me that’s how it’s always been.
She kept telling me that they were too busy and full for the month of December. I was going to ask her if there was any way I could schedule something by next week and she told me they were full and hung up.
Wow. I am shocked about how horrible it was to try and schedule an appointment. It’s surprising to me that she didn’t even want to try and work with me. Maybe it is better I didn’t get the appointment, I’m not sure if I want to see what their services are like.

Jeez, you guys. After reading so many negative reviews on here, I was ready for the disappointment, the regret, the unfulfilled feeling of wasted time and money that a bad spa experience can deliver. Let me say that I had a great experience, and while it wasn’t a five-​star time, it is a solid and surprisingly good four with a low handicap and some realistically grounded expectations. This is a AAA Four Diamond property, after all – it’s not amateur hour in here, and the building is literally (almost) 100 years old, so everybody just calm it down.
First of all, you can tell a ton about a spa (particularly a hotel spa) by discovering its location on the property. (Seriously, try to figure out from a Ritz Carlton website where exactly within the hotel the spa is. It’s like playing Battleship.) Spa Claremont is located on the S level of the hotel, where it and a small boutique comprise the whole level of the building footprint. In short, they have devoted serious square footage to having a big enough spa complex to offer a broad array of amenities, services and treatment rooms. Great, okay – at some point someone pitched having a big spa and management went for it, but how well is it kept up when I turn up for my manicure/​massage/​facial?
The answer, based on my visit, is pleasantly surprising. From the check-​in area to the lounge room to the lockers, everything was not just clean, but truly well-​appointed. The big bonus of hotel spas is that they have access to a hotel property’s food and beverage wares, and the offerings were on point with those expectations. Side note: if you have never had the Claremont’s fresh-​squeezed orange juice, you have not lived. It remains my favorite after exhaustive testing while traveling. Do yourself a favor – never pass up the O.J. there! All areas feature new granite, beautiful tile work, fresh carpeting and paint, and spotless fixtures and signage. In short: they are keeping the place up, which again is no small job in a 99 year-​old structure.
As hotel guests, we didn’t pay rack rates for our spa time, so I can’t really say if it’s worth it if you’re simply attending as a spa-​only guest. But I will say that the area and the service folk I interacted there with were worth a premium. Pleasant but unobtrusive (as spa staff should be), they definitely respect your time while making available all the tactile amenities that a plush spa visit should offer: crisp handfruit, fluffy towels, icy water, an array of fresh toiletries, etc. Also, the background music was actually relaxing and not cheesy, which when selected seemingly at random can be seriously distracting in less specific venues.
For me: good experience, good value, good real estate. I won’t tell other Unilocalers to lighten up, but they’ll get my business (and recommendations) again.

Just had a massage and facial here and both were fantastic. I would highly recommend it.
One note on the massage… my massage therapist had an allergy to hair and put a pillow case over my head. But, continued to sound sick and sigh heavily throughout the massage (almost like when you are super tired and/​or bored).
Otherwise, it was good.
That is all.

Nice experience, but not quite worth the money. Prices are on the higher side since the spa is a part of the Claremont Hotel.
I booked a 50 minute deep tissue massage and my sister got the oxygen facial. Since we booked the day before, I had to accept an appointment with a male masseuse. He was nice, but the experience was a little less than ideal. The massage was OK, but I wouldn’t go back here for another massage service. My sister liked her facial better, so I might recommend their skin care services over their massages.
The other spa amenities are nice. Nice, clean showers, a large sauna, and deluge shower. We had access to the «pre-​spa» with our room package already, so if I were to come back, I might skip the massage and just treat myself to a little R&R in the steam room and pools. Overall, I had a nice, relaxing day at the Claremont Spa; however, I think it was a one-​time experience for me.