I went to a massage spa last week that I found on Google Maps—it had a generic name like “Wellness Oriental Touch” and 4.7 stars with almost 400 reviews. That seemed reputable enough. I booked under my initials and paid in cash, as I prefer to keep personal services discreet.
My therapist, a woman named “Mimi,” greeted me and led me into a room lit with pink bulbs and a small tabletop fountain. I assume it was part of an Eastern healing aesthetic. I was a little surprised when she asked me to undress completely, but I didn’t want to seem culturally insensitive.
The massage was effective, although unstructured. At one point she asked if I “needed more stress relief” while touching my thigh. I assumed this was part of some deeper muscle work and just grunted noncommittally.
After about 40 minutes, she made a strange hand gesture and said, “You want full service now?” I told her I was already getting a full massage and wasn’t sure what else was included. She laughed and said, “Okay, maybe next time, you think about it.”
She handed me a paper cup of lukewarm water, bowed, and said “Very good client, thank you.”
I tipped her 30% because I wasn’t sure if declining the “extra” service was offensive. I’ve since been told by a coworker that this may not have been a fully licensed therapeutic facility.
Should I leave a review clarifying that the massage was good but the atmosphere was confusing? Or just let others find out for themselves?