Watercourse Way
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 8:30 a.m.-11:00 p.m. - Price Range: $$
- Accepts Credit Cards: Yes
- Parking: Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible: Yes
- Accepts Insurance: No
- By Appointment Only: Yes
10 reviews
Redwood City, CA
"Update: I went back there today for a short deep tissue massage and it was great; it was a good thing I didn't have to drive right after…" read more »
265 Reviews for Watercourse Way
A bachelorette party ended in the hot tubs tonight and we found it to be the perfect way to wind down. Clean, new and cared for. What more coudl you want from an hourly rented room?
I haven't tried any of the spa treatments or massages, but the private tub rooms are amazing and quite a bargain. For $23 (evening rates), you can really get away from everything and relax in a huge hot tub with a shower and a little bed as well (Room #4). The website shows all the rooms and you can see that each one is unique.
My wife and I frequently come to Palo Alto for dinner and plan on making Watercourse part of those evenings.
I can't say I am a SPA whore, but I have indulged in a few Spa days over the years I have lived in the BAY, but just a few...
Some good friends of mine love to give me and my hun gift cards to this place. They love the hot tubs and convinced us to take a lovely hour in one of the many special spa rooms. They are actually pretty nice, in a seductive Asian way of course (wink wink). Since then, I have come back for a facial (facial was good, but the esthetician gave little feedback about my personal skin care questions) and today for a deep tissue massage. The receptionists have always been attentive and helpful on the phone and when arriving.
Kristen was my massage therapist: She was amazingly gentle while going deep into the muscles. Great personality, and ultra sweet. She encouraged me to tell her about my problem areas and was very intuitive on top of that. It was like she read my mind! Additionally, she used different oils and added heat when needed. Hands down, this was the best table massage I have had up to date.
Malcolm's massage therapist was Jenny: I specifically requested for deep tissue massages when making reservations and Kristen and Jenny were highly recommended, and had openings at the same time.
Hallelujah! Can I get an AMEN?!
AMEN!
Apparently, Jenny ate her Wheaties for the last 15 years and was able to go extra deep into Malc's muscles. She noted that she does Yoga and is able to direct her strength into muscles without excessive effort. He was amazed and ultra relaxed afterwards.
Can't wait for round 2, Fight Fight Fight!
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I can't say enough about this spa. It's my favorite spa in the bay area and I've recommended it as many people I can. The interior design/ambiance, quality of service, and prices are phenomenal.
The rooms are clean, well designed, and typically you can chose the theme of your room (I recommend dragonfly during the day). The great thing is that you can have more than one person in the rooms with you... good for bachelorette parties, anniversaries, and birthdays... or no reason at all but to relax.
As for the massages, it's a 'hit and miss' as of any spa until you find the 'key' massage therapist. I've been going to Watercourse for 6 years and I've only found one of my experiences to be so/so... that says a lot!
The best thing is that you don't feel rushed in such a relaxing atmosphere and you can have a different experience since all the rooms are themed differently. It makes you compelled to go back for more!
We love the tubs, but my last (and only) massage there was only meh.
Next time, we'll just tub it.
(important note: I have the world's best massage therapist, and she has ruined me for any others. The massage therapist at Watercourse was not BAD, but I've had better. I really shouldn't review massages because they have all stunk since I found my regular gal. Too bad I have to drive to icky Tracy to see her, but she is worth the drive, I swear. Look her up--- her name is Melinda Black and she works above Hair Illusions at 1015 Central Avenue).
Ok, there you have it.
As an admitted novice to spas and spa culture, this place was an excelent introduction. The girl invited me, and promised that I would like it. Turns out, she was right!
We started with a private sauna room, the Nine Bats. This was just awesome. Full steam bath, full sauna, cold plunge. The whole thing was private, unrushed and had awesome technology. We could dim the lights, choose between music and basically create just about any atmosphere we wanted. In the future I would like to try some of the other rooms, as thay all have different amenities and themes.
After bathing for an hour we were summoned for our massages upstairs. The girl had made an appointment for me to be worked on by a man, Steven, and he was great. He gave me a deep tissue, and it was really relaxing. The man is a pro, and he put up with my babbling and questions without so much as a complaint.
Pretty good spa, not much of a waiting area - I guess you get what you pay for. No sauna for you to sit in or steam room, or even many products to offer you after a shower - not like Burke Williams. The therapist was pretty good but it seems pretty deserted and a little messy in the lobby.
Even the tea and water in the front seemed a bit oddly placed, I don't really care if your water is well filtered through a sink, but I'd prefer it in a nice little pitcher or a nice bottle.
This is THE best spa/hot tub place I've been to in the Bay area/South Bay and one of my favorites in the country. The private hot tub rooms are gorgeous, clean and relaxing. I really feel like I'm in another world when I'm there. I haven't tried any of the spa treatments yet, but I'm sure that'll change soon.
Best deep tissue massage i've ever had was here. Kimiko is awesome. Uses a lot of pressure and really works the knots out. Place is nice, but not as nice as Burke's. And the fact that it's slightly tainted with the reputation of being "intercourse way".
Aside from that, I give it 5* on the quality of the massage alone.
My gosh, I thought I had died and gone to heaven!!! I found out about Watercourse Way Spa through Yelp and so glad I did. I was first impressed with Watercourse Way's informative and detailed website... so I knew exactly what kind of massage to ask for and plan on to suit my budget. I was even able to ask for a customized massage exactly to how I wanted.
The front desk staff were very professional, helpful and followed up with a confirmation phone call. All I had to do was look forward to my massage later that week.
For someone like me, that's not a "regular gal" with spas but did so as a special occasion birthday treat --- LOVED the relaxed, natural and zen atmosphere! So inviting... feels like a retreat especially with the cool statues and trickling water.
Best of all - I had an amazing massage by Fen. She was absolutely wonderful and I will definitely ask for her again. My message felt very personalized to my body-type and she did so much in just an hour - hot towels, a little Shiatsu and a Swedish massage.
I can guarantee that I'll be back again long before my next birthday!!
This place is beautiful. I was led through an area where they were in the midst of construction, but what can you do. At least it was quiet and relaxing within the room. I really liked my massage, too. I'm sure it depends on the masseuse. I cannot wait to book a tub room!
This is my favorite spa because of its tranquil setting and customer service oriented employees and cutesy gift area. For the best massage, request Maria.
If you don't want to go too far to enjoy a day of R n R and you don't want to spend an arm and a leg, then Watercourse Way is the place to go.
It's great to get a bunch of girls together and share one of the hot tub rooms and then each go their separate ways to enjoy their massage. Then go out to one of the many great restaurants in Palo Alto or enjoy a wonderful Fro-Yo at Red Mango! hehe
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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03/04/2008
I love this place. I've been there with a bunch of girlfriends for a girls day out. We'd have the… Read more »
I thoroughly enjoyed myself and what a beautiful room 9 Bats is! Highly recommend any room with cold plunge cuz' you're gonna need it! BF was not happy about being taken to a spa with middle aged women, said he did not like to feel gay...whatever!
Room for improvement is some cubby's to put your clothes and shoes.
Loved the steam and will definitely go back!
Went here for the first time. We were hoping to find a soaking tub, but this is probably as good as it gets. The customer service was good. I called to learn more about their tubs and the person on the phone with me was patient. We arrived a little early and was able to start relaxing in the tub right away. However, the water was a too hot for us. If we come back again, I would probably request for the water to be cooler. Too bad we can't put bath bombs in there!
I wanted to like this place... I heard so many great things from so many people.
I purchased a gift certificate for my mother here about 1 1/2 years ago - while they were doing all sorts of remodeling. I didn't know what kind of effect that would have on the ambiance or vibe of the visit.
My mother made an appointment for a massage. From the second she walked in she said she felt rushed and not at all at ease. The room they put her in for the massage was obviously one that was in the midst of reconstruction. Not only that, but it was loud in that particular location and she could not relax. She requested another room but was told there was nothing available. A massage is supposed to be relaxing - it is aimed to be a time away from stress and troubles of everyday life.... the cold, loud room was not providing that atmosphere.
After her massage she approached the front desk and expressed her dissatisfaction to what she thought was the manager. The woman said, "oh, sorry - yes we are in the middle of a remodel". That is all she said... that was it. No attempt to remedy the situation, nothing.
I guess I can understand that things can get overbooked and/or mistakes can happen, but making no attempt to fix and/or make up for the experience/situation seemed very unprofessional.
If I wanted my mother to enjoy a massage in a loud, cold room that is in shambles, I would not have paid $150 for it.
The massages there can be hit or miss depending on the masseuse. But I highly recommend Kiyomi, she's really great.
I found this place from yelp and booked an appointment 2 weeks in advance for tub room #9 (which according to what I read here is the best room). I redeemed a $50 spafinder giftcertificate from my Discover card, which was great because I got $50 for a $40 reward. I didn't have problem with the phone reservation, it was quick and easy.
I arrived right on my appointment time. Check in was quick, total was $56 for 2, so I only paid $6 on my credit card. The room was not ready yet, our host apologized several times, not a problem for us since we thought we were running late ourselves. We got into our room about 15 minutes later.
Because it was our first time we didn't know what to expect. After we closed the door, we were like, OK so this is it? for one hour ? I wanted to wash my face first before going into the steam room (remove make up), but there was no sink / mirror, and I didn't bring my facial cleanser either. I should have known better next time. And I also was wondering if afterwards I would be able to dry my hair because we were planning to go to dinner afterwards. It turns out they didn't have hairdryer. Luckily I had a small comb in my purse to brush my hair afterwards.
But regardless of all that... We both loved it!! My hubby thought the hot tub temperature was not hot enough after a while, but in order to adjust the temperature we need to call them using the intercom, and we didn't bother. The steam room on the other hand was too hot for my husband, but for me it was great. I also loved the cold plunge. It's funny that my husband likes the shower so much I think he spent 15 mins in the shower at the end. We plan to come back and try the other room with a sauna.
I had an Eminence facial here that was just amazing. I mean, they give you a hand massage and even a foot and leg massage along with the facial. Very relaxing-except for the extractions.
I have also been coming here for years for the hot tub part. It has always been a nice place to rent a tub, but since the renovations a few years ago it's really nice inside, and you definitely feel pampered. There are some great features with the decor, like the Five Fishes room has a round fish mosaic set into the wall, with bubbling water running through it, and there's a neat rice paper koi lamp on the wall. They have their own shampoo, conditioner and soap too, that smell really good. My one complaint is that sometimes the hot tub does not feel hot enough. I also don't like having to give my credit card number out when I make the reservation. Other than that, this is a great place.
My wife and I have been fans of Watercourse Way for over 10 years (and 2 remodels ago!).
The rooms are each unique and stunning. Everything is very peaceful to both the eyes and ears. When you close the door on your room, the mini-vacation starts.
I cannot recommend enough getting a room with a cold plunge. After sitting in the sauna/steam room or soaking in the hot tub, jumping (or easing) into the cold water is an amazing feeling and can take away the drowsy feeling you can get from being warm for so long.
I bought my wife a massage gift certificate and she was underwhelmed. That kind of service is so personal and its hard to find a masseuse that is just right for you.
One recommendation: drink water before you arrive! You'll enjoy your stay so much more if you are hydrated.
Did the couples massage with the fiancee and got a deep tissue also (two different visits). The couples massage was really special and it was on Valentine's Day (ok, the day after), so that made it especially nice. It was pretty pricey, however, so it is definitely a special occasion type of thing. The deep tissue massage was decent too, but again it was on the expensive side and there are better massages for less in the area. However, it is worth splurging a little now and then to get the ambiance, especially if you are doing it with the love of your life :)
This is my secret getaway place when I 1) need someplace to unwind w/o traveling too far or shelling out a grip of cash and 2) when I want to have some private time with someone away from the public eye... ;D
I found Watercourse through Yelp (thanks Yelpers!) and viewed their website. The website looked nice, points there. I started reading the more negative reviews just to give me idea of what worst case scenario would be. The common complaint seemed to be lack of customer service but I figured in a place as private as that I would only be dealing with the employees at check in so what the hell, I went ahead and made the call to reserve a room....
I called and yes, I'd have to agree with everyone on the customer service. Their phone etiquette isn't that great BUT it gets the job done. At this point I'm still nervous about what to expect, the phone call didn't leave the best impression.
The day of my reservation (I had booked 2 days in advance) I received a voice mail at 9am from an associate saying they had made a scheduling error and I had to call them ASAP to resolve it. Now I'm even MORE freaked out about checking the place out because the "worst case scenario" that I had envisioned prior to making my appointment seemed to be following through.
I called back and the associate recognized my voice (that was a plus) and apologized over and over and over. Nice. They felt so bad about it and upgraded our room from just a basic tub to the Nine Bats room which they said was the best room in the house. There was no additional charge, the only thing that changed was my room and my tub time... only about 45 minutes later than what I had originally wanted. Not bad!
My BF and I arrive 20 minutes early and take a look around. The interaction between us and the staff was pretty minimal but I was with my BF so it's not like I wanted to chop it up with the staff anyway. Everyone was polite though, not as bad as I was anticipating! As the staff walked us to our room I mentioned that this was our first time and I didn't know how to use all the buttons and switches in there. She laughed at me and explained how to use everything. Me being the worrier that I am asked her to explain it a second time THEN stick around while I reiterated what she said (hey, I was going to be in there for 2 hours! I better know what the hell I'm doing!). She was REALLY nice about it all which I was grateful for! As she was leaving she told me to have fun and pointed out the mini bed at the side of the room.... hahaha!
The room was great! My skin felt so cleansed after using the steam room :). The tub and cold plunge were definitely fun to play in. This is probably the only "girly" place I can take my man where he doesn't feel like a "metro" as he likes to call it. I had SO much fun !!!! Mmmmmm.... :D
The most helpful piece of advice I can give you is remember that you get what you pay for. The rooms are really nice but it's a bath house, don't expect to see anything extravagant. I would recommend bringing someone whom you can have a great conversation with (or more :X) because really, like all places, it's not the place that makes your experience it's the company you have while you're there.
I'm here almost every other week :).
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Hellllloooo, affordable and sanitary spa. I'm no stranger to high-end spas or to the no frills, you're-not-paying-for-ambiance spas, but i have to say, Watercourse way is the best of both worlds. lots of privacy, clean and the prices are reasonable.
minus one star because they kicked us out of our hot tub room too early. BUT, they DID refund us (which is why it wasn't minus 2 stars)
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I was taken here once as a birthday present by my gf.
The suana /steam room was pretty nice, and I really like the fact that there were both hot and cold water tubs in the room we got.
I also like the fact that everything was spotless, clean and sanitary even though it has a reputation of being a "dirty" place.
The place was a great start to a great birthday, I recommend it.
WW has been my go-to spa for years now. I've given dozens of gift certificates since there are 1 hour tub + 1 hour massage packages for a little over $100. On top of the already great value, WW now takes SpaFinder gift certificates which you can buy from Costco ($80 for $100 value).
What sets WW apart from all the other spas are the PRIVATE tub rooms. I've planned a bunch of girls outings for birthdays, bachelorette parties, etc. They can accommodate parties of up to 10 people. It's nice to be able to relax and not have to worry about sharing your tub with strangers...esp. naked strangers. As much as I love my gf's, I make it a requirement that they all wear bathing suits and I try not to imagine how some people may be having *Blind Date* tv show-like moments in those tubs (ahem, Christine).
But seriously, the atmosphere they create is so tranquil...almost a little too kitschy with Zen decor but they're one of the originals having been in the biz since 1980. I've never had any problems with masseuses or the front staff. My favorite room is Six Dragonflies since it has a tub, steam/shower room, and cold plunge (just try it...you might need it to drown yourself when the tiniest of your friends is talking about her dieting plan).
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Ha! Ha! This place is awesome......one of the craziest hours of my life hehehe My husband got us a gift here for Christmas a few years ago and we got the Jacuzzi for an hour which included a steam room and a dry room. The jacuzzi was HUGE. I loved the ambiance and how private it was. Later we both got massages for an hour but by far the hot tub was our favorite part!!! =P We really need to get back there again! The price was very reasonable we felt for what we got there.
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Wow, this place is amazing, everything you could possibly want out of a spa. My boyfriend and I go here all the time, the rooms are excellent, especially those with the cold-plunge and sauna/steam. The themes of the rooms make it an interesting visit because you really feel like you are in a different world. And a very relaxing one at that, with complementary tea. Excellent service, with beds in every room and a knock ten minutes before your time is up. Our favorite rooms include numbers six, eight and nine. I wasn't too impressed with room number three though, its a bit ugly and bland. The price is exactly as it should be, you really get what you pay for! The rooms without steam/sauna are less expensive, however, which is very considerate of them - I don't want to pay more for less. I really recommend you go here, its probably the best tub place in the whole of east and north bay!
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- Two Stones Review -
We found this place thanks to a cold and Yelp!
Pros: Private. Super Cheap. It's about twenty-something per person for an hour. In room we had a GIGANTIC Jacuzzi with a waterfall, a sauna and a twin bed for that special moment :) They have buttons to turn on/off the left and/or right side of the jets of the jacuzzi. Dim/Mood lighting. 3 choices of relaxation music. Shampoo, Conditioner and Body wash dispensers. We had a great time!
Cons: The chlorine is INSANE. The bed could be bigger :) We never found the temperature button for the jacuzzi. They knock on the door 10 minutes before your time is up...they should have a better system for this. The lobby is also their store..they need a real lobby with more seating than those two tiny stone benches.
Overall: Definitely a nice place for some r&r or to spice up your relationship.
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I don't have a bath tub at home. Every once in a while, I want to chill the fuck out.
So I booked an appointment after a particularly stressful day... it's nice. It's warm. There's a little bed area to chill in, if you get too hot.
But there were just three things that I couldn't stand:
1. When you're in warm water for a really long time, you get really thirsty. Problem being that the water dispenser is outside, so you have to put on a towel & go outside to the public hallway area to get cold water, while dripping wet. And the cups aren't that big, so if you get really thirsty again... you get where I'm going with this.
2. I couldn't get the chlorine smell out of my body for a few days. I mean, I get it, people are dirty, chlorine cleans, but... I don't know. I think I'd prefer a claw foot tub that was just drained after each customer. Seriously, that shit stinks. And it takes away from the whole relaxation thing.
3. The Four Waterouzels room basically had ZERO light. Keep in mind this is at 11PM. I mean, it didn't really end up mattering, but I had been counting on light so that I could read while I was in the tub. So to explain the layout of the room: there's an area with a shower on one side & a bed on the other. This area has dim lighting and occupies half of the room. The remaining half is the spa tub. This half of the room is, on a sunny day, lit with natural sunlight. But on a cloudy day, and at night... well, it's just plain creepy.
I will go back, but it won't be any time soon - still can't get the smell of chlorine out of my mind. I think I've been spoiled by Palm Springs spas.
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The facilities are fabulous . . . very zen and serene . . .great way to prepare for a treatment. The massage therapists on the other hand are hit or miss. Try Mke or Jason for a good tension relief massage.
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wow, wow, wow! i got a deep tissue massage here this morning and i feel wooonnndferful! ask for jon, he's awesome!
Great place...love it. In fact, I'll be there next week with my girlfriend to relax and enjoy her birthday.
I would have given it 5 stars if it wasn't for the one massage I received there. I left hurting more than I went in. I told her I played flag football the day before and I was sore from that. So instead of a relaxing massage, she gave me a deep tissue massage (without my blessing). For my first massage ever...it sucked! But I'll give her the benefit of the doubt. I'd just like to enjoy a real/relaxing massage there some time.
But the rooms are great. You get a dark, quiet room with soothing music. The ambiance can't be beat. And it's always clean...that's a plus. It's not some seedy bath house.
Get a room with a hot tub and sauna (or steam room). It's nice to go back and forth and an occasional dip in the cold plunge.
I don't know what more I can add, that hasn't already been stated multiple times, by everyone else! This place is great! I've been coming here for years, and always enjoy it. The folks are great! The rooms are amazing - always clean, always perfect. This is the ideal place to unwind, relax and mellow out. However, be prepared to frequently hear the amorous sounds of passion emanating from the tub rooms as you pass! Evidently, "Intercouse Way" is the place to come (pun intended), to get your groove on!
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I came here for a bridal shower activity... I had the Salt Glow... it was wonderful!!
The next time... was not so good. My bf and I came here for the couples massage. The dry brush hurt so much... and when my bf asked the masseuse to be more gentle on his chest.. the lady told him to take it like a man. I thought that was pretty rude even if she was trying to be funny. After that it was pretty much down hill... the massage was ok... not as good as the first time I came. We left pretty disappointed.
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MY FAVORITE SPA EVER.
I LOVE Watercourse Way.
I've been here 3 times, and every time I came out feeling like puddy...
The Epicuren Facial was amazing, I love the product & the esthetician was so good & personal.
I also had the aromatherapy massage, with pink grapefruit. That was PERFECT. Watercourse Way has some of the best technicians.
The tub rooms are AWESOME. Oh my god! WOW.
Been in almost every spa room they have, the decorations and atmosphere are awesome. Great place to relax. The workers are always friendly and I can't wait to get a massage here. The place is also very reasonably priced for all they offer, it is a little pricey for some things, but not for what you get.
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If you need to chill out for a while, this is a great place. It is a very calm, relaxing space where you can get a cup of tea and relax with a message, facial, steam, sauna, whirlpool, etc. The only downside that I've found is that they really need a lounge type area where you can relax between appointments, or wait for the staff member who will be working with you. Hanging out in the reception area isn't very relaxing. This place can also feel like a little bit of a maze at times, but the staff is always friendly and will help make sure you are headed in the right direction.
I recommend going during the week in the evenings when it it less busy on the weekend, because the place is less hectic and the people doing treatments are less time pressured. Debra is AWESOME - I highly recommend her. Given prices at other spas, this place is very reasonable. And their gift certificates make fantastic presents for birthdays and holidays.
A lot of people have already mentioned the private tub rooms. While I've been there with my husband several times, I've also been there for birthdays, girls night out, bachelorette parties, etc which is a ton of fun as well.
the best place to take your girlfriend or wife to have a good time. The rooms are very relaxing and the staff is very friendly. i have not had a massage yet but from the experiences I had relaxing in the rooms, its a 5 star establishment. The rooms have hot tubs, cold plunges, showers, beds, and saunas. Everything you could want to relax.
This place is FANTASTIC. I've been going for years now, but never had a full spa day until last week. The Oasis spa package is really something special. My mom and I had room number 6, which was lovely and ER room clean. You have a wooden hot tub, steam room and cold plunge(and a small bed for all you dirty ones). Then after detoxing, I was taken upstairs by Keli (who was a gem) for an hour long massage that sent me in a meditative state like drugs. Then!...I had a facial and a foot treatment. I left there a new woman. I really did. For what we got, it was totally affordable and the hot tub rooms on their own are not bad at all.....$18 and hour i believe. Heaven on Earth.
Today I had the pleasure of going with my daughter in law to get facials and massages at Watercourse Way. It was the best spa experience ever. Kelly did my facial. She was just wonderful...it was nothing like the kinds of facials I used to have with the mask. It was entirely gentle with great smelling natural products. I will definitely return for another facial from her. And Marjorie gave me a massage. It was exactly the kind of massage I requested and I left feeling completely pampered and relaxed. I also want to mention that the decor and surroundings are perfect, with beautiful buddhas all over the place and their choice in piped in music is excellent. The massage table had a heated pad on it and during the facial my comfort could not have been more perfect. My daughter in law loved the experience as well. We'll be back!
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