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"I have been going to Ritual since it opened and it has slowly gone down hill. Initially there were small rolled towels you could take into the dry sauna but now those are gone. They say this is for environmental reasons but it’s clearly cost cutting. They are booking in more people than they used to - even at peak hours so you feel like a sardine. They have lowered the temp in the wet sauna (another excuse about some customer getting light headed - no doubt this is also cost savings). So everyone goes to the dry sauna making it even more crowded. Patrons have started trying to mess with the temp gauge in the west sauna to make it hot enough to enjoy. They removed the ice machine outside, while it was always gimmicky it’s just another amenity that is now gone. Last time I was there (January 2024) one of the heaters in the dry sauna was making some wild and worrying noises and the wooden scoop to put water on the heater was straight up broken and useless. People were using their plastic drinking cups to put water on the heaters. The amenities and experience has plummeted. I won’t be going back - and I was an original adopter. Very sad."

"My mother and I had our first facial today with Nicole & Lauren. It was absolutely one of the best experiences we have had in our lives. The girls were so incredible from start to finish, we both felt like new people. We had the signature facials, the massage was so amazing and our faces feel bright and refreshed. We will be returning for sure. Thank you so much!"

"I need to confess that my face was a mess hahaha. Sophie took care of me and she made me feel renovate, pampered and cared. I truly recommend this place. It make you feel like a Princess and the massage is amazing!"

"Boathouse Spa is by far my favourite spa on Vancouver Island! It’s located right on the ocean in the BEST hotel ever, the Oak Bay Beach Hotel. Boathouse offers exclusive evening Pool Passes for guests between 5:00-10:00 pm every so often. They go quick so follow on Facebook/Instagram for the best availability. The staff make you feel so special right from the moment you walk through the door. You’re greeted with a friendly, warm smile and graciously shown the locker room where they’ll supply luxurious robes, sandals and fluffy towels. They have a licensed bar on site and offer takeaway food from the “Snug Pub” (hotel restaurant). There are 2 hot tubs, 1 extra large (warm) pool, lots of nice loungers, fire pits, sun umbrellas and an indoor sauna. It really is a paradise! You just kind of melt away listening to the ocean waves crash and the birds chirping. They also have a full spa menu - book in early to reserve a good spot. Free hotel underground parking too! Do yourself a favour and check this place out! It’s worth it every penny!"

"I just had the most fantastic massage therapist EVER, and everyone at the spa is so fabulous! I seriously had the best time (of course getting a massage is always fantastic!) and can't speak highly enough of everyone who I encountered. I highly recommend Natalie Pimm as a therapist, she is so awesome! I have never had a better massage therapist, and she went to the best massage school in the world, so she's got fantastic training. Even the receptionist was so thoughtful and said she wished she had a sweater to just give me because it was a bit chilly. What a fantastic place, I am definitely going back! Oh - and make sure you check out the pool, hot tub, and sauna before going in for your treatment, it makes it that much more enjoyable :)"

"My husband and I treated ourselves to a day at the spa for our birthdays. We had heard great things about the spa and their mineral pool. We were a little taken aback by the price of the offerings, but decided to treat ourselves and enjoy a day of luxury! The Good: Staff were welcoming and informative. The atmosphere was relaxed & friendly and we did not feel rushed. The recent renovation has ‘lifted’ the decor; the space is bright and has a luxury feel. We were able to book our appointments on short notice and our RMT was wonderful. Treatment rooms are spacious; the beds are comfortable and heated! If you prefer your bed cool, be sure to note that when booking. Robes, towels & slippers are provided, along with complementary bathroom products (shampoo, conditioner etc). Albeit the products were poor quality and not what one would expect of a premium spa. The relaxation room is well appointed and the view is wonderful. Complementary snacks (chocolate covered almonds, mixed nuts etc) are available at the weekend. Complementary beverages are self serve too. A menu is available for ordering larger plates, shareables & beverages, for an additional charge. The food we ordered was delicious and of average cost for hotel food- a little more expensive than normal but the quality made up for the price. The Bad: When a place charges TOP prices, one expects TOP services & amenities. This spa is undergoing renovations; which was not expressed to us at any point before arrival. Meaning certain features were unavailable; including the mineral pool that we had been so looking forward to. The men’s change area is closed for renovations; this means that only the locker room area is accessible to male spa attendees- there was no private space for changing. The men’s toilet was located in another area of the hotel- outside of the spa. There is one shower available to male guests- upon request! It is located in a treatment room with no lock. If you’re interested in the complementary snacks/beverages be quick! Once they’re gone, they’re gone! This area was not refreshed when items were used up. The Grotto was not set up or inviting during our visit. Chairs were missing their cushions and when I ventured outside to look at the view, the door locked behind me. I tried knocking on the door to alert staff to no avail. I used my cell to call the front desk, but my call went unanswered. In the end I had to call my husband to come rescue me! So, fair warning, if you do venture outside take your cell phone with you. The mineral pool was drained and closed during our visit. The signage says it is closed for cleaning, but it seems the pool has been closed for months. As another commenter mentions, the steam room is also unusable; despite our efforts and patience, the room remained cool and unpleasant.The closure of the pool was a real blow to us and it was not brought to our attention at any point during our booking. Perhaps a banner on the website explaining that the pool is closed would save future guests from disappointed. A sizeable MANDATORY gratuity is automatically added to your bill- which is thrust at you as soon as you arrive for payment. We were charged a $70 gratuity for two, 1 hour RMT treatments ???? $195 + Tax + $70 MANDATORY gratuity = $483.22 for a two massages ???? The Ugly: The main Spa area was immaculate, the changing area, Grotto, steam room and sauna, not so much ???? We were at the Spa for four hours, in that time we did not witness the common areas being cleaned/swept. Used towels were left in the women’s private change room for the entirety of our visit. The change room floors were dirty and the wet/hot areas need a good scrub! Tiles covered in mildew, shower heads covered in build up/slime(?) and surfaces left with the markings of past guests. The lock on the women’s private change area did not work and the soap dispensers in the toilet area needed to be refilled. The shower curtains are too small, offering no privacy, and only 1/3 lights work in the shower area."

"I thoroughly enjoyed my facial and foot reflexology session with Waida. Her spa is spotless with excellent Covid protocols. I am a newbie to foot reflexology and she explained the basics so well. The music was super relaxing. She has a very sweet personality and is obviously very experienced. I re-booked for a full foot reflexology session with her before I left. Can't wait!"