not every solo experience is Instagram perfect: how a popular Arizona spa disappoints
- lisasaperbloom
- Jan 14
- 5 min read
Updated: Jan 18
Written by Lisa Saper-Bloom, Founder and Owner of 1 2 3 Go Solo!
Photos are from solo time spent at the Phoenician, Camelback Inn, and Sanctuary--not the spa blogged about here.
Recommended spas are listed at the end of the blog.
As many of us do, I took the week between Christmas and New Years to reset, refuel, and rejuvenate! It is down time such as this, when I take time to visit local spas and share my experiences with you as both an expert in the field as well as a Solo Travel Coach.
My expertise comes from being a Licensed Massage Therapist for 25 years, working in the spas, and teaching massage, aromatherapy, and spa technology classes.
Currently, as a Solo Travel Coach, I help women overcome their fears of solo travel, and I often incorporate local spa experiences into my coaching as part of their “homework”. The idea is to empower women to become comfortable spending time alone before committing to travel.
(Pictured is one of my all-time favorite spas, the Phoenician)
Instagram influencers always make solo experiences look perfect!
Influencers also get paid to blog, which I do not. Nor do I get paid for feedback. I do not have a camera crew with me at any hotel, spa, or excursions I share with you. Everything I share is 100% authentic, providing me the opportunity to be nothing but honest.
While living in Phoenix, Arizona for 36 years, I have frequented some of the most high-end, world-renowned spas that brand themselves on name and historic reputation. It has probably been two decades since I was last at the Biltmore spa, which has been updated and upgraded to Tierra Luna over the years. Per their website, “Tierra Luna Spa is reinventing the modern spa experience with treatments based on the desert and the cosmos.”
Walking into the spa after 20 years, you can see the updates made within the last 5. The aesthetics are quite pleasing. As I was escorted by an attendant to the women's locker room, I was excited to spend the day there. Unfortunately, the locker room is where my excitement and high expectations ended.
When taking the time and indulging financially in a spa, there are three basic elements that make the experience:
Comfort and Coziness
Attentive service
A memorable treatment worth sharing
Tierra Luna did not deliver on any of the basic three.
Understand that I am not one to complain or come to my readers and potential clients with negativity. I always enjoy coming from an enthusiastic, authentic and heartwarming place. I love getting women EXCITED to spend solo time with themselves, whether it’s a ballgame, sports bar, resort pool, spa or ultimately a dream destination. This being my intention and motivation, I emailed the Spa Director outlining my disappointment.
(Pictured is the comfort and coziness of the Camelback Inn)
The body of the email outlined the following feedback: (Before reading on it's important to note that it was a chilly, cloudy, New Years Eve day in Phoenix.)
“While the Biltmore’s aesthetics are beautiful, I found that these three elements were lacking. Specifically:
Comfort and Coziness:
· No heat lamps were on in the garden, and no staff offered to turn one on.
· The fire areas felt crowded, as they were the only heat sources.
· No blankets or towels were offered in the lounge or garden, leaving me uncomfortable in my robe.
· The only hot drink available was mushroom coffee, while I expected at least some variety of tea.
Attentive Service:
· I didn’t receive the promised full tour of the spa upon arrival and had to ultimately ask where the lounge was.
· No one offered blankets or heat lamps, and I had to ask for a blanket only to be told there was just one available, possibly due to laundry.
Treatment:
· The grounding quartz treatment was uncomfortable, particularly the face cradle, which caused pressure on my neck and shoulders. As someone prone to migraines, this made it hard to relax. Despite speaking to the therapist after the massage and front desk at check out about the discomfort, the issue wasn’t resolved to my satisfaction
·
Overall, the massage was average, and I left feeling disappointed, particularly after spending $275.
Though the aesthetics and steam room provided some comfort, I felt that the experience did not live up to the standards I expect or that I can confidently recommend to my clients. After this visit, I would not recommend Tierra Luna at The Biltmore.”
I wrapped the email up stating that I would love to see the experience improve and that I hope we can work together to address these concerns in making women more comfortable taking their first solo steps.
After 4 days without a response from the Spa Director, I followed up with an email stating I understand she may have been away for the holidays, but that I wanted to ensure the detailed feedback I provided did not go to her spam folder. Additionally, I added that I would call midweek if I did not hear from her. With that, she responded.
I do not wish to share the full response here as I am not about exploiting anyone. Instead I will share that both myself and feedback from business women I trust, that her response came across rushed, insincere, looking through a corporate lens instead of a customer service lens, cold, and defensive. It honestly left me feeling as cold as I did on a chilly cloudy day in a robe with no blanket or heater.
In my original email I did request remedying the situation by either refunding the $275. I spent or issuing a credit for a different treatment. To the Spa Director's credit, I was offered a complimentary treatment of a different kind. But after reading her response several times over, with careful consideration, I simply replied saying no thank you and wishing her well. I stated I will not be visiting Tierra Luna Spa at the Biltmore again.
Friends in my inner circle and clients I coach know that I like to end my conversations on the positive. In my time of reset, refuel and rejuvenation this holiday season, I tried a float spa. I found a two for one holiday deal and used them both, one week apart. I will say it is exactly as people claim: pain reducing, stress reducing, anxiety/depression/burnout reducing, all while improving your sleep quality. And ultimately, when it comes to getting comfortable with yourself in preparation for solo travel… there is nothing like time spent in a zero-gravity, sensory- deprivation pod! The hour can feel long the first float, but the second will fly by as you know what to expect from it!
Spas I highly recommend in Phoenix:
Whether you have questions or are looking for a spa in your area, feel free to reach out! Contact me:
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