Bay Area Spas

A couple of readers have posted their reviews of some spas up in the Bay Area. I'm reposting them here:

1. Imperial spa.
$25 entry fee.
Enter into a small area for shoes right off the reception area. Small L shape locker configuration. On the other side a small prep area counter with the usual toiletries. The spa is small. About 20' wide, and 70' long. When you enter there are 4 sit down showers to the left, and 7 standing to the right. No positions. There's a hot tub that seats8 it's deep, hot, but the jets are a little weak, and have a 15 min limit that's activated by a simple button, not a dial timer. The cold pool is incredibly cold, and next to it is a pony wall for the scrub. Directly across the scrub its the Stan room, about 5'x10' that eats into the overall sq ft of the spa. Seats 5 comfortably. Constant steam going. But not too hot. Next to that is the dry sauna. Seats 7 comfortably. A really good try heat. Half the clients are Asian, straight. The other half is mixed, half straight. Not to much play, but it happened. The body scrub attendant is on it when not doing a scrub. The scrub was 50.00. It was okay. Overall all, the facility's were dated but clean. A lot of attractive guys, and a lot of SF freak shows at the same time.

2. Immersion Spa in Palo Alto. 25.00 every. 60. Scrub. 100 scrub massage combo. All the products are Aveda, and I really like this place. Guest because it's clean, New, and roomy. It spa and sauna seat the same amount of people as the imperial spa, but it's just a roomier layout. The also have a jade room, and I love a heated sleeping floor. The scrub and massage was great. I'm guessing the attendant is fine with everything that goes on, because his junk kept rubbing against my body, and head at one point. and there is a lot that goes on. Mainly college guys and married men. Everyone is respectful and discreet. But the action there was comparable to century. I actually came there to relax, which I was able to before my scrub since it was empty. But after it was like a feeding frenzy. I couldn't go into a room without being approached. The married white dads, and curious college kids seemed to really like me. I'm not complaining.

To wrap it up. They are both expensive, but rent its higher in the bay. Immersion it's definitely my favorite, but not because of the action. But because of the size. Design, cleanliness and products. Aveda for all!

And from another reader:

I first visited PSY Health Spa in San Leandro. That was last Sunday (before Xmas). A couple guys there when I showed up about 11am. Small locker room, smallest I can remember. You walk into the shower area. The standing showers have no shelf or nook; there's baskets on the floor with soap, etc. To your right is the entrance to "spa" area. Ahead to the rear is scrub area and then just around the corner, the steamroom. A tall, mature Asian gentleman walked past me as I showered then right back to steam, so I followed him in after cleaning up. He threw some water on a place in the steamroom wall and the steam came on, then we enjoyed each other's company. He had been leaving, it turned out, so we said our goodbyes and I went to explore spa area.

Oddest spa area I can remember. There's a huge open space, with two pools. Against the far wall is a fair sized cool/cold pool, and then off center is a round warm/hot pool. There's a ton of unused space otherwise, with a table with 2-3 folding chairs to one side. Then close to the entrance there's almost a "cabin" - one of those free-standing saunas that I guess PSY added as an afterthought?

More guys started to show, various ages, shapes, colors. It got kinda funny, because it seemed like everyone was attracted to someone who was attracted to someone else, so there'd be a chain of guys moving between areas, trying to get alone with the guy they like. Oh and the scrub guy eventually showed up, asked me if I wanted a scrub (that doesn't happen much), and found a customer. He also seemed to be "on patrol" a little bit. His scrub area was outside the steamroom and he sat on a chair facing the steamroom door. But his scrub was super-long - seemed like an hour - so he didn't interfere with anything. Then he disappeared again!

Oh and PSY is one of those "one big/one small towel" places. Most guys were naked though, if using small towel discreetly. No extra towels. Oh one more detail - my last chat was with an apparently straight Asian guy also on his first visit. He kept the big towel around him (probably wise). He left just before me, but returned to locker next to mine as I dressed, and I realized he was in the type of shorts and t-shirt provided for communal area. No one offered me those and I didn't see them for taking, but maybe I missed it? Peeked into communal area and it looked spartan and dull. I did smell food at one point, so I guess they serve meals/snacks. So that was PSY. 

Next day I drove all the way toward San Jose to Lawrence Spa in Santa Clara. Thank god for Google Maps nav on IPhone, might have been hard to find/get to otherwise. Seemed like a very Asian part of town. I got there about 10am, there were only ever 2-3 others there while I was over the next couple of hours.

Compared to PSY, a more typical and comfy set-up: good size locker room, three good-size pools, largest with jets always on, and plenty of towels stacked outside spa area, plus full amenities at standing showers and sitting. Sauna and Steam were next to each toward rear, next to the most discreet scrub area I have seen. That may have been because the scrub guy never showed (Monday day off?), so the area was curtained off. I really enjoyed the facilities, although I couldn't figure out how to get the steam on. Later someone else did, though I didn't see how. Oh the steamroom also had some black stones on the floor against one bench. I assumed they'd be super hot, but later someone explained they are actually cool, and for massaging your feet. Kinda cool.

Anyway, my personal fun this time was a younger stocky Latino guy. He was a bit shy and skittish. We even went to the large rest/recliner area with no one else there, and as we enjoyed ourselves, there was a distant sound and he jumped up like a rabbit and ran out. Not sure if he is a regular and been caught before or what. But later in the steamroom he relaxed again so maybe just a bit inexperienced.

I didn't visit communal area. Usually not much of interest for me there. I go for the spa.

Of the two places, for spa features etc, I would prefer Lawrence if I lived in that area. Both would be pretty heavy drives if you're actually in the city, though. On a future visit, I might venture to Immersion.