Massage etiquette questions?

[Existential Blues]

I have never gone to a spa before and had a massage, and I wanted to go with my husband to get a couple's massage. However, I wouldn't be comfortable if a man gave me a massage. I'm sure they're very professional and so on and so forth, but I'm not comfortable with a strange man touching me. Is it rude to ask for a woman to massage me when I make the appointment and not a man? Also, how much are you supposed to tip at a spa because 20% would be pretty expensive.

 

[Nonnie22]

It isn't rude to express a preference for gender specific massage therapists. I've gotten massages at different times as often a every 3 weeks and it's a marvelous means of relaxing. Ask the therapist what sort of massages they offer. Swedish massages (to me) are too deep and leave me sore! Relaxation massages are the best. They're not like a back rub, much deeper than that, but you won't be sore the next day.

So far as tipping I do tip 20% as that seems to be the "new" 15%. I really don't know about massage therapists, but in beauty salons one is exempt from tipping the owner. That may or may not be so with massage therapists. Often those are one person operations, but I've always tipped. Where I live the usual rate for an hour massage is $60 +/-, so the tip is about $12 ... not too bad.

I hope you and your sweetie enjoy your spa day!

 

[its me.......... yeah]

it is not rude at all to ask for a lady to do your massage. and tipping, no way. they charge to much as it is, and i dont aloow tipping. its just a massage palour, not a fancy restuarnt. only tip a bit if you are 110% happy with the massage and person who did it.