Mustang

I love this forum and glad I found it. A good massage can be $$$, so finding the right masseur match is important to me. Walked in TSMS this week. The spa is 'Garden Level', and in a very busy area but no ambient street noiseI could hear. Rooms were nice and very clean. It's a small place with maybe 3 or 4 rooms total (didn't see a shower). I didn't book ahead and got Alven / Alvin. Very good consistent firm pressure throughout. I like to start our with firm pressure then lighten up as it goes on. He was spot on the entire time. If you're looking for deep pressure or a sports massage he's your guy. He was professional, on time, and courteous. Not very chatty, so if you enjoy a bit of "Where you from?" get-to-know-ya talk he's probably not the one, however he did warm up a bit afterwards and was smiley. His English was fine, but probably just not at a fully conversational level. I do like it quiet during the massage as I tend to completely zone out, so he was a good match. Some other people have mentioned he's technical or mechanical and I see what the mean, but that sounds negative, and it's not. He's just not the sensual warm-n-fuzzy type. I never felt like he was just "going through the motions" or wasn't present. Around 5'10ish with baseball cap, tattoos and an earing he's got that quiet, jockish, street-swagger to him. I'd be curious how he is with repeat visits.

Did you go? How was it?

There's two different scenarios here: 1.) Tipping in a spa where the house takes a cut and 2.) Tipping an independent contractor who comes to your place/you go to theirs. (Basic math of a spa - $60 massage (let's say 30% goes to masseur = $20 + 20% tip = $32). So for someone in a spa you should tip remembering that the fee the masseur receives for the services is small and the bulk comes from your tip. And scenario 2.) The whole fee goes to the masseur. $150 massage = $150. I think general consensus from this board is that, unless the independent contractor incurred some unexpected cost, that the fee is the fee ($Total = $150) and in a spa you should always tip to the level of service received.

Anyone been to SMS lately? I keep seeing bad reviews.

I went to Shangrila for the first time and had a great experience. They got me in with short notice and I got Rodrigo. Everyone there was professional and courteous. And the massage went the full time (something I'm very picky about). It is a couple dollars more but then place is gorgeous, upscale and right by Grand Central. I didn't notice any ambient or street noise like some others have mentioned. I'll definitely go back.