1. BE WEB SAVVY. Join as many spas’ e-mail lists as your in-box can stand, and troll their sites frequently—most post specials and discounts. Recently, Channing’s Day Spa ran a $50 promotion on massages and facials (regularly $90 and up, channings.com).
2. VISIT AT OFF-HOURS. “Mornings and midweek are the slowest times at spas,” says Lynne McNees, director of the International Spa Association. For example, exhale offers 50 percent off all 60-minute facials and massages booked at 8am, seven days a week.
3. GO WITH FRIENDS. Booking with pals boosts your odds of scoring a deal. “Call the spa manager and say, ‘I’m coming with friends, and we’d love to know what kinds of group specials you can offer us,’?” advises McNees. Bigger groups garner bigger deals: At Honey Child, ten buddies can split a $400 package of ten massages, meaning rubdowns are just $40 each.
4. PLAY THE NEWBIE CARD. “If you don’t see a deal listed online for the spa you want to visit, call the spa director and tell her you’ve never been in but would love to experience the spa,” McNees says. “If you don’t ask, you’ll never know what could’ve been.” At Tirra Salon & Spa, first-time clients who mention the deal when making their appointment receive 20 percent off their visit.
5. REFER A PAL. Spas offer referral bonuses when your friend visits and cites your name. Urban Oasis mailed us a $20 coupon toward our next massage when a buddy followed our rec. Booyah!
6. BUY IN BULK. Spas also offer serious savings for folks who stock up on multiple sessions. At That’s the Spot, you get a 10 percent discount when buying a series of five massages. If you don’t see an enticing package, ask the spa director if she can create one
2. VISIT AT OFF-HOURS. “Mornings and midweek are the slowest times at spas,” says Lynne McNees, director of the International Spa Association. For example, exhale offers 50 percent off all 60-minute facials and massages booked at 8am, seven days a week.
3. GO WITH FRIENDS. Booking with pals boosts your odds of scoring a deal. “Call the spa manager and say, ‘I’m coming with friends, and we’d love to know what kinds of group specials you can offer us,’?” advises McNees. Bigger groups garner bigger deals: At Honey Child, ten buddies can split a $400 package of ten massages, meaning rubdowns are just $40 each.
4. PLAY THE NEWBIE CARD. “If you don’t see a deal listed online for the spa you want to visit, call the spa director and tell her you’ve never been in but would love to experience the spa,” McNees says. “If you don’t ask, you’ll never know what could’ve been.” At Tirra Salon & Spa, first-time clients who mention the deal when making their appointment receive 20 percent off their visit.
5. REFER A PAL. Spas offer referral bonuses when your friend visits and cites your name. Urban Oasis mailed us a $20 coupon toward our next massage when a buddy followed our rec. Booyah!
6. BUY IN BULK. Spas also offer serious savings for folks who stock up on multiple sessions. At That’s the Spot, you get a 10 percent discount when buying a series of five massages. If you don’t see an enticing package, ask the spa director if she can create one
