Spa etiquette is simple once you know the rules, but first-time visitors often worry about getting something wrong -- arriving too late, tipping incorrectly, not knowing what to do in the locker room, or unsure how to communicate during a treatment. This guide covers every stage of a spa visit from arrival to checkout in plain language, so you can walk in relaxed.
When to Arrive and Why It Matters
Arrive 10 to 15 minutes before your treatment start time for a simple appointment. If you are having multiple treatments, accessing amenities, or visiting for the first time and need to complete intake paperwork, 20 to 30 minutes early is appropriate.
Why it matters: A spa appointment is scheduled to the minute because your therapist's next client typically follows within 10 to 15 minutes of your session ending. If you arrive 10 minutes late, your treatment ends on time -- not 10 minutes later. You receive less treatment for the same price. This is not a policy designed to punish you; it is a scheduling reality.
If you are running late, call ahead. Most spas would rather hold your slot for 10 minutes if you communicate than lose the booking entirely.
The check-in sequence:
- Tell the front desk your name and appointment time
- Complete any intake forms if it is your first visit (medical history, pressure preferences, areas to avoid)
- Be directed to the changing area to change into a robe and slippers
- Wait in the relaxation lounge until your therapist collects you
What to Bring and What to Leave in the Locker
Bring:
- Any pre-paid booking confirmation (digital or printed)
- Health information relevant to your treatment (pregnancy, injury, medications affecting skin sensitivity)
- Swimsuit if using pools, hot tub, or sauna
- Hair tie if you have long hair (especially for a facial)
- Reading glasses if you need them for intake forms
Leave or store:
- Your phone in the locker or on silent in a pocket -- most shared relaxation spaces are phone-free zones
- Jewelry and valuables in the provided locker (most spas offer a key or code-lock system)
- Strong perfume -- fragrance in treatment rooms and relaxation lounges is disruptive to other guests and to therapists who work in that space all day
- Expectations that the locker room is a social space -- most spa changing areas observe quiet norms similar to a library
Locker room basics: Most spas provide robes, slippers, towels, and basic toiletries. If you are unsure whether something is provided, call ahead rather than overpacking.
Robe and Draping Norms: What to Expect
You will be given a robe and slippers at check-in. Wear these from the changing area to the treatment room. In the treatment room, your therapist will step out or give you a moment to undress to your comfort level and get on the table under the sheet.
Draping: For a massage, you are covered by a sheet at all times except the area being actively worked on. Licensed massage therapists are trained in draping technique -- covering and uncovering one section at a time while keeping the rest of your body covered. You do not need to manage the sheet yourself.
How much to undress: Undress to a level you are comfortable with. Most clients undress completely for a full-body massage; underwear is fine if you prefer it. For a back and shoulder massage, you need your back uncovered and can keep everything else on. There is no wrong answer -- the therapist works around whatever you are wearing.
For a facial, you typically remain clothed above the waist, lying on your back. The esthetician may ask you to lower a bra strap for neck and decollete work and will use a drape.
Communicate preferences before the session starts, not in the middle
At the start of the treatment, your therapist will ask about pressure preference and areas to focus on or avoid. This is the best time to mention an injury, a sensitive area, or that you prefer the session in silence rather than conversation. Starting with clear communication takes 60 seconds and results in a much better session than lying there hoping the therapist guesses your preferences correctly.
Phone Policy and Quiet Zones
Treatment rooms: Phones are never appropriate in a treatment room. Your phone should be in the locker or on silent before you enter. Even vibrating notifications are audible in a quiet room.
Relaxation lounge: Most spas designate the relaxation lounge (the waiting area adjacent to treatment rooms) as a silent zone. Texting is usually acceptable; calls are not. Check the posted signage.
Changing rooms: Quiet norms apply, though some conversation is normal. Photos in changing areas are not appropriate -- other guests are present.
Common areas and lobby: Phone use is acceptable in the lobby, reception area, and any outdoor space not adjacent to treatment rooms.
If you need to take an urgent call, step to the lobby or exterior. Most spa staff will not confront you about phone use directly -- they rely on guests to self-govern -- but it affects every other guest in the space.
Communicating With Your Therapist During the Treatment
First-time spa guests often stay silent through discomfort they should report. This is the single most common source of a disappointing session.
You can and should say:
- "That is too much pressure -- could you lighten up?"
- "Could I have more pressure on that area?"
- "I would prefer quiet for this session."
- "That area is sensitive -- please work around it."
- "I am a bit cold -- could you use the extra blanket?"
Licensed massage therapists and estheticians train specifically to receive and respond to this feedback without reaction. There is no such thing as a rude feedback comment during a professional spa service. Your therapist wants the session to be effective for you.
The only time communication becomes complicated: if you are uncomfortable with draping or any aspect of the physical treatment that goes beyond pressure preferences, say so clearly and ask the therapist to stop if necessary. A licensed professional will stop immediately. If they do not, that is a reportable concern to the spa manager.
Shared Amenities: Sauna, Pool, and Steam Room Etiquette
Sauna: Wear a swimsuit or wrap yourself in a provided towel. Sit on a towel on the bench -- wooden benches absorb sweat, so the towel is for hygiene, not modesty. Conversation is acceptable at low volume; many guests use the sauna in silence. Standard session length is 10 to 20 minutes. Shower after and hydrate before returning for another round.
Steam room: Same norms as sauna. The moist heat means fabric stays wetter, so a swimsuit dries more slowly -- many guests prefer a wrapped towel instead. Maximum 15 minutes per session is a typical posted limit due to dehydration risk.
Pool or hot tub: Wear a swimsuit. Shower before entering. Do not bring drinks, food, or glass into the pool area. Keep voice volume similar to an indoor public pool -- conversations are fine, shouting is not.
General shared amenity rules:
- Always shower before using shared water features
- Use the provided towels, not your robe, when sitting on sauna or steam room benches
- Do not block entry or exit areas
- Hydrate frequently -- spa amenities are dehydrating
- If an amenity is full, wait rather than squeezing in uncomfortably
Tipping at a Spa: How Much and When
Tipping norms for spa services are consistent across the industry. For a full breakdown with context on what to do when gratuity is included, see our dedicated how much to tip at a spa guide. The core norms:
| Service type | Expected gratuity |
|---|---|
| Massage | 15-20% of total treatment cost |
| Facial | 15-20% of total treatment cost |
| Body treatment (scrub, wrap) | 15-20% of total treatment cost |
| Nail services | 15-20% |
| Amenity-only access (sauna, pool) | No tip expected |
| Spa package (multiple services) | 15-20% of the total package price |
When to tip: Most guests tip at checkout, either adding it to the card transaction at the front desk or handing cash to the front desk with a note for the specific therapist. Some spas allow you to tip directly to the therapist at the treatment room door after the session ends. If gratuity is included in the price (less common in US day spas but more common in luxury resort spas), it will be noted on your bill.
Tipping when unhappy with the service: If the session did not meet your expectations due to provider performance, you are not obligated to tip the full 15 to 20 percent. Speaking to the manager is more useful than withholding a tip silently -- the spa cannot improve without the feedback.
After Your Treatment: Hydration and Recovery
Drink water immediately: Massage in particular mobilizes metabolic waste from muscles into circulation, and the body processes this more efficiently when well-hydrated. Your provider will likely offer water after the session. Drink at least two glasses before you leave the spa.
Take your time leaving: Most spas designate the first 10 minutes after a treatment as rest time. You do not need to get up and dress immediately. Some relaxation lounges are available post-treatment; use them if time permits.
Aftercare for specific treatments:
- Massage: Avoid intense exercise for 24 hours; mild soreness from deep tissue work is normal and resolves within 48 hours
- Facial: Do not apply makeup for at least two hours; avoid sun exposure and apply SPF per the esthetician's instructions
- Body scrub or wrap: Avoid hot showers for four to six hours to preserve the treatment's moisture or oil effect
For a deeper guide on how to prepare before you arrive, see how to prepare for your first massage.
What spa etiquette actually requires
Arrive 10 to 30 minutes early, silence your phone before entering shared areas, undress to your comfort level (the sheet covers everything else), tip 15 to 20 percent for hands-on services, and communicate pressure and comfort preferences clearly at the start of the session. Spa etiquette is not about following complex rules -- it is about not disrupting other guests and communicating clearly with your provider so the session works for you.
Frequently asked questions
How early should you arrive at a spa appointment?
Most spas ask first-time clients to arrive 10 to 15 minutes early to complete intake paperwork and change. For a spa day that includes locker room access, sauna, or pre-treatment amenities, 30 minutes early is better. Arriving late does not extend your treatment -- the session ends at the scheduled time regardless of when you arrive, and the therapist's next client follows.
Do you tip at every spa service?
Tipping is expected for hands-on services: massage, facial, body treatments, and nail services. The standard range is 15 to 20 percent of the treatment cost, including any upgrades or add-ons. You typically do not tip for admission to amenities only (sauna, pool, steam room). Tipping at the front desk immediately after checkout is the standard moment; most spas accept cash or card for gratuity.
What should you do if the pressure is too strong during a massage?
Tell your therapist immediately and directly: 'That is a bit too much pressure, could you lighten it?' Licensed massage therapists prefer this feedback and adjust immediately -- it is part of their professional training. You will not offend them. Most therapists check in at the start of a session but cannot calibrate to your preferences without ongoing feedback. You can also request more pressure if the session feels too light.
Can you use your phone at a spa?
Most spas designate treatment areas, relaxation lounges, and changing rooms as phone-free zones. Calls and text notifications are disruptive to other guests in a shared quiet space. Check your spa's specific policy on arrival, but the general rule is: silence your phone before entering the locker room and leave it there or in a silent pocket mode. Lobby and reception areas are usually phone-acceptable.
What do you wear in a spa pool or sauna?
For shared pools, hot tubs, and saunas, wear a swimsuit unless the facility explicitly designates a clothing-optional area (rare in US spas). Most spas provide robes and slippers for transit between amenity areas. The sauna itself is typically used in a swimsuit or wrapped in a towel at US day spas, unlike Scandinavian-tradition saunas where nudity is the norm.
Should you shower before a massage or facial?
Showering before a massage or facial is good practice and appreciated by your therapist, but it is not required. Most spas offer a shower in the changing area if you cannot shower beforehand. Do not apply heavy fragrance, lotion, or self-tanner before a facial, as these affect the esthetician's ability to assess your skin. For a massage, a quick rinse removes workout sweat if you are coming directly from exercise.