Well Within Spa

Yikes. Super creepy spa: my husband and I went there during the day after securing child care and — yes– we brought a beer… Big deal — right? Yes BIG DEAL. So When our 10 minute bell rang we were ready to exit and opened the door. There was a staff member there waiting and she chastised us for drinking «alcohol» WTF?
Right??? So we weren’t loud. We didn’t go past our allotted time… There was NO FREAKING way they would have known we had anything other than «tea» there. UNLESS THEY HAVE SPY CAMS!
yikes. Seriously ??? Wtf. I used to like this place and will NEVER go here again.

Review #1000! And what a review.
Well Within spa is a high quality spa in the downtown area of Santa Cruz. Each spa room comes with free tea, access to a private steam room and great views of a Japanese-​style garden.
Massages are great too — the deep tissue massage I got targeted every achey muscle in my system, making me feel refreshed after 50 minutes.

I LOVE the Well Within Day Spa! From the warm and welcoming staff to the blissful peace and serenity within the tub/​sauna rooms, it is quite the relaxing experience. My favorite is to pair a 50 minute soak right before a massage with any of the talented massage therapists. If you are looking to unwind, this is the place.

I was able to reserve an indoor spa room a day before. I thoroughly enjoyed my experience at Kiva before, but coming to Well Within definitely raised my expectations. Kiva is about the same price and also includes access to sauna and two other pools, whereas at Well Within you can actually get your own room (and access to sauna for a little extra). Personally, I prefer to have a private room for 50 minutes.
The complimentary tea was delicious! They conveniently sell bags of their loose leaf house blend in the lobby. :) And towels were provided (unlike the last time I went to Kiva). Although I came at night, the view of the Japanese garden was a nice touch and I will definitely be back to try it out during daytime. The only downside is parking, but on this particular day we luckily found a spot in a free lot around the corner!

I would be giving a 4 star review but my boyfriend and I got the worst case of poison oak from this place! There should be a rule of no shoes on the decks. We laid on the deck with our towels as usual and both got it. We hadn’t been anywhere else where we could have gotten it. I was miserable for almost 2 months. I did go back after that but to the Onsen Room (#1) where there is no deck and you fill your own tub fresh. I am sad i had such a horrible experience because it use to be one of my favorite spots in santa cruz. If you go be leery about laying on the decks and walking barefoot in there.

Great couples massage, tubs afterwards were super nice, though my bf seemed to get a rash after so minus one star, but the massages were great and we left feeling so relaxed. Would go back again for the massage but skip the tubs though it is a really good deal together. Overall great experience and vibes.

The only reason this place even gets one star is because of our two masseuses, but even then, I don’t think I would ever come here again.
I booked a couples tub and massage special as a reward for both me and my boyfriend to celebrate me getting into graduate school and him finishing up his first couple months at work. Upon leaving the facilities after a relaxing massage, the front desk lady walks us out and claims, «All our other guests were complaining of a couple having a sex, and since there are only singles in the other two room and no other couples here, it must be you two.»
We apologized, but we were extremely confused, and reassured her that we did not do anything of the sort. She continues to state that «this is an awkward topic, and it’s natural to have sex, but this is just a reminder to don’t do it again in the future» and walks back into the front door.
My boyfriend and I were left completely stunned.
A few comments:
1. We were NOT the only couples in the facility. We might have been the youngest one, but that does not mean that you blame us because you think we can’t contain ourselves in a public space.
2. I didn’t even know we could have sex with one person in the sauna and the other in the hot tub and vice versa practically half the time??? But since that’s possible, y’all should try it out! Since that’s actually a thing and all.
3. Both my boyfriend and I thought it was practically unbearable to be in the room because it was just SO hot in there and probably would not ever get the hot tub part ever again. But since it was unbearable, we must have had sex in the process to make it even MORE unbearable?
4. We seriously just wanted to relax! Did we get called out because we weren’t allowed to talk or something, because that’s as close as I can think of to us «sounding like sex». If we aren’t allowed to talk (or should I say whisper because we actually WHISPERED to respect other people) in the future, why don’t you just knock on our door or tell people to remind us to be quiet?
So obviously, I was extremely upset and sent the manager an email about the incident but no response since. Definitely am not coming back to this facility ever again because the massage that I received was completely ruined, and it is not worth paying that much money if you’re just going to be humiliated and accused of something that you and your significant other didn’t do. The experience was just completely ruined.

Really really angered by the fact that I was charged for a room that I had reserved, but had to cancel because I couldn’t make it due to a family emergency. Their reasoning was that they could have booked that room and made money if I hadn’t cancelled so last minute which I understand, but how do they know if they were going to book it? I get it. But seriously… I have been to this spa several times and have always been very happy and pleased with every experience, and right now I am furious.

Well Within is fantastic! I booked a massage for my boss and, due to unforseen circumstances, had to cancel it at the last minute. I was absolutely not within 24 hours of the appointment, which is their clearly stated policy. They were very understanding and gracious about it, and did not charge me a cancellation fee. This is the kind of customer service that creates loyal customers and repeat business. Thank you!

Went here for a «staycation» wth my boyfriend. I was a little nervous at first because Santa Cruz is known for its popular hippie dippy tourist attractions and I was afraid that this was going to be a large shared public bath or something. Upon arrival I was pleasantly surprised! Super clean and well kept. Beautiful Japanese garden views. Relaxing atmosphere. Will definitely return!

Great clean lobby, front end staff very professional on greeting: thanks Lauren and Joni. They take you back to secondary seating with wonderful tea provided. Love this place, thank you Monica for an extraordinary experience. Best therapist I have met at any spa in SC. This place truly hires the best.

Been to other day spas and massage places in Santa Cruz and this was my best experience so far. Our massages were nice and we opted for a private hot tub to relax afterwards. It was amazing!

How does this place not have 5 stars?!
I suppose I’ve never payed a for a massage (I’m sure the 190 couples deal is good in terms of what you get, but I’m fresh out of college. Can’t really afford that package :-/​). I can’t really speak for how good the massages are. However my boyfriend and I do hour room sessions with the tub and sauna regularly, and we’re never disappointed. Well Within was one of the first places we went to for intimate relaxing dates, and I don’t think we’ll ever get sick of going. The sauna’s are a nice size for two people, as are the tubs. I was a huge fan of the outdoor room (we did it at night), but we haven’t done that in awhile and the indoor rooms are great too (overlooking the koi ponds)!
I reaaaally really wish they had a «frequent visitors» card though. I’ve lost track of how many times we’ve gone in the past year and a half, but it’s definitely between 10 – 20.
Pro tips: don’t go during peak hours. Go at 9 pm or something on a weeknight, when there’s plenty of parking around downtown Santa Cruz, and reservations are never a problem. Also, on Tuesdays they do an 80 minute deal: pay the 60 minute room price but get 80 minutes in your room. It’s a great night to go!

AWESOME!!!
My fiancé’ and I found this spa when we were on our way home from camping and hiking. We got in last minute and I saw Sandra Overton for an 80 minutes deep tissue massage. Sandra was FAN-​freakin-​TASTIC! The best massage I’ve had, hands down! A few times I could have sworn she had gone way over 80 minutes. She got SO much done in that time. She hit all the focus spots with a thorough technique. She’s got 25 years of massage/​bodywork experience, and was a gymnast and bodybuilder before that.
I didn’t tell her I was also a massage therapist and that I get massage regularly, I prefer to keep that to myself. I told her about our 10 mile hike, and that I sit in front of a computer a lot, which is all true, and just omitted the massage therapist part.
The sounds of the coy pond outside was SO relaxing and soothing.
The rosemary conditioner is AWESOME!!!
We loved the hot tub before our treatments.
The front desk was super friendly and helpful.
I will certainly be returning to see her! It’s well worth the 90 minute drive from Oakland. GREAT day trip! :)
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you Sandra!!!

Omg! I found our new spot! Its comparable to Watercourse Way. You have a private hot tub, a shower, changing area & a open wall that looks out to a koi pond & waterfall. If u go in the morning $ 30 FOR 1 & A HALF HOURS! ya the hot tub could use stronger jets but its fine. & They give a a pot of this tea that leaves your mouth so minty!
$ 30! Im astonished!

6 Stars! Ask for Utah!
I am not a massage person. At all. Never had one, never planned on it. I’m hard on my body — multiple broken bones, surgeries, tendonitis, I rarely stretch, etc. The only reason I decided to get one today was because of an auto-​immune problem I’ve acquired affecting my muscles that has had my chest and throat progressively getting tighter for days, making it difficult to breathe. I also had a gift certificate that I’ve been sitting on for years, so I finally broke down and used it.
Wow (I say as I take a nice, deep, satisfying breath now.) Utah was great. Super professional and kind about me not even knowing how to lay on the massage table. She found all my problem spots right away and got me feeling good again. There was nothing hokey going on — no ‘aligning my spirit’ or anything that was one reason I had avoided ever doing something like this. The place was super clean — fresh vacuum lines on the carpet, no weird smells, pleasant music and ambiance, etc.
Don’t forget to bring money for your masseuse and quarters for the meters if you want to park right in front.
I’m definitely a massage person now and will be back!

One word. Heavenly.
My girlfriend and I drove down to Santa Cruz this weekend and found this gem. First off, let me tell you that I was, initially, skeptic of massage therapy. I always thought that I could achieve these same results with theracanes, foam rollers, and lacrosse balls. Prices, to me, seemed always too much on the pricier side. Boy was I wrong!
We ordered the hot tub + massage package and we were so happy we did. This was the first time we’ve ever had any sort of spa treatment, but let me tell you this will definitely not be our last! You get 50 minutes in the hot tub with some nice fragrant tea paired with a 50 minute massage (+$ 10 for deep tissue, which I did. I loved it)
The main man, Jeremy Kotenberg, is made of ingredients all things heaven! With those celestial hands, amazing atmosphere, and skills refined by gods; my deep tissue massage was fit to please the primordial Titan, Atlas. In other words, soooo good! If you ask for Jeremy as your massage therapist, you will not be disappointed.
Much like me, when my girlfriend got out of her massage, we were walking somberly to our car. All knots, unknotted; kinks, unkinked; rust, unrusted; incredible. We were like walking cotton candies so relaxed and filled with calm.
It was a wonderful experience. One that I look forward to venture once more.

If I lived in Santa Cruz, I’d be here all the time. I received a gift certificate for this place for my bday. But even without it, it’s such a good price! $ 44 for 55 min during weekends for 2 in an indoor tub with shower and sauna. We had room 4 and I loved it! had a view to the very cute Japanese garden and koi pond/​waterfall in the back.
Yes, it’s not a true «onsen,» but it’s beautiful and relaxing all the same-​at a fraction of what it would cost at a «real» onsen. The facilities are well worn and well loved, but clean and just fine!
If you like scenery while you soak, I recommend the indoor tubs so that you get a nice view of the garden.

My fiancé and I visited Well Within Spa the day before Valentine’s Day. We booked about 2 weeks in advance and were able to get a time slot that worked well with our work schedules. All the booking is done over the phone. Their booking system is just paper and pencil; there is no online booking.
There is only street parking. Since the spa is located downtown, parking can be difficult. It took us awhile to find a parking spot. We had a late booking so at least parking was free.
We got the couples deal of 50 minute massages and 50 mins in the tub room for $ 190. The massages were good. I apparently fell asleep and snored during the last 10 minutes or so of my massage. I requested the couples room for the massages, so we were in the same room for our massages. My fiancé said that his massage was too light at first, but the amount of pressure was fine after he requested for a firmer massage.
The tub room was really nice. I think we were in room 3. The tub was outside with a cute little garden. It was late by the time we went to the tub room so we could see the stars as we soaked in the tub. The room also had showers with dispensers for soap, shampoo, and conditioner. The sauna that is also part of the room was nice, too. Robes, towels, and tea are provided.
The whole experience was nice and relaxing. We would come back again.

More like 4.5 stars, but I’ll explain further. And I like to round up.
Visiting here was a surprise gift for my boyfriend for the holiday, and he loved it as much as I did. We did the couple’s special: an hour massage and an hour Onsen room.
First of all, I want to utterly rave about the Onsen rooms. Spending time in there was so fantastic that my new life’s goal is to have a house with a private garden and my own Onsen, complete with shower and sauna. Being here on Christmas Eve meant it was a bit chilly, but there is nothing like sinking into a hot tub on a cold day. The water and jets felt really nice, the privacy was reasonable, and the smells from the shampoo, conditioner, and body wash in the shower were delicious (so delicious that I bought some of the rosemary conditioner on my way out.) The house tea also tastes absolutely amazing, and I can’t remember the last time I felt so relaxed.
The massages are the only thing I had a problem with. While I understand having a routine, especially in a repetitive job like massage therapy, I don’t understand the point of being asked where my «troubled spots» are if they aren’t going to be addressed in any way during the massage. My boyfriend had the same problem, as we both have problem areas, and his went mostly untouched as well. Also, while I do know that my skin is very delicate in some areas, a lack of lotion or oil constantly found me hurting as my masseuse pulled at my skin, particularly on my upper arms and sides. I found that, after the massage, my back felt relaxed, but I had neck pain where I had had none before. My legs also felt very neglected, especially my troubled spot that I had specifically pointed out.
I’m not sure why the massage was so sub-​par, but the Onsen room is more than enough to make up for any other shortcomings. The staff is also very friendly and warm, and the little shop with their homemade items is very tempting. I’ll definitely be returning here at some point for another soak.