Travel Health and Fitness - Massages when on the road...

In San Diego & just had a fabulous "foot massage" in a Korean place on Convoy St (Curney-Mesa area; think that's it). The place is called "Happy Feet." Went w/ another FTer who recommended the place.

The foot massage was 1 hour long, you're fully dressed. You're in a recliner chair w/ feet in water (at beginning). But they start with massaging your head, then your neck, shoulders, arms, hands; then legs, feet; then flip you over do, neck, shoulders, arms, spine, back, legs, ending with head.

Total cost: $20. I kid you not! It's basically a full body massage for $20. And for being rather slight in stature, the massage therapists sure have strong hands, elbows, thumbs. This was the best $20 I've spent (gave a $10 tip & it was still the best $$ I've spent).

So occurred to me we should start a thread about good places to get massages when traveling.

Can be a hotel property, YMCA, private spa, Korean place, etc - domestic as well as international. So if you have places you'd recommend, please post.

Cheers.

In San Diego & just had a fabulous "foot massage" in a Korean place on Convoy St (Curney-Mesa area; think that's it). The place is called "Happy Feet." Went w/ another FTer who recommended the place.

The foot massage was 1 hour long, you're fully dressed. You're in a recliner chair w/ feet in water (at beginning). But they start with massaging your head, then your neck, shoulders, arms, hands; then legs, feet; then flip you over do, neck, shoulders, arms, spine, back, legs, ending with head.

Total cost: $20. I kid you not! It's basically a full body massage for $20. And for being rather slight in stature, the massage therapists sure have strong hands, elbows, thumbs. This was the best $20 I've spent (gave a $10 tip & it was still the best $$ I've spent).

I ENVY you.

Ilove massages and for the last 21 years have a lady come to my home every week with her table.

I don't have much luck on the road. Even after spending $ 80 and more.

I found a good one in DC area. ( Tyson's Corner ) called RELAX U. Discounts for 10 AM and earlier massages, walk ins OK. next week plan to check out one in Chicago.

So occurred to me we should start a thread about good places to get massages when traveling.

Can be a hotel property, YMCA, private spa, Korean place, etc - domestic as well as international. So if you have places you'd recommend, please post.

Cheers.

Happy Foot Massage
4685 Convoy Street #140
San Diego, CA 92111
Neighborhood: Kearny Mesa
(858) 874-8888

Hours:

Mon-Sun 10 am - 10 pm

I go to Vitality - http://www.vitalitycollege.com/clinic in Carlsbad.

$40 gets you a 1 hour massage with a student intern. And if there is no student available, you get an instructor for the same price. ^

Jakay's in PIT.
2750 Golden Mile Highway
Pittsburgh, PA

If you're in MDT, I have a massage therapist that I see there, although as her studio is in her house, I won't post her information, but would PM it to anyone who would be in the area and would want to set up an appointment.

Saw in the Women's forum that "SpaWeek" is back. April 6-22. $50 for select spa services. Go to www.spaweek.org to plug in zip code of where you live or area to which you'll be traveling.

Cheers.

So occurred to me we should start a thread about good places to get massages when traveling.

Can be a hotel property, YMCA, private spa, Korean place, etc - domestic as well as international. So if you have places you'd recommend, please post.

Cheers.

Bumping up hoping to get more recommendations from people.

Cheers.

If you live in a major US city you can find places that do e.g. Foot massage at strip malls where there are Asian grocery and food stores

If you go to places like Shanghai, Beijing, etc you can find foot massage places in almost any local neighborhood. If you pay attention when you walk the neighborhoods you can see people sitting in big lounge chairs getting their foot/back massage. The more local, the cheaper. Be aware that Chinese like harder pressure than Westerners though.

Be aware that Chinese like harder pressure than Westerners though.

Yeah, discovered that! I was ready to cry 'uncle' at one point :D

Cheers.

Yeah, discovered that! I was ready to cry 'uncle' at one point :D

Cheers.

My Chinese friend taught me to say something like "Chin yee deeyen" which says "a bit less" to get the Chinese massager to lighten up.

To my Chinese friends, Forgive me for my bad transliteration.

I'm bookmarking this thread. I was in san diego mid-march and would have killed for a decent massage.

Anyone have recommendations in Dallas, Houston, Philadelphia? I'm spending a lot of time there in the next few months. Or how about NYC?

Need to remember this thread next time I'm in SAN.

I've used: IND and DTW chair massage locations. Both are very convenient for my travels. I think I've also used the MSP location but probably only once or twice.

Unfortunately I've found the quality of the chair massages can vary so much at airport massage locations.

I'm a former MT who now travels a good deal, and I'd recommend two websites to check before you go: the American Massage Therapy Association, and the National Certification Board for Therapeutic Massage And Bodywork. Both have a geographic locator service that lets you browse or search by city:

http://www.amtamassage.org/findamassage/browse.html?by=location
and
http://www.ncbtmb.org/consumers_find_practitioner.php

Therapists post profiles that describe their experience and any specialties, such as reflexology or shiatsu so it's easier to find a good match for you. I recommend finding 2-3 people and calling them to get a better sense of which therapist is right for you. Make your appointment before you leave home. Especially when I have a hectic schedule, I like to have a massage in my room the evening after my first full day on a trip. Also a great way to get a head start on a long weekend or vacation.

And do let your therapist know if you have *any* health conditions. There are also therapists with advanced training who work with people currently in treatment for cancer, or who are survivors:
http://s4om.org/tinc?key=yaMGCQE0&formname=Member_Locator
These therapists are members of the Society for Oncology Massage, and have the knowledge and experience to work safely and effectively with people who are living with cancer.

best regards,
Martha

Wow - didn't know there were those who were trained to handle those w/ cancer or survivors. Thanks for that info.

Cheers.

I did a lot of massage in Germany around both Erlangen/Nurnberg, as it's where my office was, I also travelled to massage in the Frankfurt airport hotels.

I hate to make this my first post, as I did not register here to advertise, but I massage travellers in their hotels around Hamilton/Toronto now, and have several clients who bring me to where they are to have me work around their schedules and needs for one day or several.

I know some massage therapists in the NYC area -- as it's where I went to school. But whether I'd recommend them depends on what you're looking for, as we all have our strengths and styles. You can pm me if you like and I'll give the contact info.

Maggie

I did a lot of massage in Germany around both Erlangen/Nurnberg, as it's where my office was, I also travelled to massage in the Frankfurt airport hotels.

I hate to make this my first post, as I did not register here to advertise, but I massage travellers in their hotels around Hamilton/Toronto now, and have several clients who bring me to where they are to have me work around their schedules and needs for one day or several.

I know some massage therapists in the NYC area -- as it's where I went to school. But whether I'd recommend them depends on what you're looking for, as we all have our strengths and styles. You can pm me if you like and I'll give the contact info.

Maggie

Thanks for the offer of recommendations via PM - and Welcome to FT!

Cheers.