Balance Spa & Fitness

This is one of my favorite places to get a massage in Philadelphia because it has such great amenities. With the purchase of your spa service, you get access to the pool, sauna, and jacuzzi. It really feels like a «treat» when I spend time here; I go for a swim in the pool, relax in the sauna, then take a shower in their comfortable locker room before my massage. For what you get, their regular prices aren’t unreasonable (totally worth the $ 105 massage price for a full Saturday morning of exercise and relaxation, as I’ve done in the past), but there’s always a bargain to be had here, whether it be a groupon or their frequently provided Monday-​Wednesday 30% off deal. Go check it out– and don’t forget to bring your swimsuit!

Purchased Groupon for 3 massages only used 2. Called to schedule another one was told groupon was redeeme and nothing they could do.

This place is so cute! I have checked out other places nearby, especially the ones that run specials, and this definitely was the best choice for me. It’s in the basement of the Omni hotel, and its energy is super different than the hotel… the hotel has a deep, older, rich feel and when I entered the spa off the elevator it was crisp, light, and felt like I was in a different world. I was greated by a young man, who explained the set up and use of pool, sauna, locker room, gym, and quiet room. Then he offered me and my friend robe and slippers. We then changed and sat and had some tea in the quiet room. The space was much more than i expected.
We each upgraded to a Travlers Tonic 80 minute for a little extra. My therapist, Colleen, was very professional and was able to offer a relaxing experience while addressing my needs. She used lavender oils because i told her i have issues relaxing. I definitely will be back. They asked for my email address so they can send their better than Groupon specials! I received a over half off special yesterday and am already looking forward to my next visit!
Loved it.

I had my first facial ever last weekend. I read an article about facial extractions, and wanted to give it a try. When I saw a deal on Groupon, I jumped on it. The whole experience was great. When I walked in, they greeted me immediately and directed me to change into my robe and slippers. I waited in the relaxation room for a few minutes before my facialist (?) took me back. She was great. She asked me what I hoped to get out of it and if there was anything I’d like her to focus on. She spent the whole 50 minutes doing different scrubs, masks, and rubs– even massaging my shoulders, arms, and hands. If you’re curious about the extraction part, it was a bit unpleasant, but my skin looks clear and feels great now! The whole experience was so relaxing. Can I have another next week please?

Shaakira is a GODSEND if you want an amazing facial. I go to her religiously every 4 weeks and my skin has never looked better. They also have amazing vichy treatments and the location is tranquil and relaxing. A gem in the heart of old city philly!

I went to Balance with a Groupon. The first time I got a masseuse who was okay — not bad, but not fantastic. Then I had 2 more with a fantastic massage therapist, Andrea; she changed her schedule to just once a week. The receptionist (who’s very nice) encouraged me to try a different massage therapist who was «fantastic.» So I went back and the experience was horrible. The oils were cold and the massage was barely okay. She closed with, «The session is over.»
The receptionist explained that the original «fantastic» massage therapist had a schedule change. Nobody bothered to call me and this substitute didn’t introduce herself. The receptionist agreed that this situation wasn’t handled properly and asked if I wanted another appointment and I said, «Not unless I get a really great deal.»
So far they didn’t call back. It is frustrating as they’re convenient and I could have been a regular customer.
So if you go there– make sure you ask who you’ll get. There doesn’t seem to be much quality control and they’re all very different in style.
I agree with the comments about the waiting room (small with outdated magazines) and the locker room (tiny lockers — most people need two) and the ridiculous robes and slippers.
And I also agree — I didn’t get second-​class treatment with a Groupon. They have lots of discounts anyway.
Apparently it’s a management issue. Maybe they wouldn’t need to offer discounts if they checked out the providers.

I purchased one 50-​minutes Swedish massages through Groupon. No one answered the phone the first few times, so I ended up having to call three times to make an appointment. Because of this inconvenience, I tried booking my session online, but all Groupon (and I am assuming other «coupon» users) were told to call for an appointment.
I checked in with the staff to receive robes and shoes, get to the locker room, and relax in the pool area and/​or relaxation room before the massage. The sauna was decent and the pool/​jacuzzis looked as they appear on the company website. I would have given 4 stars for the facilities alone, had it not been for the shower experience after the massage. The bottle of conditioner in the shower had what appeared to be pubic hair all over plastic cap. very disgusting. and not something you expect at a $$$ facility.
The worst part of this experience, however, was the massage. My masseuse, Colleen, had some kind of leg/​ankle injury and was in crutches when I arrived. This was definitely a surprise– the description of my masseuse was not made available to me via phone call– in fact, I didn’t even find out her name until I got back and received an email from Omni regarding today’s massage. Massage from a lady hobbling in crutches was a new experience for me, but I figured it couldn’t be that bad…
It was definitely one of the weakest massages I have had thus far. The pressure in the back was just not enough for me, and there were spots she just could not reach because the equipment was hindering her crutches. I figure that she might not be as strong in general and that her leg injury is probably making things worse… nothing much I could have done at this point, so I just tried to relax and enjoy the massage as much as possible. But when she got to my legs, the sensation of oiled hands gliding my upper thighs without any pressure felt too weird for me… I had to tell her to stop. She got very offended because «this interrupts with the time schedule she had planned» and that «next time I get massage, I should know to tell a masseuse about how sensitive [I am] in the legs.» I do not frequently get massages, but I have never had a problem like this and never had to interrupt a masseuse/​masseur. It was a very rude response and completely made the experience not worthwhile.
I walked into the massage therapy room at 4:05, and walked out at 4:50… probably received a 40 minute «Swedish» massage while paying for a 50 minute one. I do think that it is my fault for not trying to book with a specific masseuse who may better suit my needs. But it was very unpleasant to encounter a masseuse who gets upset because the client feels uncomfortable and needs you to stop a maneuver And the pubes on the conditioner bottle definitely didn’t help.

What a fabulous hotel spa. The services, particularly by Jenny, are top notch. It is close to the subway so riders like me can get there easily. I am not sure about nearby parking as it is located in a difficult-​to-​park area of Philadelphia, so I have not driven there. The prices are a little steep, but not when compared with similar hotel spas. The biggest bonus by the way is that you can use the pool, jacuzzi and sauna with your facial and massage. Don’t skip that part!

My review is only about massage sessions.
Went there to get 50 min massage from Yolanda. I read good reviews about her massage so was very excited. The reviews were right. Her Swedish massage was very soothing. I got so relaxed so almost fell asleep during the session. She asked about my concerns before massage and worked on it very detailed. Wish I booked two hour session. 50 min felt really short working on entire body since she moves very slowly (that was really soothing and awesome btw)
She got warm and soft hands which is so important for me! Once I got massage from therapist who had ice cold and rough hands. I prayed for my session to be over soon for entire hour.
Yolanda even apologized that she had long nails today which I didn’t feel any, her nail was short enough for massage. If you got scratched by nails during massage you would know what I mean. She was very professional.
I could not give 5 star because it was not a just massage therapist office. It was a hotel spa and the facility wasn’t that great. The robe seemed worn off, the pool didn’t seen super nice so I didn’t use it after my session. They suppose to have jacuzzi and sauna also but I didn’t not check after I saw the pool.
I was very satisfied with session but facilities.

Not only am I reviewing Omni Spa because I loved it, but I’m using Unilocal as an outlet to once again thank my girlfriend for the wonderful Valentine’s Day massage. I can’t comment on the price because it was a gift, but I will gladly go back there again.
I’m more than just a keyboard warrior, so the rest of my body often times gets very sore. I haven’t had a decent massage since moving to Philly, but what really bothers me is that I’ve unknowingly driven past this location 4 to 5 times a week. The manager mentioned it is relatively hidden, so it’s up to us to get the word out!
Great staff, awesome facilities, and access to the pool, hot tub, and sauna. The massage itself lasted about 50 minutes (felt like 5), and being able to use the hot tub afterwards was the ultimate relaxation. The entire facility had an overall… relaxed feel. I know there’s a multitude of much better adjectives, but just the thought of being at Omni again has rendered me useless. And relaxed.
The massage alone was enough to make me want to come back, while everything else is a bonus. Oh, and after the massage, I didn’t feel like I tried to climb the greased field goal post after an overtime win at the Orange Bowl (!).

I purchased two Swedish massages on Travel Zoo for me and my boyfriend. After purchasing I called to schedule the appointment, make sure to call in advanced as the preferable time slots and weekends fill up quickly. The staff on the phone was super friendly and accommodating. Unlike some businesses they didn’t treat me any different because I was using a coupon.
We were told to arrive at the Omni Balance Spa at least 15 minutes early. Upon arrival we were handed robes and taken to the locker room. The women’s locker room was nice and had bathrooms, showers, hair dryers, razors, and even key code lockers. The robes were comfy, the slippers were ok but could use an update.
After we changed, we waited in the relaxation room and filled out some paper work about our preferences. The Masseuses greeted us in the relaxation room and brought us back to our private room. The room was dark and music was playing. We were showed to the beds and left to derobe. They did a great job, and the 50 minutes flew by.
One suggestion would be to replace the stools, they were very noisy when the Masseuse rolled around.
After the massage we used the pool and hot tub. The hot tub was great, super warm and very bubbly. The pool was clean and refreshing. Both are a bit small, but the place was not crowded, so everything worked out fine. We also had access to the sauna and gym but didn’t take advantage of those. The pool/​hot tub deck could use a good cleaning.
Overall, great experience and very relaxing day.

Facilities need updating. Lockers are too small and kept jamming for 3 different people while I was in the locker room. The staff was helpful in trying to fix the problem. The entry area is very small with no area to wait for another member of your group.
Massage was okay.

My mother and I visited Balance Spa to enjoy a day of pampering with massages and pedicures. We were both pleased with the facilities and our massages (which were excellent). But the pedicure was horrible.
For $ 60 (not including tip), a pedicure should include at least a foot massage, or a neck rub while your polish is drying. All that was offered over a $ 15 pedicure at a local nail place was parafin wax. And the pedicurist complained through our entire appointment about her landlord, which really brought me down. I wouldn’t mind chatting, but she just complained, complained, complained. I’d come to the spa to relax!
To make matters worse, the nail dryer is in the spa’s locker room. So for 20 minutes, I sat there smelling the toilets. That would’ve been tolerable had the pedicurist not messed up her paint work when she came in to check on me. Since she had another appointment, she told me to sit tight. I waited another 10 minutes and she returned and brought me into the pedicure room, where her other client was relaxing with her feet in the water bath. The pedicurist started painting the other girl’s nails while I sat there, staring at her. I quickly realized it’d be a while longer, so I told the pedicurist I’d continue to wait in the other room. I didn’t want to intrude on her other client’s experience. Another 15 minutes later, the pedicurist returned to fix the color. I couldn’t wait for it to dry so I could get out of there.
The massage was wonderful and relaxed me a great deal. The pedicure stressed me out.

My boyfriend and I went here for a relaxing spa day. I bought us groupons for full body massages. Although our appointments were not until one, we went to the spa early to use the facilities which included a gym, pool, hot tub, sauna, and relaxation room. After an hour workout in the gym we ventured into the hot tub, pool, and sauna area.
Although it was in a small space, overall the facility was very nice. It was clean and the staff was super accommodating! We were extremely relaxed and we hadn’t even gotten our massages yet!
My massage was wonderful. My therapist, Colleen, was very attentive to my needs and target areas. She had great pressure the entire time and really worked the kinks out of my shoulders and neck! I would absolutely recommend this to anyone!

My husband and I went to Balance today and had a great experience. We were greeted warmly and were shown around the facility. We were shown to the locker rooms and were instructed on the use of the lockers. The locker room was OK– needs some updating and the robes were a little shaggy– but warm. It may be time to replace the robes. I also think it may be beneficial to pay for some updated signage– for both the locker room and the Relaxation room.
The services we received were great– we each had a massage and left feeling very relaxed and happy.

I arrived about an hour early to enjoy their facilities. I was greeted warmly by the receptionists. The first thing to note was how tiny the reception area was, and how cramped the entire spa felt, with treatment rooms adjacent to the locker rooms, and a narrow hallway adjoining all. The receptionist was polite and directed me to the locker room, but did not give me a basic tour of the facilities until I asked.
She essentially gave me a cursory run-​through, but without showing me how to turn the dry sauna into a steam sauna, nor even putting the jacuzzi on for me (I had to come back out to ask her how to put it on, and then she showed me the dial). She failed to direct me to the existence of a «relaxation room», which at first, I honestly thought was a break room for the spa staff. I was expecting a detailed tour of the entire facilities, how to best enjoy each, and to be shown everything, so that I could relax without having to walk into the reception area each time I had a question.
The lockers in the locker room were tiny, and all the robes honestly looked a bit worn out (but very plush). I waddled over to the jacuzzi, which is deafeningly loud. The jets are strong, but diffuse. I moved over to the sauna after, and then waited by the pool, where I filled out the intake form. A huge note of disappointment in retrospect was that no one had directed me to where water could be found during my initial «tour», which I should have drank after going through the sauna and Jacuzzi. Beverages and a sparse select of fruits were located in the relaxation room, which I was never even pointed out to in the beginning.
I followed Yalonda, the masseuse for the session, into a dimly lit and comfortable treatment room. She was very polite, and very respectful of covering the parts that she was not working on. I was feeling a little parched in the middle of the session, so she got me a glass of water in the middle of the treatment. I loved how her strokes were very firm, as I requested, and she focused on the areas that I had the most tension. The massage was exceptional, moving me into a comfortable nirvana; she devoted the entire time to the treatment. What I did not appreciate was how when I asked about the body treatment ceiling water spouts, she described their use, but distastefully added «it’s quite expensive, though». Sure, I came in on a group on and I’m a student, (which I never told her). But noting the price of a treatment when a client asks about it, assuming that a client cannot afford something, was sort of rude to me. This sentiment was reiterated by Sarah, the pedicurist (although after conversation she knew I was a student and clearly had a good rapport with me to give me this little factoid).
I went after to the relaxation room, a small, uncomfortable setting, with very outdated magazines. I waited for a few minutes until Sarah, the pedicurist, took me to the second treatment room. Sarah is very gregarious and chatty. However, because my goal for the day was to relax by absorbing and focusing on the treatment itself, I sort of did not want to be talking the entire time; I felt a little forced into conversation, when I truly just wanted to sit back, relax and read a magazine. However, chatting with Sarah did not fully detract from the experience.
The biggest complaint I have of my entire session at Balance was how I *SPECIFIED* on my intake form that I am ALLERGIC TO LATEX. You would expect that a high end spa would have non-​latex gloves to cater to individuals with these allergies. However, Sarah used a latex glove on her right hand, because she had a small cut on it. She said she «would not touch me then, and not put her hand in the water».
Does anyone at the spa read the intake form, and communicate such a concern? When she initially said that, I was offended that my medical need was being brushed aside. She did not touch me with her latex hand, but did occasionally brush my feet with it. I am glad that she did wear a glove to prevent contact of her wound with the basin water, but, the glove should have been another material. She took off her latex glove later when she massaged my feet with rather relaxing massage oils. Her technique is very on point and she did not rush through the procedure. I was left to relax for about 10 minutes with paraffin wax and a soothing aromatherapy neck pillow; finally, I was able to soak in the effects of my spa day in quiet. Her nail application, afterwards, however, is not the best that I have seen.
I would return only on a group-​on, which is what I used for this visit. Improvements are needed to make the entire experience flow smoother, especially in regards to acquainting clients with the facilities, their use, and location of the relaxation room.

Balance Spa & Fitness does excellent facials, body wraps, body scrubs, and pedicures. When you book a service, you get complimentary use of their dry sauna, jacuzzi, and swimming pool. You’re also welcome to come earlier to begin your relaxation with one of these amenities before your treatments.
The body wraps and scrubs come with Vichy showers — which I totally wish I could book a la carte, they’re just so calming!
There’s a really cool relaxation room with gratis lemon water, herbal tea, and fruit.
The only real downside is that Balance Spa & Fitness is located in the Omni Independence Park, so sometimes there will be children in the pool, or curious hotel guests wandering around. It’s a mild inconvenience compared to the excellent service.

My first swedish massage experience was amazing thanks to my massage therapist, Crystal, and the staff at Balance Spa! The facilities were clean and inviting, and my therapist was very understanding. I love that guests have access to the sauna room, hot tub, and lap pool (although the hot tub is one of the hottest ones I’ve ever been in– it was scorching!) I will definitely be coming back for another swedish massage!

I struggled with whether to give this place a 2 or 3 star review. My massage (80 minute deep tissue) was nice. Not the best I have ever had but not the worst. However the staff and overall feel of this facility is a 2. When I arrived there were 2 staff members standing around with the receptionist chatting, not cleaning, not folding towels, not checking on the locker rooms etc just giggling and chatting. The reception area is not that large and it didnt offer that ‘spa’ experience a customer should receive. The receptionst handed me sandels and a robe and walked me into the women’s locker room, no explaination of the facility etc. At a high end spa you are usually shown around and encouraged to use the other facilities (steam room, sauna, jaccuzzi) The receptionist then walked me to the extremely small and not relaxing ‘relaxation room’. Like I said, the massage was okay.
The thing that really got me was that I was checking out at the same time as a group of 5 – 7 other women that were all together and I think using groupons to pay for their treatment. there were THREE employees standing behind the reception desk waiting for their tips and as I was checking out one of the employees even asked ‘are they all paying on their cards b/​c i am just going to get out of here if that is the case’ In the service industry you dont just wait around with your hand out — I understand these ladies wanted their tips and we all did leave a tip but try to be discreet about it!

I used a deal to visit Balance recently and would definitely return — one of the included perks of visiting this spa-​in-​a-​hotel is that you get to visit their fitness center/​pool/​sauna/​jacuzzi if you’re visiting for a treatment. Since a day pass is $ 20, consider that a benefit.
My massage therapist (Crystal) was great, and very responsive to my concerns about some elbow pain that I have. Felt great afterward. I also had a facial, and the practitioner was also great, and it was a great first facial experience for me.
I’d definitely recommend Balance for someone looking for the full day spa experience (robes!). This was my first time looking for this format (I usually just go to massage directly without the spa) and definitely a fan.
#treatyourself