Nidah Spa

Not blown away with the quality.
I decided to wait and pamper myself once on vacation. We stayed at the Eldorado hotel so I thought it can’t hurt to try this spa rather than getting my nails done before heading on the trip.
WAY over priced for the mani/​pedi quality. The nail tech (s) were very nice and professional. My technician did not try to force conversation and had a very calm demeanor. The length of the service and the quality of the polish were what really disappointed me. My manicure was chipping by day two pretty badly. After returning home I had to remove the nail polish since it had chipped so badly. I waited two and half hours before putting shoes on to go eat dinner and my toes still smudged. I fixed the polish the next day but the polish is now chipping off my toe nails. It’s been about a week since the service. I normally take my polish off every two weeks (to prevent discoloring) but I’ve left polish on my toes for up to a month without chipping. After spending over a $ 100 for the service, I’m really disappointed in the quality. I could have received a service twice as long with better lasting results at a spa in my hometown.
The front desk staff seemed like they were in a hurry to leave, one even said out loud she was ready to get out of there and didn’t want anymore delays. I didn’t appreciate being asked out loud if I wanted to leave a 20% tip either. I’m all for tipping and normally leave 20% or more for good service but I’d prefer to indicate the amount on my receipt myself instead of feeling pressured to inform all those around me what I’ll be leaving for a tip.

Oh my god, I’ve found heaven on earth. Never have I had my hair highlighted and cut where I actually felt relaxed after. I went into the salon feeling crappy and having a headache. Was welcomed into the spa and invited to relax in the relaxation room. Then met Yvette who asked me questions about what I wanted with my hair. After that she proceeded to work her trade. No small talk, just her finesse and magic making my hair just the right shade. She has so much patience. I was brought some jasmine tea and nuts and chocolate while my hair toned. In fact I write this as I wait. My point being, if you want one of the most relaxing experiences getting your hair done where they will just let you be inside yourself; where when you are done the world we be a better place, then go here. Worth every penny and then some. And by the way, my hair looks amazing!

Beautiful décor. but the deep tissue massage was started with a vibrator?! Supposed to be a Chinese method (have experience true chinese methods in Beijing, Chengdu, Tibet, and Hainan Island), but after one leg I was offered a traditional deep tissue and I went for it. I get a massage weekly for years and when I am on the road, including China to Europe, I like to keep the routine up and see what I can see. Always a chance it will not be great and this was one of those times. She spent a lot of time on my stomach (deep tissue?) and forgot to do anything with my back. At one point I ended up on my side and still don’t understand that move. Last appointment for the day at 4:30 so went for a steam and it was set on a timer to turn off and so no steam. I asked that the automatic 20% tip be zero and politely told the desk personnel about the issue and recompense was offered in the form of a 15% discount on both my wife and my treatment. She had a great experience and we accepted the 20% tip option on hers. Luck of the draw.

Would give this Spa about 3.5 stars.
The Couples Massage was good. We’d never tried it before and our two massage therapists were very fun and chatty. I’m sure you could have a massage with more seriousness, but it worked for us.
Note: Their spa facility is not large and the soaking & sauna are on different floors, which is a bit odd, but they provide robes. There was a nice steam room in the changing room area and that was a good way to get relaxed for the massage. They do have a «relaxation room» which was just OK. While they had infused water, snacks & magazines, the chairs were a bit stiff (more like a Dr’s office) and lounging wasn’t a real option.
All in all, it was a nice treat and by staying at the hotel it was also very convenient.

This. This is the reason I came to Santa Fe. I needed some serious R&R — but I needed it done quietly and with a twinge of spiritualism. I needed to be here. Nidah delivered. As mentioned in previous reviews, the décor is earthy & calming and the name means «your life.» So, while at the spa, you can contemplate your life. Are you moving too fast? Are you where you want to be? Are you where you need to be? You can have all the time in the world to ask these questions because chief amongst the qualities at the spa is peace & quiet.
I was already staying at the hotel, so it was a simple matter to call down, arrange a massage (hot stone; I wanted a connection to the earth if I was already going all New Age-​y), duration of service (50 min; I should have done 80), and gender of therapist (female). Everything in place by phone, I came down 20 minutes prior to my service, got a quick tutorial on the locker room, changed, steamed, went into the waiting room to sip on fruit water and be at one with my racing thoughts… and then I was greeted by my therapist. She was a very friendly woman with an interesting story. From the get-​go, she asked me how chatty, deep and hot I wanted the massage. Not that much, very, make me feel it. Bueno. For the next 50 minutes, I was outside of myself. I was kneaded, plied, singed, and molded back into the person I most like. My anxieties, stress and pressure melted away, as I experienced the kind of expert massage that’s eluded me for 8 years in Chicago. This. This was therapy. This was healing. This was what I came for.
Have you felt regret? If you haven’t, it feels like the end of a 50-​minute hot stone massage when you could have ordered an 80-​minute service. Treatment completed, my therapist handed me some water (don’t want those toxins to kill me) and led me back to the waiting room area. From there, I went to the locker room to step into an over-​sized rainforest shower and luxuriate in the water. My senses seemed heightened after my massage and the shower was of my the most exhilarating ones I’ve ever had. My endorphins must have been sky-​high because I was in the best of moods and felt better than I had when I landed in New Mexico. Perhaps you can receive an invigorating massage anywhere. Perhaps you don’t need to travel to Santa Fe to experience. But, if you have doubts as to the veracity of the previous sentences, what’s a trip to the American Southwest gonna hurt… for research’s sake?

We stayed at the El Dorado and booked a couples package at the Nidah Spa for the next day. The spa was beautiful and the treatment was very relaxing. Would definitely recommend this for a special occasion or just because.

Nidah Spa is tucked inside the Eldorado Hotel. Nidah is Native American for «your life» and they will pamper you silly. Literally, when I left the massage suite I was very relaxed, useless, meandered around the ladies locker room for a while… It was like coming slowly back to consciousness and back to the real world. And it seems the real world sucks less after my visit, even 5 days later.
A 50 minute massage comes with the Eldorado’s Romance Package. For an additional charge, you can add minutes or opt for a different treatment. Irene, my masseuse questioned me about what I liked /​disliked and we settled on the Swedish massage with some fine tuning on the shoulder and neck muscles (we were on a road trip, so many hours spent in the car). My fiancé had the hot rocks massage with emphasis on his lower back (his massage was extra).
I was led into the ladies locker room and shown around. They have a private changing room, lockers, showers and steam bath. Each locker offers toiletries and the most comfy robe I have ever worn. Show up early and take advantage of their eucalyptus steam room. After pruning myself up nicely I stepped into the co-​ed meditation room. This area is dimly lit with chairs scattered about. They offer hot tea, cucumber infused water, dried fruit and nuts. My masseuse called my name and for the next 50+ minutes I was in heaven. The massage was fantastic and she hit all of the right places. Talk about magic hands!
The previous day I chipped my toenail and ran to Nidah for a emergency pedicure. I was able to secure an appointment with Reiko. Reiko is wonderful, gentle and she immediately made me feel at home. She refreshed my tea and brought me a snack. I wish she scrubbed my feet a bit more (we had gone hiking and rafting, my feet were a mess!) but overall I was very pleased. If you do go, get ready for a hefty bill, my pedicure was $ 76.
The spa itself is beautiful. Warm earth colors greet you when you walk in (golds), the staff is accommodating and polite. The pampering you receive at Nidah is worth the high prices they charge.
****It is necessary to make an appointment. They were fully booked on a weekday 8am to 8pm.