RUB ONE OUT! Massage by Design LTM Pick for BEST LOCAL SPA
My journey from Bogota, New Jersey to South Beach Miami in 2010 was a total of 1290 miles which I drove with my dog FOOie and my father who followed me in a PENSKE truck filled with my belongings. It rained for about 900 miles of the trip and when I say rained it was hardcore sideways late September pouring rain. My drive was delayed by a day due to weather and when I finally arrived to Miami, moved in, set up my apartment my neck, shoulders and lower back were a mess. I needed a massage and fast.
I jumped onto YELP and looked up Spas in South Beach, checked the $$ sign indicating I wasn’t interested nor had the means to blow $300 on a day at The Standard Spa. Instead I was looking for a nice neighborhood salon/spa sort of thing. I found Massage by Design and booked an appointment. It was perfect.
Monthly massages are an absolute must for me.
Fast forward a year to 2011 and the proliferation of coupon sites like Couptessa, Groupon, Living Social, Dealtificate, and the New Times and I started to find massages for as low as $35 for a full hour. I made the mistake of not researching the address and bought a coupon for a salon and spa about 20 minutes out west off the Palmetto Expressway.
If you blindfolded me and told me I was in a shopping mall in a third world country I would have believed you. I walked into the salon and was greeted with “holaaaaaa belleza” (hello lovely). “Hi, I’m Lisa I called with the coupon here it is.” Their head was spinning. I speak New York which is a sped up form of English which communicates urgency. I can be on vacation in Mexico and ask for a glass of water and the person rushes off to get it. There’s something in the tone that says you have 15 seconds to get me what I want before I label you incompetent.
The owner asked me if I speak Spanish. I said no but I understand like 85% depending on how fast you speak to me. So we sorted out my coupon and she pointed me to this beautiful Dominican guy with olive skin, a shaved head, about 6’1” built like an underwear model with green eyes like that chick on the that famous cover of National Geographic.
Green eyes like these are bewitching. This iconic 1985 image shows the power of the glare.
I was a happy girl. Yay! Cute Dominican guy will be rubbing me out for the next hour. He didn’t speak Ingles either but his hands spoke the universal language of ahhhhhhh. The massage started off normal. I showed him on his body where I hurt. Then he stepped out and I stripped down to nothing and hopped onto the massage table under the blanket.
The massage was amazing. His hands were from the heavens. The dude had a gift. He was getting all the kinks out and I was soooooo relaxed. I melted into the massage table. All was fine a lovely until he started massaging my legs. I won’t get graphic but will instead capture the “holy fuck is this actually happening and what do I do??” Ok so the hot Dominican masseur is working his magic on my thighs and let’s just say women can evidently get happy endings too.
Women can get “happy endings” too.
I was so conflicted. Here I am naked on a massage table, totally relaxed my body was like a lump of clay waiting for the artist to manipulate it. My brain was thinking this is so wrong, you need to say something, wait… oooooohhhhhhh!! Mmmmmmmmmmmm….deep breaths, mmmmmmmmmmm.
When “finished” he poured me a glass of water, and placed his personal card on my shoulder. I don’t remember the name but I do remember seeing “Personal en Su Casa” (Personal IN YOUR HOUSE). Holycrap!! This dude is a vaginal masseur. I heard about this from professional women in New York who go on these vacations and pay men to massage them all the way.
Everything was A-OK for me!
Ok so I learned my lesson…first keep all business cards for everyone you ever meet ever. And check the address for the establishment in relation to my apartment. If it exceeds South Beach, Brickell, Midtown, Design District or North Beach understand that a fingerblast with my massage is a total possibility.
After this I took a break from massages for a few months and the holiday’s came. My sort of husband bought me a Groupon for 3 massages with Massage by Design conveniently located on West Ave between 9 (th) and 10(th). I also found a coupon for a spa mani pedi and bought that too. http://www.massagebydesign.com/
Melissa is the owner, Allegra and Annie are two of the massage therapists available and my personal favorites. They are both absolutely amazing. They get kinks out, pay attention to how your body is reacting to the pressure and really focus on the trouble areas without neglecting the other parts too. Patty is the mani pedi Jedi who will suggest the perfect color and apply it flawlessly.
Try a hot stone massage. Amaaaazing.
Massage by design isn’t a big huge fancy spa. The services they offer are same as every other spa, an assortment of massages, facials, mani pedis. It is clean, decorated lovely like a chic little storefront sanctuary. Once in your massage room you don’t hear any outside noise. You escape into pure relaxation. The best part… I can walk home. I don’t have to drive and get stressed out and lose the chill feeling that comes after getting a massage. This feeling is sacred to me because it leaves me the second I see some dipshit doing some dipshitty thing. Not having to drive lessens my odds for being pissed off post massage.
What’s great about Massage by Design is that you feel like it’s you own little neighborhood spot. They know your name. It’s like Cheers but a spa. They are professional and friendly and they aren’t too snobby and above working with the aforementioned coupon sites. They get it. They have marketing chops. So many brands and local establishments fear coupon sites will dilute their brand. Well any business who wants mine in this economy needs to offer a discount. Times are rough. In this case my gift for Massage by Design led to me writing about them urging everyone to go there for a massage and mani/pedi.
Having a professional pedi is a must when living in Miami.
My plan is to purchase other massages and services off the coupon sites. I refuse to pay full price for a haircut, massage, facial, mani/pedi. I just won’t do it. I say let the hoshy poshy spas do their thing and corner the market on snobby absurdity that caters to tourists and the elite. Neighborhood local spas and salons should absolutely continue to offer coupon deals. Women typically would get massages every month as well as facials and mani/pedis twice per month. Do the math. Offer coupons.
I applaud Massage by Design for their strong sense of the importance of being neighborly. There is no pretense, no snob factor what so ever. That combined with masterfully skilled massage therapists and manicurists and it absolutely gets my pick for BEST LOCAL SPA.
I am sure after this article is read by other area spas and salons I’ll be invited to try their services so I can write about them too. I welcome the opportunity but for now, Massage by Design will be the local salon to beat.
OMG! Did this REALLY happen? and How in the world did you keep this little “gem” to yourself for so long? LOL! Biz will be booming at this place now…doesn’t matter how rual the location.
OMG!!!! Too funny!
A guy touching you without your permission is technically rape. A creepy guy in Miami doing it is so expected it’s cliche. By being ok with it, and (worse) then writing about it, you may have just given a whole bunch of perverts a predatory green light for the rest of us.
Also, there’s nothing wrong with paying regular price for something, however it can be harmful to frequent those coupon sites. For example, of the price you pay on Living Social, only 1/2 of that amount usually goes to the establishment. So they reduce their price and get 1/4 of what they would normally get to do the same service. Do you know how much it costs to rent commercial space in South Beach? It’s expensive. So if you enjoy visiting some of these small businesses so much, you should really support them by respecting them enough to pay their real price and help them stay open. Think about it…if you’re only paying $35 for a massage, how much of that is going to pay the massage therapist and how much is going to pay the rent? Couple that with the general attitude that many have developed, that they’ll only shop when and where there is a coupon and what we have is an economical disaster in which the only one winning is the coupon service. I hope this will change or open your mind a little.
@Lisa and @TK yes totally happened. Although I really don’t see the big deal. Men have been getting erotic massages in NYC Chinatown and for years not to mention other “services.”
@Scary sorry totally disagree. My writing about this shows how women should be leery about going for massages beyond South Beach. The spa salon where this “full” massage took place (as clearly mentioned in the article) was 20 minutes west on the Palmetto and may as well be the third world.
As far as paying full price versus coupons the owner of these businesses CHOOSE to offer these deals for a reason. It is part of their over all marketing strategy otherwise they wouldn’t do it. They want to bring people in their doors.
I do PR for a living and used to charge $75 per hour then dropped to $50 due to a rough economy and why??? Because I needed business. It is no different. Quite frankly I’d rather get a discounted massage or haircut and then rave about it on my blog and promote them on social media. THAT kind of PR and ADVERTISING is certainly far more valuable.
As far as your point regarding paying full price, couldn’t the same be applied to shopping at stores like Home Goods Marshalls and TJ Max?? Designers bust their asses just the same but why should I pay Bloomingdales $100 when I can pay Loehman’s $35??
The deal is this… the economy sucks but this is the governments issue to fix. If people make more money they are willing to pay full price.
I don’t see the point in paying $120 for a massage when I can find a Groupon for a massage in the same establishment for $35. Once I learned my lesson to look at the map and see the location of where the place is, then I know I can absolutely continue to take advantage of top quality spas offering discounts.
Everyone is out for a better deal. I have rent to pay just the same as the businesses do.
Women probably should be cautious of the area they visit for a massage, but that didn’t happen because you drove 20 miles out of your way, it happened because you allowed it. No judgement if that’s what you wanted, but I wouldn’t ever want a massage therapist to think that was ok.
Regarding the coupons, do some research about the number of companies that go out of business after doing promotions on coupon sites and get back to me. The buyers of the coupons, as you’ve stated yourself, are loyal to the coupon/discount site, not the businesses they are visiting. Statistically, it’s not good for the businesses or a sustainable marketing plan. Personally, I believe those sites in their current form are a trend that will expire soon unless it becomes more of a win for the business…and or businesses will just raise their prices so that the discounted rate is profitable for them (which many have already).
yes but until then… coupons coupons coupons!!!
I think your article was brilliantly honest,. It does illustrate a point of knowing where you are going before you leave, and that would hold true for an Ebay transaction or otherwise.
The fact that got the 100% massage and the uproar it created is kind of funny. I have been offered those types of services in high scale neighborhoods where I live. It’s not the area, but the establishment. One of the only reasons I do look at Yelp because I don’t necessary need my dog taken for a walk.
I always wondered if women got full service. I’m glad your experience turned out okay and thanks for writing this.
hahaah yes, lesson learned I only purchase coupons AFTER I mapquest and see where the location is. However, your point is well noted. Those services are offered in the most upscale neighborhoods just the same. And yes, YELP is an excellent place to cross reference. Thanks a million for your comment.
“speak New York which is a sped up form of English which communicates ….”
That you are a pushy bitch
hahahahaah!! PUSHY?? Naaah… Efficient with little tolerance for people who move at a turtles pace… you bet!
What a lovely read! I truly enjoy reading anything about the female perspective of what I do. I’m a licensed masseur in NYC and though I have only been in the business for 5 years, I have given many women sexual satisfaction on my massage table. With my hands, tongue and sometimes more.
Some pointers for anyone interested in booking with me:
1. Privacy and Discretion are of capital importance to me. Second only to your satisfaction with my services.
2. I have been a licensed masseur for over 5 years now and my skills JUST as a masseur are excellent. I don’t want to sound like a braggart but everyone else can’t be wrong and false modesty is a waste of time.
3. The erotic side of the massage is optional and entirely up to you, the price is the same regardless as you are only paying for the massage. I don”t consider the other thing as work.
4. I NEVER force ANYTHING on my clients. When you are on my table I am your servant for that period of time. I never do anything you don’t want me to do and I never cross any boundaries that you lay out.
5. I’m not an ugly old pervert seeking to get his rocks off. I’m young, reasonably fit and easy on the eyes. If you care I can supply recent photos.
6. If you are unable to/do not wish to have the massage at your place I can meet you at a hotel of your choosing or you can book with me at a spa that I work out of. Public spaces may help you feel more secure.
If any ladies would like to set up an appointment with me my email is: antillesmaxim@gmail.com
And…for the ladies…This little GEM!!
Thanks for reading my blog and for your post. I am AMAZED!!
LTM
No need for thanks, I’m amazed that you had the courage to post about your experience. Amazed and filled with gratitude. The world needs more open minded women like you.