The Good Spa Guide has analysed feedback from 2,557 of its members on their enjoyment of spa experiences.

The resulting Good Spa Guide State of Spa Report will be presented by founder Daphne Metland at the Spa Life UK convention.

Members were asked what makes them book one spa over another, what makes them return, what they enjoy the most about their spa experiences and what they’d like to see less of.

Reasons to book a spa visit

Fifty-seven per cent of spa-goers look at a spa’s facilities, such as whether it has a swimming pool or a relaxation space, before choosing one spa over another.

Sixty-nine per cent would be put off by reading poor reviews of a spa, with lack of value for money coming in a close second.

When asked what they enjoy most about a spa day, 59 per cent said it’s about the indulgence of spa time, 56 per cent enjoy using the facilities and 51 per cent said the treatments.

Sixty-one per cent of survey participants said they would be encouraged to re-book at a spa they’ve already been to if they were offered a discount for a return visit. More than half also said that excellent customer service would influence them to come back.

Spa anxieties

The survey also addressed anxieties experienced by spa visitors.

71 per cent of spa visitors said their main concern was that a spa would be too busy during their visit. Not feeling body confident was a top concern for 25 per cent of those surveyed and 27 per cent worried about unexpected costs they may incur at a spa.

Most survey participants also said they would like to see a ban on mobile phones in spas. Members left comments on this topic describing their disappointment that outdoor areas in spas are used by people taking selfies or filming.

Plans to spend

More than half of those surveyed said they're looking for real value for money. Fifty per cent said they plan to spend between £100-200 (US$135-269, €117-234) on a spa day.

Metland said, “This year, the Good Spa Guide surveyed spa-goers about what they really want (and don’t want) from spas. When deciding to book a spa, the facilities – a swimming pool and relaxation area – and good value-for-money were high on the spa-goers tick list, while poor reviews and busy spas were the biggest turn-offs.”

For further information on The Good Spa Guide, visit goodspaguide.co.uk