Located in a central part of Vancouver (Broadway at Cambie), The Don Spa is a true gem. I first found out about this place after receiving a flyer at my home when I used to live on Main Street. I was drawn by the low cost of the massages (~$50 for 45 minutes, back then) since I had ongoing neck/shoulder/back issues for which my work insurance coverage ran out pretty much by March of each year. I was excited to find out that I could potentially continue getting massages for half the price as most registered massage therapists were charging.

That’s how I met Roslynn.  Now, I’ll admit that while the decor and setup of this spa is lightyears better than some I’ve been to in Richmond, The Don Spa is quite small with only 3 rooms and a very narrow hall that takes you to the front area. But, I would rather give up a bit on ambience and the extra touches like waterfalls and robes to get more affordable treatments more often.  That’s not to say that I don’t enjoy going to a five star hotel spa, every once in a while, to be treated like royalty, but I’m just saying that it’s not really my thing. Saving money is definitely my thing. When I first met Roslynn I wasn’t sure if she was going to be able to live up to the standard of the deep tissue massages I was so used to getting, but she quickly put that doubt to rest! This woman is seriously freakishly stronger than she looks - or sounds for that matter! She’s a soft-spoken, very sweet woman, but once she starts the treatment, it’s on! For either 45 minutes ($38) or 1 hour ($48), you can experience the most satisfying, targeted massage that you’ve ever had outside of Asia. It was so relieving that I wasn’t even bothered by my neighbour who was clearly the “talking during a massage” type. I didn’t care! Roslynn took me back to my rooftop massage experience in Jakarta, Indonesia, when for the first time, I literally had a woman walk on me! It waswonderful and I think I may have cried a single tear of joy.

After the massage was over, Roslynn offered me a warm cup of water (in Chinese health beliefs, one should never drink cold water) and I decided to give her an extra $15 on top of the hour’s fee. I know that may seem like a lot, but I’m always happy to give a good tip when it’s warranted.

So, if you’re looking for a more affordable way to treat an ongoing pain or to just relax and pamper yourself, do check out The Don Spa at 536 West Broadway, although they have just recently opened a new location on Victoria Drive where they’re offering a 10% discount on all their services.  Review to come.  But, if Fairview is more convenient for you, be sure to call (604) 871-9838 and ask for Roslynn (not Don, in fact, I don’t even know who Don is). She will seriously rock your world!