HAVING heard that Spa Botanica was a three-time winner of the Best Spa Experience award by the Singapore Tourism Board and reviews that they had one of the best service-orientated staff, I booked a one-and-a-half-hour spa session worth $217 on my birthday with a friend.

Imagine the shock I received when a male masseur entered the room. I quickly asked for a change of masseur and after a 15-minute wait, the manager informed me that there was no available female masseur. I had to wait for about one-and-a-half hours if I insisted on a female therapist.

She admitted that it was the spa's fault for not asking the gender preference of my masseur earlier on, and assured me that the male masseur assigned was very professional.

Frustrated, I was left with no choice as I planned to end my massage at the same time with my friend. Although the male masseur was indeed professional, I left the spa with a bitter-sweet feeling. It was a special occasion for me and, having paid so much, I did not expect anything to go wrong.

So what exactly differentiates a top-class spa from the average spa if not for its quality of service? Despite boasting a superior service standard we have in Singapore, it is these little details that all services should be more attentive to in order to live up to our reputation.

Choo Yirong (Ms)