As a bath afficionado, I was looking forward to trying my first banya. I left OKEANOS very disappointed.
On the phone, management was super friendly, promising free vodka shots after the treatment. I made a reservation for the plotza treatment for myself and several friends and was told it would take 30 to 40 minutes per person.
Although the web site advertizes that each guest receives a "heated wrap" of Russian grains and spices on arrival, no such welcoming gesture was offered. On the positive side, the facilities are clean and the plotza was administered by a friendly and competant young "plotza master" named Sam. However, the first plotza lasted only 20 -25 minutes. This was not so bad but in the middle of the second, the manager stuck her head in and said something in Russian that sounded like, "Hurry up! The next customers are coming!." The treatment ended soon after. The final person in our group to receive a plotza got a very abbreviated version - 10 minutes or so. After the bath we were led to a seating area in our robes and offered refreshments. We chose tea and juice and were also given some fruit. Vodka shots were not offered.
When it came time to pay, we were charged for the plotza and then told we would be charged $50 per person on top of that for the use of the banya. This brochure lists a " half-day use" fee of $90 for those who don't book treatments. The website doesn't mention this at all except under "current promotions" that says half-day use is reduced to $50. I assume this was the justification for the charge, although we had each booked a treatment. Needless to say, the juice and tea were not complementary although there is no menu or sign with prices.
There is an anxiety about money at OKEANOS. They may be on the verge of bankruptcy or they may be trying to make a minimum amount from every client. Either way, the lack of transparency about the cost of services leaves a bad taste.
Pros: clean and nice facilities
Cons: unprofessional management
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