Fairmont Sonoma Mission Inn & Spa

Aaron6 months ago

2/5

2 stars for the spa, 4+ for the hotel. We have been coming here for 8 years and every time the spa gets worse and more expensive. A lot of the latest cuts seem to be for a reduction in staff, and are fine in isolation, but combined really damage the experience and you are no longer getting the premium product you are paying for. In no particular order, spa check in is now through the spa store instead of a dedicated desk, no longer assigned a locker with specific shoe size (some visitors will get uncomfortably large slippers), no more pool noodles in the relaxation pool (good luck meditating unless you have high body fat), bathing ritual shower continues to only have 2/4 water stations working, pre spa showers removed privacy curtains and only 2 basic jugs of scrub in the center instead of 1 per shower, sauna has cracking floors with dangerous splintering sections, the relaxation room now has single TV with exposed wires and generic video that requires you to find staff while it regularly freezes or stops playing, they no longer offer couples massages, and no sign explaining bathing ritual or enforcement of quiet zones. Receives 2 instead 1 of star because new seat reservation system is nice, and the snacks/spa water were good. The few staff that where there were attentive and great once you could locate them. As of now, the spa does not meet Fairmont standards, and I suggest relaxing elsewhere. Hotel staff and grounds were excellent as always. Very festive for the Christmas season.