Ten Thousand Waves Review

A truly special resort. We spent 2 nights and experienced a very relaxing vacation while here. All the rooms are different, and well capture the beauty and comfort of the Japanese aesthetic. We had a meal at Izanami, which is onsite, and one of the best Japanese restaurants I've been to in the U.S. (Which is saying something, since I lived in Japan for 4 years!).
As a guest, you get access to some of the geothermal baths before the bath house opens to the public, which was lovely and very relaxing. 10000 waves isn't exactly the same as an onsen experience-- but it's the closest thing I've found in the US, with updates and upgrades which make it as (or perhaps even more) comfortable.

And all of the staff, without exception, were truly phenomenal, so helpful and friendly-- I've never experienced better. Well worth the price tag.

We stayed in the Sailor Moon room because we were told that it had a great 2 person shower and gosh dang we were not disappointed!!! It was MASSIVE! The shower is 2 stories high at it's highest point with 2 big shower heads that you can point in an X pattern to cross the water streams (fear not fellow Ghostbusters!) and it makes it feel like you are in a waterfall!

The room itself was nice and the queen bed was, well a queen bed. Nothing remarkable about the bed as I felt it was kinda hard, but for us the shower made up for that in spades.

The private baths were superb and we really enjoyed our time in Shoji. (We also soaked in Kobuta, but Shoji was way better as it was roomier and had an attached steam room with a indoor cool off area that was excellent as there was literally snow out).

The grounds definitely have a japanese vibe and set a really great tone and the staff at the spa was excellent. We really enjoyed our time there and look forward to trying the premium private baths!

The foot baths are divine, but popular so find a seat and stay there a while. Always fantastic services (massage, scrub & facial).

Ten Thousand Waves is a special place. The judging is elegant and private and beautiful, with every need anticipated. The spa is exceptional. Only criticism is that they changed the policy and in any public setting you must cover your bottom and I didn't know that and went unprepared. And the restaurant is great and deliciously prepared food is the norm. All around great place worth the cost for a special occasion.

Excellent spa, superb surroundings - an oasis in the mountains. Karma is the most skilled masseuse.

Overall, our experience was very good. Out of our 7 family members, all but one had great massages. We had lunch there, and it was delicious! The lavender honey ice cream was divine.

I've been a massage therapist for 18 yrs., and Mark did a wonderful job. My aunt (also a veteran massage therapist), however, did not have a positive experience with the man who gave her a Thai massage. He wasn't responsive to her requests to gradually use deeper pressure. One other surprise that I didn't like was undressing with the therapist in the room. He held up a towel and turned his head while I disrobed. I'm not a modest person, and have had many, many massages, and I would've preferred him out of the room. Upon reflecting, I should've asked him to leave for a minute.

Their billing system was confusing. Our lunch bill was supposed to be separated, but they ended up not being able to figure it out, and had to put it all on one person's credit card, and we had to pay that person back individually. The food and service was great, though.

The facility was very nice, and we had fun hanging out at the hot tub before our massages and lunch. All the staff was very nice. I'd recommend a different billing system, though. And the gift shop was full of cool Japanese inspired items.

Overrated and overpriced. The treatments are good enough and it is clean. However, for what you pay, it's way overpriced. The general admission (approx. $25) allows you access to Girls only Spa which includes steam room, hot spa, and cold plunge as well as pleasant outdoor seating area. You can use the foot bath and meditation room also. Ho hum. You can book a private hot tub area for $50 an hour. Front desk staff seems overly concerned that you are going to steal their thin, nonabsorbent robes. One 50 minute facial plus access to spa ran me upwards of $150. Under-impressed.

5-star experience all the way around. I return to this spa every summer and winter. Experience is best during the evening times because you can see the stars

Staff could have been friendlier but otherwise very nice place.

We enjoyed an afternoon of excellent massages. The Japanese style spa was exceptionally relaxing. We'll certainly be back.

Great natural environment with an authentic Japanese spa feel. Houses of the Moon are incredible, relaxing habitations. Be prepared for possible loud conversations and slight murky water in the grand pool, cooler water in the foot baths, but the cold pool is kept cold, which was great! For the price, it's a pretty good value. Izanami is a great, tasty way to finish off your spa visit.

Wow wow wow. Great tubs, great facility, great staff. I was so thrilled to be there and was 100% a good experience. Would definitely recommend.

So clean and relaxing. Spacious and affordable too. Everyone was courteous and the locker area didn t smell at all even though there were lots of people.

As a visitor who loves Santa Fe and had high expectations for Ten Thousand Waves, I m sad to share my visit was a huge disappointment. Don t waste your time and money on this overpriced/overhyped destination.

After a friend highly recommended Ten Thousand Waves, my mom and I planned a stop for her birthday weekend. We reserved time at the private Waterfall tub and made a dinner reservation for Izanami. Unfortunately, from the moment we arrived, the experience was stressful and uncomfortable. Ten Thousand Waves was PACKED and the staff were rude and unhelpful to patrons (one employee actually complained to us how much he hates his fellow coworkers while we were paying our bill.) The women s locker room was packed, cramped, and poorly organized (for example, restroom stalls are located in one area and sinks are located in another.) Patrons were constantly getting in each other s way in the crowded, steamy space. Definitely not relaxing!

The private Waterfall tub smelled terrible (I could not wait to have a proper shower after the experience) and had no nice amenities such as lounge chairs or cold drinks. Honestly, the whole area, including the sauna, smelled like mildew and was clearly not very clean. In fact, it wasn t even very nice to look at with peeling grout, rough concrete, and chipped, water-stained wood in the sauna. Honestly, you could have a better experience at your local gym (and it wouldn t cost you $57 per person for 85 minutes.)

The beauty of the gorgeous Santa Fe landscape was the only saving grace to our Ten Thousand Waves experience. We were so disappointed and put off by the staff s lack of professionalism that we cancelled our dinner reservation and left early. Save your money and visit one of the other wonderful spas in the city!

A lovely spa with large hot pool. The sauna was first rate. A very good experience.

This place has a very nice location and their restaurant was a lot better than expected.

Always amazing to go soak - beautiful environment and very soothing

Fabulous food, recommend the chef special you never know what are you going to eat!

I am a regular at Ten Thousand Waves, but I hadn't been since about Oct 2019. I returned for a soak last night (1/13/20) and there were some changes and treatment that I feel like I need to comment/provide feedback on.

Upon check in, Riot greeted us but was not personable or friendly. She informed us that prices had gone up (doubled!!), but if you had the local card, prices would remain the same. We shared that we came up from ABQ and did not have the local card with us - we forgot it at home - and asked if we could get the local price anyway. She rudely informed us that was not possible - even though she had my NM id and you get the card when you check out! I literally could have reached across the desk and gotten one and she wouldn't have known, so the interaction was unnecessary. When we checked out, we mentioned that we forgot our card, and another employee happily gave us the discount but reminded us to bring the card next time.

The women's dressing room has changed dramatically, and while it is very nice, there is zero room for modesty. We opened the door and literally ran into several women completely nude, who were chatting/loitering and rubbing lotion in hard to reach areas (therefore were in awkward poses). I don't have a problem with nudity whatsoever, but it is a little shocking to open the door and without walking two steps in, be greeted by the internal cavities of another human without asking for it (hahaha!).

We were also quite put off when these same women made fun of us to our faces for changing into our suits in the restroom stalls rather than stand in the middle of the dressing to change - there was little room to do so because it was crowded. This is not necessarily a reflection of the business, but the layout does change the atmosphere and other guests' behavior. Same thing happened when we showered to leave. There are no curtains on the showers anymore (instead, there are layered metal beads that you can see right through) and the mirrors at the sinks across the bathroom are positioned in such a way that you are seen in the shower from the mirror. I think it is important to meet in the middle and be understanding that most folks will want some level of privacy (and are entitled to that), but at the same time I totally understand that there will be others who are ok with no privacy at all. Also, if you allow children to soak, another reason to have options - while we were in the dressing room, there were three little girls under 10 who looked extremely uncomfortable.

I would return, of course, because I always have a great soak and I (almost always) love the atmosphere/staff!

Loved that they've got the hot pools and the cold baths. It isn't the quiet place I thought though. It is so worth the money. They don't nickel and dime you to dreath. One price and you get a robe, towels, everything you need. Great value.

My first visit and not my last. I arrived dehydrated with a headache. I left hydrated and calm and feeling great. I highly recommend a full day of treatments and lunch.

Certainly the most relaxing Spa resort ever! From the moment you step through the doors of this oasis, you are treated with care. It is heavenly and you won't forget it!

The hot stone massage was amazing and it was wonderful to spend several hours in the pools.

A magnificent gem. Caring, attentive staff, beautiful accommodations, amazing spa, rustic mountain setting, awesome restaurant, everything was gorgeous! We felt totally cared for the entire time. Truly a destination in itself!

For me, Ten Thousand Waves is the gold standard for spas. The environment and surroundings make it an ideal setting for relaxing. Their staff is skilled and go out of their way to insure a positive experience.

Can't beat it. The pools are amazing and the food is some of the best in all of Santa Fe

Heaven! Beautiful and perfect! Soaked, sauna-ed, spa-ed, dined... Impeccable, warm, caring customer service at every level. Mmmmm!

This place is a unique getaway in New Mexico. Japanese inspired, the place kept true to the Japanese culture and provided amenities for a truly relaxing stay. Overall I would suggest spending at least two days to take full advantage of it and ensure to book the spa well in advance as it tends to fill up quick.

I did however had a few issues during our stay. After a few days of driving, we arrived a bit early and we notified the staff, they mentioned the room wasn t ready which was ok but they knew we had arrived. When we came back for check in time, we went to our room and there was people outside our room working on the heater for the water. We were told 5 minutes tops. After waiting for over half hour and having no privacy due to the ongoing work, we called front desk to ask for options or a status update. They were unable to provide a status update on when it would be fixed and mentioned they had been working on it since before we arrived. We asked why we weren t told this at check in and were told because no one told them we we had arrived...

I then asked for a solution or different options since we wanted to relax and shower. We were told we could shower at the spa...normally this wouldn t be an issue but with freezing conditions and being tired the last thing we wanted to do was leave the room. I had to mention to them that they could offer to move us to another room since they had availability...it was not until then that they actually realized that was an option. Moreover, they didn t even offer to help us move to the new room or show us where it was. Once in the new room, the A/C was not working correctly but at this point we just lit up the fireplace and tried to move on.

Honestly the staff at front desk could use a bit of training in dealing with issues since they seemed unable to come up with resolutions on the spot.

This was definitely a one off experience so I would be willing to give this place another shot.

I am frankly puzzled by the complaints I have seen. I went to the spa in the middle of October, last month. I had daily treatments for four days. I have had many massages, and I really enjoyed the presence that my massage therapists brought when they worked on me. From the front desk, to the people who connected you to your therapist, to the people who provided transportation from your cabin to the spa, to the maintenance people... All were courteous, helpful, and friendly. I felt very pampered throughout this experience. If the contrast between the heat of the hot tub and the cool weather is not pleasurable for you, then I would skip it. I loved the beauty of the outdoors, the serenity, and the privacy of the private tubs. I love the 302 product that was recommended when I had my facial. Natural ingredients and my skin is softer and looks much better. I look forward to my next trip and being able to dine at their new restaurant which was opening in October. This was a retreat well worth every penny.

Wonderful spa experience, the staff is helpful, soft spoken, and keep things very zen. Our couples massage was fantastic! The wasteful private bath is wonderful. So relaxing.

Beautiful and precious. Santa Fe is magnificent itself, but it is worth traveling here just for 10,000 Waves. Stay as long as you can.

My daughter and I both had a massage, loved the relaxing day.

I visited the spa, it was pretty good but really too expensive on the spa services, which were just okay. I would definitely come again just to do the tubs though. The customer service is good and it's a lovely atmosphere.

My husband and I went to ten thousand waves to visit their pool and get a massage. This place is beautiful, no doubt. It is also family-friendly, so it is not the best place for relaxing. There were kids screaming and people talking loudly at an overcrowded pool. The staff made an announcement over the PA but it didn't make a difference. The massage was great tho.

The baths and saunas are always relaxing. They're only doing private tubs right now due to the covid restrictions and are doing thorough sanitizing in between reservations to keep everyone safe. There's one tub where they can lower the temp if requested for special circumstances. Extra precautions for massages as well like masks for the duration. Shiatsu massage is a special experience. Really appreciate the staff working so hard in this time to keep people safe while getting a sense of normalcy back in their lives.

We went late one soring break evening with our five year old boy and found a warm welcome. We enjoyed the common hot spring pool and ice bath. The foot bath and the sauna. We were a little worried about taking the little one, but he put on his best spa behavior and fun was had by all.

THE place we schedule for the day after our arrival in Santa Fe. Heavenly pampering for our travel-weary bodies, minds, and spirits. Ask for Farley if you can - my personal favorite with magical hands, much to teach, depth of spirit.

Best massage I have ever received, amazing food and tranquil setting! Could spend many days here.

Yesssss! One of my favorite places when I need to relax. It is pricey for sure so it's hard for me to go often but when I do go... A-MA-ZING! The smell itself there is just calming and great. The bathrooms to change and stuff are pretty small although there are two sides. Each side has a set of lockers (you don't have to pay for), three showers, and two sinks. There are blow dryers of you need. They do provide excellent lotion, hair shampoo and conditioner, and body wash. I have had a massage there and it was absolutely amazing! It went so fast but felt so good and then to be able to get in the hot tub or sauna after ! There are private tubs and areas and there are community tubs. BATHING SUITS ARE OPTIONAL. They do have a men's tub, a women's tub, and one mixed. The private tubs do include a sauna, hot tub, of course, and a cold plunge (little tub to dip in with FREEZING water). The only reason I can't give five stars is just the price (not only the tubs, massages, and lodging, but also the products they sell are expensive) But if it was not for the price, five stars!!!

We rented the private bath, was nice to have the peace and quiet....was also nice that they had lemon and cucumber water for afterward.

What a lovely experience. We were in the Waterfall hot tub, which was a calming and beautiful space. The tub is spacious, and we loved the cold plunge and the sauna, too.

This was my first experience at the SPA. This is an FANTASTIC place to get a full massage. THANK YOU BRIDGETTE THEODORE YOU ARE AWEDOME. I give BRIGETTE all the credit SHE is so great. Thank You AND I look forward to my next visit.

Services and restaurant are good but expensive. one can easily see why northern New Mexico has the highest burglary rates in the nation first off most people don't even bother to report for the refill it's actually much higher. Unfortunately lodging at ten thousand waves is the same story do not leave valuables in your room. I have been there many times in the past and no one seems to want to bring up the issue that the harassment by men is on other men as well as dirty old men (a Mr. Donoho was quite annoying and was obviously there to leer @ women.)Also, it is a gay hot spot and my teenage son was made very uncomfortable there. however the woman's pool was wonderful private and clothes or no clothes didn't matter to anyone.

This is a Must Do if you are in Santa Fe and looking to unplug and relax. We are going to make this a semi-annual event going forward.

Great way to relax and social distance by yourself or with others.

Restaurant was better than the spa. I highly recommend the sake tasting.

Spa was great, also I highly recommend visit the restaurant. Sake after spa is always good choice.

AMAZING!! I got 2 therapy sessions and a private soaking tub. It wasn't cheap, but IT WAS WORTH EVERY PENNY!!!! Amazing!! Service and staff were awesome, and the treatment....INCREDIBLE!!! Would highly reccommend, for sure!!!

Great place, great amenities, and amazing customer service. however, it seemed a little over crowded day I went.

A very nice atmosphere and the tubs were splended. The gift shop in the other hand was... special. 35 dollars pointed stick for your feet.

This was a fabulous dining experience. Get the hot pot and save room for dessert!

Great place for a weekend gateway. Exceptional lodging service, great spa specialists. The rooms have an own fireplace. Tubs for residents available from 8 am.
Tubs open to public 9am-10pm daily except Tuesday (from 1 pm).

Absolutely amazing. Excellent food and phenomenal facilities for just about everything that you would expect.

Absolutely peaceful place and the food was amazing. Whenever people say think of your happy place this definitely is one of those places.

It was relaxing . Staff was amazing people were very friendly. Will definitely be going there again

Top Notch. Loved our experience. Lasting positive memories.

The massage I got here was awesome! Everyone was very nice and professional.

One must experience this spa! Love the Shiatsu massage !!

Top of the list for relaxing this is where you need to go when in Santa Fe

The private tub was such a relaxing experience. The views are also incredible!

I had an enjoyable experience at Ten Thousand Waves. I had a shiatsu massage that felt really good. The masseuse Mark really knew what he was doing. I also enjoyed a soak in one of the private suites, which was fantastic too. I'd highly recommend this place for a quiet relaxing time.

Used the private day spa and I absolutely had a beautiful and peaceful time. It was snowing and being outdoors in the hot water was perfect. Set the right expectation before visiting that this place does not give you much direction or recommendations.

Had a wonderful time staying at Ten Thousand Waves during our Honeymoon! The Blue Moon accommodations were very comfortable and clean. The food, service, and spirits at Izanami restaurant were exceptional. We did not have time to utilize the spa services, however we will definitely return in the future. Overall, I would highly recommend staying at Ten Thousand Waves for anyone visiting Santa Fe, and looking for a romantic and peaceful getaway.

Love the open view of the stars at night from the communal pool!! Amazing atmosphere

Had another relaxing and restorative soak and massage. Always an escape.

Beautiful places to relax and unwind in outdoor hottubs and cold plunge baths.

Was an amazingly relaxing evening. Our massages were excellent and the sauna and soak after were perfect!

An amazing experience. The staff is outstanding and the setting is just beautiful. Check the prices when booking.

An amazing experience. Setting is magical and services are top notch. Highly recommended.

This is a nice place, very relaxing. Staff is great and our experience was amazing.

It was good. Really nice massage. Nice atmosphere. Big outdoor hot tub. Definitely not a 5 star spa experience, but really good and worth the price

Just wow! Private tub is amazing. Communal tubs are amazing. Highly recommend!!!!!

We had a private pool and a couples massage and it was wonderful. We had a great experience.

An outstanding experience, felt like I was back in Japan again, except even more cozy.

Stopped at Ten Thousand Waves for izanaki after skiing. Good food, nice selection of sake. Service was acceptable but somewhat slow for the number of people present. Restrooms were excellent.

Shallow public coed pool, pretrt pricey but I love the feeling of going to Japan! Worth it.

Love love love great spa, great lodging, friendly staff. Very clean. All the private tubs are beautiful. Very relaxing.

It was our first time there. We had a girls day for my friends birthday and it was a wonderful experience.

I'm writing a new review for The Waves after their stellar and professional response to my earlier comments. Most of my concerns are irrelevant in 2021, anyways. Truly I'm just glad this place exists-- it's a treasure.

I've visited twice during the pandemic. While you'll now have to pay a little more for a private tub, the experience is worth it. Absolutely exquisite surrounds, wonderful staff. Check out their website for a thorough explanation of all that they are doing to keep guests safe.

My significant other and I had an incredible day at Ten Thousand Waves. We chose the Lunch Special and I couldn't imagine anything more perfect for us. We arrived 30 minutes early and I'm so glad we did. We got to shower and relax until our private hot tub was available. It was perfect. It had a hot rocks sauna room, a relax room, and the outdoor tub with a beautiful view of the forest. Then we got to shower before our 80 minute massages, which they were able to do in one room for us. It was the best massage both of us have ever had. Absolutely incredible. Then we showered and dressed for lunch at their wonderful restaurant. Easily the best food we had our whole trip to Santa Fe, with an amazing view of the mountains (sit outside!). I was not a fan of our server, but maybe he was just having a bad day. All in all, it was worth every penny. I can't wait to return!

Amazing spa and hotel. The restaurant helmed by Chef Kiko is incredible. Don't miss it

I make sure to come a day early when I'm in town for business so I can soak and eat at this wonderful Japanese fairyland.

Love this place! But hate that the women only get the yuzu soap and the men get the hinoki. Why do they decide what scent is masculine and what scent is feminine? What about he women that prefer the strong tree smell! And the men who prefer the sweet citrus smell? I don t think it s fair for us gals. All things must be equal. 2018 baby!