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Well Within Spa has been created to provide the community with a quiet sanctuary in which to relax and benefit from spas, saunas, therapeutic massage, facials and body care. All of the services offered at Well Within are designed to relax and rejuvenate the body and soul. Our environment can best be described as "Japanese traditions blended with California lifestyle."

A beautiful garden view and the sound of trickling water are always nearby. We enhance your experience with professional, friendly service in a serene environment.
Reviews (29)
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Matthew S.
Jun 20, 2022
We got the couple's relaxation special. Both messages were great and just what we asked for. The spa was cute and clean.
Jake B.
Jun 09, 2022
Loved this place. Super relaxing, very calming atmosphere, everything seemed very deliberately designed to be as calming as possible. I do wish they had pre-filled the tub before starting the timer on our room, as we spent a fair amount of time simply waiting for the tub to fill up. Similarly, there were quite a few soaps and scents that we couldn't figure out how to implement in our stay - some more signage and instructions would have been quite helpful. Overall very happy though! Reasonable price for how relaxing the whole experience was. Great tea.
Ian O.
Jun 09, 2022
My experience at this spa was an absolute pleasure. The energy of the staff, the vibe and setting and ambiance of the interior, all of it made for such a relaxing and healing treatment. Greeted with tea and warmth right upon entry. I received a massage from one of their Therapists named Bri. She was incredible to say the least. Her nurturing energy coupled with an intuitive understanding of the body and self allowed for an incredible healing process. She was patience and at no point did the massage feel rushed or anything. I can't recommend her or the spa enough.
Jessica S.
Jun 04, 2022
Finally made it back here after 15+ years! This review is for an 80 minute massage I received today with Laurel. She was absolutely amazing in all aspects! You can tell she is very experienced and enjoys what she does. I really appreciated her attention to the whole body- I have had massages before where they leave out important areas like the feet!

I will definitely be coming back to the Well Within as soon as I can! The front desk staff were very kind and welcoming when I arrived. My only suggestion is to try and get an online booking service. It took me many calls to get ahold of someone to make the appointment and was on hold for quite some time.
Michelle M.
Jun 03, 2022
Best relaxation around. They book up far in advance, because you can't really get a deal this good anywhere else at $35 per person. To book a room, you have to call because they don't have online reservations. After walking up the wooden walkway, you are greeted by the staff in the lobby, where they offer you hot tea. We loved the house blend so much, that we purchased a bag to take home.

The spa is a clean and safe place. They offer two bathrooms if you need one, and supply you with towels, water and tea. We opted for an indoor hot tub, that had a sauna inside! I had such a nice time looking out at the garden and pond with koi fish. They supply you with towels and tea. Life has become more than we expected the past few years, we all deserve a moment to relax. Enjoy and take care
Kaelin N.
Jun 01, 2022
3.5 for me. Booking was a hassle. You can't book online, and during that time they were closed for renovations with no ability to leave a message. Once they were open my friend tried calling during operating hours to no avail. Then, I called and was able to get in. We booked the $250 couples package for a girls day. A pretty great deal. We were only able to come in at 10:30 am for our soak then massage, but we would rather have massaged then soaked after.

When we arrived it looked like we were the only ones there are all the onsen rooms were open. I wish I had some sort of confirmation after giving them my full credit card info to know that I have the appointment. def outdated. Not sure exactly what they renovated but it's 2022! Get an online system, send confirmation emails with info, address, and more. 0 reminder calls/texts as well.

I enjoyed my experience for sure and it was relaxing, but I didn't love it. We didn't get to pick our tea and it was some weird minty floral tea. The onsen REEKED of chlorine, which is good and bad. I couldn't sit down too far as the smell really irritated me. but it's clean I guess. There are no hair dryers and they do not provide slippers, so keep that in mind! Would I come back? I mean yeah, but not anytime soon.
Arabella David
May 16, 2022
Clean and well maintained facilities and kind customer service. I especially appreciated how they do not use chlorine in the jacuzzi water, and the sauna is the authentic Finnish style with proper rocks. They don't give you a loyly bucket for the stones which is unfortunate, but they do offer a 20 ounce squirt bottle with eucalyptus water to spray onto the stove which is almost as nice. Really liked the tea and robes to use as well- great touches what really elevate the experience. Will definitely be back next time I visit!
Valerie L. C.
May 13, 2022
I love everything about the the Well Within Spa, a little slice of tranquility carved from perfection, right here in our town, where one can fall into total relaxation. Beautifully designed, excellently cared for by knowledgeable staff, gentle and attentive, this is the place to go go when you want what you know you deserve.
Rianne E.
May 06, 2022
Absolutely love this place, I hope Im reading the web page right and they are re opened cause my heart broke a little when they had closed. Staff is professional, pleasant and make sure you are completely comfortable. Your private room is really PRIVATE. The saunas, showers and hot tubs are super clean!
Mario Medinas
Apr 13, 2022
This place has the best Japanese style Spa rooms in Santa Cruz by far. A great atmosphere as soon as you walk in with all the natural wood. I had a Spa room with a Sauna and it was incredible. The garden and koi pond outside the rooms were top notch. The Sauna had steem capabilities, and even came with eucalyptus water to steem off. I would recommend this place to anyone; it will take you to a different world.
Jillian Saliba
Apr 10, 2022
I've been coming here for about 20 years and while nothing has changed. nothing has changed! No upgrades or upkeep. Room 6 was very run down and the spa had dirt at the bottom and hair of all different colors floating around and stuck to the sides. I did notice a sign at the front desk saying something about upgrades but until those are completed this place is not worth the money anymore.
Michele Ryba
Mar 29, 2022
What a perfect and peaceful spa. Saw that a friend had posted her visit on Instagram and it looked lovely so I called and booked an appointment and so what I did. Very peaceful very relaxing, thoroughly enjoyed looking out at the garden and the koi pond. Have your own little room with a view, hot tub, shower and sauna. Highly recommend.
Tiffany N.
Mar 07, 2022
Amazing experience overall, wish I could give it a 4.5. We did the couples special for $250 and it was worth every penny! Would definitely do it again. * Massages (2 50-minute each person) 10/10 We had Robin and Talya and they were amazing! I almost fell asleep because Robin did an amazing job helping me relax and Talya helped release a lot of tension on the back for my bf and we both thought it was great and would definitely do it again * Outdoor Spa 8/10 Originally we booked the Onsen Spa but they let us know that it was broken a couple days prior and switched us to an outdoor spa.

The view was amazing and the spa was great! Tea was also delicious. One downside is that there isn't any hairdryers or places to dry our feet to change (since we also don't get slippers) Overall it was very nice but definitely slippers and hairdryers would be a great addition
Fandy L.
Mar 07, 2022
I am leaving a 1 star review following a very uncomfortable experience with a male masseuse during my treatment at Well Within Spa on February 13, 2022. My girl friend and I came in to get a massage but were put into 2 different rooms. In a nutshell, my masseuse had proceeded to massage my butt area (without asking first) yet my friend had not received this kind of treatment; I only realized this afterwards, which made me question if that was even apart of the treatment.

He then finished our treatment by pressing his private area against the back of my hand, in a forced way, as I was still laying on the massage table. Following this treatment, upon realizing this behavior was not normal, I tried calling to speak with the manager; I also left a voicemail. But my inquiry got dismissed multiple times. It has now been close to a month later, and still no response. Needless to say, I feel very frustrated with not only the inappropriate behavior, but also with the lack of care for this situation. I am leaving this review for people to be aware of this behavior of theirs, if they decide to go visit this place.
Sami N.
Mar 05, 2022
Very relaxing experience. You don't realize how stressed you are until you do something like this. I've been to bath houses in Japan, both modern and traditional. This spa's atmosphere is very close to the traditional style of Japanese bath, but with private rooms and small private sauna. Highly recommend this place and I'll be back again.
Conallee M.
Feb 28, 2022
Visited while traveling for work about a month ago - back up here now from So CA and hope to get in tomorrow night after a very long planned work day.absolutely LOVE THIS PLACE!
Rick C.
Feb 23, 2022
Went here for Valentine's Day and had a massage followed by waterfall room w hot tub and sauna. They provide fresh tea and water and you have 50 mins in the hot tub / sauna room that over looks a beautiful koi pond and waterfall! Highly recommend and in a great shopping area of Santa Cruz!
Dominic Douglas
Feb 06, 2022
Amazing spot! Super chill & comfortable, peels stress off like it's purpose. Guaranteed to satisfy Rm #3 is my safe/Happy spot 2 hrs is perfect
Masha Finkelstein
Jan 21, 2022
We had a wonderful time at Well Within spa! Really enjoyed the garden view and fresh air while chilling in the jacuzzi. The sauna was hot enough and there were little touches that made our experience wonderful - tea and robes in the room.
Ginny Crisco
Jan 13, 2022
This was my second time visiting The Well Within, and it was great. We got a room with a hot tub. They also have rooms with hot tubs and saunas. They had water and tea for us as well as relaxing music playing. The towels were thick and the shower gel, shampoo, conditioner smelled natural. We went on a Tuesday which means we got to take advantage of their Tuesday special: 80 minutes for the price of 50 minutes. Also I brought my daughter and she was free (under 16). I'll definitely be back the next time I visit Santa Cruz.
Angel H.
Dec 24, 2021
This is such a relaxing place, staffs are super friendly. They offer hot tea for free at the entrance as well as in your private spa room. Great tub is beautiful with view of the peaceful Japanese garden. We love the feeling of private space. They also give you a heads up before your time is up. Only reason I'm giving a 4 star is the decor is a bit outdated. But it is worth what you are paying for.
Jenny T.
Dec 23, 2021
Ok. Went here for the very first time today. It was a very pleasant trip. The price is amazing. The setting ambience was perfect. Love the garden. The customer service was extremely nice. Ok its not going to be your super modern perfect kinda spot. The hot tubs are a little old and the jet not as strong. Its pretty much an open outdoor hot tub so there will be some wear and tear on the setting. Kinda like nature. But its clean and the view is nice. For $35 for 50 min. Per person. Its a heck of a deal. I told everyone about it after I left hahaha
Mike Kahn
Nov 20, 2021
Well Within Spa is a great place to unwind. Great tubs with beautiful, peaceful Japanese garden viewscape. Excellent massages too. Excellent location right next to downtown.
Lynn T.
Nov 14, 2021
Well Within Spa is my happy place. I always leave feeling relaxed and rejuvenated like a new cleansed version of myself. The indoor tub with the view of their Japanese garden on a chilly night hits the spot every time. They play relaxing music and you can hear waterfall sounds from the stream in their outdoor garden- great ambiance! The complementary tea is also good it has a slight natural sweetness to it. I've had a couple massages here before and enjoyed them.

Their staff and masseuses are friendly and make you feel comfortable. The couples relaxation special with both massage and tubbing is great for special occassions : Staff here are so zen. I get very peaceful vibes whenever I come. I like that they have a frequent tubber card deal which gave me $100 worth of tubbing for $80!
Sarah C.
Sep 29, 2021
Well Within is owned by a local, awesome family that care and give back to the community! Today, I received a massage from Jules and while I've had great massages before, she legit made me want to fall asleep right there on the table, it was so relaxing. :
David C.
Aug 24, 2021
The spa fits two adults. Would not recommend for 6'5 tall humans. Great house tea with strong hints of licorice and peppermint. Make sure you don't pee or poo in the water!
Teresa B.
Jul 31, 2021
Had a massage from Christopher this morning! Amazing! So glad I opted for 80 mins Space was clean, peaceful and seriously the best massage I've ever had. Perfect beginning to a weekend getaway!
Joanne Lewis
Jun 07, 2020
The great place to go by yourself or with someone else or even a group of people. These pictures are from room number four. My favorite one is room number one, but it's not a hot tub. It's a bath tub. With an open ceiling, and a little water feature That's so relaxing. End it has a sauna a shower and a changing area. That's all enclosed in private.

All of the rooms are very private. This room number four you could see that beautiful Asian Garden koi pond. One night. I was in this room. And I saw something. Above the waterfall it was a raccoon. He was drinking water and then he went over to the koi pond and tried to fish but was unsuccessful. They were too heavy I guess for him to pick up. LOL So I'm sitting there and thinking okay, when's Bambi and Thumper going to come by?
Courtney Alaimo
May 17, 2017
Rent a sauna and jacuzzi under the stars to zen out for an hour. This place also has great skincare products and magical tea. Some rooms can even hold up to 8 people at a time but I recommend to keep it intimate and relaxing with 4 or less.