Unreliable service, unprofessional treatment
I just moved to Anchorage with my husband who is in the Air Force. After 13 days on the road, I was in need of a good massage. As a massage therapist myself, I did a lot of research into the spa offerings around town. I visited at least 10 different spas before deciding which one I would give my loyalty to. (Incidentally, Allure does NOT offer a military discount, which is surprising and disappointing to me since Anchorage has such a strong military population.)
To be honest, I was very tempted to choose Allure at first because they are the big name around town. I soon discovered that that's about all they are. All talk, very little substance. They've definitely got the corner on the market, but the actual quality of their service is unreliable. During my massage, I learned that Allure has upwards of 30 massage therapists, most of whom are fresh out of school, and a turn around rate for employees like you wouldn't believe. Definitely not the nature of a spa I'm interested in frequenting.
One (possible) oversight that stood out to me during my visit was the remarkable absence of an intake form. If indeed it was a mistake, which I think it was not, my therapist didn't even verbally check in with me about my medical history or any other possible contraindications to massage. It was an uncomfortable situation, knowing that my therapist was working on me blind, so to speak. It is unprofessional and dangerous.
You also have to pay to park, if you want to be anywhere near Allure's building, which is a hassle and an inconvenience. Ultimately, you're taking a chance with any of their service providers, and I personally am not willing to spend $95+ for that risk.
Read more at anchorage.citysearch.com