Relaxation on demand: Massage apps for your next trip - USA TODAY

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Make the most of your time off and have a masseuse come right to you. (Photo: Getty Images/iStockphoto)


Life on the road often comes with stresses, especially when away on business. Navigating foreign territory, constant meetings and battling jet lag while having to stay sharp can be difficult. Despite not having the time or itinerary awareness to book yourself into a spa ahead of time, the following on-demand massage apps mean that when you suddenly have some time off, you can make the most of it and have a masseuse come right to you.

1.Zeel (zeel.com). Zeel offers same-day in-room Swedish, deep tissue, sports and prenatal massages,or any two for a couple’s massage. Massages can be booked from 8 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., in a number of major U.S. cities like New York, Los Angeles, Boston and Chicago,and even some less business travel-centric spots like the Hamptons, Fairfield County in Connecticut and Boulder, Colo. All of Zeel's 5,000+ therapists are licensed within their state, as well as background-checked. Once in the app, note your massage type, whether you want a male or female therapist, preferred session duration and your location, and voila, up pops the week’s availability. Pricing starts at $89 for a 60-minute massage, but tips, which you pay ahead of time when booking, bring the total to $105. Rates are higher in NYC, Long Island and San Francisco, and when I tested the app in Manhattan, I was able to book a same-day massage for less than an hour into the future for $147 total.

Frequent users can sign up for their Massage Zeelot program for about 15%-20% off a massage each month (if you don’t use it, it can carry over into the next month) and a free massage table to keep.

2. Soothe (soothe.com). Soothe also delivers background-checked fully licensed therapists to your home, office or hotel for the same types of massages in several U.S. cities plus London and Vancouver. Soothe’s prices are competitive with Zeel: 60 minutes for $99, 90 minutes for $139, and 120 minutes for $169 (aside for NYC, which is a bit more), with therapists making $70/hour of this ($90/hour in NYC) and no tip required, according to their PR rep. Soothe’s referral program means you and those you invite to the app can earn $30 off massages for more budget-friendly relaxation. Massages are available until midnight.

3. Lifebooker (lifebooker.com). This app is similar to Groupon in that you’ll find loads of discounts with over 50% off services (called “loot deals”) for beauty and wellness treatments like like massage, waxing and hair appointments. While therapists don’t come to your home, you can book same-day massages right in the app, with over 5,000 lifestyle businesses in their inventory. As of now, Lifebooker services New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco and Washington, D.C.

4. Refresh Body (refreshbody.com). This app works in New York, San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago and Miami, and lets you order on-demand deep tissue, Swedish, prenatal, sports, Thai and postnatal massages to your home or hotel room. Prices start at $135 per hour or $115 when you buy a package, though tip is not included. And it’s not just massage: Refresh Body also sends yoga and pilates practitioners, as well as experts who can guide you through meditation, to your home for a complete wellness program.

5. USPAAH (uspaah.com). For those in London, USPAAH offers on-demand Swedish, anti-cellulite, deep tissue, sports and pregnancy massages as well as beauty treatments — including nails, hair, makeup application, eyelashes and facials — between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., sending a therapist to your home within an hour if needed. A manicure is the most budget-friendly treatment at £24 (about $34.50), while massages start at £71 ($102) for an hour, plus optional tip. Therapists undergo background checks (including a criminal check for the male therapists), in-person interviews and skill tests before being listed on the app.

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