I visit my mother, who lives on Siesta Key, about five times a year and have tried many places on the Key and in Sarasota proper for massage and facials.

The Massage Experience on Siesta Key is far and away the best massage you can get. The owner, Constance, recently also obtained her esthetician license so can do facials as well. She offers several types of massage, and also the facials and healing touch (Reiki). The table is semi-firm and extremely comfortable, including the position of the face/head rest. This is one of my big peeves so I was very pleased with this right off the bat.

During my visit in April, I asked her to incorporate a medium-pressure swedish massage, Reiki and facial into 90 minutes. It was incredible! The cost for this was $155 plus tip and worth every minute. I was completely blissed out. She does not try to "upsell" you and is very friendly and knowledgeable about her work.

The Massage Experience is fairly small and situated around the bend of the Siesta Village near Gabbiano's restaurant and the drug store. Once inside, there is a reception/waiting area, two or three massage rooms and an ample bathroom. Music type and temperature of the rooms were perfect. Constance truly has intuitive touch and uses the right amount of pressure for the back, neck and scalp, then arms legs and feet. Whether long palm strokes or using pressure points, you will be blissed out too during a massage with Constance (Connie).

The Massage Experience is not a "ladies who lunch" showy sort of place, as with other massage/facial/nail salons in Sarasota. You are never bothered with people running around to get to their next facial or manicure or whatever as she schedules her appointments with ample time to relax a bit, get dressed, etc.

Sarasota and the Keys are known for up and coming big money types, great restaurants, lovely beaches, huge new homes and a bit of glitz, but there is another side, particularly prevalent in downtown Sarasota and on Siesta Key - holistic healing/yoga/massage/Reiki and excellent nutritionists and healthy food options. Now that I know about The Massage Experience, I will likely rarely go into Sarasota anymore except for restaurants.