The Ahh of the Spa

If numbers have anything to do with it, knowing that roughly 190 million adults visited a US spa last year can only be good news for Las Vegas, a city where both new spas and revitalized classics seem add to the sheen of only-in-Vegas experiences to be indulged.

For convention attendees and bleisure travelers alike, spas beckon with promises of rejuvenation, beauty perks, relaxation rooms and, in Las Vegas style, chic and extravagant surroundings that add to the ooohhhs and ahhs.

Canyon Ranch at the Venetian 

Topping the list as the largest spa in Las Vegas is Canyon Ranch, better known for its legendary destination wellness resort near Tucson, AZ. In Las Vegas, the offerings spread into a 134,000-square-foot day spa with a menu of more than 150 services, nearly 100 treatment rooms, a 40-foot rock wall, a Laconicum Room, plentiful fitness classes, a menu of healthy dining choices (a new vegan restaurant recently opened at “the Ranch” – the only such vegan focused outlet on the Strip) and arrangements to accommodate multi-day stays that fold in special medical programs.

A central experience of this spa lies in something called the “Aquavana.” Consider it a European-inspired suite of thermal spa cabins, experiential showers, cold rooms and aqua thermal bathing experiences.

The co-ed spaces can be reduced to three intensive relaxation lairs: the Conservatory, the Wave Room and the Crystal Steam Room. In the Wave Room find a multi-sensory experience simulating the look, smell and feel of breaking waves under a domed canopy. There’s a Salt Grotto there where sea air washes over heated benches, and intimate and comfortable crevices surround a fountain bubbling over natural salt rocks.

In the Crystal Steam Room cleansing aromatic steam wells up and detoxifies the body while a large central crystal serves as inspirational focus for meditation. Showers here are not showers but “Experiential Rains” – invigorating, multi-sensory cooling waters. A Finnish sauna uses colored light refracted by crystals.

Then there’s the Herbal Laconicum, a quiet, tiled sanctuary that infuses the body with warm, herbal steam; the HydroSpa – a variety of massage fountains surrounded by radiant lounge chairs for relaxation; the Igloo – cool air and three “Arctic mist experiences” enhanced by a heavenly dome of twinkling fiber optics; and finally, the Snow Cave, where fresh powder flakes fall from the firmament. Aquavana is actually a healing experience of its own that is best underdaken with the assistance of a spa concierge.

The spa offers day passes to those who spend at least $50 on spa or salon services. Meeting planners can arrange group spa events through dedicated sales managers.

Qua Spa at Caesars Palace

Caesars Palace, no newcomer to the luxe pampering trend, opened Qua Baths & Spa with a central feature being the Roman Baths. Here are waters with true mineralized and lithiated content in three pools of varying temperatures. The hot, tepid and cold plunge Jacuzzi waters are complemented by a continuous rain shower island in the center for washing off with cool, fresh water.

The infinity baths each come to life with phototherapy hues that change every few seconds and a waterfall wall at the rear of the chamber allows clean, warm liquid to spill on arms and head while immersed in one of the mineral baths. Chaise lounges offer a place to rest pre- or post-treatment with the lulling sound of water as a background, rather than music or talk.

While Qua has the only indoor mineral pools in Las Vegas, it also contains a seductive Arctic Ice Room perfect for a sweaty sit-down after time spent in the adjacent eucalyptus steam room or cedar sauna. A calming blizzard falls from a sky of twinkling stars and purple twilight, enjoyed while seated on a slightly warmed marble bench.

The 50,000-square-foot spa offers NOBU-inspired treatments among its hefty menu of services. The tempting NOBU GO Facial combines technology and relaxation with an immersive virtual reality experience that allows guests to disconnect, quiet their thoughts and relax in the present moment with a focus on fundamental elements: earth, water, fire, air and metal.

Then the guest enjoys a “Cinderella Lift” hydrating facial featuring a topical product similar to Botox that is placed on the face and décolletage. Additionally, detoxifying masks are placed on the feet, followed by paraffin masks on the hands and feet. While the guest indulges in a revitalizing gold face mask, the detoxifying and paraffin masks are removed. Once all masks are removed, the treatment concludes with face moisturizer. The treatment also includes a Natura Bissé travel gift. The 100-minute treatment is pure gold at $555.

Sahra at the Cosmopolitan 

The 43,000 square-foot Sahra Spa, Salon and Hammam at the Cosmopolitan takes a page from Middle Eastern lore with its elaborate hammam chamber. The centuries old practice of cleansing and purification is reimagined with the tell-tale warm marble slab as a centerpiece on which the spa client relaxes while an attendant dribbles and pours warm waters and elixirs in dreamlike sequences.  

For those in the mood for an exotic getaway for the mind and body, the Red Flower Hammam treatment is an indulgent, 80-minute ritual of heat, steam and detoxification. Hammam-goers lay on the heated, marble slab as an attendant expertly exfoliates the entire body with the “Red Flower Coffee Lemon Blossom Olive Stone Scrub.” Newly refreshed skin is then doused eleven different flower oils and fruit essences.

Spa Aria

The Aria’s 80,000-square-foot spa sprawls over two floors and offers such luxuries as Ganbanyoku Beds: Japanese stone beds made of primordial silica from deep in the earth with crystals that resonate with the human body. Muscles relax as the metabolism accelerates to increase circulation and eliminate toxins, the perfect antidote to a late night in Vegas.

Across the way is the Shio Salt Room made of healing salt crystals and complemented by salt lamps. Deep breaths promote healing as guests relax in zero-gravity loungers and listen to theta wave music. An ample outdoor therapy pool offers warm bubbling waters on a ledge overlooking the Aria pool area. The amenities come complementary with treatments.

One daring treatment for guests to try is the only-in-Vegas Majestic Canyon Collagen Facial: 90-minutes, $1,000. The treatment uses an age-reversing Valmont cellular mask and hydrates skin that needs a little extra attention for radiant luster.

Spa Bellagio at Bellagio Hotel & Casino

Spa Bellagio offers 65,000 square feet of pampering overlooking the Bellagio’s colorful botanical conservatory. Some 56 treatment rooms are chambers for such exotic extravagances as the 80-minute Bahia body slimming massage treatment from Brazil. Men’s and women’s areas offer eucalyptus steam rooms, redwood saunas, hot Jacuzzis and cold plunge pools.

But those who love water will want to try the Watsu Massage in its own pool chamber with water heated to 94 degrees for optimal muscle relaxation. The signature treatment runs 70 minutes as an immersive experience that might be described as a Thai stretching massage in water (bathing suit required). Day passes and multi-day passes are available for guests and non-guests for $50 and $100. A 20 percent gratuity is automatically added to treatment charges.

Reviv at MGM Grand

This is not your grandma’s spa experience; that can be found in the indulgent Spa Grand at MGM. Rather, Reviv at MGM is more like a relaxation experience with a Red Bull kicker. For those who may party hearty or need that extra boost for a big night, say, a wedding, it’s Reviv to the rescue.

Reviv is a separate venue in the “MGM Underground” and offers vitamin infusions and IV boosters that restore hydration, rebalance the metabolism, decrease inflammation and deliver needed energy. The establishment offers five proprietary IV Infusions that cover a variety of wellness needs in a 1,270-square-foot space. Private and group rooms are furnished with large, comfortable body massage chairs.

The Spa at Park MGM 

This property is MGM Resort’s latest oeuvre on the Strip and it has a formidable spa to compete with the flashy icons all around it. Compact and to the point, it offers a lot of shimmer that is a trademark of MGM, such as a warm laconicum lounge chairs by the wet room Jacuzzi, comfortable and private zero-gravity loungers in the pre- and post-treatment relaxation salon and the option to receive spa services at the French countryside-inspired pool area. Spa greetings come with a flute of Champagne and the option for complimentary fruits, nuts, biscotti and teas at the lounge bar.

An exotic treatment to try that will likely not be found at your local Spa Envy: Crystal Soundwave Massage. The 50-minute treatment is designed to help cleanse the mind and balance the chakras. A therapist uses palm quartz crystals during this full body massage. Healing gemstones are then placed on the body to align the chakras while vibrational sound therapy is performed, delivering a sense of grounding along with deep relaxation.