|
Las
Vegas Spa Guide & Review |
|
Also see:
Las Vegas Bathhouses, Bars & Hotels |
|
 |
On my last trip to Vegas I made a
point to try and visit as many different spas as I could. Being the
Neiman-Marcus luxury-lover that I am I focused my attention on the
newer spas at the high-end hotels. Below are comments about all the
spas I visited. If you don't want to read all of my reviews
here is my recommendation in a nutshell:
The best overall spa in Vegas for
gay men:
Caesars Palace "Qua" Baths & Spa
 |
|
Caesars Palace "Qua" Baths & Spa
[pronounced "k-wah," rhymes
with "spa"]

Simply the
best by a wide margin. Although several of the other upscale
spas had comparable features each had a "flaw" that pushed Qua
into the top spot. For example: the Spa at Mandalay Bay had equally
luxurious surroundings but the overhead lighting was so bright
and harsh that the atmosphere and mood was completely destroyed.
How can you relax with a bright light shinning in your eyes? The
Spa at Wynn had only one hot tub while the Qua has four.
Bellagio and MGM Grand only permit hotel guests to enter on
weekends and will only let you in Monday--Thursday if you
purchase an expensive service like a massage or facial [$85+].
Simple day-passes are not available to outsiders at the MGM,
Bellagio, Spa at Mandalay Bay, Luxor, The Four Seasons or THE Bathhouse.
At Qua
day-passes are available to everyone 7 days a week [$45]. They
are open 6:00am to 8:00pm. Once you enter you are able to leave
and re-enter at anytime during the same day. So you could visit
in the morning for showering and grooming and then return after
a day of sightseeing to relax and rest before heading out for
the evening.

Done in soothing
earth-tones and natural materials Qua is built for relaxation.
The main feature is the "Roman Ritual" baths that are shown here
in the photos. There are three hot tubs in this area: one cold,
one boiling and the other like warm milk. The "blue column" you
see in the photos is a shower/waterfall. Also shown are the tile
"lounge chairs."
There is another
hot tub in the main part of the spa [four hot tubs total], two
steam rooms set to different temperatures, a dry sauna and an
Arctic Ice Room.


The Artic Ice
Room is the reverse of a sauna and is kept constantly chilly.
Crushed ice falls from a tube into a sink bowl and it "snows."
These photos are from the women's spa but the men
have their own private Artic Ice Room. The only shared facility
for both sexes
is the "Laconium
Room" [you must wear a robe in this room] which is supposed to
"warm your body from the inside out." I tried it but felt
nothing. There is
also a full gym with cardio but you must bring your own gym
clothes to workout.
Even the showers
here are a treat and allow you to choose water cascading from
above like rain or jets mounted to the walls which caress you
from two sides at once.

Laconium Room where you
wait for your "Artisan" [technician] to call you. The real
Laconium Room, however, does not have cafe tables and orchids!
It seems to be
very gay friendly. I was there twice and both times noticed gay
men. Some of the staff was gay too. Don't get the idea that this
is a place to cruise or have sex. It is not. It is simply a
place to relax. However, if you did click with someone the
handicapped shower has a locking door with plenty of room and
privacy [I notice these things].
Qua Baths &
Spa
The spa is
located in the new Augustus Tower which is the tower closest to
the Bellagio Hotel and which overlooks the Bellagio
dancing-waters lagoon.
 |
Hassle-Free Spas
Day passes available to everyone 7 days a
week.
Cost of day pass varies from $20 - $45. Day pass fee is always
waived with purchase of service
[massage, facial, manicure etc.].
|
Spa Service Required to
Enter
Day passes only available to hotel guests.
Public may enter 7 days a week with purchase of service. Usually
a $60 minimum. Manicures are usually the least expensive service
with facials and massages starting at $85.
|
Somewhat Restrictive
Hotel guests only may enter Fri - Sat - Sun.
Day passes available to everyone Mon - Thurs.
|
Most Restrictive
Hotel guests only may enter Fri - Sat - Sun.
Public may enter Mon - Thurs with purchase of service.
-
Bellagio Spa Bellagio
-
Mirage Spa
-
MGM
Grand Spa
|
Towel Boy's Favorite Spas by Rank
-
Caesars Palace Qua
-
Wynn
Spa
-
Mandalay Bay
Spa Mandalay
-
Planet Hollywood Mandara
-
Palms
Place Drift
Average --- Adequate --
Acceptable
-
Mirage Spa
-
Palms
Spa
-
Treasure Island Wet
-
Venetian Canyon Ranch
Losers -- Too Small --
Don't Bother
|
To avoid
repeating myself in my reviews virtually all of the spas in
Vegas had certain common elements. They all had at least one hot
tub, showers, steam room, dry sauna and a lounge area with free
coffee, tea and fruit. All you need to do is show up as you are.
Towels, bath robes, flip-flops and lockers are all provided.
Safety deposit boxes are available upon request. All spas
featured full gyms with treadmills but you must bring your own
gym clothes to workout. Grooming stations have every thing you
need to shave and fix your hair as well as mouthwash and
lotions. Toothbrushes are provided only by request.
Also see:
All about Day Spas & how
they work
|
|
Any doubts? Ask for a free tour If you are unsure if the
spa is right for you just ask for a
free tour. A male attendant
will be called and give you
a brief tour of the facilities.
|
Wynn Spa ++++
Spa at the Wynn
Hotel has marvelous detailing at every turn, warm fireplace and
cozy overstuffed chairs. A single hot tub is located indoors but
makes you fell like you are outdoors. Not to be missed is the
"Deluge." It is a shower-like enclosure by the hot tub. When you
press a button on the wall a heavy "waterfall" of water pours
from a spout overhead and "massages" your back muscles while
water jets
massage your feet -- don't miss it!
 |
Paris Mandara +
Skip this one. The facilities
are done in a generic locker room style. I have seen better
facilities at neighborhood gyms. Go next door to the Planet
Hollywood Mandera which is 10 times better. Photo below shows
garish murals above the hot tubs.


|
Planet Hollywood Mandara +++
This hotel was
originally called the "Aladdin" and featured some of the most
detailed theme architecture anywhere outside of Disneyland. But
all that detailing cost a lot of money and drove the hotel into
bankruptcy. When Planet Hollywood took over most of the hotel's
theme elements were stripped away. Fortunately the spa has kept
all of its wonderful Moorish style. This spa is a winner.
 |
Spa at Mandalay ++++
The luxury of
the surroundings is second only to "Qua" unfortunately THE
LIGHTS ARE KEPT SO BRIGHT that it is impossible to relax. Nice
big steam room, 4 hot tubs at 3 different temperatures. Lots of
grooming stations.

 |
THE Bathhouse ++
Also located at
the Mandalay Bay Hotel this spa is done in a very striking
minimalist style with black slate walls. Unfortunately it is way
too small and basically just serves as a holding area for those
waiting for services.

 |
|
Venetian & Palazzo
Canyon Ranch Spa
++++ [Gym] + [Spa]
The main
attraction of this spa is the workout facilities. The "spa"
area is a typical gym no-frills locker room. Gym features
all types of specialty classes,
[yoga, spinning etc.] a large weight room
and a rock-climbing wall.




Plain off-the-shelf hot tub and
locker room. |
|
New York, New York
Spa [zero]
Although the
facilities are relatively new this place is way too small. Gym
is so small it's a joke.
|
|
Palms Place Drift
+++
The newest kid
on the block, Drift is hip and young. A good sized facility
outfitted in "sand" colored tiles of beige and brown. The unique
feature here is the hammam [see photo] which is a round cave-like steam room
with a slab of rock in the middle which heats up when you lie on
it. However this room is for both sexes so you must remain
covered while inside.
Palms Hotel has 2 spas [see below].

 |
|
Palms Spa ++
The second spa
at the Palms Hotel is slightly smaller but still a decent size.
The hot tub balcony overlooks the pool area. This spa is
perfectly adequate but Drift is better and should be your first
choice at this hotel.
|
|
Hard Rock Hotel
Rock Spa [zero]
I really
wanted this to be a nice spa because the Hard Rock has the
hottest and youngest guys in Vegas. But it is simply too small
to be effective. Gym is quite small too. No sauna, only a steam
room.
 |
|
Treasure Island
WET ++
Big sauna and
big steam room. Two hot tubs. Modern, functional and adequate
but not inspiring.
 |
|
Mirage Spa ++
Done in
minimalist black, whites and grays this spa looks like it was
designed by Calvin Klein. Very small. Main feature is a bubbling
hot tub with with lights underneath which change color every 15
seconds. This photo is form the women's area because the men's
area contains only one hot tub.

|
|
Spa Bellagio

 |
|
MGM Grand Spa

 |
|
Trump Spa
 |
|
That's all I have
for now. I will return to Vegas in
October 08 and visit all the spas I missed this time around.
I will then report my findings promptly to you. |
|
Comparative Spa
Reviews by Vegas.com
Here is a listing of all the spas at the major hotels in Vegas.
For a list of spas at smaller hotels
go to
Vegas.com
and click on "Spas." |
|
Bellagio |
The Spa
Bellagio |
|
Bally's |
The Spa |
|
Caesars Palace |
Qua Baths & Spa |
|
Excalibur |
Royal
Treatment Spa |
|
Flamingo |
The Spa |
|
Four Seasons Hotel |
The
Spa |
|
Golden Nugget |
The Spa |
|
Harrah's |
The Spa |
|
Hard Rock |
Rock Spa |
|
Imperial Palace |
The
Spa |
|
Las Vegas Hilton |
The Spa |
|
Luxor |
Nurture |
|
Mandalay Bay |
Spa
Mandalay |
|
MGM Grand |
The Spa |
|
Mirage |
The Spa |
|
Monte Carlo |
The Spa |
|
New York, New York |
The
Spa |
|
Palms |
The Spa |
|
Palms Place |
Drift
Spa |
|
Paris |
Mandara |
|
Planet Hollywood |
Mandara |
|
Rio |
The Rio Spa |
|
Riviera |
Executive
Fitness |
|
THE hotel at Mandalay Bay |
THE
bathhouse |
|
Treasure Island |
WET |
|
Tropicana |
Spa
Tropicana |
|
Trump |
The Spa |
|
Venetian & Palazzo |
Canyon
Ranch SpaClub |
|
Wynn |
The Spa |
|

Off Strip Spas |
|
Green Valley Ranch Station |
Spa at Green Valley Ranch |
|
JW
Marriott Las Vegas |
Aquae Sulis |
|
Loews Lake Las Vegas |
Spa
Moulay |
|
Red Rock Resort |
The
Red Rock Spa |
|
Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas |
The
Spa Hotel in photo above |
|
South Point |
Spa Costa Del Sur |
|
Westin Casuarina |
Hibiscus Spa |
|
Also see:
Las Vegas Bathhouses, Bars & Hotels
and
All about Day Spas & how
they work |
|
 |
|
Do you have any
comments or suggestions
about the spa scene in Vegas?
TowelBoy@BathhouseAddict.com
|