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.].

• Bally's Spa

• Caesars Palace Qua

• Excalibur Royal Treatment Spa

• Flamingo Spa

• Harrah's Spa

• Hard Rock Rock Spa

• Imperial Palace Spa

• Las Vegas Hilton Spa

• Monte Carlo Spa

• New York, New York Spa

• Palms Spa

• Palms Place Drift

• Paris Mandara

• Planet Hollywood Mandara

• Rio Spa

• Rivera Executive Fitness

• Treasure Island Wet

• Tropicana Spa Tropicana

• Trump Spa

• Venetian Canyon Ranch

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.

• Four Seasons Hotel Spa

• Luxor Nurture

• Mandalay Bay Spa Mandalay

• Mandalay Bay THE Bathhouse

• Wynn Spa

• Bellagio Spa Bellagio

• Mirage Spa

• MGM Grand Spa

1. Caesars Palace Qua

2. Wynn Spa

3. Mandalay Bay Spa Mandalay

4. Planet Hollywood Mandara

5. Palms Place Drift

Average --- Adequate -- Acceptable

• Mirage Spa

• Palms Spa

• Treasure Island Wet

• Venetian Canyon Ranch

Losers -- Too Small -- Don't Bother

• Hard Rock Rock Spa

• Mandalay Bay THE Bathhouse

• New York, New York Spa

• Paris Mandara

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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."

Imperial Palace

Off Strip Spas

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