Healthy Vegas.
Sound like an oxymoron? Don’t bet on it. Constantly re-inventing itself, Las Vegas has gone in the past several decades from a dusty railroad town to a Bugsy Siegel-ruled den of excess to a family-friendly vacation spot and back again. Just when its allure seems on the verge of fading, the old implodes and a second act rises—be it in the form of a new star chef, a 4,000-room hotel, or, most recently, lavish spas and healthy lifestyle options.
See why Vegas makes our list of best spa weekend getaways:
BREATHE
Walk into any casino and the immediate waft of dank, smoky air clues you into the fact that indoor air quality in Sin City is lacking. In preparation (or on your way home), hit the O2 Bar and Spa at McCarran International Airport (locations available near gates A, B, C, and D). Here, owner Valerie Sanchili sells mango-, lime-, and eucalyptus-infused oxygen inhalations (from $15 for 12 minutes) reportedly good for headaches, jet lag, altitude sickness, and hangovers.
STAY
For a true sanctuary, escape from the dancing fountains and erupting volcanoes and check into one of the Strip’s two casino- and smoke-free hotels—Trump and Four Seasons. The new Trump Hotel Las Vegas has an air of glamour about it and an ambience that fosters instant calm from the lobby to the spa, and the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas delivers a tranquil atmosphere via fresh flowers and plenty of natural light. Its spa is one of the smallest on the Strip, making it a good choice for those seeking a quiet environment with a lot of personal attention, especially now that it offers all-natural custom fragrances blended to order. No time to visit the spa? Partake in a 15-minute, $45 reflexology session poolside, one of several Spa Tapas mini treatment options available there.
EAT
Vegas is on par with Manhattan these days in terms of star chefs, and although entrees in many of the premier restaurants come heavy on the sauces and creams, there are plenty of lighter options that don’t sacrifice taste. A great choice on the Strip is the new Canyon Ranch Grill at The Palazzo, where executive chef James Boyer serves up fresh seasonal ingredients, biodynamic wine, and organic beer—all with a fun Vegas twist thrown in. (The Healthy Elvis breakfast sandwich—grilled peanut butter and banana—is a prime example.) Also check out Cravings at The Mirage, a buffet featuring fresh sushi and an above-and-beyond tossed-to-order salad bar.
Off the Strip, try Go Raw Café, home to organic raw cuisine such as the Gimme the Beet “Cheese” Burger with Fries-—a veggie burger made with beets, carrots, sunflower seeds, and parsley served with almond cheese on “living” bread (composed of organic sprouted buckwheat and a blend of organic beans, dried vegetables, and fruits). Instead of deep-fried potatoes, the fries are made of avocado slices rolled in flax cracker crumbs.
SPA
Las Vegas may be in the desert, but there’s no shortage of muscle-melting water circuits there—the most notable being the Roman Baths at Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace. While the Jacuzzi may be too chlorinated for some, you could (and should) spend hours exploring the rest of the circuit ($45 for access to the Roman Baths; free with a scheduled treatment), which includes hot unchlorinated pools as well as cold-plunge pools, a steam room, and an Arctic Ice Room in which man-made snow falls from the ceiling in true Vegas style.
Another great place to spend a day is the recently expanded Canyon Ranch SpaClub Las Vegas (accessible through either its original location in The Venetian or next door at The Palazzo), where you can lounge in its new one-of-a-kind European-inspired water circuit called Aquavana. Access to the area’s Crystal Steam Room, Experiential Rains showers, Finnish Sauna, Herbal Laconium, and indoor Igloo is free with a treatment, or you can purchase a $40 day pass that includes use of the fitness center and entry to all of its daily classes.
Two of the newest arrivals to the spa scene in Vegas—The Spa at Trump and The Spa at Encore (Steve Wynn’s latest)—offer some of the city’s most exclusive treatments. The Spa at Trump features diamond, sapphire, ruby, and emerald body treatments ($275, 90 minutes) using the Dubai-based Shiffa line, as well as private fitness sessions with celebrity trainer Jeff Monroe (from $99, 60 minutes). Inspired by the opulence and architecture of classic European baths but infused with modern details, The Spa at Encore is an aesthetic wow. Although large (61,000 square feet with 51 treatment rooms), the spa somehow manages to feel intimate. On the menu, you’ll find high-touch Ayurvedic treatments along with a juice bar; a high-end salon featuring Shu Uemura products; a fitness center; and private meditation, yoga, and Pilates instruction.
WALK
Cab fares (and wait times) are outlandish in Vegas, so a better alternative for both heart and pocketbook is to walk from place to place on the 4.5-mile Strip.
If you’re looking for a more calming fitness option, head 10 miles west to Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, located a mere mile away from Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, one of the most beautiful national parks in the country. Hiking, sunrise yoga, horseback riding, and rock climbing are all easily available through Red Rock’s concierge. For those not staying at the resort, hiking and biking maps can be picked up at the park’s Visitor Center, and scheduled guided hikes are also available. (See nv.blm.gov for details and calendar.)
MEDITATE
When you’re ready to look inward, Spa Bellagio is the place to go. You can enjoy its beautiful candle-lit meditation room for as long as you like before or after a treatment, and guided yoga sessions ($75, 50 minutes) are also available. Up the street at Qua, you can book a 50-minute session of dream interpretation, lucid dreaming, or hypnosis ($130 each).
PLAN IT
Vegas is pretty much hopping year-round. January and February bring milder weather, with highs around 60° F. Spring draws more college students alongside the convention attendees typical throughout the year. Summer is sizzling (often 100° F or higher), but airfares and hotel deals follow suit with plenty of hot discounts, so now is the time to go if you’re looking for bargain rates.
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