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Condé Nast Traveler picks
 Top Las Vegas Spas
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Las Vegas is all about commotion and noise. From the advertising cacophony that greets you at baggage claim to the lights flashing outside your window at all hours, moments of peace are as rare as a royal flush. The one true escape within the city is the spa. No wonder, then, that as Vegas goes high-end, hotels are putting muscle into this ever-evolving side of the resort biz. Most of the selected spas listed here are open to nonguests, although some charge extra; spa hours vary, but most close by 8 or 9 P.M.
One of Vegas's first truly gorgeous spas, the Bathhouse at THEHotel, in the Mandalay Bay, is entered through a calming hallway that effectively separates you from the outside world. With suede walls, marble floors, and the ubiquitous streams and waterfalls, the spa has a remarkable array of inventive touches, such as a questionnaire you answer so the staff can create a tailored blend of massages. Even the pedicurists offer something extra: individual TVs and headphones ( basic massage, $125). At 69,000 fabulous and transporting square feet, the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, in the Venetian, is among the biggest in North America. This, the Vegas version of the Canyon Ranch franchise, is the spa experience as it ought to be—with both first-class treatments and a terrific restaurant serving "healthy gourmet" cuisine. Among the 52 treatment rooms is the oval Rasul chamber, where an individual or a couple can sit in body masks for an herbal steam. When the treatment's over, the ersatz night sky above starts to rain ( basic massage, $135–$145). The Grand Spa, in the MGM Grand, has all the standards you'd expect in a 20-treatment-room spa, but the two-hour Couples Dreaming Package is a real standout. It starts with a foot soak, followed by a full-body exfoliation and scalp treatment, and then an Aboriginal massage—before the two of you slink off to the shower to wash each other off ( basic massage, $130). The Westin Casuarina's Hibiscus Spa is smaller, more low-key, and a bit more affordable. Its 15 treatment rooms have all the basics, as well as a few creative touches such as the treatment that concludes with warm coconut milk poured over the body ( basic massage, $105). At the Palms Casino Resort, an antidote to the Strip, the Palms Spa is surprisingly bland, with all the obligatory stuff but nothing extraordinary ( basic massage, $115). Taking its cue from the Hard Rock Hotel's Gen-X vibe, the Rock Spa has a very serious gym area, boxing classes, and personal trainers. The spa, though nice, is limited, with only eight treatment rooms and no truly unusual offerings in the 11-page treatment menu ( basic massage, $115). As with everything else at the Bellagio, the Spa Bellagio is the quintessence of elegance and service. A recent doubling in size to 65,000 square feet, with 56 treatment rooms, included the addition of such novelties as a Watsu room, where Asian massage is administered in a warm pool, and a 1,000-square-foot Bamboo room featuring Pilates and kickboxing lessons. Notable, too, is the Egyptian Gold Body Treatment, an exfoliation and massage that concludes with your face being dusted with real gold ( basic massage, $130). The Spa at Caesars Palace is a pleasant though not spectacular 22-treatment-room retreat. There's no signature treatment to speak of, and the emphasis is on Ayurvedic and Indonesian massage. The juice bar overlooks Caesars' pool area, and amenities include tanning booths, a rock-climbing wall, and a yoga studio ( basic massage, $135). The enormous and elegant 60,000-square-foot Spa at Green Valley Ranch Resort, in Henderson, Nevada, is a true getaway just ten miles southeast of the Vegas ruckus. Killer views of the Strip abound from the yoga room and other areas. The specialty is the Grand Deluxe Package, which includes a 50-minute Swedish massage, an almond and peach facial, carrot-cake body therapy, a pedicure, and a shampoo and hair-styling (702-617-7777; green-valleyranchresort.com; basic massage, $130). A sister property and Vegas's newest megaresort, the Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa has a 35,000-square-foot spa appointed in the same red earth tones as the rest of the property—not to mention the surrounding namesake mountains. A 23-page spa directory offers more than 100 facial and massage choices, but most interesting is the Adventure Spa menu, which includes horseback riding and hikes in nearby historic state parks ( basic massage, $130). Given the grandeur that marks the Wynn Las Vegas resort, it's surprising that the 35,000-square-foot Spa at Wynn Las Vegas is so simple and perfunctory. Bathed in an oppressive red, it consists almost solely of two long hallways lined with 45 treatment rooms. The treatment menu is similarly ordinary ( basic massage, $120). Truth in Travel is the guiding principle for all content published in Condé Nast Traveler. Other travel publications often accept free travel and accommodations. Condé Nast Traveler does not. It is independent of the travel industry. The magazine always pays its way, and, as far as possible, its correspondents travel anonymously. By doing so, they experience the world—both the good and the bad—as other travelers do, and their reports and recommendations are fair, impartial, and authoritative.
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