Last month, I found myself in Las Vegas, seduced by the city of sin, this time to host a bachelorette party. Although perhaps not my favorite retreat for relaxation, Vegas continues to evolve its level of exclusively and intimacy for those seeking it. Before the arrival of my partying posse, I was invited to spend a few hours in the Spa at Mandarin Oriental. Here are a few reasons why this Vegas spa is now my favorite on the Strip:
The affectionate level of detailing to this spa is worth a visit alone. Designed by Adam Tihany who named in 2001 as "one the greatest American interior architects" by The New York Times, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental unfolds a rich story. Bold lines of Art Deco marble and structures merge artfully with delicate aspects of the Mandarin culture from the 1930’s era of Shanghai, " The Pearl of the Orient.” I loved the spa "muse," an elegant Asian woman depicted in photos throughout the interior, illustrated in different stages of her bathing and beauty rituals.
Tihany is a linear liberalist: Perfect angular shapes from the long rectangular bathing pool that overlooks the Strip eight stories below, down to the tiny square tiling of a resting bench, which create a modern, Zen feel to the interior. Unusual surface treatments were tactilely inviting, and I found myself touching everything, such as the shower tiling and steel. The entire spa features intricate grey and white streaked Calcutta marble, imported from Italy.
Ideal for Vegas, The Spa at Mandarin Oriental announced a “lucky” treatment earlier this year, in honor of the Chinese Year of the Water Dragon. The dragon, thought to bring good fortune, certainly brought me good fortune after a long week of work. The 90-minute Water Dragon Ritual Massage commences with a welcoming foot ritual, a tradition of Mandarin’s spa services, followed by a long-stroke massage that focuses on the shoulders and lower back. The oil used in the massage was distinctly invigorating, and I loved it. Developed in consultation with specialists in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and master aroma therapists, the Water Dragon Ritual’s oil is a complex layering of jasmine, ginger, juniper and black pepper.
Exotic but soothing, this oil was an escape to tranquil mountains of China. At least, that was my fanciful interpretation. After the massage, my back melted under a mineral mud wrap while my scalp got a needed massage. My therapist, a seasoned therapist that I would have loved to adopt for on-call massages, nearly had to peel me off the table - an indication of how blissful the service was. Couples can opt for the DoubleWater Dragon Ritual, which finishes with a warm bath within the nearly 1,700 square foot couples’ treatment quarters.
Although the five-star rated Spa at Mandarin Oriental occupies two entire floors of the hotel, dedicating 27,000 square feet for the spa, salon, Chinese foot spa, retail boutique, and fitness and wellness center, there is definitely a culture of intimacy. In contrast, the Bellagio Spa boasts 65,000 square feet and the Canyon Ranch Spa Club®, shared by the Venetian and Palazzo, which pours across 134,000 square feet. It’s unmistakable that with 17 spacious treatment rooms and an impeccably trained and attentive staff, the Spa at Mandarin Oriental is dedicated to being a true retreat from the hustle of Vegas.
Learn more visit MandarinOriental.com.
