Soak in the serenity at the Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas — Photo courtesy of Resorts World Las Vegas
Las Vegas, Nevada is definitely not the first place you think of for a wellness vacation. However, as more travelers seek out healthy experiences, the city has risen to the challenge. In its signature, over-the-top style, Las Vegas now offers spa treatments, wellness activities and sleep-focused accommodations that are as indulgent as its famous decadent offerings — but are way better for your health.
Thanks to these wellness options, it’s actually possible to leave Las Vegas feeling rested and ready to get back to real life.
Relax and re-energize with Wynn Living Well
Bask in the pure bliss at The Spa at Encore — Photo courtesy of Barbara Kraft
One of the best examples of this trend is Wynn Living Well, a new program available at Wynn Las Vegas, a 2022 USA TODAY Readers’ Choice Award winner for Best Las Vegas Casino. Focused on three pillars — renew, replenish and re-energize — Wynn Living Well brings wellness options to every area of the resort, from the rooms to the restaurants to the spa.
You’ll now find special Wynn Living Well menus in many of the dining venues. Developed by the hotel’s chefs, they highlight nutritious dishes that are as good for you as they are delectable. Better yet, the “Drinking Well” program created by Wynn mixologist, Mariena Mercer Boarini, features a wide variety of I-can’t-believe-that’s-non-alcoholic beverages. These refreshing drinks incorporate ingredients like reishi mushrooms, lion’s mane and other adaptogens that promote natural energy, happiness, clarity and balance. By sipping these, you’ll avoid hangovers (and impulsive trips to the Little White Chapel). Consider it a Wynn win.
Workout with pro athletes’ TB12 Method at Wynn Golf Club
Get fit with the Amanda Kloots workout video series for Wynn Living Well — Photo courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas
To keep you moving, Wynn is offering Tom Brady and Alex Guerrero’s performance-boosting TB12 Method, as well as golf at the Wynn Golf Club, the only course on the Strip. If you prefer, you can take a SoulCycle or yoga class or use the state-of-the-art TechnoGym equipment in the Fitness Centers. While in your room, exercise anytime with one of four videos from celebrity fitness expert Amanda Kloots. She created the full-body workouts specifically for Wynn and Encore Las Vegas guests.
Wynn also offers custom IV therapy — one of the new popular and surprising wellness trends — through NutriDrip by Clean Market. Choose from a menu of hydrating IV drips, then sit back and relax while your body is infused with vitamins, minerals and electrolytes. It’s a great way to overcome jet lag (or a hangover), so you can fully enjoy the rest of your stay.
Rejuvenate with sublime specialty treatments on the Vegas Strip
Relax at the spacious Bellagio Spa Suite — Photo courtesy of MGM Resorts International
If your idea of relaxation looks more like a table than a drip, though, you’ll want to head across the floor to The Spa at Wynn for a rejuvenating CBD massage. The CBD oil is absorbed into every aching muscle through the firm pressure of your therapist’s hands and, trust me, you will feel amazing afterward.
Other must-try spa treatments on the Strip include the Gemstone Infused Facial Treatment at Bellagio Spa & Salon, the Qua Signature Mojave Rain Treatment at Qua Baths & Spa at Caesars Palace and the Couples Karmic Happiness Ritual at Waldorf Astoria Spa. You can even spend an hour in the Himalayan salt cave at Spa at the LINQ, which promotes better breathing, improves skin and enhances sleep.
Dip into the Fountain of Youth at the Awana Spa at Resorts World Vegas
Experience a sauna show at the unique Awana Spa Event Sauna at Resorts World — Photo courtesy of Resorts World Las Vegas
Las Vegas is known for elevating everything to a whole new level — and spa culture is no exception. Every spa features its own unique offerings, but the new Awana Spa at Resorts World Las Vegas is an exceptional experience. Treatments are created to highlight a specific goal, such as sleep (Tokyo Escape: I Am Rested) or hydration (Radiance Facial with Dermaplaning: I Am Nourished). However, it’s the spa itself that’s the star of the show. Honestly, if you did nothing but take advantage of the facilities here, you would still be in heaven.
Awana’s centerpiece, called the Fountain of Youth, is made up of several vitality pools, each set at a different temperature so you can alternate between invigorating icy plunges and de-stressing warm soaks. There are lavender-infused steam rooms, hot and cold experiential rain showers, heated loungers and a crystal laconium room.
But the pièce de résistance — the thing you’ve never experienced before, at least in the United States — is The Art of Aufguss, the event sauna that’s part spa treatment, part Cirque du Soleil. An ancient European tradition, it’s a social event where you sit in your bathing suit in the sauna, which is heated to a toasty 170 degrees. A Sauna Meister — a lovely, bikini-clad woman with a sarong around her waist — uses music, lighting, movement and aromatherapy to help you detox while distracting you from the extreme heat. It’s a very special experience that’s followed by the Rain Walk to cool off. If I could do this on a regular basis, I’m convinced I would be a better sleeper and have fewer aches and pains.
Rest and recharge in the Stay Well rooms at MGM Resorts International
Treat yourself to luxury with a specialty shower infuser at the Park MGM Las Vegas — Photo courtesy of MGM Resorts International
I’m waiting for Las Vegas to open a sleep-themed hotel but, until that happens, the Stay Well rooms and suites at MGM Resorts International will do nicely. Combining the latest wellness technologies from experts like Dr. Deepak Chopra and the Cleveland Clinic, these accommodations are designed to boost well-being while mitigating the effects of travel on your body.
Premier rooms feature a Stay Well natural memory foam mattress for optimal support and pressure point relief, as well as a dawn simulation alarm clock and guided meditations. At the Park MGM, I’ve personally felt positive results with both the Stay Well shower infuser and the air purifier — I wish all hotel rooms would include both. And there’s no doubt you’ll need plenty of rest, after playing hard at MGM Resorts, past winner of USA TODAY 10Best Readers’ Choice Awards for Best Players Club