Serenity for the mind, body and soul

Mandarin Oriental’s spacious spa offers a variety of pampering treatments

Story by Heidi Chackel

Photography provided by Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

Recently I visited the Spa at Mandarin Oriental and had a fantastic experience that will definitely be bringing me back for repeat visits. Whether you are a guest of the hotel or just visit the spa for a treatment, you will thoroughly enjoy your time. The Mandarin Oriental has succeeded in taking an extremely large facility and creating an intimate, relaxing atmosphere. The staff is friendly, the services are plenty and the overall experience is well worth the time and investment.

The spa’s goal is to offer a seductive retreat for mind, body and soul—high above the Las Vegas Strip—by providing a completely holistic experience based on the union of modern techniques and Eastern traditional therapies. Spread over two floors, the 1930s Shanghai-style spa boasts 17 treatment rooms including seven private couples’ suites. There are men’s and women’s relaxation lounges, a Chinese foot spa, a beauty salon and a spa boutique. The beauty salon offers hair, makeup, beauty and nail services. In addition, “Beauty by Mandarin Oriental” features state-of-the-art non-invasive skincare that restores, brightens and protects the face.

Treatments at the spa range from a variety of massages to skin exfoliations to foot rituals to mud masks. Our reservation specialist recommended we arrive 45 minutes prior to our treatment to fully enjoy the spa, and I would highly recommend doing so. During this time, we were able to take full advantage of the heat and water experiences that are offered in both the men’s and women’s relaxation lounges. Heat and water experiences include steam rooms, a laconium, a vitality pool, a men’s sauna, ice fountain and tepidarium chairs. By getting to your appointment early, you can take your time to explore the complimentary luxuries offered by the spa when you book an appointment.

During our visit, my husband and I enjoyed the Double Happiness Ritual. The two-hour experience was set in a private couple’s suite, and is considered a Chinese New Year ceremony designed for the romantic couple seeking good karma and long lasting relationships. We began with an inviting foot ritual laced with essential oils. Next came a skin softening body exfoliation, which we removed while relaxing under the soothing waters of the Private Heaven Steam Shower. The experience finished off with a couple’s massage on side-by-side treatment tables.

Beginning our experience with the foot ritual was a great way to set the tone and relax our bodies and minds. Laced with essential oils, the aroma was soothing and the atmosphere relaxing with my husband and I sitting side-by-side. The exfoliation came next, and that is something I had never done. It really felt good, but the shower after was even better. You can’t really call it just a shower; it is so much more. It is honestly bigger then one of our full bathrooms at home, and I can’t even tell you how many jets and shower heads there were—too many to count. On top of all that, it is a steam room to boot. The staff left the room and provided ample time for us to share a shower and cleanse off the exfoliation salts. The final stage of our experience was an excellent full body massage—one of the best I have had.

Some other treatments that are piquing my interest for my second visit include the Oriental Harmony and the QI Balancing Journey. Based on the website descriptions, they both sound heavenly. For the Oriental Harmony experience, four hands work in perfect unison in a remarkable experience that inspires a harmony of the senses. With a unique combination of body exfoliation, wrap and hot stone massage, the QI Balancing Journey aims to restore balance, whether to increase energy levels and detoxify the body, or to strengthen the immune system and bring about deep relaxation. I can’t wait!

And when I make my return visit, I again will arrive plenty early and take my time enjoying all the extra pleasures available to guests of the spa.

Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas

3752 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas

702-590-8886

www.mandarinoriental.com/lasvegas