The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas
Julie Register experienced this hotel spa in Nevada February 2006

The Spa

*It's been over five years since I had a treatment at The Spa at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas. At that time, they were just about to embark on a renovation and expansion. The spa was 6,000 square feet with six treatment rooms and two private spa suites. The spa is now 12,000 square feet and features 16 treatment rooms, separate men's and women's locker /dressing areas with waiting areas and large steam rooms and a co-ed relaxation room. Although twice the size, the spa retains its feel of intimacy and continues to provide an atmosphere of peace and refinement. The symbol of The Spa is Kuan Yin, the goddess of compassion, selected to convey the manner in which the staff supports The Spa's guests' pursuit of relaxation and personal well-being. A sculpture of Kuan Yin greets guests at the entrance to The Spa.

The plane landed at McCarran International Airport a bit early. My luggage was waiting for me on the belt. There was no line at the taxi stand. And less than a half hour later, I had checked into the Four Seasons Hotel and dropped my luggage off in my room. Things were off to a great start! I had plenty of time to make my 3:00 spa appointment. I checked in at the spa reception a bit early and was given a brief tour. The spa is decorated in soft creams and indirect lighting - very conducive to relaxing. I exchanged my clothes for a soft robe in the full-length locker, then took one of the iced washcloths from the bowl and entered the large steam room. I stretched out on a lower "shelf," put the cool cloth across my eyes and started to relax. When I had enough of the heat, I moved to the waiting room and continued to unwind.

Jonsey, my treatment provider, collected me (and the short health history form I had been asked to complete) at the appointed time and escorted me through a small maze of hallways to my treatment room. I was having an 80-minute Desert Oasis Body Treatment, which is offered in a choice of seasons:

• Spring: Desert rose, to soothe mind and body
  
• Summer: Prickly pear, to awaken the senses
  
• Fall: Pumpkin and squash blossoms, to balance the mind
  
• Winter: Sweet sagebrush, to energize the body
  

Winter had been pre-selected for me, which was perfect. I relaxed on the wide, heated table and Jonsey began with a vigorous salt scrub. The sage aroma was lovely. Jonsey gave me the choice of removing the salt by having a shower or using hot towels. The hot towels really appealed to me and they felt wonderful. Jonsey then applied a silky aloe vera mask all over and wrapped my body in plastic and covered me with a heavy blanket. I felt snug and secure. While the mask worked, Jonsey gave me a mini facial followed by a neck and shoulder massage, face massage and scalp massage - fabulous! When the mask was done, I was unwrapped and instructed to shower off then return to the treatment table. The final step was a massage with a sage-scented body butter. My skin felt incredibly soft. Jonsey put the excess body butter in a cup, and I was able to use it the entire stay at the hotel. After the treatment, Johnsey met me with a cup of cranberry hibiscus tea and led me to the relaxation room to recover.

Other services offered by The Spa include:

Fitness

**

The Workout Room overlooks the pool area and features a full range of state-of-the-art cardiovascular and strength-training equipment. Guests returning from an early morning run will be greeted with refreshing cold mineral water and a chilled towel at the front door.

The Pool

*Outside of The Spa, there is a lovely, large, private patio that guests can relax in. a large waterfall screens this garden from the pool on the other side. The 8,000 square-foot, free-form pool is the focal point of the Hotel's swimming facilities. Featuring two whirlpools and an expansive, lushly landscaped pool deck with chaises lounges and arbors for shade, this area offers an attractive and refreshing respite for guests. Four Seasons signature services such as Evian mist, cold towels, and chilled water are offered. Cucumber slices for the eyes and freshly sliced fruit are passed regularly. Guests who arrive unprepared will discover that the Hotel also has disposable swimsuits available for use. Guests are also invited to visit the adjacent Manadalay Bay Resort's 11-acre tropical water environment featuring a sand-and-surf beach, a lazy river ride and a variety of swimming pools.

The Hotel

*The non-gaming Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas is located at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip. Walking into the lobby is like walking onto another planet. Its quiet, refined atmosphere and elegant decor is a welcomed respite from the rest of this garish city. It's 424 guest rooms, (including 86 suites) are actually located on floors 35-39 of the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino tower. Down a long hallway lined with boutiques and The Spa are three private express elevators that go directly to the Four Seasons guest room floors. I stayed in a Las Vegas Strip View Room (#222 on the 37th floor), which offered breathtaking views of the entire Strip through floor-to-ceiling windows. The room had an inviting sitting area with an executive writing desk, overstuffed chair and ottoman.

A large flat screen television, mini-bar, high-speed inernet access, thick terry bathrobes and slippers, and safe were just a few of the room's amenities. The marble bathroom featured a deep soaking tub and separate glass-enclosed shower and wonderful L'Occitane Lemon Verbena bath toiletries (larger sizes are available for purchase in The Spa).

View from Room #222, 37th Floor

The hotel also offers two restaurants (Verandah and Charlie Palmer Steak) as well as three lounges (Verandah Bar and Lounge, Charlie Palmer Steak and the Pool Bar). There are 28,300 square feet (2,629 square metres) of meeting space, including an automobile-accessible ballroom.