Travel To Wellness Inc.

SPAS FOR MEN: SPA AT THE MONTE CARLO, LAS VEGAS

by Brian Jump

The Spa: The Spa at Monte Carlo is located on the second level of the Monte Carlo Hotel in Las Vegas. The hotel is situated right on the Vegas Strip next to New York New York and across the street from The MGM Grand.

The Experience: Just like everything in Las Vegas, excluding the gambling areas, the Monte Carlo Spa was difficult to find. As I roamed past the clatter of the casino, I found myself thinking “maybe I’ll just play a couple of hands instead…” Just in time I found the spa reception area and was greeted by two lovely receptionists and welcomed into the Monte Carlo’s modern and peaceful décor - a sanctuary away from the ringing bells and flashing lights of the casino floor.

Hot shower, warm soak, cold plunge…repeat. Physical and emotional stress soon began to melt away. Next I relaxed in the waiting area with a cool glass of fruit-infused water to hydrate before my treatments.

Soon, I was greeted by one of the spa’s newest massage therapists for the 30-minute stress relieving treatment. The room was set with muted lights and a comfortable table and I quickly settled into my surroundings. When the therapist returned to the room (for you spa newbies, yes, therapists do leave the room so you can shed your spa robe in private and crawl under the covers) I advised her that I had been a week out on the dusty trails hiking in the nearby national parks and could use some work on my sore back and legs. She got right to work with adept hands. The only down-side was that the treatment was just 30 minutes which was rather stressful for me since I usually go for a one-and-a-half-hour therapeutic massage. Just as I began to settle into the treatment and enjoy, it was over! I would suggest an hour at minimum if you truly want to maximize the experience.

Back in the relaxation area, I was soon greeted by another therapist - this time for a facial. After a week in the searing southwestern sun I needed it. Rough exfoliation was followed by cool-soothing moisturizer. I’m still relatively new to the whole “facial thing” but the more I try them the more I seem to like them. In fact, I left the treatment more relaxed than I had from the massage but, truth be known, I would have traded this experience for an extra half-hour on the massage table. Note to self – don’t ever book a half-hour massage again!

Spa Menu/Signature Features: With just nine treatment rooms, the spa is relatively small for a resort this size so keep that in mind and make spa appointments at the same time as you book a room. The spa menu offers a variety of massages, facials and body wraps. The Back Facial and the Deep Tissue Massage are two of the treatments more geared to men.

Other Facilities/Features: There’s a steam room, sauna, hot and cool whirlpools, lockers, lounge and complimentary fruit juices. Located on the same level as the spa, the gym offers the latest lines of equipment plus free weights. It was certainly tempting but I figured I was getting enough of a workout on the trails.

There’s also a full-service salon and a barber shop offering services such as shave, beard cut and moustache trim.

Accommodations: The Monte Carlo houses over 3,000 guest rooms and suites plus there are thousands of other guest rooms – of every size, description and price – within an easy stroll.

What to eat: You can order room-service to be delivered to the spa but I prefered the Pub & Brewery. This is THE place to grab a brew. One of the largest microbreweries in the country and, as I learned, the only one on the Vegas Strip, the brewery produces more than 93,000 gallons of beer a year. The menu includes a unique selection of beers, a variety of appetizers plus brick-oven pizzas, burgers and salads. There are also more than three dozen large-screen televisions and projection screens, so it's also the place to catch sporting events.

What I liked best: Attentive and courteous spa staff. The Monte Carlo has customer service dialed. That coupled with a relaxing getaway from the casino floor, a spa visit at the Monte Carlo is a vacation from your Vegas vacation…which any Las Vegas go’er knows is often a necessity

The Cost: At the time of our visit the 25-minute Stress Release Massage was $60 U.S. A 25-minute Discover Facial was also $60. The 50-minutes Deep Tissue is $110. U.S. The use of the facilities is free when you book a treatment, $22 U.S. per day for hotel guests without a treatment. We suggest you check with the spa directly prior to your visit for updated prices.

Beyond the Spa: The resort offers three outdoor pools - a classically-designed lagoon-shaped pool, the Strip’s first Wave Pool and an Easy River run. Of course, the entire Vegas Strip and all it offers is at your doorstep. If you like to get out in the fresh air, yes there is fresh air near Vegas, visit nearby Red Rocks State Park located just 15 minutes West of the strip. Here you will find excellent site seeing, hiking, biking and climbing opportunities. If you prefer to be lead by the experts Las Vegas has a excellent guided excursions operated by Escape Adventures.

Words to the wise: I’m still relatively new to the spa scene but one thing I know for certain, unless you’re squeezed for time, book no less than a 60-minute massage. Ninety minutes is even better. Otherwise, you’ve feeling rushed and unsatisfied and that, in itself, is stressful.