ICYMI
When my baby sister Hawa Jay, one of our blog reviewers and Bellyitch 100 guide model, decided to head to Las Vegas for a Bachelorette Weekend, I accepted the invitation to tag along the girls’ trip to check out some of the destination’s famous amenities and attractions.
Although Las Vegas, Nevada is more well known as “Sin City”, it is also a very family-friendly destination and ranks as a top destination for families in several guides. We’ve listed it tops in a few Bellyitch Blog posts in the past.
Vegas has a lot of family-oriented hotels like Circus, Circus, for example, which features an amusement park, on site Krispy Kreme and popular chain fast food spots right inside.
It’s also a good baby moon destination because there are lots of vice and smoke-free options in the very active city as well.
There’s the High Roller ferris wheel at The LINQ Promenade which rotates slowly to give you a marvelous 360 view of the city from inside a large cabin, some fully stocked with drinks and food. The Eiffel Tower Experience at Paris Las VONS is fun as is The Wildlife Habitat Flamingo which opens daily from dawn to dusk and has daily Pelican feedings.
There are also destination hotels that are on the upscale side as well. The Red Rock Casino and Spa, for example, is nestled in historic Red Rock Canyon, famously known for its native American Nevadan reservations.
The resort is an oasis, equally luxurious as any 5-star hotel you’d find on the strip.
It is perfect for families with children because you can also find on property a bowling alley, a movie theater, an arcade and other smoke-free kid-friendly options.
But for mom and dad who want to indulge in slot play or poker, there’s a casino in the lobby – the best of both worlds.
In a very saturated hotel market, each need to stand out in its own way.
The Red Rock accomplishes this feat with its completely red-tinted glass entry way, an ode to the crimson shade in its name.
From the inside, you wouldn’t know if it was light or dark, rainy or clear outside. That’s a good thing if you’re looking to get lost in paradise.
The color scheme for the furnishings in the lobby and the large center lounge area surrounded by semi-circle staircase is made up of hues of red and complementary colors. The hotel has several bars, a sports bar, a bowling alley, live entertainment facilities, a pool bar and lobby bar.
It’s surprisingly more modern than I would think for an off-the beaten path location but nothing about the resort can remotely be acquainted with shabby. It gives me a vintage updated 1960s spy movie vibe.
The spot is also a destination for conferences because it has large conference rooms on the third floor with a very comprehensive shipping and business section for their corporate-type guests.
I made my way through the lobby and headed upstairs to the spa for my facial appointment with Ro at The Spa at Red Rock by Well & Being.
A very friendly spa associate greeted me at the door and pointed me in the direction of the check in. I was running a bit late but they didn’t make me feel bad for arriving a little after my scheduled 11:00 am appointment.
Another attendant took me back to a locker room area lit with soft lighting. I felt relaxed immediately as I took in the scent of lavender and peppermint oil waffling through the room. Aaah!
After a long flight into Vegas the day before, and a very very long day of activities and adjusting to the time zone change, a relaxing facial was what I needed.
The attendant showed me how to operate the personal lockers and set my personalized code, standard for day spas; and after slipping out of my street clothes and into one the plush white spa robes and comfy slippers the spa provides, I was ready for ultimate relaxation.
Before Ro could collect me, I peeked around the corner to check out a brightly lit styling and dressing area.
It was equipped with individual seated stations with soft ottoman benches, a large lit mirror, equipped with a hairdryer, brush and other hot hair styling equipment for customer use.
On the other side was styling mirror along the wall and a stand up vanity area.
The room was divided by a display of the assorted branded products for spa guests to use: hair gel, make up remover, deodorant, hair spray, mouse, cotton bolls and cotton swabs.
When it was time for me to head back, a very friendly and personable Ro emerged and guided me down the hallway where I noticed a supply station fully stocked with personal feminine products, shower caps, towels and more. Everything you’d need so you can come as you are and be very well taken care of. Loved that!
To get to my room for my facial, we also walked through an area with a hot tub on the left and what looked like a large whirl pool to the right and another seating area with snacks and water.
It was lined with fragrant scented candles on a mirrored shelf above.
A lot of day spas on the east coast have the showers like they have at the Spa at Red Rock but not the pools and hot springs tubs. Those features set it apart already from a lot of the traditional day spas I have patronized.
And I’ve been in quite a few on both coasts of the nation, in Europe and the Caribbean.
Just outside the door to the services room was a serene waiting area with a tea and coffee station.
A tray of spa-branded water was nestled on the center ottoman, which also was lined with magazines to pass the time while waiting to be called.
Ro did an excellent job. She asked me if I had any issues I was worried about and wanted to work out, then instructed me to ditch the robe and snuggle under the massage bed.
She started by explaining to me the results of her quick skin examination. The results: I have T-zone oily combination skin.
We started with a gentle exfoliation using one of those machine brushes for scrubbing away dead skin and polishing off external residue. Ro followed up with a nice hot steam and then the painful but good part, white head extraction.
In between, I was treated with a gentle and much appreciated neck and shoulder massage. My hands had been heavily moisturized and placed in a plastic mitt. Ro removed the mitts and gave me a hand and arm massage, before completing the facial treatment and applying sunscreen to my lips.
When done, she gave back my robe which was kept warm for me during my services. What a great touch because who wants to leave that experience and have a draft hit you in your face? A heated robe was right on time.
It was a very indulgent and comprehensive treatment and I would say worth the $160 value of the service. It is comparable to the prices at spas at The Strip hotels but unlike those hotels, when you leave to return to your room, you’re not thrown back into the very loud and obnoxious sounds of strip life.
You’re still secluded away from the hustle and bustle and noise.
If you’re in town for a conference, or considering it for a baby moon or a family get away, the Red Rock Canyon location gives you the access to the active Strip but with the serenity of being isolated slightly in the majestic mountain
Your experience will be further enhanced by the spectacular lavish treatment you’ll get from the professionals at The Spa at Red Rock by Well & Being. I highly recommend you add it to your itinerary and get fit in for a facial with Ro or one of the other wonderful professionals there. You’ll be glad you did.
A complimentary facial was provided in exchange for this review but all of my opinions are my own and not dependent or impacted on the value of the service.
