world spa traveler

Las Vegas offers the ultimate sensual and relaxing global journey.

By MARISA FINETTI | July/August 2009

Photo: PR

Traipsing across the globe would have been the dream vacation this summer, but with no airline ticket, I was out of luck. What I did have, however, was a cozy robe, a pair of slippers, and before me, a city with one of the highest concentration of resort spas in the world. This was my ticket to the ultimate world travel itinerary.

First stop was Indonesia—actually, 17th-century Java. Found within the chocolate suede walls of The Spa at Trump is a respite set in the Far East. While I sat in the relaxation room, I engaged in conversation with another guest. She had finished her service earlier that morning, but was still embracing every blissful moment. “I don’t even feel like we’re in Las Vegas,” she says. “I just closed my eyes during the ritual, and it took me [to another place].” By then I, too, was ready to be transported to a time when regal brides-to-be received the traditional Royal Lurlur Ritual. My therapist explained how the bride’s closest friends and family members would perform this treatment for 40 consecutive days before the wedding, during which time they would offer advice.

The aromatic fusion of jasmine and frangipani tingled my olfactory system and prepared me for what would come next—a full body scrub using indigenous ingredients comprised of warm turmeric, rice, and exotic spices. This preceded a lavish application of warm yogurt. Then, I was wrapped in a cocoon as my own body heat intensified the effectiveness of this royal ritual. What followed were a warm rain-like shower and a long soak in a floral-scented tub in which I sank deeper into relaxation. The Lurlur concluded with a full body massage and moisturizing treatment, infused with sweet and spicy florals for a lasting effect.

I then traveled to Japan, where I visited the origin of Zen Shiatsu, a form of bodywork administered by pressure, which is said to release blockages along the body’s meridians. Next up was a hybrid series of gentle movements and stretches under water in a small, waist-deep pool called Watsu, which emerged during the 1980s from a small town in California. Surrounded by contemplative Zen-like walls that reminded me of raked sand in a Kyoto garden, it was hard to believe that I was inside Spa Bellagio.

Alice, my therapist, recommended I allow my body to move freely during the session. “I will not be speaking to you,” she whispered. My eyes were closed as I glided across the water on my back. She drew me over the water and gently manipulated my body to move in ways it does not on land. I drifted lightly, like delicate cherry blossom petals whirling in the gentlest breeze. At any given moment I was cradled in her arms like a child and then set free at arm’s length. After 70 minutes of sheer weightlessness, I felt harmony.

Water may be life’s ultimate elixir, but I discovered that the arid desert of the Middle East has a cleansing ritual like no other. Within the sprawling 134,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch SpaClub is a treatment like something out of “Arabian Nights” called the Rasul Ceremony. This mud-purifying ritual can be sequestered solo or with a partner, so I enlisted my husband for this leg of the tour. The Rasul was a ritual for women of the harem and often used as a prenuptial ceremony. Our Rasul took place within an enchanting ceremonial chamber, adorned with mosaic and gilded tiles. In the center were five bowls of colorful detoxifying mud, each meant to be applied to different parts of the body. After the mud application we sat in our thrones, facing each other, as warm, herb-infused steam filled the chamber for 35 minutes. Then, from the starry ceiling, an invigorating rain shower washed the mud away and took all our cares with it.

Spas do their magic of chasing stress away, but when you add a luscious ingredient like wine, it’s like traveling to another state of sensorial relaxation. Along the Garonne River in Bordeaux, France, where the Cabernet grape is king, came the creation of vinotherapy. The idea was that the veritable grape, including all its parts—pulp, seeds, and skin—had potent youth-promoting properties. The Ritz-Carlton Spa, Lake Las Vegas sets the tone for an unforgettable vineyard-inspired treatment, appropriately called Le Vin Wine Therapy. The surroundings are reminiscent of the gardens in Versailles, and the balmy Mediterranean feel of the spa soothes the soul. As I lay between delicate layers of butter-soft sheets, my therapist applied a gommage containing Chardonnay grape extracts. After a refreshing rinse, I was back on the bed for a sumptuous Chardonnay moisturizing treatment with notes of apples and grapefruit. My body was rejuvenated after this blissful experience.

There was one final stop before returning home, and that was 1940s Hollywood. The newly opened ElevenSpa Vegas would have been a favorite among luminaries like Harlow and Dietrich, as it pays tribute to the days when glamour was a trade secret. First was Nikki’s Amazing Facial. Named for the spa’s owner, Nicole Oden, the treatment has the same effect on customers that makeup provides on a Hollywood set. “Think about Bette Davis, Grace Kelly, Marilyn Monroe, or Ava Gardner,” Oden says. “They became Hollywood icons because of their sheer confidence as women, as much as their unusual and unique beauty.” The spa’s own organic skin care line, containing 90 percent active ingredients, were applied on my face, while steam infused the air with subtle scents of seaweed, eucalyptus, menthol, calendula, lavender, and thyme.

After a deep cleansing, toning, and rich application of “Glow” serum, I emerged feeling renewed and ageless. Then, it was time to indulge in an ultimate hand treatment. The luxurious treatment, comprised of an exfoliation and penetrating moisturizing application, is complimentary to spa guests.

Traveling by spa in Las Vegas is like an unforgettable journey to the past, present, and future of our culturally rich world. Where global therapies offer virtual experiences, they also channel restoration and relaxation for the mind, body, and spirit.