TEN MILES WEST OF THE LAS VEGAS STRIP, THAT GLITTERING bastion of bright lights, big hotels, and colorful casinos, is a luxurious escape. Red Rock Casino, Resort and Spa, nestled below the cliffs of Red Rock Canyon, provides travelers and locals a sleek alternative to the city's main drag with its decadent accommodations, old-Vegas charm, modern style, and natural light-filled beauty. And The Spa at Red Rock Las Vegas is a natural extension of the resort's commitment to luxury, health, and rejuvenation.
Playing off the rust-colored hue of the sandstone bluffs, the spa is outfitted in shades of rich red, deep chocolate brown, and cool cream in an effort to "bring the outside in," according to Lori Nelson, director of corporate communications for the resort. The 25,000-square-foot spa has 20 treatment rooms, including two spacious indoor/outdoor couples' suites, a fitness center with a boxing ring and movement studio, a salon, and a men's barber area. Separate men's and women's locker rooms feature plush furnishings, as well as wet rooms, and hot and cold plunge pools with a waterfall. Additionally, a private spa pool provides a shady respite for pre- and post-treatment lounging.
 A private lap pool and lounge deck are available for spa-goers who are seeking a secluded escape. |
What makes The Spa at Red Rock particularly distinctive in a city laden with posh spas, however, is its extensive Adventure Spa program, which takes advantage of the nearby canyon and makes fitness a major part of the spa experience. "We really have evolved into a destination spa," says spa manager Alan Kite. "Coming to the spa is a life-changing experience, even if it's just for an hour."
 Al fresco massages are offered in the cabanas located in the spa’s private pool areas. |
Like a true destination spa, many health-inspired outdoor activities, such as guided hikes, mountain biking tours, rock climbing, river rafting, and horseback riding adventures, are available for spa-goers. Fitness classes ranging from yoga, Pilates, and body sculpting to more unusual endeavors like belly dancing and salsa are also available, as are various lecture series, tarot card readings, and wine and cooking classes. Additionally, spa cuisine is offered to spa-goers and Red Rock guests in the spa, in the resort's nine restaurants, and via room service. Indeed, the spa offers something for everyone.
 Luxe men's and women's spa lounges feature plush furnishings, Jacuzzis, and cold pools. |
This is also true when it comes to treatments, which range from more traditional services to more unconventional therapies to treatments inspired by the region using products from Aromatherapy Associates, Kerstin Florian, Phytocene, and the resort's bergamot-and-lavender-scented Red Rock Spa Essentials line. Kite says massage is the most popular service with guests, most notably the Holistic Massage ($140, 50 minutes), in which therapists incorporate a variety of massage techniques to meet the needs of their clients. Another favorite is the Desert Jewel Facial ($140, 50 minutes), which is tailored to the client using the therapist's products of choice.
 Retail skincare items from Aromatherapy Associates, Kerstin Florian, Phytocene, and the resort's Red Rock Spa Essentials line are available in the reception area. |
For more adventurous spa-goers, there is an array of options. For those interested in a spin on traditional massage, Ashiatsu ($200, 80 minutes) is an ancient form of therapy where therapists use their feet to work on sore muscles. Two other popular treatments are the metabolism-boosting Mega Body Shebang ($235, 110 minutes), which Kite says "combines pieces from four different treatments," and the Dance of the Red Rock ($195, 80 minutes), which includes a two-step body buffing, the placement of rose stones on the body's energy centers, a wrap, and lavender-scented scalp and foot massages. For sun-lovers who have been overexposed to the strong Nevada rays, Extreme Quench ($145, 50 minutes) is a popular aloe-infused hydrating treatment, and for over-imbibers, the No Regrets Hangover Treatment ($145, 50 minutes) is a reviving mineral-infused therapy. "I think our menu is really unique," says Kite. "And all of our body treatments are exclusive to us."
 The spa seamlessly integrates with the resort's adjacent three-acre sandbar pool outdoor area. |
Because of its off-the-Strip location in the heart of the city's residential district, Kite says he sees about a 50/50 split between local and out-of-town guests. For local clients, a 20 percent discount is offered on treatments Monday through Wednesday if they show a valid driver's license with a local address. Treatments that are most effective with multiple sessions, such as Diamond in the Rough ($200, 80 minutes) and Soft as a Baby ($160, 50 minutes) microdermabrasion treatments, are best suited to local clients who can make weekly trips to the spa and are marketed as such. Additionally, the spa stays open until 8 P.M. each night to accommodate locals who want to partake in a spa treatment on the way home from work. The spa also offers a $10 discount on services Monday through Thursday to further encourage weekday spa-going. According to Kite, all of these efforts have been effective in keeping the spa busy all week.
Three other demographic groups Kite and his team cater to are men, teens, and moms-to-be. A specific facial, massage, manicure, and pedicure, as well as various luxe barber services, are available for male clients, while teen spa-goers can address their skincare concerns and learn proper beauty maintenance with the Teen Facial ($140, 50 minutes). Kite says he has had a great response to treatments for pregnant women who are seeking relief from changing skin, swollen feet, and sore bodies. Also popular are the two-person Experience packages, which offer full- and half-day indulgences for a spa-going duo that include multiple treatments, spa cuisine, and champagne in a private spa suite.
With all of the options offered at the spa, the 100-plus staff members keep busy, performing up to 250 treatments on Saturdays, the spa's busiest day. This much-welcomed popularity is only likely to grow with a planned expansion, which recently began. When renovations are complete, the spa will gain an additional 10,000 to 12,000 square feet and the salon will be expanded, bringing the total space to approximately 40,000 square feet. The gym and the women's locker room will gain more area, and a co-ed relaxation space will be created. Additionally, a Watsu pool and a hammam will be built, and a new esthetic and retail area is in the works so that guests can step out of the treatment room after facials and peruse the products that have just been used on them.
For spa-goers looking to escape the traditional Las Vegas experience, it's comforting to know that a true alternative to the bright lights, big city vibe exists. With its singular approach to Las Vegas spa-ing and its desert foothills location, the Spa at Red Rock makes leaving Las Vegas a sure bet.