Revel, Relax, Repeat
- brittanypanter
- 2015年1月6日
- 讀畢需時 3 分鐘
Photo: The sandstone hallway of Sahra Spa and Hammam, courtsey of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
Say the words “Las Vegas” and you’ll more than likely conjure up images of flashing neon signs, scantily clad showgirls, and garish but grand casinos ready to take your hard-earned dollars. If you’re staying there for more than a few days, the non-stop fun will probably start to take a toll on your body. Thankfully all the grand hotels often have grand spas to go with them, providing welcome retreats from the ringing slot machines and roaring crowds that are found at every turn.
The Sahra Spa and Hammam at The Cosmopolitan is one such haven we were lucky enough to escape to for a relaxing and invigorating afternoon during our four-day stint in Sin City.
As you can probably guess from the name, the Sahra Spa and Hammam was designed to mimic the desert. Sandstone was quarried from the surrounding area and used in the construction of the 43,000-square-foot spa giving its long and winding hallways a cavernous and desert-like feel.
This spa is one of the only places in the country where you can have an authentic hammam experience, so it was with no reservations that we chose the 130-minute Sahra Journey (US$435) which starts with the Red Flower Hammam Experience and is followed by a 50-minute customizable massage.
As soon as we stepped into the lobby, an air of tranquility fell over us. Decorated in natural colors and materials, the open and inviting space includes a modernist fireplace and white sofas to lounge in should you arrive early. We arrived right on time and were promptly escorted to the dressing room. After changing into an incredibly luxurious robe we were offered tea or water while we waited for our therapists to take us to the hammam.
Photo: The hammam is one of the only ones in the country, courtsey of The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas
The 1,200-square-foot space is decorated with deep browns and features a large “belly stone“ in the center. There is also a steam room and two metal tubs (which we later found out were used for cold water plunges) on either side of a couple of heated stone lounges.
As this was our first hammam experience, we weren’t sure what to expect, but when the therapists began pouring the first basins of warm water over us we were surprised at the pleasurable effect it had on the muscles and skin. The two streams, poured in unison, created such a pleasing massage-like feel we were quite crestfallen when that part of the treatment came to an end. As amazing as it felt, if you are looking for a peaceful treatment, I would have to advise against this on the basis that the unavoidable dunking and sloshing of water when the bowls are filled could be distracting, although not as much as you might think.
The next part of the treatment involved a cloth glove (which you get to keep afterwards if you like) and a vigorous exfoliation with the aid of Red Flower’s coffee lemon blossom olive stone scrub. Following the softening scrub, a cooling honey-clay mask is applied before you are given ten or fifteen minutes of privacy in the steam room to aid absorption. The whole experience ends with a cold water plunge in the metal bath tubs. The water was actually lukewarm which made it neither relaxing or invigorating and was therefore my least favorite part of the whole treatment.
If you opt for just the Red Flower Hammam Experience then your journey ends here, but the Sahra Journey includes a 50-minute massage. We were escorted to a separate massage room where we were again given a private moment to disrobe and lay under the supplied towel. The therapists always left the room before we disrobed instead of just averting the eyes, which some people, including us, prefer, just in case you get into difficulty as you bare your body while awkwardly shimmying under the towel.
Before the massage started the therapist adjusted the massage chair to fit the curvature of our backs and placed warmed towels under our necks.This was a nice touch, and one I’m not sure why more spas don’t implement. The massage itself was everything you would expect from a high-end spa. Professionalism combined with expert technique, the therapists worked out a few kinks while continually making sure the pressure was right.
When the massage was over and the end of the 2.5 hour journey had arrived, it was with some dismay that I stepped out of my slippers and back in to my stilettos, but it was with the assurance that at least I was leaving the spa scrubbed, shined and slack - ready to tackle another round of craps and cocktails.
Spa treatments are available from 8am to 7pm
For reservations call 1 (855) 724 7258
