The Spa at Encore: an encore worth waiting for

The Spa at Encore's lobby

For those who’ve been to The Spa at Wynn Las Vegas before, it’s hard to imagine a more beautiful, tranquil place to unwind in…until you’ve set foot in its sister spa, The Spa at Encore.

As breathtaking as it is blissful, The Spa at Encore has it all: warm and cool plunge pools (80 and 70 degrees, respectively); a cabin-esque wood-and-stone sauna; a gorgeous steam room; experience showers with easy-to-control massaging showerheads; relaxing waterfall showers (that actually resemble a gentle waterfall you can stand under, not those hard-pressure waterfall showers some spas have that hurt your back more than they help it); a private changing room; and its crown jewel--two massive whirlpools set at 103 and 104 degrees, each with five individual concaves for guests to sit in that provide spa-goers with their own jets and even armrests. In fact, The Spa at Encore’s whirlpools are so big, they not only provide individual mini Jacuzzi experiences on one side, but also feature no jets on the other, so guests can simply soak in the hot water if they choose to or even take in a few laps, as the whirlpools are the size of a small pool!

Don’t think for a second, though, that The Spa at Encore is all flash and no substance. While its menu of treatments may not be as extensive as some other Strip spas (although all the basics are covered: massage therapies, facial treatments and body treatments), what The Spa at Encore offers is simply ahh-mazing--especially its signature treatment, the Lavender Stone Ritual.

The 75-minute treatment ($250) begins with a brief aromatherapy session using Aromatherapy Associates' Support Pure Essential Oil of Lavender (available for $21 in The Spa Shop, for those who want to take home part of the experience), which helps your mind drift away before a mild body scrub of sea salts and lavender grains is rubbed on your legs, feet, arms, back and--if you choose--stomach. Then, you’ll be asked to step inside a shower (conveniently located inside the beautiful and spacious treatment room, which includes its own shower area complete with natural lighting) to rinse off before heading back to the treatment table--face up--for the next part of your service.

Once you’re lying back down on the table, the masseuse will then begin an alternating hot and cold stone therapy treatment on your face. Forget about any facial you’ve ever had before; this service is simply heavenly! Although the treatment itself is fairly brief (the masseuse will gently massage your temples and cheekbones with hot stones before retracing the same area with cold stones to awaken your senses, then end the treatment by wrapping your face in a moist, hot towel), your face will feel completely rejuvenated once it’s complete. Then, it’s on to the rest of your body, as the masseuse performs a full-body hot stone massage on your legs, arms, neck, shoulders and back while using a warm, lavender oil. Once the massage is complete, you’ll be asked to breathe in deeply three more times as you partake in another aromatherapy session to help bring you back to reality (in case you drifted away, which with this treatment is easy to do) before heading back to the spa's tranquility lounge to sit back and relax with a bottle of water.

While it’s recommended you arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the start of your scheduled appointment to partake in all The Spa at Encore has to offer, I’d recommend arriving at least an hour before your service, as, although you won’t want to rush out of the spa once your treatment is complete, you probably won’t want to rinse (or sweat) off the massage oil right away, either. Not only does the oil smell great, but it also gives your skin a silky smooth feel that you’ll want to touch (or have someone else touch) over and over again after that exfoliation. Seriously, you won’t remember the last time your skin felt so soft and smooth! And guys, it’s not just the girls who can be pampered; The Spa at Encore also offers a similar Sandalwood Stone Ritual treatment designed with the gentleman in mind (75 minutes, $250) that features a mild body scrub of sea salts and a deep stone massage using sandalwood oil for those who think the scent of lavender is a little too girly. Even if you’re not a spa-going type of guy, this is the one treatment that could easily change your mind, as it’s probably one of the most well-rounded and relaxing spa experiences around!

The Spa at Encore is located at 3121 Las Vegas Blvd. S. and is open daily from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. for resort guests and Mon.-Thur. from 6 a.m.-8 p.m. for non-resort guests. Treatments may be scheduled for non-resort guests Fri.-Sun. by calling for that day’s availability. Download The Spa at Encore’s complete list of treatments and call 702-770-4772 to make your reservation today.