Oasis Spa at Luxor
Dateline: 1/02/00
While most
About.com guides were looking forward to our convention
at the Luxor in Las Vegas last fall, I was also looking forward to visiting a few spas in
this over-the-top city. Surely if the casinos were so outrageous, their spas must be also!
My husband and I
checked into the Luxor, a black glass pyramid complete
with an enormous sphinx, and chose a room in the pyramid section. We got to our room via
an inclinator – an elevator that travels both upward and sideways at the same time
creating a very strange sensation that we never quite got used to. The room was very nice
with a great view of the city, but we did not expect to spend much time in it and we
didn’t.
The convention schedule was packed and left little free
time. However, the first chance we got, we slipped away to the Oasis Spa. 
It is conveniently located on the first floor on
the lower West Tower near the conference rooms and beauty salon - not far from the pool.
The facility houses a fitness center (Life Fitness Cardiovascular equipment, free-standing
weights, Paramount Curcuit Training equipment) a women’s spa, and a men’s spa. I
later found out that the layout of this spa is very similar to that of others I visited in
Las Vegas
– Mandalay Bay and Canyon Ranch Spaclub. It appears as if the same firm designed them all.
After checking in at the main desk, I headed for the women’s spa and my husband went to the fitness center. In the spa, I was promptly greeted by a cheerful young woman who gave me a quick tour. Near the entrance is the waiting room complete with soft chairs, a TV, a juice- and water-stocked refrigerator, and a food area with fruit, snacks, and coffee, tea, & hot cocoa. (The TV and caffeine beverages surprised me. They seem out of place in a spa.) Deeper into the spa was a large locker room, vanity room well-stocked with anything you need to make yourself presentable after your spa visit, and showers. The showers are worth a special mention. Each shower was labeled with the scented soap and shampoo it provided – ylang-ylang orange, lavender, peppermint, vanilla, …I had such a hard time choosing just the right scent, I ended up taking 2 showers. Deeper into the spa was the wet area with a 10 person spa whirlpool, cold plunge pool (out of service during my visit), steam room, and sauna. Towels were stacked everywhere. Large containers filled with bottles of icy water were almost as plentiful as were helpful staff. There was always someone in sight if I has a question or need.
Finally there were the treatment rooms. I tried
an Aveda Therapy Massage (50 minutes/$90). Karen, my
massage therapist, had me choose the Aveda Key ElementTM I wanted to try. I
chose Water-Air NatureTM - " a dynamic combination of the refreshing &
soothing elements of water & air. It is invigorating, awakening, uplifting &
balancing." The massage was great and Karen topped it off with Emu creme on my neck and shoulders.
The Emu cream reminded me of a champhor product - cold and hot at the same time. It was
the highlight of the massage and I thoroughly enjoyed it. The Aveda products, however, did
not impress me. The Aveda aromatherapy massage was $10 more than the plain aromatherapy
massage. I am sure it is just for the brand. Next time, I'll stick with the generic
aromatherapy offering.
My husband tried a deep tissue Sport Massage (50 minutes/$90) after his workout. He made a fundamental error that I believe many spa-goers do. He felt the massage therapist was using too much pressure during the massage, found it uncomfortable, and suffered through it. Afterwards, he felt bruised. All he needed to do was communicate with the therapist the minute he felt discomfort. Their job is to make you feel better, not worse!
I enjoyed the Oasis Spa and recommend a visit if you are in Las Vegas. Guests of the Luxor can buy a day pass at the Oasis Spa that allows 24 hour unlimited use of the fitness center and spa for $20 (no spa services are included). This is really quite a nice amenity. My husband used it while I was in meetings. The food snacks and fruit made a substantial breakfast for him one morning after a good workout and soak in the whirlpool.
Luxor Las Vegas
3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, NV 89119-1000
702-262-4000 in Las Vegas
or 800-288-1000 toll-free outside of Las Vegas.
First photo courtesy of John
Fisher, About.com's Guide to Philadelphia
All other photos courtesy of Luxor Las Vegas
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*Hoover Dam and Mt. Charleston are both located less than an hour away from Las Vegas.
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Hoover Dam features film on how the river was diverted and the dam constructed as well as a tour of the power station.
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Mt. Charleston is a pleasant break from the heat of the city. Both times we've been there, there has been snow on the ground and the scent of Ponderosa Pine in the air. There is a nice restaurant at the top, a waterfall to hike to, and horseback riding is available.
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