Finding Serenity At Westgate’s New Spa

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Park City’s award-winning facility brings mountain-retreat comforts to Vegas…

There’s something uniquely American about the community of Park City, Utah. No matter the season, the mountain top ski-centric Park City offers crystal clean air, gorgeous vistas and a warm, eclectic culture.

Westgate Las Vegas (my favorite middle-tier resort) benefited from Park City’s dining offerings when it opened its own branch of Edge Steakhouse. That exceptional restaurant is always my response when friends/readers ask “Where should I go for that one special meal?”.

It was only a matter of time before the local Westgate Resort welcomed another Park City treasure to their Sin City line-up…and their spa is a great one at that. Serenity Spa of Park City has won dual awards from Best of State – Utah for the past five years, including 2017: “Best Spa in Park City” and “Best Destination Spa”.

Bringing the reputation and quality of a popular mountain retreat to the Mojave Valley results in a natural pairing, even without the snow and ski lifts. The expansive and easily-accessible Serenity Las Vegas should be a popular go-to for anxious, tired visitors…especially in these troubled times.

The impressive footprint of Serenity is located on the hotel’s third level, where a massive pool deck is also home to one of the best workout facilities of any Vegas hotel. In fact, the size of the gym area has nearly doubled since my last visit and it was already superior to most.

The spa and fitness center share an entrance with iBlowDry hair salon. The welcoming lobby has a reception counter and waiting area along with various products displayed for sale. Notable is the new Queen of Versailles skin care and treatment line, launched in recognition of Jackie Siegel (Mrs. Florida Pageant winner and wife of Westgate Resorts owner David Siegel).

As is customary with stateside spas, there are separate areas for male and female guests with the treatment rooms in between. You’ll be provided with a robe, sandals and a digital locker prior to your treatment, along with a brief tour of the wet areas (saunas, steam rooms, soaking tubs) and relaxation spots. Juices, bottled water, cucumber slices and towel are offered, so be sure to indulge.

Following the tradition of most health spas, certain areas are clothing-optional, so cameras and phones are prohibited (their usage would also detract from the soothing atmosphere). Therefore, expect to leave your electronics and belongings in a secured locker at all times. You’ll note that this prevented me from taking pictures of those areas as well.

Services at the spa are grouped into four major categories: nail services (like a “lush manicure” or gel pedicure), facials (including a 50-minute “Gentleman’s”), body treatments for exfoliation and detoxification…and of course, a variety of individual and couples’ massages.

An entire list of services and prices can be seen by clicking here. For those who are new to the world of spas, a breakdown of procedures and etiquette is included at the bottom of the chart.

Keep in mind that these are luxury services performed by expertly-trained licensed professionals in a custom-designed environment. Therefore, the associated fees reflect that…but are well worth it for the pampering and lasting effects you’ll enjoy.

As an invited guest, I was scheduled for a 75-minute Himalayan Salt Stone Massage ($195). This therapeutic session combines precise relaxation strokes with the melting comforts of heated, hand-carved Himalayan salt stones. My therapist, Eric, was incredibly skilled with them, easing the tensions in my workout-stiff muscles and bringing my mind and body to an amazing level of calm.

In case you’ve wondered, my pen name “Sammasseur” comes from the fact that I was a licensed massage therapist for many years. I performed hundreds of hours of massage at numerous resorts, hotels, a chiropractic office and in my own studio. So I feel pretty qualified in recognizing a skilled body-worker…and Eric was top-notch.

After your scheduled treatment, you will have access to all of the spa facilities for the remainder of the day. This fella chose to drink in the steam room vapors while reclining with chilled eucalyptus towels on my forehead and neck. Then it was back to the relaxation room for some fruit-infused water.

If you need to prepare for your next adventure or an evening out, fully-stocked showers are available, along with toiletries to shave, shine your choppers and style your hair. Or you can venture out to the pool deck for some fun, sun and refreshments….

On certain evenings, Westgate is one of several hosts to a relatively new activity –  Silent Savasana yoga classes. These large-scale sunset events provide participants with LED-lit headphones that bring creator/instructor Dray Gardner‘s voice intimately close as the sun’s rays diminish. Simultaneously, a custom-designed music playlist yields an enhanced feeling of focus, discipline and strength of mind.

I was invited to attend Silent Savasana but had another adventure planned for that evening. However, I did stop by briefly beforehand and witnessed dozens upon dozens of dedicated Silent Savasana fans pouring onto the pool deck.

If you’re intrigued, the next one at Westgate is scheduled for November 4th at 7pm. There is no entry fee and all ages are welcome.

With all of the tensions that the world throws at us on a regular basis, it’s wonderfully therapeutic to splurge and allow yourself to be pampered on vacation…or during a stay-cation. Serenity Spa at Westgate is a great new destination for your serene experience.

Serenity Spa’s business hours are from 6am to 8pm daily. Special discounted package rates are available each Monday, Thursday and Sunday which include gratuity and a glass of wine. For more information or to book a service, call 702.732.5648.

Photos: Sammasseur, Westgate Las Vegas, Silent Savasana, TripAdvisor