After many years of visiting Las Vegas and believing it was only fast, loud and furious, I have eventually discovered peace, tranquility and total relaxation in the heart of one of the ritziest, biggest and most famous casinos in the middle of the Strip.
Caesar's Palace has been an icon of this both spectacular and peculiar desert town since opening its doors 46 years ago. From that moment forward, the Palace has hosted a string of stars.
When the Romans invaded England, they brought with them an invading army, straight roads, a certain degree of etiquette, sexy white togas and the idea that regular bathing was not only a way to keep clean, but a way to relax.
Qua Baths & Spa at Caesar's Palace is an oasis of relaxation. Beyond its opaque glass doors on the second floor of the Augustus Tower, Qua is open to any man or woman who cares to step inside and momentarily stop the partying, gambling and entertainment that is Vegas.
At the invitation of Harrah's Entertainment, I spent four luxurious hours in Qua's healing and calming water, experiencing the traditional ancient Roman ritual of "social spa-ing".
With 51 treatment studios, seven facial rooms, three private couples' studios, Roman tubs, showers, saunas and steam rooms, Qua has based its rituals on Roman tradition, where people gathered to relax, tell stories and free themselves from everyday issues.
And that's exactly what I did as I reflected on my five days in a city where I barely slept.
In the completely separate women's area of Qua, I checked in at the reception desk, was shown to my personal locker and emerged wearing a baby-soft towelling dressing gown and sandals.
I headed for the central Roman baths and three pools that varied in size and temperature.
Stepping carefully into the "Tepidarium", where warm mineral-enriched water bubbled around me, I positioned myself on the marble seating and allowed the water to restore - as they say - the natural elements of my body's skin. I knew it was working because it felt so good.
Soft leather cream loungers around the edge of the baths were inviting, fresh bottled water was stacked neatly on marble shelves, and white rolled towels were everywhere.
After 20 minutes, I emerged from the bath, choosing not to plunge myself - albeit briefly - into the cold and invigorating waters of the "Frigidarium" pool. I took the easy option and stood beneath the rain shower that descended from the ceiling and created a "beam me up Scotty" effect that was quite unreal - especially when watching somebody else in the line of beaming.
From the baths, I decided to explore the tea room, complete with relaxing music, more leather loungers, a wide-screen TV, a selection of up-market glossies and, best of all, a selection of herbal teas brewed by staff who wander in and out of the room and ask: "Can I get you some tea, madam?"
The tea room is also the holding area for women waiting to be personally pampered. Girls on a hens' treat, mother of the bride and her daughter, partners, friends or complete strangers chat while waiting.
Although I didn't take up the offer of raindrop therapy, volcanic clay body mask, collagen veil facial, dilo rescue wrap, hypnotherapy for stress, dancing vichy waters, kama sutra with Shirodhar to celebrate the art of love with someone special, or chakra balancing, I did help myself to a couple of fresh bananas and experienced their signature Qua tea blended by a willing assistant.
From the tea room I moved to the cedarwood steam room where I lay on a wooden bench, cleansed my own chakras and fell asleep.
To revive myself, I wandered into the arctic ice room where, beneath a glass dome, surrounded by glass-tiled walls and under cool blue lighting, artificial snow fell all around me.
If I hadn't just walked out of a steam room, I would have been hypothermic.
Suitably cleansed, I moved on to the herbal steam room, which baked every hair in my nostrils and caused moisture to stream from every pore.
I came out smelling like a soggy, lavender bag, but boy was it good when I walked straight back into that ice room and stood under that falling snow again. After four hours of repeating this ritual, I emerged from Qua totally relaxed, refreshed, cleansed and squeaky clean.
Beyond the opaque glass doors Vegas awaited me and I was absolutely right - nothing had stopped.
Entertaining, and an oasis of total relaxation, Las Vegas has been a fun five days for this menopausal female on holiday with her sister.
Don't be afraid to visit Vegas. Don't pre-judge if you've never been and don't forget to book those shows. Vegas should be a compulsory stopover for anyone travelling through the US.
Viva Las Vegas testing the waters
AdvertisementAdvertise with NZME.