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Before you get to the actual waiting area at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, take a few minutes to soak in the stunning check-in lobby. Overhead, thick, vaulted crossbeams with backlit panels give the space an airy feel, despite its hidden location off the casino floor. The sumptuous room is bathed in ivory and gold, from the plush couches and claw-footed chairs to the ornate Moroccan lamps glowing atop low-to-the-ground pedestals. More intimate lighting comes from a smattering of small chandeliers that dangle low above the seating areas. In the center of the room, surrounded by white orchids, sits a gigantic globe made of tan onyx. No sooner will you be able to take in the entire splendor than you’ll be whisked away to a smaller, more intimate — but equally lavish — waiting room. The real waiting area has a white marble wall inset with a flat-screen TV. Beneath it, a long rectangular fireplace stretches from one side of the wall to the other to provide some coziness. Two built-in, backlit bookcases flank the wall, with all-white books, statues and vases artfully arranged on the shelves. On an adjacent wall, horizontal light wood panels alternate with thin gold strips to add warmth. Settle into one of the brown velvet chairs with a bottle of water or some citrus water from the circular table in the middle of the room, and just relax until an attendant comes to escort you to the locker room.

The Spa at Encore Las Vegas offers a couple of incredible body wraps that will leave your skin feeling super soft and pool ready. Keeping with the exotic feel of the Five-Star spa, you can book a Moroccan mud wrap. The treatment starts off with an invigorating dry-brushing, after which you’ll be cocooned in a wrap of high-quality Rhassoul clay. When it comes off, your therapist will lather on warm Argan oil to your skin and hair, leaving both shiny and soft. Wraps are also included in a couple of other services, including the 50-minute Body Restoration treatment and luxurious Encore Escape ritual, which involves a variety of massage techniques, heated stones and a warm wrap for total relaxation.

Wear whatever you feel most comfortable in to The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, even though you won’t stay in those clothes for long. Once you arrive at the Five-Star spa, you’ll be led to a locker where you’ll find either a white terrycloth or white satin robe with the word “Encore” in red script to wear for the duration of your stay. You’ll also be provided with brown plastic sandals, and during your treatment, your therapist will drape the parts of your body that aren’t involved in the service for your privacy. Chances are you’re not going to want to rush to change back into your clothes, so we recommend setting aside extra time to explore the facilities and lounge in the relaxation area after your treatment.

During an aromatherapy massage at the Five-Star Spa at Encore Las Vegas, your therapist will concoct a blend of oils that appeals to your senses. While the spa offers this one aromatherapy massage, the customization means you can get just what you want. During the relaxing therapy, the therapist will use the blend of customized oils along with light to medium pressure to melt away your stress. While not aromatherapy per se, another scent-based service at the luxurious spa is the stone ritual, where you can choose between the comforting smell of a mild lavender scrub or the earthy scent of sandalwood infused sea salts to soften up your skin before a soothing hot stone massage.

The Five-Star Spa at Encore Las Vegas is a grown up facility, so unfortunately it does not offer massages and other treatments for children. You have to be 18 years of age and older to visit the luxurious spa, so your little spa-goer-in-waiting will have to hold off on booking a massage or other treatment. However, you can still visit the salon together. Children under 16 years of age can receive treatments at the salon, as long as an adult accompanies him or her. It’s the perfect spot for a mother and daughter mani/pedi day.

You’re probably going to want to release a bit of tension and relax your muscles during your romp in Las Vegas, which is why The Spa at Encore Las Vegas offers a variety of massages to soothe your aches and pains. The basic massage at the Five-Star spa is the Fusion massage, which is anything but basic. The super effective massage blends classic Swedish, deep tissue and pressure point techniques to address your specific needs. The massage is available for 50, 80 or 110 minutes. If you’ve really been hitting it hard in Vegas, you might want to opt for the Four Hands massage. During this treatment, two therapists work in unison for 50 or 80 minutes to work out all your knots at once. The Thai Oil Fusion massage incorporates fragrant oils with Thai stretching techniques for 80 or 110 minutes, while the 75-minute Desert Stone massage uses heated stones and body butter to loosen up muscles and soften skin at the same time. The Head, Hands and Feet Renewal treatment targets these neglected areas for 50 minutes. The treatment uses hot towels and Swedish, pressure point and stretching massage techniques to sooth overworked hands and feet before finishing off with a face, neck and scalp massage. Finally, mommies-to-be get some much-needed attention to sore muscles (once you’re past the first trimester) as well as hydrating oils to pamper skin.

Sometimes Las Vegas can be a bit much even for the most avid visitor, which is why The Spa at Encore Las Vegas tries to create a tranquil escape from the outside world. With that in mind, the Five-Star spa holds a simple cell phone policy as a part of their goal to create a peaceful environment. They ask that upon your arrival at the spa you turn off, or at least silence, your cell phones, cameras and other devices. Of course, if you think the temptation of even having your phone in the same vicinity might prove to be a problem, you should consider leaving your cell back in your room.

The Spa at Encore Las Vegas does offer couples treatments in their deluxe couples suite. You and your partner can enjoy any of the a la carte treatments for an additional fee, or you can choose between three different couples rituals. The Couples Good Luck Ritual is a twice-as-lucky version of the Las Vegas spa’s signature treatment designed to promote luck, happiness and prosperity through a fusion massage (which combines Swedish, deep tissue and other massage techniques), foot treatment, moisturizing hand therapy and relaxing scalp treatment. The Couples Retreat begins with an aromatic bath, body polish and steam shower and finishes off with a massage and application of hydrating body butter. The most luxurious of the couples treatments, the Encore Couples Escape detoxifies with herbal poultice bags and stretching techniques. Heated stones and lomi-lomi techniques help you to relax in tandem while a warm cocooning wrap and scalp massage with Shirodhara oils hydrates you from head to toe.

The Spa at Encore Las Vegas does not have a pool of its own that day visitors can use. However, guests of Encore with valid room keys can use the hotel pools. If you are staying at the resort, you’ll be able to escape the Las Vegas heat and take a dip in the resort pool or the adults-only European pool (read: topless bathing is allowed). Day visitors to the Five-Star Spa at Encore still have access to two jacuzzis and a plunge pool at the spa for their underwater fix. Unfortunately, even the resort pools aren’t exactly suited for daily laps.

You can most certainly get in a good workout in the fitness center at the Five-Star Spa at Encore Las Vegas. The well-stocked fitness center at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas includes treadmills, elliptical machines, free weights, recumbent and upright bicycles and strength training equipment. In addition, two movement studios offer spinning, yoga, Pilates and conditioning classes. Poolside yoga classes are available on mid-week days, and experienced personal trainers can be booked for a fee. To fuel up for your workout, you can grab an organic fruit smoothie or a power bar from the nearby juice bar. Note that the fitness center is available for adults 18 and up.

Designed by Todd-Avery Lenahan, the super-stylish Spa at Encore Las Vegas blends the aesthetics of Morocco, Versailles and a Buddhist temple to create a uniquely exotic vibe. The oversized gold North African lamps, formal European furniture, Asian statues and the gently latticed patterns of the backlit ceilings make you feel as though you’ve just arrived in a fairytale foreign land. Ivory and gold tones and intimate lighting from small chandeliers bathe the spacious grand lobby at the Las Vegas spa in a warm glow. Other areas are more intimate, such as the waiting room, which has a fireplace and flat-screen TV set into a white marble wall and light wooden panels that alternate with thin gold strips on the adjacent walls. The relaxation area’s walls are draped in luxurious floor-to-ceiling teal curtains with a silver damask print, and lining them are cream-colored clawfoot chaise lounges with brown velvet sections and brown bolsters and gold barrel-shaped tables. Meanwhile in the treatment rooms, a pale gold wallpaper with subtle flower pattern in a slightly darker warms the space and a rectangular mirror runs through the middle. But the most impressive part of the design can only be seen on the all-too-short walk from the relaxation room to the treatment room — a hallway carpeted with a gold, cream and maroon Oriental rug and lined with ornate oversized Moroccan lamps, 7-foot-tall ivory vases and chandeliers against wine-red walls that lead to a life-sized golden statue of the Buddhist goddess of compassion, Guanyin.

Refreshments are provided in both the waiting area and the relaxation room at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, so when you’re not receiving a treatment or enjoying the amenities, there will be snacks within reach. In the waiting room, you’ll find citrus water, bottled water and bowls of fresh oranges, Granny Smith apples and red apples. The relaxation room is stocked with dried apricots and a tasty trail mix made with pistachios, almonds, seeds and raisins, as well as satchels of Revolution brand teas in flavors such as English breakfast, Earl Grey-lavender — a popular choice among spa-goers — tropical green, white pear and golden chamomile. If you’d like to bring your tea to go, just cap a plastic top on your cup and slip it into a cardboard sleeve.

From the waiting area, you’ll be guided to the locker rooms, where you’ll find alcoves of light wood lockers containing plush terrycloth and satin robes and squishy brown slippers for you to wear to your treatment. An ivory ottoman sits in the middle of each room for you to sit down as you gather your belongings or rest for a moment before you head out. If your one complaint about visiting a spa is changing in front of people in the locker room, note that the lockers rooms also have private dressing rooms, which have velvety chairs, tall silver-framed mirrors and artful lamps made of silver cubes. After you change, head inside the spacious white-marble-walled wet area, where tall, elegant white Asian-inspired statues face the plunge pools with strands of crystals hanging like curtains next to them. Between the two large, rectangular Jacuzzis, potted palms breathe some life into the quiet space. Make a beeline for the wall draped with copper-like rain chains, where heated stone chaise lounges keep you toasty. If you want to cool off, go into one of the waterfall showers in the room. The stalls have vertical mosaic stripes in silver, gold, cream and opal, though you’ll be too busy under the cascading water to notice. To clean up before or after your treatment, you also can rinse off in the tan-tiled bathroom showers stocked with fragrant body wash, conditioner and shampoo.

There was no view in our treatment room at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, just pale golden walls with a subtle floral pattern in a slightly darker hue and a rectangular mirror runs down the middle. Like the rest of the spa, the décor in the treatment room was captivating enough, but the real showstopper in the spa is the all-too-short hallway leading from the relaxation room to the treatment room. The transporting path is lined with a long gold, cream and maroon Oriental rug, with huge, ornate Moroccan lamps on pedestals, gold chandeliers and 7-foot-tall ivory vases set against rich wine-red walls with diamond cutouts. Above, gold chandeliers with mini lampshades light the way to the end of the path, where a life-sized golden statue of Guanyin sits. The Buddhist goddess of compassion greets you before you duck into one of the rooms for your treatment.

After you’ve checked in, enjoyed the waiting room and been escorted to the locker room at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, you’ll find the proper attire for a luxurious pampering session. Slip out of your day clothes and wrap yourself in the plush robe and slide your feet into the squishy slippers placed in the lockers. The spa will give you one of two robes: a traditional white terrycloth covering or a flowing white satin number with “Encore” written all over it in red script. You’ll also get a pair of brown plastic slippers to wear for the duration of your stay at the Las Vegas spa. Chances are you’re going to want to relish your time in these comfy items, so set aside enough time to relax in the various spa facilities before heading back out into the wonderful madness of Las Vegas.

The super-stylish Spa at Encore Las Vegas whisks you away from the din-din-din of Las Vegas and puts you in a mellow state with its relaxing amenities. Here are our picks for the five best amenities at the otherworldly oasis:

1. Heated lounges. Head to the large wet area after your treatment and sprawl out on the curved stone chaise lounges. They may not sound comfortable, but the smooth, heated stones will easily lull you to sleep.

2. Jacuzzis and plunge pools. After your nap, wake yourself up with a dip in the wet area’s two spacious rectangular Jacuzzis or the plunge pools. The Las Vegas spa suggests arriving 30 minutes early for your treatment so you can enjoy the facilities, but we recommend scheduling in at least an hour to hang out here.

3. The exotic décor. Before you even hit the massage table, the design alone will transport you. It’s hard to pinpoint the décor — it’s like a Moroccan/French palace with Asian Buddhas standing guard throughout the opulent space to ensure a sense of calm. The Five-Star Spa at Encore beautifully blends oversized gold North African lamps, Asian statues and formal European furniture, giving the place an awe-inspiring style all its own.

4. Relaxation Lounge. Chill out in the peaceful relaxation lounge for as long as you like after your service. Sit on one of the cream-colored claw foot chaise lounges, read Vogue or just closing your eyes and reveling in your post-treatment bliss. The relaxation area drowns out the outside world; walls are all draped in thick floor-to-ceiling teal curtains with a silver damask print.

5. Refreshments and snacks. In the waiting room, you’ll find a tasty trail mix made with pistachios, almonds, various seeds and raisins to nibble on while you wait to be escorted to your treatment. A selection of lovely Revolution teas is also available in individually wrapped boxes in flavors such as Earl Grey-lavender, white pear, golden chamomile and English breakfast, with handy paper cups to take it and go.

A high-end luxury spa such as The Spa at Encore Las Vegas knows the importance of personal preference, especially when it comes to the gender of your therapist. When you call to make an appointment at the Five-Star spa, the person taking your reservation will ask for your preference of therapist gender no matter which treatment you choose to book. You are welcome to request either a male or female therapist, and your preference will be honored during your treatment. This way, when you arrive for your service at the luxurious Las Vegas spa, all you have to worry about is which amenities you want to try first — the waterfall showers or the spacious Jacuzzis.

It’s smart to inquire about the cancellation policy at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas. The Five-Star spa will charge you a fee if you don’t call to cancel at least six hours before your appointment. If you call at least six hours before your scheduled appointment, you’ll be able to change your reservation without incurring a fee. However, for cancellations made with less than six hours to spare, you will be charged half of the treatment’s price. If time runs away from you and you just forget to show up, you’ll have to pay the full price of the service. Do your best to call as soon as your plans change — you don’t want to add insult to injury by paying for a massage you forgot to cancel.

How far ahead you should book an appointment at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas depends on when you want to visit. We have been able to score a same-day appointment with no trouble on a weekday. However, if you’re trying to book a treatment at the Five-Star spa for the weekend, it’s best to try and call in advance and not rely on the concierge’s last-minute magic. Keep in mind, though, that the stunning Las Vegas spa — housed in the Encore hotel — is only open to non-hotel guests Monday through Thursday. If you haven’t planned ahead, you can cross your fingers and try calling last minute, but in general, it’s always better to call a week or two in advance regardless of when you want to visit to ensure you get in and get the exact treatments you want.

The best way to book a spa treatment or salon visit at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas is to simply dial the concierge directly. If you’re staying at Encore, you can visit the Five-Star spa any day of the week from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Non-resort guests can visit the Las Vegas spa on Monday through Thursday for a little R&R. Depending on availability, you can sometimes snag a weekend appointment even if you’re not staying at Encore, but it depends on availability. It never hurts to ask — so call and check with the concierge.

Before you get to the actual waiting area at The Spa at Encore Las Vegas, take a few minutes to soak in the stunning check-in lobby. Overhead, thick, vaulted crossbeams with backlit panels give the space an airy feel, despite its hidden location off the casino floor. The sumptuous room is bathed in ivory and gold, from the plush couches and claw-footed chairs to the ornate Moroccan lamps glowing atop low-to-the-ground pedestals. More intimate lighting comes from a smattering of small chandeliers that dangle low above the seating areas. In the center of the room, surrounded by white orchids, sits a gigantic globe made of tan onyx. No sooner will you be able to take in the entire splendor than you’ll be whisked away to a smaller, more intimate — but equally lavish — waiting room. The real waiting area has a white marble wall inset with a flat-screen TV. Beneath it, a long rectangular fireplace stretches from one side of the wall to the other to provide some coziness. Two built-in, backlit bookcases flank the wall, with all-white books, statues and vases artfully arranged on the shelves. On an adjacent wall, horizontal light wood panels alternate with thin gold strips to add warmth. Settle into one of the brown velvet chairs with a bottle of water or some citrus water from the circular table in the middle of the room, and just relax until an attendant comes to escort you to the locker room.