(I was given free Spa Treatments and Lunch By The Golden Nugget to facilitate my review. However, the thoughts and opinions expressed are entirely my own. You can view my disclosure here for more details.)
Sometimes girls just need a day out…Even when on Vacation.
Recently my family met up with very good friends for a Vegas vacation. While going on a Family Vacation is always a treat (a treat that we look forward to for weeks if not months in advance) it isn’t always relaxing. Why? Well if you are like me before leaving you do all the laundry (so you can pack your favorite clothes, Pack your bags, and clean your home so that it isn’t a disaster when you get back. Then you have all the logistics of travel. Once you get you your destination you then have to find parking, check in and lug your luggage to the room you are staying in. Add in kids to the mix and you almost need a vacation from your vacation.
My solution? My friend Heather and I slipped away part way through our trip for a Girls day out at the Golden Nugget. (*Don’t worry, in thanks for our Hubby’s watching the kids for a few hours so we could pamper ourselves we sent them off to watch an Action Movie later that same day.)
The Golden Nugget is Located right in the Heart of Freemont Street in Down Town Vegas. The first thing I noticed upon entering the Casino/Hotel was the huge Fish tank behind the reception desk. I almost wished I had my kids with me for I know they would have loved it there. We might just have to stay there next time we visit Vegas. For our girls day out adventure, my friend had set up a reservation at their Spa as well as lunch at The Grotto Italian Restaurant.
The Grotto Restaurant is on the main floor of the Golden Nugget just around the corner from the main desk. It has a beautiful old school Italian feel with dramatic red blown glass chandeliers. We enjoyed being seated next to the large window overlooking the pool area which has a shark tank in the middle that you can swim around. To start our lunch my friend ordered their Tomato Caprese (which consisted of thick slices of Fresh Tomato and Mozzarella Cheese) for us to share and I couldn’t resist ordering a cup of their Lobster Bisque Soup. The Tomato Caprese was delicious and the Lobster Bisque was one of the best I had ever had.
Since the theme for our day was to “Treat Yourself” I decided to order their Penne Gamberi Al Limone (Sautéed shrimp, asparagus & shaved garlic with a vibrant touch of citrus) which came with a side of Salad. While my friend ordered their Roasted Herb Chicken (Roasted chicken, garlic, mozzarella, fresh basil, caramelized onions, roasted tomatoes & goat cheese) From way my friend tucked into her chicken I know she enjoyed it. As for me, from the first bite, my taste buds went crazy with delight. The dish was a surprising mix of Savory and tart (thanks to the bit of lemon) and the Shrimp were cooked to perfection. If we didn’t have to head off to our spa appointment I would have sat and savored my meal slowly not wanting it to end.
As it was we had to rush off from lunch up to the Spa & Salon located on one of the upper floors of the Golden Nugget. While the reception room of the spa was quite modest and simple once we walked through through the doors to the women’s spa area I had to figuratively scrape my jaw off the floor. It was soo decadent. They have a sauna, a Jacuzzi, with little bottles of chilled water and cucumbers for your eyes. Then we entered the dressing room area where we were given a private locker to put all our clothes and things in after changing into plush robes and slippers.
After we changed we waited in that little dressing room waiting area (wich has comfy couches, fruited water and healthy snack mixes) to be led off to our respective treatments. Heather had signed herself up for a full body massage and signed me up for a Luxury Facial. The room I was led to was dimly lit and had relaxing music playing in the background. Upon arriving the esthetician left me for a few minutes to give me a chance to ditch my robe and slipper and climb under the sheets on her special treatment bed. After putting something soothing over my eyes a hot air was focused on my face to soften my skin and open my pores. After a bit of the heat treatment, my facial really began. The details of my facial are a bit of a blur (well since I spent the majority of the facial with my eyes closed. I was sooo relaxed I think I may have fallen even drifted off to sleep for a minute or two. I do remember alternating hot moist air and cool wet towels on my face as well as various amazing smelling products being applied to my face, neck and shoulders.
Apparently the Facial my friend signed me up for also came with a special leg ad foot treatment. First, she gave my feet and lower legs an amazing massage after which she rubbed some silky lotion into the skin. Then she placed plastic bags over my feet followed by special slippers (that I later learned were filled with heated Flax seeds). The heat of the slippers soaked into my feel making them to relax completely. After a time the slippers and bags were removed and some more lotion was applied. I was also given a simple yet relaxing head, shoulder, arm and hand massage to top the experience off.
It took a lot of will power to force myself to get out of that comfy bed, put back on my robe and slippers and return to that private dressing room to change back into my clothes. as part of the dressing room were some private showers with all the main hair tools (blog dryer, curling iron and straightener, moose, hair spray, & gel etc) and a large mirror to get ready. By the time we left the Golden Nugget I felt ready to take on the world or at least 3 children aged 2,4 & 6.
Dunja
Thursday 25th of August 2016
Girls just wanna have fun! It's great to treat yourself from time to time :)
Julia
Thursday 25th of August 2016
Yes it is! We all need it.