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HEALTH LITERATURE POLITICS ENTERTAINMENT TRAVEL LIFESTYLE GUEST CONTRIBUTOR |
Sensory Overload Luxurious Spa Treatments, Exquisite Cuisine, Cirque du Soleil and 24-Hour Nightclubs Make Vegas the Ultimate Gay Destination By Joseph Castel  For me, growing up in
the 1970s, Las Vegas meant Mafia owned casinos, 99-cent buffets and liquored-up lounge singers. Even today, Vegas has a bad rap with gay men who perceive San Francisco, Palm Springs or Miami as the ultimate gay getaways. But on a recent spa tour of the Vegas MGM hotels, I came to a radical conclusion: Vegas is the vacation destination for gay men who want to experience the zenith in spa pampering treatments, mind-blowing artistic entertainment, luscious culinary dining, and dusk to dawn clubbing. In the past few years, MGM/Mirage has acquired such prominent properties as the Bellagio, THEHotel, Luxor, Mandalay Bay, Monte Carlo, New York, New York and Treasure Island. MGM's strip monopoly has made it economically feasible for guests to sample or feast upon its vast and sumptuous menu of holiday pleasures. Here's a brief summary of the best indulgences MGM/Mirage hotels have to offer with a quick round up of gay hot spots. Best Massage hands down: Who knew Vegas could be so metaphysical? What makes MGM's Grand Spa so unique is their variety of signature ritual treatments that nurtures the soul as well as the body. MGM's Grand Spa "Dreaming Ritual" 100-minute treatment fuses Australian Aboriginal-inspired techniques with modern spa finesse. The mystical journey begins with an incense (smudging) ceremony so as to ground the body and close out the rest of the world. This is followed by a warm foot soak that includes aromatic herbs and a pressure-point foot massage. The ritual continues with a body exfoliation, body mask with pure Australian mud, and a penetrating mud scalp treatment. After a rinse, guests choose from a selection of rich Australian oils to purify, relax or help detoxify the body. The treatment ends with a soothing Australian Aboriginal massage. The Dreaming Ritual is truly an amazing experience as I fell asleep within minutes of this gentle, seductive rub down.  Other Grand Spa ritual
treatments include the Japanese Yuzu Ritual, Amazon Rainforest Ritual and
the Turkish Hammam, all at $265 for 100 minutes. Best Salon: After I got my chi straightened out, I levitated upstairs to Cristophe's salon to get ready for the night out. If these hairstylists can cut Carson's hair from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy, then it's safe to say they can cut any diva's locks. This year's Queer Eye's season opener was in Vegas and the Fab Five brought a magician to Cristophe's for the royal treatment. At $110 for a haircut, these stylists perform a little bit of their own cosmetology magic. If you want an exceptional haircut from a chulo who also knows the nightly hotspots, ask for Juan. Best Spa Ambience: The Bellagio boasts a 65,000-square-foot Zen-influenced spa with its waterfall walls, reflecting pools, and illuminated aqua-colored glass. The tranquil architectural elements of the spa reveal an overall design based on the natural philosophies of Zen with sleek, clean lines combined with natural materials of granite, bleached walnut and onyx. Walking around this immense Zen palace with 56 treatment rooms is like being in a metaphysical hospital.  The
Bellagio Spa offer such services as the Indian Head Massage and the
Balinese Massage, which combines Hindu, Chinese and European techniques.
The Egyptian Gold treatment, based on an Egyptian ritual, leaves the body
exfoliated, moisturized and luminescent with real gold dusted on the face
and body. Treasure Island's Wet Spa Decked out in shades of ice blue décor, Treasure Island's Wet spa is the only hotel that offers late night spa treatments. There I had a facial as well as a soothing "back facial." Their men's locker room with steam room, sauna and Jacuzzi is also intimate, cozy and friendly. Best Feasts: The Mix at THEHotel not only offers gourmet continental cuisine, (the tenderloin buffalo is superbly succulent), the retro sixties designed restaurant also provides one of the best views of the strip from its 43 floor. Other high-end dining delights include the Mirage's Chinese Fin, Bellagio's Sensi (where you can eat appetizers or deserts out of your own ice sculptures), and Mandalay Bay's Border Grill which offers a luscious fusion of Mexican and Caribbean cuisine. But the absolute culinary climax is Joël Robuchon at The Mansion located in the MGM Grand. This three Michelin star chef's French restaurant décor is 1930s Paris glamour with its crystal teardrop chandelier, soaring 17-foot ceilings, and luxurious black and deep purple fabrics. I felt as if I was eating on an MGM movie set where Garbo would appear any minute to pour the champagne. The 12-course meal was sensory overload, particularly the Kobe beef and Lebanese red wine. If you've got the bucks for this Five Star restaurant, I recommend it for a memorable dining moment. The average check for a six course tasting menu is $215 per person and a sixteen course is about $350 per person. Best Shows: After dinner, MGM/Mirage Hotels offer awe inspiring entertainment with their Cirque du Soleil shows, including the premiere of The Beatles LOVE at the Mirage. Blessed by Paul McCartney and Yoko Ono at its June premiere, Beatles LOVE is a magnificent musical valentine to the Fab Four's music. With Sir George Martin's guidance, the producers went into the Abbey Road studio vault to re-mix the Beatles biggest hits, focusing on the band’s psychedelic era. LOVE explores the poetry of the songs’ lyrics, as interpreted by sensational performances that include aerial feats, ingenious dance numbers, and a parade of whimsical characters. At the MGM Grand, Cirque's KA combines martial arts, acrobatics, and puppetry to tell the epic saga of Imperial Twins who embark on an adventurous journey to fulfill their destinies. During the climax, a battle takes place on the colossal stage that moves vertically, giving the audience a spectacular aerial view. If Vegas cabaret is more your style, than Zumanity at New York, New York will feed your need for flesh in feathers. Zumanity breaks from Cirque's nonverbal tradition with a saucy drag queen mistress of ceremonies. Rumor has it that Zumanity had taken out the kiss between two men when audiences reacted negatively at the end of its homo-erotic tango sequence. At this writing, the kiss is back in and the audience politely swallowed it. Cirque ticket prices range from $69 to $150. For more ticket information and reservations call: 800-963-9634. Club Scene: Gay friendly clubs include House of Blues at Mandalay Bay and MGM Grand's version of New York's infamous disco Studio 54, complete with drag queens. Krave, the only gay nightclub on the strip, located next to the Aladdin and across the street from the Bellagio, features extravagant-Vegas style drag shows and steamy male strippers. Off the strip on Paradise Road, Buffalo's is a popular 24-hour venue for bears and Latinos, and across the street at Gypsy, its Latin night on Mondays and go-go boys on Thursdays. The Backdoor Lounge is also a 24 hours bar catering to a Latino clientele with a barrio vibe. Other 24 hour bars include Backstreet, Flex, Goodtimes and The Las Vegas Eagle. If letting it all hang out is your bag, then The Blue Moon Resort "clothing optional" resort is the place for you to soak up the desert rays. Blue Moon has 45-parlor suite and deluxe accommodations, a Jacuzzi grotto, and a 400 sq. ft "state of the art" steam room. A day pass can be purchased for $25 which includes a locker and towel and is good until 11 p.m. With all the gay venues, and opulent amenities the MGM/Mirage hotels have to offer, slumming in Palm Springs would be a waist of a good tan. Vegas is the new Mecca for gays to spoil themselves while on holiday. For reservations, tickets and additional information on MGM/Mirage hotels, log onto www.mgmmirage.com. |