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My first experience with Las Vegas was as a child, when my family stayed at the Circus Circus Hotel on the strip and ate at an all-you-can-eat buffet, while driving to my uncle’s wedding in California.
Fast forward to now. Las Vegas has changed in many ways, although they still have the lure of bright lights and slot machines. From a cheap all-you-can-eat buffet town, to one with world-renowned chefs. From staying in the Circus Circus hotel, to the last time I was in Vegas, staying in a wellness suite.
Did you know there’s such a thing as a wellness suite in Las Vegas? Yes, my friend. Shortly after returning, I blogged about it (click here for the full story). At the time, there was only one option for a Stay Well room: the MGM Grand. The Stay Well rooms are a trademark of the MGM Grand family of resorts; now they have expanded their selection to three levels of wellness.
The first wellness level is called Fresh by Stay Well, offering a wellness experience at these properties: New York New York, the Luxor, the Excalibur, and Gold Strike Lucky Resort & Casino. The Fresh by Stay Well experience includes air purification, aromatherapy, a shower infuser, and access to the Cleveland Clinic Online wellness program.
Secondly, for a more immersive wellness experience, you can stay at a Stay Well Hotel, which includes specialized mattresses, dawn simulation lighting, air purification, aromatherapy, non-toxic cleaning products, energizing lighting in the bathrooms to help regulate circadian rhythms, a shower infuser, and the Cleveland Clinic Online program which addresses sleep, stress, and nutritional support. Stay Well hotels include the Park MGM, MGM Grand, Mirage, Beau Rivage, Mandalay Bay, MGM National Harbor, and MGM Springfield.
Third is the Stay Well Premier tier of wellness. The resorts in the Stay Well Premier category are the Bellagio, ARIA, Vdara, and the Delano Las Vegas. The Stay Well Premier program includes all of the offerings from the Stay Well Hotels in a beautiful, luxurious setting. Some of the upgraded room categories include options for amazing views, depending on the resort: fountain view, strip view, or scenic view.
Most of these resorts and hotels offer amazing spa experiences, which I would highly recommend. Additionally, they offer Stay Well meetings, possibly the most comprehensive wellness meeting program worldwide. Stay Well meetings include air purification, circadian lighting, aromatherapy, a welcome by Deepak Chopra, nutritious menu options approved by nutritionists at the Cleveland Clinic Wellness, a hydration station, meditation breaks, and access to online Cleveland Clinic Wellness programs.
What do you think so far? Excited about the StayWell rooms and program? I know I can’t wait to get back to Vegas and stay in another Stay Well room! And I’d love to attend a Stay Well meeting!
Now let’s talk about food. This next part isn’t really about nutritious food, but part of wellness is connection. Sharing an incredible food experience can create so much bonding. Connection definitely equals wellness.
Since my childhood, Vegas has dramatically changed its culinary offerings. Rather than offer inexpensive all-you-can-eat buffets, Las Vegas now attracts some of the top chefs in the world to showcase a mecca of culinary masterpieces. For a food-lover like me, it can be difficult to sample all of the amazing offerings in Vegas in one trip. But I have a super fun way to sample some of the delectable food choices in the city: a culinary food tour.
The food tours in Las Vegas usually last 2-3 hours, with a few outliers lasting up to 6 hours. They’re the perfect way to beat the current limited capacities in restaurants, and a great way to celebrate a birthday, anniversary, or date night. Let’s take a deep dive into the culinary food tour options in Vegas.
Type #1: Guided culinary tours
Guided tours are just that: personally guided and narrated tours with highly-trained, entertaining guides who provide you with anecdotes and history as you walk between restaurants. They whisk you past the long lines and velvet ropes of the hardest-to-get-in-to restaurants in town, or into out-of-the-way, delicious eateries that you never knew were there. Most tours include comfortable walking, but if you prefer not to walk, some tours are offered on Segways or e-scooters.
Type #2: Self-guided culinary tours
Self-guided tours are by nature private and can accommodate from two people to small groups. In 2.5 hours, you enjoy three stops and ten signature dishes at a variety of eateries. The booking times are flexible, your virtual guide provides commentary, and you receive VIP seating at each location.
Type #3: Private or Custom culinary tours
These culinary tours are for ready-made groups of any kind: family, friends, corporate, or anything in between. Many of the guided or self-guided tours can be converted into a private tour for your group to enjoy an immersive, team-building experience at the most in-demand restaurants in town.
Las Vegas has expanded from the bright lights and all-you-can-eat buffets of my childhood, and has become a more inclusive experience, appealing to all types of culinary tastes. There is even a vegan culinary tour for those wanting that option.
For a fabulous wellness retreat, maybe you want to consider Vegas. With the sanctuary of Stay Well rooms and the food experiences available here, this city that never sleeps may become your favorite place for an amazing night’s sleep, plus a great culinary connection with your go-to favorite travel buddies.