A raft of new spa experiences and sporting activities on the Strip underline the adage that Sin City never sleeps, writes Laura Millar
“Welcome to the Lapis Spa & Wellness at Fontainebleau Las Vegas. How can I help you?” The charming young receptionist has just asked me a perfectly reasonable question, but I don’t really know where to start, because this slick, stylish, two‑storey spa in one of the city’s newest hotels is simply huge.
Spanning more than 5,100sq m, it offers 44 treatment rooms, men’s and women’s hydrotherapy lounges – which feature vitality pools, steam rooms and saunas – cold plunge pools, a salt mist chamber and seven ‘experience’ showers.
There’s also – deep breath – a herbal inhalation room, infrared saunas, three recovery lounges, a nail salon and the so-called Celestial Waters space. This, it transpires, is a multisensory area with thermal waters, snow showers, aromatherapy, a stargazing lounge and a salt cave – all customised, says the effusive receptionist, “by season, time of day and desired mood”. Only in Vegas…
New hotel in Las Vegas
I’ve come to marvel at this behemoth of a spa in what is also a behemoth of a hotel. The Fontainebleau Las Vegas, sister to the original hotel that opened on Miami Beach in 1954, features another list of superlatives: at 67 storeys and more than 220m high, it’s the tallest habitable building in Nevada, and is home to a sprawling casino with 1,300 slot machines, 128 table games and 36 high-limit table games.
There are a whopping 3,644 rooms and suites, more than 30 independent bars and restaurants, a theatre and some two acres of retail space.
These numbers are so dizzying that in the end I retreat to a sauna to chill out, then head outside to sunbathe by one of the six – yes, six – pools.
The resort opened in December 2023 at the north end of South Las Vegas Boulevard, aka the Strip, a popular location for high-end hotels and restaurants. It’s a booming destination for developers keen to capitalise on a site closer to Downtown and removed from the more chaotic cluster of famous hotels and casinos.
Plans have even been announced for a 20,000-seat arena to be built close to the Fontainebleau, in the hope of luring the NBA (National Basketball Association).
Sports in Las Vegas
On the subject of sport, last November, the city held its first Formula One grand prix race on the Strip. I get the chance to gaze down at the start and finish line at Grand Prix Plaza, a 39-acre plot that houses the pit building. Due to open in spring 2025, a new permanent complex will be used for events and features interactive experiences and exhibitions.
Football fans can also visit the Allegiant Stadium, which was completed in July 2020. Home to local team the Raiders, it hosted this year’s Super Bowl and often doubles as a live music venue, featuring the likes of Pink, Elton John, Beyoncé and the Rolling Stones. I sign up for a guided tour (from $66) and get to observe what goes on behind the scenes, peeking into the team’s locker room, admiring a swanky private suite and stepping out onto the field.
What’s new in Las Vegas
Elsewhere on the Strip, a host of high-end restaurants have opened over the past year, including a branch of renowned LA hotspot Mother Wolf at the Fontainebleau; Wolfgang Puck’s Caramá at Mandalay Bay; and Pinky’s by Vanderpump at Flamingo.
Golf is having a moment too, with several new venues to enjoy the sport, including Swingers at Mandalay Bay – with four mini-golf courses spread over three floors – and Atomic Golf, which boasts 103 hitting bays, six bars and a dining menu.
Kids of all ages will love Play Playground, a wonderland of interactive games at the Luxor, while DreamBox 360 has launched at The Linq Promenade, offering an immersive 5D projection experience, with wraparound video screens, rain, wind and other special effects. Again, only in Vegas…
Book it
Virgin Atlantic flies to Las Vegas daily non-stop from Heathrow, with return fares from £614, and three times a week from Manchester in summer (April 29 to October 24, 2025), from £654.
virginatlantic.com
Inspiring Travel offers a seven-night stay at the Fontainebleau Las Vegas from £1,499 per person based on two sharing on a room-only basis, including Virgin Atlantic flights departing June 9, 2025, plus $100 food and beverage credit, private hotel transfers and airport lounge passes.
inspiringtravel.co.uk
Ask the expert
Nicki Goldsmith, director of global agency sales, Virgin Atlantic
“Whether customers are celebrating a milestone birthday, anniversary, stag or hen do or just want a break from everyday life, Las Vegas is an excellent choice. One of my favourite things to see in the city is The Neon Museum, an outdoor gallery stacked with a collection of iconic vintage Las Vegas signs that pay tribute to the city’s vibrant history (from $25; neonmuseum.org).
Thrill-seekers should book a Maverick Vegas Views helicopter tour, which offers incredible views of the Strip, including the Sphere, which displays visuals ranging from emojis to the Moon (from $109; maverickhelicopter.com).
But nothing compares to a Las Vegas show: a personal favourite is O by Cirque du Soleil at the Bellagio. With amazing acrobatics in and out of the water, it definitely has the wow factor (tickets from $79; cirquedusoleil.com/o).”
PICTURES: Shutterstock/Randy Andy; Drex Agency/Mark Mediana; We Fly Aerial Media; Shutterstock/Sean Pavone; On Location Events
