Whetting your appetite for Vegas pleasures…

Travel writing is a fun gig, but it's hard work. While I can sometimes finish a story poolside, it’s more about information gathering than it is about lounging around with margarita in hand. When I stay in a hotel for a story, I’m focused on my readers, gathering enough information to paint an accurate picture of the hotel – and whetting my appetite to return for my own personal pleasure. 

Last month I was in Las Vegas for a furniture trade show as a guest speaker and tacked on a stay at the Wynn at the end of a very long week. I arrived tired, more than a little stressed and likely more critical of my surroundings than normal.

The Wynn delivered – beautifully. Entering the reception area, a maître d' guided guests to one of more than a dozen employees waiting to help. No line-ups? Forward thinking already. My dinner reservations and spa appointments were confirmed (the reservation was incorrect, but she solved it on the spot even though the restaurant wasn’t open).

Tower rooms at the Wynn

There are more than 2,700 rooms between the Wynn and Encore. But my room on the 26^th floor of the Wynn was the best in of the lot – because I could lie in bed and see the entire strip as well as the mountains in the background. 

Other than the view, I loved the room’s adherence to effortless luxury. Everything has a shared practical and aesthetic purpose.  

• All the lights, drapery and “do not disturb”instructions for hotel staff are controlled electronically from both sides of the bed (as well as the door).
• Night settings draw the drapes, turn off lights and leave a soft nightlight under the cabinetry in the bathroom (enough for midnight usage without waking your brain).
• The mini-bar is also electronic. Items removed from the bar for longer than 30 seconds are automatically billed to your room (which gives you more than enough time to read the calories and make your decision).
• The make-up mirror in the bathroom is lighted and a counter-top version set before an upholstered stool – perfect for morning-after make-up application.
• The desk is tech equipped with an ethernet cable and USB charging capabilities - if you can’t escape work.
• The pillows, which are not electronic, are placed on the bed in order of plumpness, which makes lingering in bed longer much more comfortable.
• Robes and slippers are available in the closet, which also houses the safe and fabulous full-length lighted mirrors. 

The Wynn follows the same strange coffee standard as other Vegas hotels and does not automatically place coffee pots in the rooms. You can pay $12 for room service or head to one of the coffee shops in the Esplanade (which will save you a only few bucks and requires getting dressed).

Spa at Encore/Wynn Las Vegas

While we slept and dinned at the Wynn, we enjoyed the Encore’s spa. An interior designer friend in Las Vegas urged me to visit the spa purely from a design standpoint. Thankfully, my partner and I were able to enjoy their signature couple’s treatment: the Couple's Good Luck Ritual. 

Choose the 80 or 110 minute spa treatment and plan to be transported to a place where brain cells no longer function. The ritual includes a special lemongrass and peppermint foot treatment and wild lime botanical scalp treatment. Plan on wearing your hair up for the rest of the day so the oils can continue to work their magic long after your treatment. 

The spa is clothing optional (separate male and female facilities before your treatment) so don’t be shy. Forget the swimsuit and do the whirlpool, cold plunges steam room and sauna circuit in the all-together – you’ll love the way it feels. Plan to arrive at least an hour before your treatment to make the most of the facilities – it’s a great way to detox some of that Vegas partying ...

Lakeside Restaurant

There is no shortage of food choices at the Wynn. For lunch, we dined at an Italian pizzeria along the lower level of the Esplanade and enjoyed a hand-tossed pizza and bruschetta. We chose an indoor table in front of picture window facing the falls – good food, beautiful surroundings and a reasonable price - oh, and free wi-fi. 

That evening, we made our way to Lakeside and enjoyed an outdoor table with an uninterrupted view of the water show. Although it was the end of January, we dinned outside. We chose a table close to an overhead heater but soon realized we didn’t need it. 

Chef David Walzog brings a steakhouse flavor to this Americana-themed restaurant and there’s truly something for everyone here: smoky ribs, Alaskan crab and stuffed Maine lobster. It’s a little more casual than some of the restaurants we visited in Vegas, but we arrived dressed for an evening on the town and felt at ease. 

If you go, save room for the dessert cart – charmingly named “A Sweet Cart Named Dessert.” 

Remembering back in the years pre-covid, we'd add a side trip to a Vegas show, like one of the variations on the Cirque du Soleil theme, and on one experience, we checked out all four clubs at the hotels &ndash Blush, Tryst, XS and Surrender (sadly now casualties of covid restructuring) – in the same night. My favorite was the Tryst (at the Wynn), simply for the vibe of the open air dance floor flanked by a 90-ft waterfall. My judgment may require additional research though as memory is a little fuzzy. Four clubs in one night is an awful lot… 

I’m eager to visit the Wynn again on my next trip to Vegas and continue the exploring. There are so many restaurants, another full spa and, of course, all the shops on the Esplanade. I’d love to hear about your experiences if you've stayed at the Wynn or have any other Vegas hotels torecommend that take you out of the ordinary. 

If you go to Vegas, visit the Wynn online before booking. If you’re looking for lesbian-friendly information for the Wynn, check out our story: BestGay and Lesbian Hotel in Las Vegas. Or visit their Facebook or Twitter channels to see what others have to say about them. 

Want to connect on social media? Drop us a line on GoGirlfrlend's Facebook, Twitter or in the comments below. 

To comply with a whole bunch of governing bodies, possibly even Geneva Conventions, our stay at the Wynn was sponsored by the hotel, but the commentary and perspectives are those of GoGirlfriend.