Golden Nugget Spa

A REAL Massage: Golden Nugget Spa


Blonde4ever shares her experience at the Golden Nugget Spa

On my recent Vegas vacation, I decided to treat myself to a REAL massage at the Golden Nugget Spa in downtown Las Vegas.

What is a REAL massage you ask? On another trip, I had had a massage at Happy Feet at El Cortez. While that was a pleasurable experience it didn’t have the peaceful ZEN feeling I was looking for. I wanted a more luxurious space, with hot tubs and steam rooms etcetera (and preferably without other people in my massage room).

I have always been envious of those who can book a spa day without worrying about the expense but that has never been my experience. One day as I was perusing all the Vegas news as is my usual custom, I stumbled across a Groupon ad for a massage at the Spa at the Golden Nugget. It was $115 and I happened to have a discount code that brought it down to $85. Whoo hoo! I think my meager budget can handle that! Sold!

 

If you are using a Groupon the Spa specifies certain time slots that you can visit; early morning and late afternoon. The morning time slot was between 7 and 9 am I believe and I chose 9 am.

When I booked this massage weeks before my trip, it was with the intention of just having a fun day. Little did I know that it would turn out to be an actual medical necessity. Like most people of a certain age, I have begun to experience the aches and pains of osteoarthritis. It is incredibly frustrating when your mind says “Go go go!” but your body says “Nope. Not happening. That hurts.” It is particularly annoying when some new body part starts to hurt just a week before vacation. I have had some intermittent hip pain for years which I have steadfastly ignored. My hip decided to pick the week before I left for Vegas to blow up with an unbelievably painful flare of what I assume is sciatica. If you haven’t experienced the fun of sciatica yet I will describe it to you. It is like someone set your ass on fire and the pain radiates all the way down your leg to your knee. As an added perk sometimes that knee just decides to give out for no particular reason.

Of course, I chose to take my Vegas trip anyhow. Did you really think I would cancel? The first few days of scampering around almost killed me. I was spending a lot of time in the evenings lying in bed with a heating pad, munching on pain pills; not my usual Vegas persona.

By the time the day of my Golden Nugget massage rolled around I was halfway through my trip. I arrived at the Golden Nugget Spa an hour early hoping they could take me right away but the massage therapists weren’t there yet. Being early gave me time to explore the spa when it was empty and take a few pictures.

Golden Nugget Spa Golden Nugget Spa Golden Nugget Spa

They gave me a short tour and a locker assignment. I adore the robes they give you to wear. It was so soft it felt like a hug.

Golden Nugget Spa

I helped myself to some trail mix and apples they had out on a counter. They also had a huge water cooler filled with oranges and lemons to flavor it. The water tasted so refreshing. I made myself at home in their comfortable chairs to wait for my turn.

Eventually my massage therapist came to claim me. I am not sure why I felt the need to apologize, other than because I am Canadian and we apologize for everything, but I told her I was really sorry but I was in actual pain and could she please concentrate on the worst areas? This girl was an absolute delight. She did exactly what I asked for. I will spare you the details of what actually happened in that room; let’s just say there was a lot of posterior rubbing going on. By the time she was done with me I felt a million times better. I was so grateful to her. I tipped her $20 but I wish I could have given her more because she saved my trip. Because of her help, I had a few days where I could walk around Vegas with less pain.

I had hoped to visit their lovely whirlpool tub after my massage but it was closed for repair, so I went to the steam room and sauna instead. An added perk of the Groupon special was all day admittance to the Golden Nugget pool.

Golden Nugget Spa

I have been in the pool area before but had never swum there so I got a pass from the spa desk personnel and went to the pool. I got there around 11 am and as I suspected there wasn’t an empty chair in sight. That didn’t worry me though, I just dropped my towel at the foot of a tree and jumped in. The Golden Nugget pool is a unique kind of tourist attraction, but as I swam over to the tank of fish swimming in circles I just felt depressed. I had a bit of a staring contest with one big fellow, trying to mentally communicate to him that I was sorry he was in there. There was also a small tank with three sharks in it circling over my head. While the Golden Nugget is a beautiful pool area, and the Groupon said I could stay all day f I wanted, it is not a place I feel comfortable. I went back to the Spa and dressed and went about my day. After all, there was gambling to do!

The Golden Nugget Spa is definitely a place I would return to. While not huge, it has everything you need to have a great experience.

Spa information can be found here.

[Photos: Blonde4ever]

6 thoughts on “A REAL Massage: Golden Nugget Spa

  1. Glad you had a pleasant experience and hope those aches and pains stay away

  2. Thanks for your review. Were there good eats at the Spa? Included in massage cost? Pool does not sound inviting.

    1. As far as food goes there was just what I mentioned, apples and trail mix. You can see them in the pictures of the counter area.
      The pool is very attractive, it is just not for me.

  3. Blonde4ever, sorry to hear of the aches. Wondered if you have ever been diagnosed with sciatica? I only ask, because I thought I was going down that path (and for all I know, I am, as I self-diagnosed.) I believe my problem stems from the piriformis muscle (piriformis syndrome.) I find that certain stretches reduce/relieve the pain in my ass (literally) and leg. Don’t know if it is what you experience, but you might check it out. Basically, the piriformis muscle compresses the sciatic nerve, causing that pain. Do a little “googling” and search stretches. It might help. YMMV.

    Cheers

    1. I am self diagnosed as well…lol. I just know that when I describe the pain to people they say “Oh that is sciatica.” I am doing everything I know to combat it.
      Thanks for reading and commenting.

Comments are closed.

Previous post A Reader Rides a Slingshot Out of Town
Robert Irvine's Public House Next post Behind the Wall: Robert Irvine’s Public House