Green Valley Ranch

Close to the Action, but a world apart, this four diamond (going for the fifth diamond soon) 409 room luxury resort is only minutes from the Las Vegas Strip. It is intimate in nature with all the amenities of a Strip resort. The Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa is a complete destination property, which lies within the Green Valley Ranch master planned community located in Henderson, Nevada. Small, quiet and residential, this 40-acre complex contains a full service luxury hotel adjacent to a casino containing 7 restaurants closely linked to 4 area golf courses.

This little treasure was a surprise to me! The Green Valley Ranch is surrounded by a nice outdoor shopping mall, and is nestled on a bluff, spanning more than eight acres, in a residential community over looking the lights of the strip. In the arcade, there are ten movie theatres of which there are two VIP booths that fit up to 15 persons for your own private movie viewing party.

Mediterranean décor creates a comfortable intimate feel – so NOT Vegas! Their 500 square-foot standard room have Sealy mattresses, goose down comforters, a safe large enough for a laptop, robes and much more.

On your way to the Spa, which is located in its own buildings, you’ll pass through vineyards, olive trees, a sandy beach pool, and a secluded VIP pool for private pool parties. As you approach, you’ll see (and hear) a stunning water wall. Crossing over a little bridge, I am asked to look down into the reflecting pools beneath, as they are the ceilings to the treatment rooms. So, when guests are having treatments in these rooms, they look up to the bottom of these pools. How wonderful is that?! Oh, yes, there are multitudes of covered cabanas, with pillows and small flat screen TVs in each one.

Now onto the Spa at Green Valley Ranch – the spa has just expanded to 50,000 square feet. As you enter the new spa, you’ll be greeted by a water wall with 76 jets and a white “wave” wall. It’s very soothing to walk through the spa. The gym has windows so you can view over the valley during your work-out. There are individual TV’s on the cardio equipment, a yoga/pilates/spinning studio with a view of more vineyards and the city view. Heading outside are more covered cabanas. There is an outside steam room with two showers and glass walls. There are VIP massage private suites just off of the new pool, with a bed, showers, tub, plasma TV, massage tables, a wet room, and a drink buffet. There is also a quiet room, with floor to ceilings windows, overlooking a quiet, private patio of stones and palm trees. Nice touch!

In the locker room are 6’ dark-wood lockers, full vanity area, two rain showers (large heads that emit streams of water so you feel as though you’re caught in the rain) hot Jacuzzi, with another water wall, steam and sauna. They use natural lighting throughout the spa, also, to give a warm feeling. There are separate changing rooms, with drapes, a fireplace in the original spa and when getting a treatment, your choice of classical, new age, R&B, pop, or rock music, at your listening level, with separate room temperature settings, also.

The Green Valley Ranch spent $15 million on a renovation. I found the staff to be quite friendly and genuine. This is a must-see if you’re looking for a quiet, spa getaway but also want to gamble and rub noses with the “locals”.

Destinations : Nevada : Las Vegas : Green Valley Ranch