Sweet Temptations: Valentine's Day At City Center, Las Vegas

by Susan Kime (RSS feed)
Feb 11th 2011 at 8:01AM

I have written about City Center, Las Vegas in Luxist before, the last column was on the many the New Year's Eve celebrations. Because of those, I thought New Year's was surely the city's most attractive holiday. Silly me! I now realize that Valentine's Day contains as much or more of the sybaritic Las Vegas DNA than New Year's. New Year's defines new beginnings, but Valentine's Day? It's about risk-taking -- in romance, infatuation, and sensuality -- essentially carpe diem-ing (seizing the day) in excelsius (in the highest manner) for at least 24 hours.

So here, in honor of St. Valentinus, Patron Saint of love, young people, and joyous marriage, is an image of a Tabu Lounge Chocolate Martini (above) to toast lovers and other strangers who find themslves at CityCenter, celebrating the sweet, varied enjoyment of Valentine's Day.

ARIA Resort And Casino has a Romance Package that includes a two-night stay in a tower suite, combining an in-suite couples' massage and aromatherapy bath, champagne and chocolate-covered strawberries and two day passes to The Spa at ARIA. The package is priced at $830 (Sunday – Thursday) or $1,030 (Friday – Saturday) and is valid through May 2011.

Aria, Couples Spa Suite

Also at ARIA, at The Spa & Salon from From February 9-16, couples receiving the Hot Stone Couples massage or the ARIA Signature Couples massage will also be treated with free gifts of chocolates, sandstone scrubs and signature lotions. Also, from February 11-14, guests will receive a complimentary glass of champagne, chocolates, while Pevonia products exfoliate away impurities and toxins with a papaya-pineapple body balm and salt mousse treatment.
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At Vdara (see above), there's a resort package including a two-night stay, chocolate-covered strawberries, $50 breakfast-in-bed credit, a Kiki de Montparnasse Travel Intimacy Kit, and a private couples' experience with 15% off purchases in Kiki de Montparnasse in Crystals at CityCenter. Starting rates are $384 (Sunday - Thursday), $484 (Friday – Saturday).

Also at the Spa & Salon Vdara (above), couples will be treated with cherries and chocolate as the combination of Wild Black Cherry Enzyme Peel with Cocoa Powder Chocolate Mask blends for a Cherries & Chocolate Facial. Couples can also continue the treatment with a chocolate scrub and cherry body balm in the Cherries & Chocolate Mani/Pedi. Each couple can top off these experiences with a glass of champagne at the spa's private Champagne & Smoothie bar.

Food and Drink Highlights
At Sage at ARIA, the Valentine's Menu includes enjoying a menu featuring contemporary American cuisine. And, at Sage, remember the Absinthe Bar. I wrote about that unique experience in Luxist last year. What you see below is flaming Absinthe being poured into a glass of orange juice, so you can get that Vitamin C while enjoying an Absinthe cocktail.

And, at the Tabu Ultra Lounge inside The MGM Grand Hotel and Casino within the vicinity of City Center, but not at City Center itself, are two more cocktails celebrating Valentine's Day:

The Cupid's Touch (below)-- a spicy and sweet martini, mixed with 2 oz. Hangar One Raspberry Vodka, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, ½ oz. simple syrup, four fresh raspberries and one muddled slice of Serrano chili. And a word of caution: muddled or not, Serranos are some of the hottest chilis imaginable.

Then, there's the Peach Kiss ($13): With 1 ½ oz. Absolut Peach Vodka, ½ oz. fresh lime juice, a dash of simple syrup and ½ oz. peach puree, this drink is rich in potassium, Vitamins A and C.

Finally, French lingerie and jewelry complete this Valentine's Day celebration.

Kiki de Montparnasse, Crystals at CityCenter's first lingerie boutique, features an exclusive Couples Dressing Room and Portrait Booth, a unique experience for couples to enjoy while they build their wardrobe and take pictures while doing so.

Kiki de Montparnasse showroom, Crystals at CityCenter

Finally, Tiffany & Co. at Crystals for Valentine's Day, offers its 2011 Valentine's Tiffany Locks, prices ranging from $350.00 to $495.00.

And, saving the ultimate Valentine's gift for last, is Tiffany's cushion-cut pink tourmaline of 14.31 carats is showcased in a diamond and platinum ring setting for $18,000.