Borgata Spa in Atlantic City

When you think of Atlantic City casinos, you don't think of hot stone massage, aromatherapy (beyond cigarette smoke) or luxurious indoor pools and hot tubs. Well, Borgata isn't your typical Atlantic City casino. And this really isn't your run of the mill spa experience, either...you don't need to be a spa connoisseur to appreciate this fact. Spa Finder magazine voted Borgata "Best Casino Spa" and "Best Men's Spa."

The Setting at Borgata Spa

Borgata has a stunning setting for their spa- the waterfall in one of the spa rooms (complete with cucumbers on ice for your eyes, a steam room and sauna, and three hot tubs) is gorgeous- you can even sip ice water while you soak! It is a well-designed, soothing decor complete with soft candle glow. You can sit on an orange tufted velvet chaise lounge while you wait for your spa technician to come get you.

Spa Treatments at Borgata

You can get an all-body wrap called The Firm ($230, 100 minutes) in which you are wrapped- like a mummy- and simultaneously hydrated and dehydrated in such a way that causes you to lose a few pounds of water weight and gain all-over soft skin. Very cool, and former casino-pit-boss-turned-spa-guy Perry (who truly looks like a Sopranos cast member) was wonderful...and can fill you in on all the latest spa gossip of which celebrities have visited! The talented and knowledgeable April can then take you for a fantabulous facial called the Borgata Glow, ($260, 100 minutes) involving yummy-smelling aromatherapy, exfoliation and moisturization that leaves you floating on air. No detail has been spared in the selections of the spa products and treatment choices. (call the Borgata Spa at 609-317-7555 for more info. They are located at Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa, One Borgata Way, Atlantic City, NJ 08401).

Borgata Spa Perks

The spa offers a juice and fruit bar for keeping your energy levels up between treatments- otherwise you might fall asleep from the relaxation! This "waiting room" is well appointed with plush furniture, lovely decor, and plenty of magazines.

Also, an adjacent full service salon is ready to buff and polish you to be presentable for dinner. The pool is stunning- lush tropical foliage abounds in what appears to be a tropical retreat. A full service workout room is on the same level as the spa as well. One cool detail is that the spa is located on its own floor of the hotel- thus you can sneak up and down to your room in your comfy white robe or a bathing suit without any dressed-to-the-hilt casino heel clackers seeing you!

Nobody's Perfect

The only complaints you could find about the spa involve the incredibly uncomfortable plastic dollar-store flip flops (forcing you to walk in bare feet or wear- yuk- street shoes instead) and that it's too crowded (sometimes all available seats are taken, tours are being given, etc)... and some of the women will eat cucumbers off the ice like it's a salad bar, stuffing their purses with the complimentary juices and fruits and yelling loudly at one another, making it a bit...noisy

Borgata has come up with a solution for this- they are opening a brand new 5-star spa at The Water Club in the adjoining building. If the spa services and setting are as top notch, and they throw in some plush slippers and a few "Quiet Zone" signs- it will truly be perfect.