I'm Dreaming of Spa Atlantis

I’ve been daydreaming, and I’ve got Spa Atlantis in Reno on my mind.

Over this past year, there has been a lot less time for traveling. This has meant more time for researching, planning and dreaming. And that’s when I found it.

A brine waterfall cascading over a granite fountain in a salt room.

A color wheel spinning through a spectrum of light.

I found myself gazing at photos of the relaxing Brine Inhalation Lounge, and I knew for certain: This was my next must-do. My new, big “Goblet List” item.

The Goblet List is like a bucket list, except it’s for luxury and spa travel, so of course it can’t just be held in a simple bucket. Yes, a metaphorical golden goblet is where I drop my prized travel to-dos, and the newest addition is the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa.

We all need a luxury, soothing respite for some quality self-care time, and that’s exactly what the Spa Atlantis in Reno delivers. It’s a Forbes Four Star winner — now six years in a row — and for good reason. Only 200 spas in the world are crowned with this honor.

A Gem of a Resort

First, the Atlantis Casino Resort Spa is a sought-after destination, known for its impressive Concierge Tower, with access to a private lounge with complimentary breakfast and afternoon snacks. The rooms are all spacious and beautiful, with in-room jetted tub suites, but for the ultimate getaway, look into the Luxury Tower rooms, with marble accents, pillow-top beds and upscale furnishings and bath products.

The Atlantis is always ranked the top resort in Reno (it’s the only property in Reno with the Forbes honor), and it boasts a long list of awards, even beyond Forbes. It even has earned the prestigious AAA Four Diamond designation. It has received the Silver Badge from the US News and World Report. And the resort was named the third Best Casino Outside Las Vegas by USA Today. This is a pretty incredible honor, in light of there being more than 1,500 casinos in the United States. The Atlantis has stood the test of time, since 1972.

As a bonus, it’s conveniently located close to the airport and Lake Tahoe, and the resort has it all, from a bustling casino to elegant accommodations to many award-winning restaurants.

The restaurants are especially drool-worthy. USA Today ranked the fine-dining Atlantis Steakhouse the second-best casino restaurant in the country. It has also been awarded by OpenTable and Wine Spectator for its impressive selection of high-end wine.

In addition, the on-site restaurant, Bistro Napa, received the Wine Spectator’s Award of Excellence and has received the Wine Enthusiast’s Award of Unique Distinction multiple times. Needless to say, if you love wine, you’ve got the hook-up at the Atlantis.

The Spa of Dreams

The spa itself looks incredible, even before your treatment. Guests get access to the Aqua Spa Lounge’s jetted spa pools of different temperatures; the laconium relaxation lounge’s heated benches and warm floor; and that dreamy brine inhalation-light therapy lounge, where a waterfall of brine cascading crystals change color to peaceful music.

Don’t forget the Nature Experiential Shower. Here, you’ll find multiple choreographed shower experiences, such as Ice Fog (with peppermint scents), Tropical Rain (with smells of fresh citrus), Thunderstorm (imagine the smell of fresh flowers and the scent of summer) and Waterfall (with the sound of flowing water).

Spa visitors can also enjoy the cardio theater and fitness center with high-quality equipment, infused water and multiple pools (indoor and outdoor).

And this is just the beginning of this 30,000-square-foot oasis. While the spa is large, it feels and looks intimate, with natural influences and details throughout. The spa also features 16 treatment rooms (including couples’ suites with soaking tubs), a Hamman Wet Table and an outdoor jetted spa.

Note: The Atlantis also has its own salon, where you can get manis, pedis, waxing, your hair done (hello, blow-outs!), your make-up professionally applied and more.

Then there’s the extensive spa menu. The Spa Atlantis offers everything from a Vital Body CBD Massage to a unique Pantai Luar Body Experience, an Eastern Asian-inspired body treatment that uses heated sachets of herbs, essential oils and more to treat the skin. The Spa Atlantis can provide expert facials, massages, wraps, scrubs, polishes and signature treatments.

In addition to the salon’s menu, the spa also offers a special pedicure in the spa pedicure suite. This treatment includes a soak in coconut milk, followed by a sugar scrub, scented paraffin treatment and then, of course, the polish.

One of the more unique features at the Spa Atlantis is the ceremonial chamber, with treatments inspired by ancient Arabian cleansing rituals of royalty. For example, if you book a Rasul Ceremonial Chamber body treatment, you will receive a private ceremony in a temple under twinkling lights.

It took much circling and prioritizing (there are so many incredible options), but I eventually picked out my future dream spa treatment for that future day when I arrive at the Spa Atlantis: the Hydrating Goat’s Milk and Honey Wrap. I can picture it now: floating weightlessly in the warmth of a Soft Pack hydra floating bed while receiving an invigorating face and scalp massage, with the soothing blend of goat’s milk, honey and oils. This treatment is an hour long.

Solidifying my desire to book my next spa vacation at the Atlantis in Reno, you can take a virtual tour of the spa on the website. I can almost feel it now: walking out of my body treatment, still half weightless and in a relaxed fog, a smile painted across my face as I walk past the oversized floral paintings and peaceful lights in the Aqua Spa Lounge. Maybe I’ll sit down for just another moment. Maybe I’ll dip back in the jetted tub and close my eyes.

If I look at the pictures and close my eyes and click my heels, I can almost imagine it now: a wonderful check off the Spa Travel Gal Goblet List.