I recently traveled to Lake
Charles, Louisiana for Mardi Gras. Having never been to
Southwest Louisiana, I wasn’t quite sure what type of
lodging I would find. Visions of bed and breakfasts and
mom and pop hotels filled my mind, however, what I
discovered was so much more. To my delight, I spent four
luxurious nights at the
L’Auberge du Lac Casino Resort.
A visit to L’Auberge du Lac
is a journey for the senses. Located half way between
Houston and New Orleans, this hidden treasure is nestled
on 242 acres overlooking Contraband Bayou. Warm woods and
natural stone set the mood of this Texas hill country
themed resort. At 26 stories with nearly 1000 guest rooms,
the resort includes an 18 hole golf course designed by Tom
Fazio, a full service spa, two heated swimming
pools with a lazy river, eight restaurants, a promenade
featuring unique gift shops and a state-of-the-art casino.
This 30,000 square foot casino features 1,600 slots and
more than 60 table games, including blackjack, craps and
baccarat.
There's plenty to entertain
you at L’Auberge, even if you don't like to play the
tables. The resort offers a venue where popular
entertainers such as Gretchen Wilson, Willie Nelson, Wayne
Newton, Bill Cosby, Jay Leno, Merle Haggard, Lionel Richie
and Kenny Rogers have performed. When the celebrities are
not in town, local bands are showcased at Jack Daniel's
Bar & Grill, the Stage Bar inside the casino and parties
by the pool in the summertime.
Above the buzz of the
casino, life changes dramatically. The hotel is 26 floors
of tranquility. Primary colors take a back seat while
neutrals dominate the color palate in the guest rooms. The
rooms are decorated with contemporary, yet relaxed
furnishings including luxurious must-haves like over sized
bathrooms, terrycloth robes, upscale bath amenities and
plush bed linens. Each room has WiFi capabilities,
high-speed internet access and in-room safes. Try as you
may not to call it elegant, because that’s not supposed to
happen in Southwest Louisiana, L’Auberge exudes it.
For spa lovers like me,
Spa du Lac is pure bliss for the body and soul. Being
bored is not an option at this spa. There is a myriad of
activities and options to please every guest. Spa du Lac
offers a full range of high-tech cardiovascular and
strength machines, along with free-weight equipment.
Spa du Lac also houses a salon with a full
complement of hair, nail and makeup services,
including state-of-the-art manicure and pedicure
stations. For the ultimate in relaxation and privacy,
the spa features separate men's and women's lounges,
saunas and steam rooms. Robes, slippers and
lockers are provided to all guests.
Spa du Lac has an exotic
array of skin care specialties and body treatments second
to none. The most alluring is a treatment called “Wear
Your Cake and Eat It Too!” This 80-minute taste of
Heaven consists of a warm organic mixture of carrots,
cinnamon and vanilla being massaged into the skin followed
by a drizzle of warm honey for added hydration leaving the
skin soft, supple and radiant. I have been told that many
guests will ask for seconds. This must have been the case
during my visit because when I tried to schedule the
treatment, all the time slots were already booked.
After a hectic day of
travel, my treatment of choice was the Eminence
Seasonal Pedicure. Like everything else at L’Auberge,
this was no ordinary experience. It began with a warm
therapeutic foot soak infused with passion fruit extracts.
The essence and aromas change with the seasons. My
esthetician then performed an exfoliating scrub on my
lower legs and feet, followed by a 20-minute massage using
the same seasonal scented oils. By the time she started to
work on my cuticles and nails, my aches were gone. The
pedicure ended with the application of a fresh coat of
polish in my choice of colors. My feet felt great and
looked even better. I was more than ready to hit the dance
floor!
