Thinking of something to break up your winter ? The nearby del Lago Resort and Casino is just up the Thruway and we took a mid week trip for an upstate NY getaway.
By: Christina Kostarellis, A-List Contributor
Any time I get to spend with my best friend, aka my significant other, is a good time – but life and its stress often prevents me from really feeling carefree. Even on the nights we have special ideas or dates planned, just being home can sometimes lead to distractions and prevent us from really plugging in to each other. There’s something to be said about an overnight trip where you can just get away from it all, and we didn’t have to go far to find it.
I had the pleasure of experiencing Spa del Lago and staying overnight at del Lago Resort & Casino in one of their beautiful and luxurious suites. My overnight stay also happened to coincide with a special date – an anniversary – so that made it a celebration. We had spa appointments and a room for an overnight stay booked.
Upon arriving, we headed straight for the spa
We were given buttery soft spa robes and clean sandals to wear, and I had a chance to experience the women’s locker room on my own. I was very impressed with the special touches and tiny details that del Lago incorporated into their spa. I loved that they provided essentials like nail files and makeup wipes for their guests. There are separate areas for men and women and both had a sauna and steam room available for use. I found out that these amenities are open to you the entire day when you have a spa appointment. I 100% would take advantage of that next time because the area was so peaceful, clean, and calming.
Relaxing in the co-ed room post body wrap. My face had gotten extremely red from the sauna, hence me attempting to cover it.
The service I got at the spa was their Autumn Body Wrap. I had never gotten a body wrap before, so I was excited to try it. del Lago offers this unique service which incorporates a blend of essential oils and other skin loving products. My esthetician, Shannon, shared with me that their body wrap offerings change with the seasons – so there will be a new one for the winter soon. The service lasted for about 40 minutes from start to finish. Shannon rubbed a detoxifying seaweed serum onto my skin and performed light massage while it soaked in. The bottoms of my feet were covered in a minty smelling elixir. I was also given a short scalp massage with “gratitude”, a blend of Young Living Essential Oils that is made up of balsam fir, frankincense and ylang ylang as I relaxed. The nice part about this service was that I did not have to rinse anything off and got to relax the whole time. After the service, my skin felt soothed and soft. I also really enjoyed Shannon’s massage skills. After my treatment, I enjoyed some time in the sauna – much needed (and much better than the sauna at the YMCA….). My boyfriend and I met up in the co-ed room after our treatments and relaxed for a bit in their sanctuary.
You don’t have to look far for luxury and beauty at del Lago, the picture above was taken in the women’s locker room at their spa. These mirrors are almost a work of art.
After our luxurious experience we left the spa and had over two hours to kill before our dinner reservation. We decided to get something light at The Sociale, a restaurant/bar that is open 24 hours a day on Fridays and Saturdays. They also have a happy hour M-Th, so we took advantage of their $6 half dozen oysters and also split a pot pie. The food, which I discovered is sourced from local farms as much as possible, was excellent – the oysters were so fresh, and the pot pie was creamy, flavorful, and delicious. They have a happy hour M-Th, so we took advantage of their $6 half dozen oysters and also split a pot pie. The food was excellent – the oysters were so fresh, and the pot pie was creamy, flavorful, and delicious. I also got a cosmopolitan, which was so tasty and served with a smile. I was so pleased with the food and drink here, it was a strong start to our visit.
A corner of our room at del Lago
Next, it was time to check into our room
We were given complimentary glasses of champagne as we checked in – which made me feel like royalty. When we walked into our suite, my jaw dropped open. I was absolutely stunned by the gorgeousness of the room. We had two tvs, a couch, several comfy chairs, a desk, TWO bathrooms, and a giant fluffy bed to enjoy. I honestly think the room was bigger than my city apartment. We took some time settling in to our new digs, and then I started getting ready for our dinner reservation at Portico by Fabio Viviani. I had a huge makeup vanity with a seat to work with as I got done up. It made me so happy!
Dinner at Portico by Fabio Viviani
Dinner at Portico was an excellent continuation of the extravagance we’d experienced so far. Staff brought us a champagne toast in honor of the anniversary we were celebrating, and everyone in the restaurant seemed to be celebrating with us. We ordered the calamari appetizer with banana and peppadew peppers – it was to die for! I also really love the Coccoli Platter appetizer which is so unique and delicious. We also took advantage of their BOGO entrée special which runs every Monday until the end of December 2018. We got two fine cuts of meat – veal and filet mignon, along with a side of their brussels sprouts which have a smattering of golden raisins, a tangy “agrodolce” sauce, chili, and lemon curd aioli. Everything was excellent, and the booth we were sitting in had us cozy and tucked into our own private corner which I loved. I have such great memories at Portico now.
A special surprise waiting for us in our room
One thing that really made me feel special was the fact that staff had left a bottle of champagne and a dozen chocolate covered strawberries in our room for us to enjoy. We also got a happy anniversary card, and it meant so much that they went out of their way to do that for us. Being in this room, laughing, talking, and enjoying, was one of the most stress-free nights I’ve had all of 2018. We had so much fun together with full bellies and nothing to do but relax and enjoy. I was especially glad that the trip to Waterloo was only a mere 45 minutes from Rochester, but I felt like we were on another planet just the two of us. del Lago Resort & Casino is somewhere I look at very fondly because of all of the wonderful amenities they provide. Not one person we met was anything less than friendly, accommodating, and polite – which truly enhanced the experience. If you are feeling bogged down by the stresses of this time of year or – let’s be honest – just life in general, I highly recommend taking a day away from it all at del Lago. There is no shortage of things to do or delicious foods to eat, and I cannot wait to go back. To see more photos and for even more detail, visit me on Instagram. www.instagram.com/WhatsGoodintheRoc.
del Lago Resort and Casino 1133 State Route 414, Waterloo, NY 855.del.Lago
