Inside spa, jangling of slots fades away

It's a Yanni kind of place, that new Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa at Harrah's Atlantic City, back on the marina.

The new spa opened Memorial Day weekend, a calming adjunct to the raucous, monster-domed Pool, the new hot attraction in the expanding, nongaming emphasis the casinos seem to be hanging on these days.

While the Pool, with its themed club nights during the week, has been packing in a slightly younger crowd - primarily those in their 30s - the Elizabeth Arden Spa is aimed like a candle-scented arrow at what spokesman Christopher Jonic said is Harrah's main demographic, the 45- to 65-year-old upscale gambler.

Head away from the Pool, with its luau nights and such, and through that Red Door you'll find soft, acoustical Yanni-cum-George-Winston sounds, softer aromas and even softer terrycloth towels and robes.

While the spa experience is de rigueur in Las Vegas, it has been much the afterthought in Atlantic City. Most casinos have had spas, but it almost has seemed like a mandatory accoutrement, not a primary casino destination.

That may be because Atlantic City has been such a drive-in, drive-out destination, while Las Vegas is a stay-for-a-while one. Spas are for relaxers, not the few-hours-of-slots, go-to-a-show crowd.

Elizabeth Arden, though, is in the spa business and seems to have its various mutations down. In its stable are five spas at independent resorts, including the one at the Seaview Marriott in Galloway; 11 at Saks Fifth Avenue stores, with one in Bala Cynwyd; and about two dozen day spas around the country.

The one at Harrah's tends toward the posh, but sedate. It is open early, but not late - 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Sunday. And it is not for the faint of pocketbook.

The basic 50-minute facial costs $110, with specialties going for at least $30 more. Massages can top $200 and waxings can be at least half that. There are "express" services - quickie facials or massages for $70, though it seems like that might be counterproductive to the luxuriating experience Red Door purports to provide.

The spa rooms at Red Door are a clear contrast to the clanging and banging of the slot parlors nearby. The lights are low, the carpets are semi-plush and the music stays at mood-soothing decibel levels.

There are 23 treatment rooms, split among women's, men's and couples'. The couples deluxe suite has a Jacuzzi, a fireplace with a love seat set seductively in front of it, and two extra-wide treatment tables.

There are steam rooms, saunas, cold-mist showers and all sorts of whirlpooly tubs and treatment areas. Red Door has more attendants than customers at times, but that is the way Atlantic City may be going now. The push is on for one-upmanship in nongaming areas.

The Red Door has little time to make a good impression. The Borgata Hotel Casino & Spa is building a facility presumably worthy of that last part of its official name.

Immersion - The Spa at The Water Club is expected to open early next year in the Borgata's new 800-room tower. It will be on the 32nd floor of the $400 million addition and include 16 of what Borgata is calling "experience rooms" and a 25-foot lap pool with skyline and ocean views. *

Elizabeth Arden Red Door Spa, Harrah's Atlantic City, 777 Harrah's Blvd., 609-441-5333, www.reddoorspas.com.