Best Places to Stay in Las Vegas

Description:

This is the luxury resort that ushered in the new post-Vegas-is-for-families elegance epoch, and it was so successful that many of its attributes can now be found, in varying forms, up the street at the Wynn resort. It's hard not to compare the two, and which you prefer will depend on your aesthetics. We give the edge to Bellagio because even though it is not as theme-intensive as it could be, it still has some elements drawn from its charming Lake Como village namesake, and we do prefer even our resorts to have some of old school Vegas silliness, however slight. In this case, it's an 8-acre Lake Como stand-in out front, complete with a dazzling choreographed water-ballet extravaganza, plus a representation of an Italian lakeside village, while the pool area is sort of Hearst Castle Romanesque. However, don't think this is much like a getaway to a peaceful, romantic Italian village because it's not. But it is exactly like going to a big, grand, state-of-the-art Vegas hotel. To expect more probably isn't fair, but then again, they tried to set the tone with dreamy, soft-focus TV ads aired when the hotel debuted. Nothing with a casino stuck in the middle of it can be that serene and restful....

Our Local Expert Says:

Well-appointed rooms and an terrific array of things to do make Mandalay Bay popular with families.

Description:

Mandalay Bay brings the tropics to Las Vegas. Palm trees, a beach, and a hint of coconut in the air give guests the feeling that they've landed in South Pacific instead of the Southwestern United States. It's not just the atmosphere that makes Mandalay Bay a popular Vegas resort. It's upscale but friendly, hip but good for kids. Somehow, this resort manages to really embody the idea of something for everyone, and it does it well.

Deluxe rooms are large-over 500 square feet-and feature upgraded and updated amenities, including pillow-top mattresses and flat screen television. More importantly, the rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows. Suites come in seven different styles, and hospitality suites are available. A resort fee covers incidentals like Internet access and phone calls.

Mandalay Bay's pool area is so inviting that a person could easily skip doing anything other than relaxing on its sandy beach. The pool area is just short of a water park and includes a lazy river and a wave pool. Adults-only areas are available, and a European-style (tops optional) is also offered.

Over twenty restaurants are onsite. Choices range from fast food to award-winning places like Aureole. Guests... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Wynn's luxurious offerings are among the best on the Strip

Description:

Wynn is named after its owner, Steve Wynn, the Las Vegas visionary who breathed new life into the Golden Nugget, remade the face of Las Vegas with the Mirage, and figured out how to sink ships in front of the Treasure Island. After changing the Strip's design aesthetic, Steve Wynn moved on and opened Wynn, ushering in (again) a whole new look and feel for Las Vegas hotel casinos.

Wynn, along with its sister property, Encore, are among the most awarded and acclaimed hotels in the world. Wynn has received more Forbes Travel five-star awards than any other hotel in the world. It's also a five-diamond AAA winner. Classy, understated luxury is the "theme" here. Instead of mega-hotel, Wynn is aiming for a boutique feel (although Wynn's size qualifies it in the mega category).

The large rooms at Wynn consistently earn high marks from travelers. Guests enjoy fabulous views, luxury bed linen, and first-class room accoutrements (flat screen TVs, of course). At Wynn, visitors can enjoy a resort stuffed full of fine dining options (22 restaurants) and a Cirque du Soleil show, Le Reve, along with a host of other entertainment options.

Built on the site of the Desert Inn, Wynn gives Vegas visitors... read more

Description:

The MGM Grand Hotel is one of the largest hotels in the world. "Grand" is the right word for this hotel casino, which holds thousands of rooms that range from fairly basic (both in design and price) to elaborate suites.

The MGM is located right on the Strip, and it also has its own Monorail stop. Two pedestrian walkways in front of the MGM offer easy access to the other hotels in the immediate vicinity (New York-New York, Excalibur, and Tropicana).

Rooms come with double pillow-top mattresses, large bathrooms, and sitting areas even in the standard rooms. The top two floors of the hotel are The Skylofts, exclusive accommodations that come with a butler. Signature, also part of the MGM, is a non-smoking, non-gaming, all-suites complex connected to the main hotel. The variety of rooms gives guests the chance to make sure they have a room that is right for them. An $18.00 a day resort fee does apply to cover high speed internet, daily newspaper, and other extras.

Over twelve restaurants are on site. For entertainment, MGM has a Cirque du Soliel show, Ka, and an adult revue, Crazy Horse Paris. The MGM Grand Garden Arena hosts large concerts and shows. Studio 54 (reincarnated from... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

This Las Vegas-style Venice is a must-see. The Venetian offers first-class accommodations and amenities, along with canals and gondoliers.

Description:

One of the most elaborate hotel spectacles in town, The Venetian falls squarely between an outright adult Disneyland experience and the luxury resort experience currently dominating the Vegas landscape. The big draw here is the rooms, all suites, and all successful examples of that same luxury resort mindset, though the commitment to theme in the Grand Canal Shoppes is certainly appealing.

The hotel's exterior, which re-creates most of the top landmarks of Venice (the Campanile, a portion of St. Mark's Square, part of the Doge's Palace, a canal or two), ranks right up there with New York-New York as a must-see, and since you can wander freely through the "sights," it even has a slight edge over New York-New York. This may be the only hotel in Vegas where it seems inviting to wander around outside in the front. As stern as we get about re-creations not being a substitute for the real thing, we have to admit that the attention to detail here is impressive indeed. Stone is aged for that weathered look, statues and tiles are exact copies of their Italian counterparts, security guards wear Venetian police uniforms -- all that's missing is the smell from the canals, but we are happy to let...

Description:

Location. Designed to emulate 1920s Paris with replicas of the Eiffel Tower and Arc de Triomphe, the Paris Las Vegas is located on the south end of The Strip in Las Vegas, Nev. The Paris Las Vegas connects to Bally's Las Vegas via an interior passageway. This property is located adjacent to Planet Hollywood Hotel & Casino.
Hotel Features. Positioned on the 11th floor of the Eiffel Tower, the Eiffel Tower Restaurant serves classic French cuisine including seasoned lamb and foie gras. Meats and cheeses served at Le Village Buffet are selected from each French province of origin. The hotel features an 85,000-square-foot casino housed beneath a replica of Paris' wrought-iron train platforms. The hotel offers a pool complex with a seasonal pool and two oval spa tubs. Located on the pool deck, Café Du Parc offers views of the Eiffel Tower. The Paris Spa by Mandara, the hotel's 26,000-square-foot spa, includes a fitness center, sauna, steam room, spa tub and vanity bar. The spa offers Balinese health treatments and massages and wraps that include the Elemis Exotic Coconut Rub and Milk Ritual Wrap. Le Boulevard recalls outdoor Paris with storefronts, streetlamps, stone paths and sky-simulated... read more

Description:

The Mirage was a ground-breaking Las Vegas hotel casino when it was built. Its erupting volcano and extravagant landscaping were firsts for the Strip, and it set a standard for hotels as entertainment. Over twenty years later, the Mirage remains a AAA Four Diamond resort. With a prime location in the center of the Strip, updated rooms, and a large selection of onsite amenities, the iconic Mirage is still a popular Vegas hotel casino. Three types of standard guest room layouts are available. Several styles of suites, as well as luxury villas (complete with backyards), are available. Rooms have been updated with modern décor and amenities like LCD TVs, MP3 player docks, and cordless phones. The Mirage has several restaurants in all price ranges. Shows include LOVE, the Cirque du Soleil tribute to the Beatles, and the Terry Factor Show. Nightclubs, a pool "day club," and several bars and lounges are available for guests. Finding a place to eat, drink, or be entertained is never a problem at the Mirage. The volcano erupts every hour in the evenings. The Secret Garden and Dolphin Exhibit are family-friendly, although rather small. The Mirage is next to the Treasure Island and Caesars Palace,... read more

Our Local Expert Says:

Downtown Las Vegas' best hotel

Description:

Always the standout hotel in the Downtown area, a recent face-lift has made it more appealing than ever, so while it's not the cheapest accommodations, it is by far the nicest. A massive face-lift has made the place look terrific; a new color scheme has given it a rich, deep look that is most posh and fresh. Everything feels brighter, lighter, and more spacious. The re-do is a good complement of the best of old and new Vegas; new enough not to be dated, but still user friendly.

The Golden Nugget opened in 1946 as the first building in Las Vegas constructed specifically for casino gambling. Steve Wynn, who is basically responsible for the "new" Vegas hotel look, took over the Golden Nugget as his first major project in Vegas in 1973. He gradually transformed the Old West/Victorian interiors (typical for Downtown) into something more high-rent and genuinely luxurious, especially for downtown Vegas. The sunny interior spaces are a welcome change from the Las Vegas tradition of dim artificial lighting. Don't forget their mascot (well, it ought to be): the world's largest gold nugget. The Hand of Faith nugget weighs in at 61 pounds, 11 ounces, and is on display for all to see.

Deluxe rooms...

Description:

Located on the far west side of Las Vegas, the Red Rock Resort is at least a 20-minute drive from the Strip. While it may be far away from the tourist corridor, this neighborhood hotel casino has not skimped on amenities or design. The Red Rock Resort is aiming for boutique-like, and its rooms offer terrific views of either the Strip or Red Rock Canyon. For visitors who want something different from the usual Strip scene, this hotel casino provides a departure from the Vegas norm.

Rooms and suites are available, and all include a 42" plasma television and iPod jack, as well as standard amenities. The resort has received the AAA Four Diamond Award. The $24.99 per day resort fee includes internet access, phone calls, and other incidentals.

This is a resort, so it does have a full spa. Limited childcare is available at Kids Quest. Movie theaters and a bowling alley are options away from the casino. The pool area is up to current Vegas standards-which means you can rent a cabana or enjoy the adults-only area. Ten restaurants, plus a food court and buffet, give guests plenty of dining options, and the resort has three bars. Concerts are held frequently, so anyone planning a visit should... read more