Hotel Guide

Caesars Palace

Out of the mere 3,300 guest rooms and suites on the 85-acre Caesars Palace property, there’s something to suit nearly every budget and desire—from plebe to royalty. Rooms in the Augustus Tower are spacious and decked out in a chocolate brown and light blue color scheme and furnishings are sexy and sleek. Special touches include huge marble bathrooms, Jacuzzi tubs, cushy beds, fluffy robes, and a view of the Bellagio’s water show next door. What’s more, all rooms include access to the 4.5-acre Garden of the Gods pools and gardens.

Green Valley Ranch

Located 20 minutes off the Strip, Green Valley Ranch is an ideal spot to find fantastic room deals for under a hundred dollars, escape from the madness of the Las Vegas Boulevard, or just to unwind. The atmosphere is grown-up and refined with Old World styling and a subtle color scheme. Nearly 500 rooms offer high-speed Internet access, plush robes, and comfortable beds. The pool and garden area is expansive and features private cabanas, lawns, and infinity-edge pools.

Wynn

All 2,700-plus rooms at the 50-story Wynn are something to remark about. Firstly, they are spacious (averaging 640 square feet—larger than most Manhattan one bedroom apartments!), and each has a sitting area for resting those weary, casino-treading legs. Of course, the luxury appointments—the 310 thread count sheets, bedside drapery and light controls, flatscreen LCD high-def TV to name a few—can’t go without mention. Lastly, the property itself is beautifully maintained, and almost littered with several of the city’s top spots to dine. Also look for the highly anticipated opening of Steve Wynn’s extension of the Wynn, Encore.

Splurge Worthy: Mirage Hotel and Casino

With its lush jungle interior, the Mirage is a tropical oasis in the desert. Furnishings in the penthouse suites include rich hues and textured wall coverings, heavy draperies, marble floors, ornate oriental rugs, wet bar, sitting area, and dining/meeting tables. The master suite comes with a generous bathroom and walk-in closet area. The spacious bathroom includes a deep Jacuzzi tub and European bidet. High tech features include a TV that pops up out of the cabinet on command and electronically controlled drapes. Ideal for family trips and extended business visits. Penthouse suites offer panoramic views of the strip and beyond.

• Rooms: 66 Penthouse Suites (3044 rooms)
• What to Do: Spend an evening watching Cirque du Soleil’s latest show, LOVE, which features music by The Beatles.

MGM

In 2005, the MGM opened the West Wing to add modern amenities such as flat-screen TVs, Bose products and DVD players to its rooms. The newer rooms are sleek and modern. MGM’s outdoor pool is among one of the largest in Vegas, consisting of five different pools and a long river. While there is enough room for everyone to enjoy the water, the only downside is walking in your swimsuit through the hotel’s massive lobby to get there. It’s also a hike to get to the gym, but the well-equipped facility is worth checking out after indulgent meals at NobHill or Seablue.

• Rooms:5034
• What to Do: Visit the admission-free African Lion Habitat, which is home to the descendants of the original Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer lion, Metro. The Studio Walk is ideal for those who enjoy more affordable shopping experiences with themed souvenir and jewelry stores.

Mandalay Bay

As one of the more recent hotels built in the city, Mandalay Bay offers elegant accommodations. Floor-to-ceiling glass windows provide stellar views of the city, while the neutral décor offers a soothing reprieve from the dizzying excitement of the casino. Ample bathrooms offer luxurious touches, including granite countertops, gold-plated fixtures, and makeup mirrors. The hotel’s vast pool complex offers plenty of options, including a wave pool, mini lagoons and the lazy river, a donut-shaped pool whose current pulls you around and around.

• Rooms: 4330
• What to Do: Simulate a walk on the ocean floor at the Shark Reef, an aquarium exhibit which is home to over 12,000 species of marine life and 15 species of shark.

Wallet Watching: Treasure Island

With the launch of the TI branding campaign, Treasure Island has repositioned itself as a fun, mid-market hotel that appeals to the young, single crowd. Club Tangerine attracts chic revelers at night, and as home of the Cirque du Soleil show, Mystère, it is a center of entertainment for children and adults alike. Rooms are rather nicely appointed. The bathrooms are roomy and have been recently refurbished, with thoughtful amenities like makeup mirrors and fluffy bath mats. The TI gym facility is $20 per day which includes access to the sauna and whirlpool area. The facility is fairly well equipped, although lacking in elliptical machines and cross-trainers.

• Rooms: 2679
• What to Do: Take in TI’s live-action show, Sirens of TI, nightly at 7, 8:30, 10 and 11:30pm. Tangerine Lounge and Nightclub.

Flamingo

The Flamingo was originally a Hilton Hotel, but is now part of the Harrah’s Entertainment Group, which includes Caesars, Bally’s, Paris, and Harrah’s. Located directly across from Caesars on The Strip, the hotel is a good value and provides convenient access to both Caesars and the Bellagio, where some of the best restaurants, shops and entertainment on the strip are found. The hotel’s late ‘70s vibe has yet to be updated and retains a bit of that old-school strip charm. Rooms are bare bones and well worn with basic amenities, although high-speed Internet access is available for a fee. The best part of the hotel is a wild-life area with flamingoes, penguins, ducks, pheasants and Japanese koi. There is also a terrific bi-level pool with water slide, tons of shady spots and misting palms. This hotel is very kid friendly.

• Rooms: 3565
• What to Do: Try the egg breakfast at the diner; then catch some sun poolside.

Cosmopolitan Las Vegas