Getaways
What Happens in Vegas
By Suzanne Mozes published Sep 1, 2008
Additional Images click to enlarge
Once a parched, rough-edged gambling town that separated miners and Hoover Dam builders from their paycheques, Las Vegas evolved into a 24/7 vacation spot for grown-ups and then into a family-themed destination. The quickie wedding chapels, all-you-can-eat buffets, and nickel slots are still there, but they lurk in the shadows of gleaming, billion-dollar complexes that are easier to enter than to leave. Today’s Vegas is all about celebrity, stellar shopping, luxe digs, fine dining, and over-the-top shows: it’s the land of Prada and Chanel, Cirque du Soleil, Joël Robuchon and Mario Batali, Paris Hilton and Celine Dion. You can laze by oversize pools, attend world-class sports events, order $5,000 bottles of Château Haut-Brion, and pamper yourself in just about any way you can imagine.
Oh, yes—and if you like to gamble, you can do that, too.
Where to Stay
Las Vegas surely holds the record for most hotel rooms rented out but never occupied. In case you're actually planning to get some sleep, here are three of the best deals (and most comfortable digs) on the Strip.
FLAMINGO LAS VEGAS
3555 Las Vegas Blvd S., 800-732-2111
STATS 3,545 rooms, seven restaurants, five bars. While other Sin City veterans like the Stardust have closed their doors, the Flamingo pulled itself up by the bootstraps and began a massive (ongoing) renovation two years ago. In homage to its days of glory in the ’40s, the owners have retrofitted 1,000-plus rooms with a modernist concept: ceiling-high ebony vinyl headboards, deep plush rugs, cantilevered curved sofas, and avocado, chocolate, and pink colourways. The Flamingo sits on the hub of the Strip known as the Four Corners (across from the Bellagio)—high value for location alone. DON’T MISS The 15-acre outdoor wildlife habitat with Chilean flamingos, black-necked swans, and cockatoos roaming around three sprawling swimming pools. RESERVE Go Rooms (extra $50) have mp3 player docking stations, wireless Internet, and high-def flatscreens. Doubles from $129
WYNN LAS VEGAS
3131 Las Vegas Blvd S., 888-320-7123
STATS 2,716 rooms, nine restaurants, five bars. Concealed behind the 140-foot, pine-covered manmade mountain at the north end of Las Vegas Boulevard sits Steve Wynn’s posh three-year-old resort. After reportedly pouring $2.7 billion into the crescent-shaped monolith, Wynn set a new standard for Vegas-style hedonism: the casino is flooded with natural light, amenities include access to the only golf course on the Strip, and even basic rooms are palatial in size (starting from 640 square feet). The grande dame houses celebrity chefs like Alex Stratta and Daniel Boulud, and if that isn’t enough to keep idle minds occupied, there’s always Louis Vuitton, Manolo Blahnik, and Chanel, not to mention a Ferrari dealer. DON’T MISS A slab of beef ($48) from Country Club, the Wynn’s swank steakhouse that overlooks the waterfall on the golf course’s 18th hole. RESERVE a Panoramic Corner Room (from $300), with views stretching down the boulevard to miles upon miles of blinking lights in the distance. Doubles from $200
PALAZZO LAS VEGAS
3325 Las Vegas Blvd S., 877-883-6423
STATS 3,066 suites, 14 restaurants, five bars. Following three years of construction, the Venetian’s youngest sibling opened last December. The look is more down-to-earth (if that’s possible with 1.9 million square feet of marble and stone floors) with muted colors, wide walkways, and designated nonsmoking corridors. The hotel brought in Mario Batali, Charlie Trotter, and Emeril Lagasse to stake a substantial claim in the celebrity chef free-for-all. There are acres of shopping for padded wallets, but it’s the friendly, unpretentious service that sets the Palazzo apart from its rivals. DON’T MISS The Aquavanaspa at the newly expanded Canyon Ranch SpaClub spanning the Palazzo and Venetian. RESERVE A Concierge Lounge suite on the 23rd floor—it includes breakfast, happy hour, snacks, and Wi-Fi. Doubles from $199
