Sunday, January 31, 2010

Winemaker Dinners at Bellagio Las Vegas

Bellagio has announced two winemaker events - one for February and one for March - that are sure to be extraordinary.

Click here for the official Bellagio Announcements and information.

Wednesday, January 20, 2010

Stratosphere Las Vegas North Strip


Stratosphere LasVegas 374
Originally uploaded by JoeDuck
The Stratosphere is effectively the northern terminus of the Las Vegas Strip, the world famous portion of Las Vegas Boulevard that is home to dozens of the world's largest hotels and casinos. The Las Vegas Strip is about 3.5 miles long - the distance from the Stratsophere to Mandalay Bar area on the south end.

Other properties on the Northern end of the strip are the Sahara, Circus Circus, and Riviera.

You'll find that the most beautiful, extravagant, and expensive hotels tend to be in the center of the strip - Wynn, Encore, Bellagio, Venetian, Caesar's Palace. Although there are several very nice "still big and beautiful" hotels at the South Strip: MGM, Mandalay Bay, Luxor (though it seems to be in something of a decline based on my last trip).

The two ends seem to be falling into greater disrepair over time although the Stratosphere seemed to be holding up pretty well as the north strip anchor property. There are spectacular carnival rides near the top of the tower though note the steep admission even if you just want a nice view from the observation deck. It's not clear to me if you can eat at the restaurant and avoid the high price of a tower ticket.

Sunday, January 17, 2010

Crystals Retail at CityCenter Las Vegas

The beautiful wooden interior of the Crystals Retail Center on the Strip at CityCenter was quite spectacular, though I hope the wood holds up under all the traffic this area will see. I was there within weeks of the opening and noticed already there are some marks on this remarkable floor, which appeared to be a blend of various exotic woods.

The staircase has embedded agates which are backlit to create an amazing effect - Crystals has a very beautiful decor.

Paris? Nope, it's VEGAS Baby! Paris Hotel from in front of Bellagio

One of the prettiest views in Las Vegas is from the front of the Bellagio looking out over the Bellagio Fountains, across the strip to Paris Las Vegas' half sized Eiffel Tower.

Note that the Bellagio is something of an "anchor" for a lot of fun action in the center of the Las Vegas Strip. The fountains are a "must see" and inside you'll find some of the most appealing hotel decor in the world, including an incredible art gallery (fee charged but worth it), huge chocolate fountain, and beautiful conservatory with flowers that change with the season.

A tram now takes you from the Bellagio to the Crystals Shopping Area where you can access the Vdara Hotel, Aria Hotel and Casino, or keep riding to the Monte Carlo.

Canoe Sculpture at Vdara, Las Vegas

The Casino Times has a nice feature with ten items that distinguish Las Vegas' new city within a city - CITYCENTER. This huge project was large even by Las Vegas Standards and many were concerned about a year ago that it would not be completed, but after a lawsuit against and and subsequent loan to partner in the project MGM, Dubai World and MGM did complete one of the world's greatest commercial developments.
http://www.casinocitytimes.com/news/article/top-10-citycenter-facts-and-figures-191964

Friday, January 1, 2010

Hotwire Ratings Tips for Las Vegas Hotels

Hotwire is a great service to save a lot on hotel reservations, but part of the game is that you don't know the name of the property until *after* you book. This is normally fine in my experience with Hotwire, but obviously it's nice to have an exact location and name if possible:

This great Hotwire tips list from a forum member at "RedFlagDeals.com":
-----------------------

Venetian Resort Hotel Casino - 5 STAR ***** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

TI - Treasure Island - 4 STAR **** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Golf Nearby, Spa Services

Trump International � 5 STAR ***** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Studio, Smoke Free, Daily Housekeeping, A/C, Front Desk, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Spa, Kitchenette, Condo

Wynn � 5 STAR **** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Golf Nearby, Spa Services
Hotel features: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business, Golf, Spa
(same as Venetian)

Caesar�s Palace � 4 � STAR **** � CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Planet Hollywood & Resort � 4 STAR **** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Spa Services

Paris Las Vegas � 4 STAR **** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Bally's Las Vegas 3 � STAR *** � CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Flamingo Las Vegas � 3 � STAR *** � CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Harrah's Hotel and Casino Las Vegas � 3 � STAR *** � CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Spa Services


Bills Gamblin Hall and Saloon � 3 STAR *** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Restaurant(s), High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby

Imperial Palace Las Vegas - Tower � 3 STAR *** CENTER STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Spa Services

--------------------------------------------------------------------------STRIP NORTH

Stratosphere Hotel and Casino � 3 STAR *** STRIP NORTH
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Laundry Facilities, Golf Nearby, Spa Services

Sahara Hotel and Casino � 3 STAR *** STRIP NORTH
Hotel features: Casino, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino � 3 STAR *** NORTH STRIP
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Children's Activity Program

Circus Circus Hotel & Casino � MANOR ROOM � 2 STAR ** - NORTH STRIP
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Business, Children's Activites

--------------------------------------------------------------------------STRIP SOUTH

MGM Grand � 4 STAR **** STRIP SOUTH
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa

New York New York � 4 STAR **** STRIP SOUTH
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness Center, Business Center, Golf, Spa

Monte Carlo Resort & Casino � 3 and � STAR *** � STRIP SOUTH
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Luxor Resort and Casino � 3 � STAR *** �
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Tropicana Hotel & Casino � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Golf Nearby, Spa Services

Excalibur � 3 STAR *** STRIP SOUTH
Customer favourite
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Golf, Spa


--------------------------------------------------------------------------NEAR STRIP SOUTH

South Point Hotel & Casino � 4 STAR **** - NEAR STRIP SOUTH
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby

--------------------------------------------------------------------------NEAR STRIP EAST

Hard Rock - 4 STAR **** NEAR STRIP EAST
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Spa

Las Vegas Hilton � 4 STAR **** NEAR STRIP EAST
Could be 3 � STAR again
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa

Hyatt Place Las Vegas � 3 STAR *** NEAR STRIP EAST
Hotel features: Smoke Free Rooms, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access

Desert Rose Resort � 3 STAR *** NEAR STRIP EAST

La Quinta Inn Las Vegas Convention Center � 2 � STAR ** � NEAR STRIP EAST
Hotel features: Airport Shuttle, Complimentary Breakfast, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Laundry Facilities, High-speed Internet Access


--------------------------------------------------------------------------NEAR STRIP WEST

Palace Station � 3 STAR *** NEAR STRIP WEST
Hotel Features: Casino, Shuttle, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business

Las Vegas Cay Club Desert Tides Resort � 3 STAR *** NEAR STRIP WEST
Hotel Features:

Palace Station Casino Courtyard � 2 � STAR ** � NEAR STRIP WEST

Wild Wild West Casino � 2 STAR ** NEAR STRIP WEST
Hotel Features: Casino, Restaurant, Pool

Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino � 4 STAR **** NEAR STRIP WEST
Hotel features: Suite, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Spa Services

Artisan Hotel � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Boutique Hotel, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby

The Orleans Hotel & Casino � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Spa Services, Children's Activity

--------------------------------------------------------------------------WEST OF STRIP

Red Rock Casino � 4 and � STAR **** � WEST OF STRIP

--------------------------------------------------------------------------EAST OF STRIP

Extended StayAmerica - 2 � STAR ** �
Hotel Features: Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Fitness, Kitchenette, Laundry

Extended Stay Deluxe East Flamingo (1550 Flamingo) � 2 � STAR ** �
Hotel Features: Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Fitness, Laundry

Extended StayAmerica (4240 Boulder Highway) (this is more recent than above, but not sure if different properties or same with a downgrade) 2 STAR **
Hotel Features: Suite, Laundry

--------------------------------------------------------------------------DOWNTOWN


Plaza Hotel � 2 STAR ** DOWNTOWN

Golden Nugget Hotel and Casino � 4 STAR **** DOWNTOWN
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Spa Services

--------------------------------------------------------------------------
HENDERSON - SOUTHEAST

4* Loews Lake Las Vegas
Amenities: Resort, Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Golf, Tennis, Spa, Children Activities, Laundry

3* Hawthorn Inn and Suites
Amenities: Complimentary Breakfast, Pool, Fitness, Business, Laundry

3* Holiday Inn (Boulder Hwy, Henderson)
Amenities: Restaurant, Pool, Fitness, Hi-Speed Internet, Business, Laundry



--------------------------------------------------------------------------
LOCATION UNKNOWN


Riviera Hotel & Casino � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services

Sunset Station � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Children's Activity Program

Hooters Casino Hotel Las Vegas � 3 STAR ***
Hotel features: Casino, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, Golf Nearby

Fitzgeralds Casino � STAR rating unknown
Hotel features: silkPkgAmenityName18:Casino, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center

The Grandview at Las Vegas � STAR rating unknown
Hotel features: Suite, 1-Bedroom Suite, Fully-equipped Kitchen, Free Parking, Air Conditioning, Fitness Center, Pool(s)

Best Western Mardi Gras Hotel & Casino � STAR rating unknown
Hotel features: Airport Shuttle, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Laundry Facilities, Golf Nearby


The Mirage Hotel and Casino � STAR rating unknown
Hotel features: Resort, Casino, Fitness Center, Pool(s), Restaurant(s), Business Center, High-speed Internet Access, Golf Nearby, Tennis Nearby, Spa Services