Las Vegas Places

Bellagio Las Vegas

After more than 10 years, Bellagio remains a top getaway despite the considerable competition from upscale properties. It's impressive more for its refined elegance than for gimmicks, although hipsters and minimalist-minded travelers may find the gilt and glitter too much to stomach.

The selection of restaurants is top-tier. Then, of course, there's the Bellagio fountain show: more than 1,200 fountains erupt in a choreographed water ballet across the man-made Bellagio lake. Walking into the lobby, you're confronted with a fantastic and colorful glass sculpture called Fiori di Como, by famed artist Dale Chihuly. An indoor botanical conservatory, two wedding chapels, and the Spa Tower complete the extravagant picture. One potentially off-putting aspect of Bellagio is that the casino dominates the property. No one under 18 is allowed on the property unless he or she is staying at the hotel, and even then, Bellagio is generally an adult-oriented option.

The History

Bellagio opened in 1998 as the city's premier luxury resort. At the time, the $1.6 billion property was the most expensive hotel ever built. The man behind it all: hotelier Steve Wynn, who made a name for himself running Old Vegas's Golden Nugget. Over the course of 10 years, Bellagio has appeared in a handful of major motion pictures, including Ocean's Eleven (2001) and Lucky You (2007). It's also known for its legendary poker room, which regularly hosts some of the game's most elite players.