The Venetian

The Venetian Review

This theme hotel re-creates Italy's most romantic city with meticulous reproductions of Venetian landmarks—including the Grand Canal. Some of the Strip's largest and plushest accommodations are found at this gilded resort that's a hit with foodies, shoppers, and high rollers alike. It's all about glitz and "wow" effect here, which makes it a popular property if you're celebrating a special occasion or looking for a quintessential over-the-top Vegas experience. Each 700-plus-square-feet suite offers a sunken living room with a coffee table and convertible sofa, walk-in closets, a separate shower and tub, three telephones (including one in the bathroom), two flat-screen TVs, and remote-controlled curtains. The even posher Venezia Tower has a garden, private entrance, fountains, and gargantuan suites.

HIGHLIGHTS

The atmosphere: From the Strip you enter through the Doge's Palace, set on a walkway over a large lagoon. Inside, Renaissance characters roam the public areas, singing opera, performing mime, jesting, even kissing hands.

The scenery: Walking from the hotel lobby into the casino is one of the great experiences in Las Vegas: overhead, reproductions of famous frescoes—highlighted by 24-karat-gold frames—adorn the ceiling; underfoot, the geometric design of the flat marble floor provides an Escher-like optical illusion of climbing stairs.

The gondolas: On a lake in front of the casino visitors can take gondola rides and look out on the Strip. Inside, climb aboard with a gondolier who'll sing opera as he paddles you through canals that line the Grand Canal Shoppes.

Shopping and Entertainment: The Grand Canal Shoppes include boutiques such as BCBG Max Azria and Kenneth Cole, as well as popular stores like Banana Republic and Rockport. A nice range of hip restaurants and bars includes Tao, which is a restaurant until about 11 p.m., and then it becomes one of the chicest nightclubs in the Pacific Time Zone. For entertainment, the best options are Rock of Ages and Human Nature.

The figures : Ogle celebrities all you want at Madame Tussauds.

Amenities

The Canyon Ranch Spa Club offers the same lavish treatments as the spa resort's main campuses in Arizona and Massachusetts, and features a three-story climbing wall that guests can use for free. It's also open late on most weeknights, meaning you can spend more time at the tables before that workout.

The combination copier/scanner/fax/printer in every suite is perfect for business travelers who hope to get work done during their stay.

One of the best-kept secrets of Venetian's room-service: They'll bring you food from any restaurant on property, for a price.