BELLAGIO/VENETIAN/MIRAGE
 

Planning my first trip to Las Vegas. After looking through all kinds of tour books, several travel sites, not to mention hundreds of questions on this site, I have narrowed it down to one of these three hotels. From what I understand, Bellagio is the best hotel, the Venetian has the nicest rooms and the Mirage, though not up to the standards of the other two might be the best value. What I would like is to hear from people who have stayed at all three, and get their opinions. All help appreciated.

Read the detailed description/review at: <BR> <BR>www.cheapovegas.com <BR> <BR>Allow for the fact that "Casino Boy" is something of a nut and writes in a humorous style. However, the best descriptions of rooms I've found anywhere. <BR> <BR>Haven't stayed at the Bellagio. If it were me and the budget allowed I would choose the Venetian, particularly if you think this is a "one-time" visit.

Ned, <BR>I stayed at the Mirage last November. I would stay there again, because it was a great deal, I believe $79/night. If the prices are similar, I would stay at one of the better hotels. I didn't spend much time at any one hotel. Each night we went to a different one, so if your going to do that, it really dosen't matter where your going to stay.

Stayed at the Bellagio this past winter and will stay no where else in the future. Top knotch from the minute you arrive through check out. Mid week rates are reasonable and I understand through August rates are $89 a night for a standard room. I highly recommend a fountain view, it's out of this world with a great back drop of the Paris hotel's Effiel Tower. The view at night is a jaw dropper.

I stayed at the Venetian in January and had a wonderful experience. The rooms are enormous, the bathrooms huge and luxurious, and the staff eager to please. Only draw-back is that you have to walk through the casino to get to the elevators to the guest rooms (which is true of almost all hotels in Vegas).

I've stayed at all 3 and my impressions are just as you described. Bellagio is the best overall, and its suites are the best in town (some argue Four Seasons, that's just my bias), Venetian's standard rooms are bigger though I don't care for the casino and hotel itself, and Mirage is a great value. Casino at Mirage is better than Venetian IMO, but rooms are not nearly as nice. Pools at Mirage are very nice, but not as nice as Bellagio's.

As previously stated by others. The suits at Venetian are very nice and probably much better than other standard Vegas rooms. However, the hotel is MASSIVE and I thought, a bit impersonal. (Also, I understand that they plan to construct another wing. I would make sure construction has not started.) <BR>Bellagio, overall has a classier feel to it. The SPA is great, the pool area is nice, and the hotel staff seems more interested. If you stay at Bellagio, make sure that you ask for a room facing the lake as the view is great. <BR>I stayed at Mirage several years ago. I thought it was just to hectic and frankly, it is 10 years old at this point. In Vegas, that might as well be 50 years. I think the hotel seems cramped. <BR>But, everyone has a different opionion based on personal preference. My parents love Monte Carlo because it is much more low key and less crowded. <BR>

This site will give you LOTS of opinions from people that have stayed at the properties: http://www.a2zlasvegas.com/hotels/rate-st.html <BR> <BR>Just click on the " View Rating & Comments" for each hotel. <BR> <BR>My own opinion? I like a nice hotel that represents a good value. I look for a clean, comfortable, quiet room. I have very little interaction with the hotel staff besides at check-in/check-out. During my stay, i come in and go up to my room. Therefore, i don't need all the "extras" that the Bellagio offers. Is it nice? "Yes", but not necessarily worth the extra $100/nite it'll cost. If you're used to places like the Ritz or Four Seasons, than by all means, give the Bellagio a shot. If you're used to Hilton, Sheraton, etc, then you'll be more than happy with most Vegas hotels.

We will be staying at the Bellagio in two weeks. Southwest has an excellent offer right now. I've seen postings to get a view room of the fountains. However, do you hear the music all day and all night when the fountains go off? Is it quiet enough at night? Thank you for any comments.

Not to confuse you, but don't exclude Paris. It is fairly new, rooms are very nice...a step down from Bellagio but certainly a step up from many others and at least at par if not nicer than those at the Mirage. I found the Mirage to be totally packed with bus loads of tour groups, you could hardly move in the lobby. Paris has some excellent restaurants and is in a premium location. As well, price usually can't be beat.

Margery: The fountains and music begin at noon and end at midnight so don't worry about being disturbed. Also music is piped into your room through your T.V. set so you can really enjoy the show every 15 minutes if your care to. We found that whenever we were in the room we were addicted to turning on the music and sitting by the window to watch the fountains, particularly at night. <BR> <BR>Normally speaking I wouldn't pay extra for a view from a hotel room but the Bellagio is the exception. Get a fountain view room if you can, it makes a world of difference.

Thanks for your reply, John. I will request an upgrade over the phone and then when I get there and see how much more it will be. Sounds like it's worth it.

I've stayed at all three. Mirage is the most Disneylandish, but also the most economical. Bellagio is very elegant and opulent. The rooms are very nice and the service good. The Venetian has large rooms, but that's about the only positive it has going for it. The decor is merely adequate and, at least in my experience, the service is absolutely the worst. We went with five other couples, and they screwed up on four out of the five couples' reservations. They were not even apologetic; in fact, they were arrogant. When one of the couples went to management to complain, they later found a tiny fruit basket in their room. Room service was also a joke. We wrote a letter after our return to the management explaining our disappointment and they merely acknowleged our complaint. We'll never go there again! Bottom line - Go to Bellagio - It's an experience well worth a few extra dollars.

Sheena, I don't know what problem you had with room service at the Venetian, but I CAN tell you that the food was quite disappointing compared to the Bellagio. The room service beef really did taste pretty close to shoe leather -- absolutely horrible!! They should be ASHAMED of themselves!! In comparison, I can still taste the wonderful "pan seared beef tenderloin" that I ordered at Bellagio as I'm writing this to you this very minute!!

I found the Belligio to be a bit stuffy, not near as laid back as some of the other hotels on the strip. My idea of going to Vegas is to be able to lie back and relax and have some fun and in the future will probably stay somewhere else (and I'm sure at a lot less money).

Just returned from a 3 day stay at Venetian. Of course, it's beautiful and expensive. But as someone has mentioned, too big and too impersonal. Plus they are currently in the process of adding another 1000 rooms. So construction is in progress. Also, what we did not like is the walking though the casino to get to the rooms. <BR>We went to Bellagio for drinks and dinner and liked it much better. I don't know exactly how many rooms are there at Bellagio, but it seemed much more intimate and stuff very attentive. We will stay at the Bellagio next time.

Ned, <BR>If you could afford it stay at the Bellagio. Cleanist hotel on the strip and the cigarette smoke smell is kept to a minimum. At most of the other hotels the smell of smoke is disgusting. The Bellagio is immaculate and the casino is not as loud as the others. You will not be disappointed