Have the rather nice problem of having to choose between the Bellagio or the Venetian to stay in at the start of December.

Will be staying in a 'standard' room so could anyone say which one is the best one to stay in. Just me and the wife going, no kids, not a great gambler so standard of the Casino isn't a deal breaker.

I've not stayed at Bellagio, but I have stayed in a standard room at the Venetian a few years ago. I can tell you that it was a nice big room with a gorgeous bathroom! The room was bi-level, with the bed/bath "up" and then a "sunken" livingroom area. Quite elegant!

I've stayed at both. A year ago I would have said the Bellagio hands down as I felt the service was generally better and the hotel attracted a bit of an older, more upscale crowd.

But, on our last trip, which was our seventh or eigth stay at Bellagio, both my wife and I noticed how far it had slipped. They've made the decision to try and fill rooms and you can now get deeply discounted rates via things like priceline which has changed it, in my view, from a property where you could command a premium to one that is still nice, but not really special anymore.

The price for filling the hotel has been a real change in the clientele, and as a result, the level of service offered. (Long waits for bellman, room service, etc.) I'd also suggest that opening the Light nightclub has made it more of a destination for the under 30 crowd.

So, my advice is this - go with where you think you can get the best deal. The standard room at the Venetian is larger than the standard room at the Bellagio. If you don't care about the casino, then perhaps you might even consider the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay. Although for me, the Mandalay location at the far end of the Strip has less appeal than the mid-Strip location of the Bellagio and Venetian.

If you do stay at Bellagio, spring for the Lake View room. The Bellagio will not make a bad choice if you stay there and I realize I'm being overly harsh. But, for those who'd been there many times back when Steve Wynn owned it, the changes are certainly more disappointing.

I would recommend the Bellagio if staying on the strip. It is more centrally located versus the Venetian. The Bellagio is across the street from Paris. The Venetian is at the North end of the strip across from Treasure Island. For some reason the Venetian always seemed excessively crowded to us and the layout seemed odd. Also, the shops at Alladin were much nicer than at Venetian. Agree with Ryan, lakeview at the Bellagio would be a plus. Otherwise you will be facing the interstate. Also, if the strip is not a must then you may want to consider staying at the JW Marriott in Summerlin, about 20 minutes west of the strip. Stayed there over July 4 and absolutely loved it! You can hit the strip and then relax at this more secluded resort!

I would recommend the Venetian if staying in a standard room. The standard room at the Venetian will be significantly larger than the standard room at the Bellagio. Both are very nice properties in good locations and both have a very good selection of restaurants.

If you enjoy a Las Vegas style buffet when I was in vegas a couple of years back the Venetian didn't have any restaurants offering a buffet whilst the Bellagio does.

I think the standard rooms look better at the Venetian than the Bellagio but as for ambiance I preferred the Bellagio.

No buffets at the Venetian? I've just heard the best reason to stay there. Why people line up for steam table food (no matter how extravagant the display may be) I'll never understand. Especially when there are some of the best restaurants in the country all over Las Vegas that all prepare food to order. But I guess quantity is more important than quality to a lot of people. Sorry to rant, just my personal opinion.

While I agree with you Patrick, I think alot of people do feel that they get more for their money at a buffet.

I guess it's good for business that we are all different and no one way is absolute! My in-laws will choose a buffet everytime! They like to "try" things they have never had before and a buffet is one way to do that without risk!
Eating light makes my husband and I good canidates for a nice quiet prepared to order meal. We prefer to sit down and relax, enjoying each other's company and the atmostshere. I'm sure lots of people would be bored with us.

I definitely agree with you, too, Patrick,at least in general. But if you've got to do a buffett, I have heard the Bellagio's buffett is something else !

Buffets are like leaving the city down in Vegas - people generally admit to neither.

Everyone I speak to says "of course we don't do the buffets in vegas" and of the 20 or so people who I know who've made a trip to Vegas from the UK I'm the only one who didn't leave town "about even", I was down, and I had an excellent buffet at Paris to boot.

Seems like Vegas is on to a losing formula here!

I'll strongly agree with Patrick.
I've eaten at the 'best' buffets in LV, including Bellagio's, and as far as quality is concerned, buffets are a guaranteed disappointment IMO.
It's simply not possible to maintain freshness and appropriate moisture/temperature etc in a buffet set up for some types of food.
And compared with the quality of the food at most of Bellagio's restaurants, the buffet food quality is clearly a cut below.
Plus the atmosphere is cafeteria-ish, no service (except drinks).
I'm glad some people like buffets. Leaves extra tables open for others in the restaurants.

I'll agree that some people prefer buffets and that's fine. But I think the funniest comment I ever heard was a couple saying they preferred the buffets because most restaurants have such horribly slow service and they hate having to sit and wait. Yet they stand in line for up to hour to get into the buffet. I don't get it. By the way, the fact that this couple was severely obese might have been a better clue why they really liked buffets.
Now please don't misquote me -- I DIDN'T say all people who love buffets are obese!!!

Oh, and by the way. I think there is a difference between "getting more value for your money" and "getting MORE for your money".

Parts of Asia (e.g. Hong Kong)have got the buffet down to a fine art and Vegas could learn a trick or 2 here.

You have a choice of sometimes upwards of 200 or so different dishes most of which are available from a series (I counted 8 in one restaurant)of small kitchens within the restaurant where the chefs are constantly serving up small tasting quanities, or stuff made to order. Anything from Octopus to dim sum to fresh pasta to a Thai sald made to your exact specification- excellent quality - but not cheap.

Oh, and by the way. I think there is a difference between "getting more value for your money" and "getting MORE for your money".

What a true statement! Plus, the chances of someone sneezing on my food is much less in a sit down place!

I'm not afraid to admit it! Say it loud, say it proud - I Loved the Buffet at the Bellagio!

While I agree that you cannot compare the quality of food in the best buffet with the quality of food in a higher end restaurant, buffets do have their place. I usually, but not always, end up including one dinner buffet per trip - they are good for those days when you're not sure what you want to eat, want a quick dinner, don't want to spend a lot of money ($20-30 for buffet vs. $50-75 for restaurant per person), or can't get reservations at the time and/or restaurant you desire.

Stay at the Bellagio IF you can get a room facing the fountains. The room has a huge picture window and at night we would pull up the chairs and sit by the window and watch the fountains. You can turn the stereo to the fountain music, and you have your own private show. Also right behind the fountains is the Paris Eifel Tower with all the lights and it is gorgeous. What a picture. It was the most romantic weekend. The bed was so great with a soft comforter. Bathroom was gorgeous. The buffets there were fabulous. I highly recommend Bellagio if you can get a room facing the fountains, at least above the 12th floor.

I'm not here to argue, but I've always been curious about why people think it's worth it to spend quite a bit more to have a Bellagio room with view of the fountains. I had one once and didn't quite get the point. When I checked in, we looked out and yes it was pretty, but we don't sit in our room with chairs pulled up to the window looking out. After that initial looking out, I'm not sure if we ever did again for three days, except a glance when we drew the draperies open or closed. In fact, we much preferred going downstairs to the one lounge with the balcony to the fountains and have a drink while watching them.
Do people really sit in their rooms and watch the fountains? Just curious.

I think it creates an ambience, Patrick. Gives you a special feeling when in your room that creates a certain mood...If folks can afford it, why not? Its not all that different from the photos and paintings I hang in certain places in my home. I like how they look and the atmosphere. Some people like to have that while on vacation. Actually we all probably would like it. It's just a matter of forking out the extra bucks to get it.