Las Vegas Hotels
Dec 15th, 2002, 07:51 AM
#4
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Bellaggio, Mandalay Bay (Beautiful) and The Four Seasons (Small, beautiful hotel situated next to Mandalay Bay with no casino) for those who want quiet and great service - $$$$.
Venitian very gaudy - No comparison to these others. Listening to Las Vegas workers trying to speak and act Italian is so absurd.
Venitian very gaudy - No comparison to these others. Listening to Las Vegas workers trying to speak and act Italian is so absurd.
Dec 15th, 2002, 01:55 PM
#6
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My two favorites are the Venetian and Bellagio. They both are very nice. I believe the furnishings are nicer in Bellagio, but the rooms are larger at the Venetian. I don't think you can go wrong with either. I don't feel that the Mandalay is quite as nice as either of the above, it is nice but more comprable to say "Paris" (which by the way has some of the most spectacular headon views of the fountains than if you're actually staying at Bellagio! My wife actually prefers the Venetian over Bellagio but we're happy with which ever has the best rate at the time. (we go 4 times per year).
Dec 15th, 2002, 02:14 PM
#7
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I'm glad to see a few people finally recognizing Venetian for what it is.
It is a heavy handed theme hotel which has big rooms as a plus, but most things are borderline (or blatantly in some cases) cheesy.
And that's fine if you like typical Vegas-y hotels.
But if you are looking for the 'best' hotels in Las Vegas, Bellagio is the only luxury casino-hotel in LV that could survive as a luxury hotel in any city in the US, becuase it's the real thing.
Venetian would be laughed at for its chessiness in NYC or Chicago, and the rooms are decent, but they're nowhere near as nice as a typical big city luxury hotel. The carpet is cheap, the beds do not have luxury mattresses or nice sheets, the armoires are cheap.
Just because a room is big doesn't make it desirable. A big suite in an airport Ramada Inn is still a Ramada Inn.
The Venetian is big, the rooms are big, but that doesn't make it nice in the sense of luxury.
It is a heavy handed theme hotel which has big rooms as a plus, but most things are borderline (or blatantly in some cases) cheesy.
And that's fine if you like typical Vegas-y hotels.
But if you are looking for the 'best' hotels in Las Vegas, Bellagio is the only luxury casino-hotel in LV that could survive as a luxury hotel in any city in the US, becuase it's the real thing.
Venetian would be laughed at for its chessiness in NYC or Chicago, and the rooms are decent, but they're nowhere near as nice as a typical big city luxury hotel. The carpet is cheap, the beds do not have luxury mattresses or nice sheets, the armoires are cheap.
Just because a room is big doesn't make it desirable. A big suite in an airport Ramada Inn is still a Ramada Inn.
The Venetian is big, the rooms are big, but that doesn't make it nice in the sense of luxury.
Dec 15th, 2002, 03:06 PM
#8
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I don't really know which is the best,...We haven't stayed at Bellagio (just walked through it) although this is getting high marks, but have stayed at Venetian, MGM, Paris, NYNY, Mandalay Bay, Ceasar's Palace and Treasure Island. Of these, we thought the Venetian was the nicest. We were treated very well and the 2nd level shops are amazing. We had room service off and on for 5 days and were quite impressed....quick delivery and good, hot food. There is also an excellent restaurant but I can't recall the name. Of those above, I didn't care for NyNy...was lost for 4 days wondering around it!
Dec 15th, 2002, 03:36 PM
#9
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I think that the more important question than best hotel, is the location of a hotel. Mandalay Bay has great pools, and Luxor is just plain "cool", but they are WAY down the strip from everything else. During the day you can drive down the strip to see everything, but at night... it is gridlock. The public transport is always full, and it is FOREVER to walk all the way down to Mirage and Treasure Island (remember, you still have to get back). If we go back, I would definately stay either around Bellagio/Paris, or a block further at Venetian/Mirage/Treasure Island.
Dec 15th, 2002, 08:02 PM
#10
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Ever heard of cabs?
They're all over Las Vegas.
Plus there are trams which are free.
One runs Bally's to MGM, the other from Bellagio to Monte Carlo.
That cuts your walk by a third right there.
The only people who would refuse to stay at a nicer hotel only because it's not in the center of the strip are lazy or cheap.
Plenty of good reasons exist to stay at places in mid strip like Paris, Bellagio, etc. But location is not the ONLY thing to consider.
They're all over Las Vegas.
Plus there are trams which are free.
One runs Bally's to MGM, the other from Bellagio to Monte Carlo.
That cuts your walk by a third right there.
The only people who would refuse to stay at a nicer hotel only because it's not in the center of the strip are lazy or cheap.
Plenty of good reasons exist to stay at places in mid strip like Paris, Bellagio, etc. But location is not the ONLY thing to consider.
Dec 16th, 2002, 07:29 AM
#11
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You are wrong about those not willing to stay elsewhere are lazy or cheap. We were at the Mandalay and took a taxi to Treasure Island to see Mystere. We allowed over an hour. We were totally gridlocked in the traffic -- someone had been hit by a car while crossing the street (not an unusual situation). The taxi driver finally let us out by Bally's so we could walk. We got there too late and they wouldn't seat us. $200 down the drain!
Stay where you can get from place to place unless you enjoy sitting in taxis all evening.
Stay where you can get from place to place unless you enjoy sitting in taxis all evening.
Dec 16th, 2002, 07:56 AM
#12
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Sorry you missed Mystere, but you have to accept at least some responsibility on that one.
The distance from Mandalay to Treasure Island can be walked in 30 minutes.
If you were stuck in traffic for 45 minutes and hadn't moved, and you only had 15 minutes to go before curtain, and you were within a half mile (near Bally's), common sense would dictate it's time to ditch the cab.
You wouldn't stay on the Titanic as it slowly sunk, hoping it would suddenly fix itself.
As for traffic on the strip, every cabbie kows you don't drive the strip at night from abou 6-10. There are very efficient corollary streets on both sides of the strip which are a snap to access.
The distance from Mandalay to Treasure Island can be walked in 30 minutes.
If you were stuck in traffic for 45 minutes and hadn't moved, and you only had 15 minutes to go before curtain, and you were within a half mile (near Bally's), common sense would dictate it's time to ditch the cab.
You wouldn't stay on the Titanic as it slowly sunk, hoping it would suddenly fix itself.
As for traffic on the strip, every cabbie kows you don't drive the strip at night from abou 6-10. There are very efficient corollary streets on both sides of the strip which are a snap to access.
Dec 16th, 2002, 08:03 AM
#13
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Well if every cabbie knows that, then I guess our problem was trusting a cabbie in LV who didn't tell us that. In fact he kept insisting the problem WAS fixing itself, and since we was talking with others on a cell phone we believed him until it was clearly too late.
Dec 16th, 2002, 08:11 AM
#14
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Most every cabbie in LV I've ridden with (but not all, I can think of 2 exceptions) know that the side streets are the key to getting people from one end of the strip to the other.
If going fom MB to TI, you take a left (west) on Tropicana (1st big intersection north of MB) and get on the interstate, which exits at Spring Mtn, which is the street TI is on.
Should be a short ride, 10 minutes at most times. Only one major intersection using that route.
If going fom MB to TI, you take a left (west) on Tropicana (1st big intersection north of MB) and get on the interstate, which exits at Spring Mtn, which is the street TI is on.
Should be a short ride, 10 minutes at most times. Only one major intersection using that route.
Dec 16th, 2002, 09:07 AM
#15
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OK, I'll admit my situation may have been unusual. But when I say gridlock, that's what it was. This person who was hit by a car had just happened as we got near that interesection. Traffic stopped, dozens of emergency vehicles showed up and there was no way for the taxi to escape as traffic immediately blocked us in from all directions. He was taling with others on the cell phone who kept saying it was clearing up, and we had no reason to doubt that.
Dec 16th, 2002, 09:33 AM
#16
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My wife and I stayed at the Bellagio last November and were disappointed. Although it is a grand hotel in the context of scale, it is not a Grand hotel in the context of luxury.
My greatest problem with the Bellagio were the little details you expect a great hotel to oversee. Room doors should close easily. Doors to closets should stay on their hinges. Gum wrappers should be cleaned from the room floor before the guest checks in. Dirty glasses left outside for housekeeping should be picked up within 24 hours. From talking with several old time employees, the quality has declined since Steve Wynn left.
I was very disappointed in the quality of its so called four star restaurants. Both Picasso and Prime were decent/good. At that price, I expect spectacular, or at least outstanding. Will say, the breakfast buffet was a good value, with excellent food.
My wife had a problem with the exercise facility. The Bellagio only has 10 treadmills for a over 3,000 rooms. All of them were full when my wife went to exercise. She asked one of the managers if he could start a waiting list. He declined her request because he was going to be teaching a class. She decided not to exercise and asked for a refund. She had to go through three people before the refunc was granted. Needless to say, she was not happy.
I don't know where we will stay if we go back. Probably the Venetian, maybe the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay.
My greatest problem with the Bellagio were the little details you expect a great hotel to oversee. Room doors should close easily. Doors to closets should stay on their hinges. Gum wrappers should be cleaned from the room floor before the guest checks in. Dirty glasses left outside for housekeeping should be picked up within 24 hours. From talking with several old time employees, the quality has declined since Steve Wynn left.
I was very disappointed in the quality of its so called four star restaurants. Both Picasso and Prime were decent/good. At that price, I expect spectacular, or at least outstanding. Will say, the breakfast buffet was a good value, with excellent food.
My wife had a problem with the exercise facility. The Bellagio only has 10 treadmills for a over 3,000 rooms. All of them were full when my wife went to exercise. She asked one of the managers if he could start a waiting list. He declined her request because he was going to be teaching a class. She decided not to exercise and asked for a refund. She had to go through three people before the refunc was granted. Needless to say, she was not happy.
I don't know where we will stay if we go back. Probably the Venetian, maybe the Four Seasons at Mandalay Bay.
Dec 16th, 2002, 09:43 AM
#17
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I disagree with the negative comments about Venetian. We stayed there last month and the rooms are amazing and the casino is very nice. So what it if it has a theme? Mandalay Bay is very nice. The tops in LV, in my opinion, are Bellagio, Venetian, Mandalay (including the 4 Seasons).
Dec 16th, 2002, 11:36 AM
#18
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The Venetian is very nice. I do not this it is cheesy at all. The rooms are nice, the lobby is nice, the shopping area and San Marco square area is nice. The Gondola ride was nice. There is nothing wrong with a theme hotel if your on vacation!
And, it did remind at least a little bit of being in Italy.
And, it did remind at least a little bit of being in Italy.
Dec 16th, 2002, 05:01 PM
#20
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Venetian is truly a luxurious and elegant classy hotel....if you're comparing it to a Ramada.
Compare it to any Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons hotel.
It is cheesy and it is worn by comparison.
In las Vegas Venetian is not considered cheesy because down the street you have monuments to trailer trash tackiness like Circus Circus and Excalibur.
But if you put Venetian in NYC it would be made fun of.
Compare it to any Ritz Carlton or Four Seasons hotel.
It is cheesy and it is worn by comparison.
In las Vegas Venetian is not considered cheesy because down the street you have monuments to trailer trash tackiness like Circus Circus and Excalibur.
But if you put Venetian in NYC it would be made fun of.
