I'll try to keep this brief.
Just got back from three nights in Las Vegas.
We stayed at the Bellagio. Our original room was standard facing the pools, the room was not as spectacular as the price tag would suggest, but it was nice. Went to Olives for dinner, appetizer (foie gras) was amazing, entree.. not bad. wine was excellent. Our room key was misfunctioning and after an hour or so of trying to fix it they moved us to a corner (salone) suite with fountain view. This was amazing, and if you can afford it go for this room. The view of Paris and the fountain. A jacuzzi tub with views of the mountains.
Bellagio buffet lunch was excellent.
Best luck gambling on fremont street, definitly the most fun place to be. The waitresses are fast to bring drinks (but please tip) and the attitude is laid back.
Crepes in Paris left much to be desired. Shintaro was excellent.

I had always heard such great things about the crepes at Paris, so I'm a little surprised by your opinion. Have you been to France to have them and these didn't compare, or do you just not like crepes that much?

i did go to school in paris for awhile and may be prejudiced. But i wasn't expecting a replica of parisian crepes. The taste of them was ok... but there was an aftermath from eating these crepes

You duplicated my trip to the Bellagio exactly. I moved from the standard room voluntarily because I was NOT impressed with it at all, and found the salone suite facing the fountains just as you described it--perfect!!

Yup Penthouse Suite was sweet! Also loves Shintaro and Prime. Not cheap but what the heck. Our room was spotless, huge and wonderful. I would not recomment the Bellagio unless you are able and willing to part with some serious cash though. Since we stayed a week we wanted a nice room to relax in. A week of running around would have killed us. We slept late, couple nights retired to our suite with dinner and then relaxed in our bed by 8PM.

We LOVED the crepes at paris. I had them make it with the fresh fruit from the salad bar( raspberries and straw berries) Do not see "V" at the Venetian. It is like a high school talent show- very disappointed!!We stay at the falmoingo with a strip view for 40.00$, saw the fountains from our room!!

That Falmoingo is one heckuva deal.
Neaxt time I'll try the Startsohper or the Torpicano though.

Bellagio is a wonderful hotel.

We stayed in a penthouse suite facing the fountains and Paris/Alladin. The room was meticulously clean and accommodating. You enter to a foyer having a marble half bath on your right and on your left is a wet bar with a fridge with an icemaker (you will learn that the wet bar has sensors.... careful even looking!) Then you enter a nice sitting and TV area. There was a second bedroom with its own bath/TV off to the side but we did not need it. In the large room there is a fax (personal incoming number), several two line telephones on a marble desk. A dining room with a delightfully pretty chandelier overhead. Two large windows were overlooking the fountains. (Minor bummer was the outside decor of the small pillars made it a pain to look out without going up and down. Then into the master bedroom with a queen bed and large window with a sitting area. Two master bathrooms are off the bedroom. One his, with a steam shower, and one hers, with a whirlpool tub and make-up area, and of course a very nice closet, which my wife seemed to immediately fill. Off the each of the bathrooms is a separate toilet and bidet. Rooms were nice Italian marble accented by brass. Towels everywhere.

The housekeeping staff was first class. It seemed just after we turned off our Do Not Disturb sign, a housekeeper was at the door ready to completely clean. They checked throughout the day and it seemed if you came in, washed your hands, they would clean the powder room, give you new soap and fresh towels. The turn down service was also very professional and well done!

The hotel staff was very friendly from security, housekeepers, bellmen, front desk staff, dealers, pit bosses and even management.

The food we ate at both Sintaro and Prime Steakhouse was so tasty, my wife and I took a nap after dinner as we piggishly gorged ourselves due to the outright exceptional flavor of the food. The service throughout all was first class or above. We laughed about an occasion in Prime. The waiter courteously asked me how I wanted my steak done, I told him medium rare... When I cut the steak it was a bit too pink for me and I put up my finger... within seconds three waiters rushed to my table with my waiter pushing his way through the others. I apologized for ordering my steak too rare (I hate those pretentious people who get off on just sending things back) and within minutes, my steak was back in front of me cooked a bit more. The presentations were five diamonds even though it is only a four diamond. We did not go to Picasso, which is their five-diamond restaurant.

My wife enjoyed the shops but they are either too formal or one of the staff was inches from her as she browsed, an irritant to her. If she wants to buy (believe me she does) or has questions, she will ask. She enjoyed the Aladdin Desert Passage shops across the street, as they are more to her, "funkier noveau" taste. She did get a nice handbag from Prada at the Bellagio. (go to next post please)

Second of two pages...

The casino seemed, "smokier" than most. I have no problems with smokers, they should be able to drink and gamble and have fun. I think Bellaigo should have a better air movement/filtration system. The slots are probably the tightest on the strip. Table games were great and all of the dealer staff were very friendly.

A tad of a disappointment was the botanical gardens; they were nice but were not, "Bellagio Stunning". We felt a bit miffed that Bellagio wanted $15.00 from paying guests to view the Faberge collections from Russia.

We heard since the property was sold a couple of years ago that it was going a bit downhill. It's not close to the bottom as we checked out many other hotels on the strip and Bellagio is well above all. There is noticeable wear on the carpet edges, chips on the woodwork, bathrooms that could be scrubbed; but again, they were far above the other places. (God was Excalibur grimey.yuk, the Palms bathrooms looked like they were not touched for a day).

The outside grounds were nice and the "junk and service" well hidden.

All looking back, we were so pleased that we stayed there and the Bellagio is a very elegant hotel. Next time we may stay at the Four Seasons, which is on the upper floors of the Mandalay Bay. There is a tram that takes you up the strip. (We don't like taxi, limo...I can use the walks) The Mandalay Bay seemed less crowded, less lines; and the Four Seasons prides itself on personal hospitality, 1:1. A 3000 room hotel can be excellent but the "personal ness" of the Four Seasons is nice.

Again, definitely stay at the Bellagio if you have never stayed there before, it was wonderful!

Very nice, informative post, SLC.
Thanks for taking the time.
If you get a standard room at Four Seasons you'll be disappointed. They're certainly OK, but not special by any means. And since there is no casino to bring in revenue to offset hotel overhead, rooms at FS are relatively overpriced compared to casino hotels in LV.

I found the Bellagio to be one of the less smokey casinos! They have high ceilings and a very good ventilation system.
I think there is just too much hype sometimes over certain places, and no matter how nice they are, they will never please anyone with such high expectations. As in the case of the Bellagio.