Hi, it's our first trip to Las Vegas. We are planning to go in the next three months. Which hotel would be a better choice. Thanks so much for your input.

I have stayed at the Bellagio. I also visited the Venetian. They are probably the two finest hotels in Vegas. I think the rooms and pools are a little nicer at the Bellagio, but the Venetian has much more to offer, especially the spectacular Venice indoor recreation. You will swear that you are in Venice. If I were to go back, I will probably stay at the Venetian, although you will not be disappointed with either choice.

Bellagio is the more luxurious of the two. Dining is better also. While Venetian's restaurants are well known, Bellagio's are famous for being some of the best in the country.

It is a matter of taste-
We prefered the Bellagio's location, fountains and gorgeous indoor gardens to the stuffy indoor mall re-creation of Venice.

We have not stayed at the Venetian, altho we've visited. We stayed at the Bellagio and loved it. We really enjoyed the restaurants, the pools and whole pool area, the bars, the atmosphere. Calm, quiet and elegant. We stayed in a standard Bellagio room, and it was VERY nice, relaxing and comfortable. People often say "why pay for a nice room in Vegas 'cus you're never in it", altho I personally love a nice room. I've heard that the rooms at the Venetian are large and "suite-like". Check out the both websites if you're interested in the rooms since they both show pix and floorplans. Have fun choosing! My vote: Bellagio.

IMO, there's no comparison, Bellagio all the way. If you think the Venetian looks like Venice, you haven't been to Venice.

Bellagio is the more refined of the two. Venetian, while not cheesy (by LV standards anyway) is a little more Disney-ish. The suites at Bellagio are significantly better than the suites at Venetian. The standard rooms are a bit larger at Venetian, but the quality of the interior elements (beds, sheets, furniture, drapes etc) is better at Bellagio.
Bellagio has better restaurants, no question there.
Bellagio has better location, no question there either.
Venetian has more shopping by volume of stores, but Bellagio has the high end retailers relative to Venetian.
Bellagio has the "O" theater (Cirque du Soleil).

If you made up a scoring sheet of some type, Bellagio would get an overall higher score. But some people still like Venetian better as a matter of taste.

"you will swear that you are in Venice". You're kidding right?? That's one of the funniest comments I've ever read here, no offense.

Did Thomas Keller open Bouchon in the Venetian yet? I think it was due to open sometime around now. ***kim***

Agree, the Venetian is pure Epcot - not even vaguely like the real thing.

I get to spend a week at the Bellagio for my company's annual marketing meeting. You can't imagine how happy reading these comments makes me!

if you stood in the Venetian and could swear you were in Venice, did you really think you were in New York when you stood in New York, New York, or did you really believe you were on Treasure Island when there, or really thought you were in the real Paris? Were you convinced you were in old Rome at Ceaser's Palace? And did you really feel you were inside the real pyramids at Luxor? some people have a very strange view of things.

We stayed in a penthouse suite at the Bellagio during Christmas/New Years 2002/3 and could not have been happier. We overlooked the fountains and Paris. The posters before me have outlined it well. Restaurants were first class and the staff was excellent. Not many kids running around and as they say; Bellagio wants you to make kids there...not bring them! LOL I am very fussy and look for wear and tear or something not, "just perfect"...had a hard time to find anything but perfection there. Loved Cirque and the house seats were great. When we return we are thinking of staying at The Four Seasons as we like to try different ones. Believe me the Bellagio is top.

Walking through the consevatory in the Bellagio was wonderful, all the flowers, the aroma was lovely...very classy, very beautiful...The Venetian is fun to walk around in for an afternoon, many neat shops and the gondola ride...have fun !

Those comments about "feel like being in Venice" and "was NY NY like being in NY " still have me laughing!! Great sense of humor,people!

I LOVE the Bellagio..make sure you get a room facing the dancing waters...
The service in this hotel acutally surpassed my stays in the Ritz Carlton, and I thought that was previously the tops!!

Make sure the concierge gets you a table for dinner at Le Cirque..ONE of the best meals of my life among gorgeous interiors and superb service..

Venetian definitely reminds me of EPCOT, only way more fun! the shopping is MORE affordable but I STILL LOVE the Bellagio the best!! Am actually going back there this coming Oct...

As someone who's actually BEEN to Venice and to Las Vegas, let me assure you that this megacasino complex and the real Italian city aren't that similar. Geez.

i'm replying again since i did it wrong first time. stayed at both and the bellagio is Much better in every category (view, elegance, decor, cleanliness etc) yet i had one very aggravating experience at the B. my husband and i tried to have an unplanned dinner one nite -no reservations, not willing to spend $100's - that's not easy at the B. there were either long lines or ties required or gourmet prices. after searching for an hour, we took a tram to monte carlo and ate there. very frustrating. the venetian, by contrast, has very convenient food courts just steps from the elevators. so if u want an elegant meal, that can be arranged, but if u just want a quick bite to eat, that's also possible. don't know about u, but not every meal needs to be an occasion. sometimes a cup of coffee and a quick sandwich is what u want. and it's very nice when u can walk 20 steps from your elevator and accomplish that. I was truly impressed that an upscale hotel provided this to their guests. saved alot of aggravation. one more thing. I read on this site about the value of tipping the maitre'd, and they were absolutely right. went to circo's for dinner (with reservations) and was told there were no tables by windows. after tipping, a table immediately became available - a perfect location which was more than worth the tip.

Bellagio....by ALL means. We stayed there last July, 2003. Wonderful! Ate at the Prime....again WONDERFUL! Saw the Celine Dion show at Ceasar's Palace.....Wonderful again! Hubby even liked her after seeing her show. Treated like a queen and kind by the staff. You HAVE to stay at the Bellagio.

When we arrived at Bellagio, we ate a very late lunch at a wonderful Asian noodle place sort of tucked away on the main floor. It was not only very reasonable, but simply delicious. There are some alternatives to the "gourmet" expensive places at Bellagio.