As many of you know, the lovely Anniz and I are getting married this year. We’re hoping to do it late summer in Las Vegas. Since I’m only getting married once, I’m going to do it in style: by an Elvis impersonator.
Okay, that might seem a little tacky. How’s this:
As many of you know, the lovely Anniz and I are getting married this year. We’re hoping to do it late summer in Las Vegas. Since I’m only getting married once, I want to treat her to the best hotel in Vegas, cost-be-damned.
Having never been to Vegas, I have searched Expedia and found a lot of four-star hotels, and only one five-star(the Bellagio). So, Dopers, where ya been? What’s the best?
The only decent hotel I’ve actually stayed in is Treasure Island, but the Bellagio is far and away the nicest hotel there. That would be my pick if I had the bucks.
Keep in mind that you’re going to be spending an awful lot of time outside the hotel room going places. I’d go to Hoover Dam and take the hard hat tour if I were you! I just got married this past December and we stayed in the Venetian for almost a week. It was pleasant enough and I think we just got a standard room with a king sized bed.
The lady and I stayed at Mandalay Bay when we went last September. It was pretty kickass. The only complaint I had was its location, it’s at the very south end of the strip. That makes a long hike up the strip to make it to the north end. IIRC, the Bellagio is almost in the middle, and that is where I would aim for next time I go. That way, you can take a day and head south, and take another day and head north. The Luxor was cool to walk through, but kinda cheesy at the same time. I wouldn’t want to stay there. Of course, there’s cheese abound in Vegas.
We walked through the Bellagio, and It was nice. Good location on the strip and a top notch hotel. You really can’t go wrong there, IMO.
Bellagio is in fact, terrific. I stayed there when it was on the company’s dime (or many dimes). Sadly, since it was business, I didn’t spend much time in the room or sampling the hotel services.
On personal vacation, we stayed at the Luxor. I agree with mouthbreather that it was a little cheesy, but isn’t everything in Vegas? I would also say that about Bellagio, simply because it’s so over the top. At the Luxor, we stayed in the tower, rather than the pointy part, because the rooms are larger. The bathroom was divine, oh yes, it was divine. As Mr. Del and the rest of his entire family who were there at the reunion are apparently gambling addicts, a charming little factoid I didn’t know before agreeing to the Vegas vacation, I spent quite a bit of time in the bathroom, savouring the delights of paddling about in a tub the size of a wading pool. The Egyptian decor motif does extend to the room interiors, but that might add a little something if you feel like playing Antony and Cleopatra, if you know what I mean. I myself spent quite some time lounging around, declaring “I am Pharoah!” in my best Hollywood voice, but as the better half was off at the blackjack tables, it didn’t have the desired effect.
Now that you all know much too much about my Vegas vacation, I will close by saying that while there is a step up from the Luxor to Bellagio, it wasn’t nearly as large of a step as I would have expected based on the difference in price. If cost is a non-issue, then go nuts at Bellagio. But, if you decide to spend the money on other delightfully romantic things, you’ll still have a splendid time at a 4 star Vegas hotel.
Just got back from Vegas. By far the coolest pool was at Mandelay Bay, and I hear that they won the poll for the best standard rooms and largest most comfortable bathrooms. Most beautiful hotel, however was the Bellagio. Just the detail in the lobby was unreal. My opinion is either way, you can’t go wrong.
I agree about Bellagio being the most elegant. I’ve stayed there twice (on vacations) and have been completely satisfied.
Mandalay Bay, though not in the same tier, is also very nice. Great pool.
Prior to about 1997, my favorite was The Mirage. Gorgeous day and night. MGM Grand is another fine Vegas hotel, but there’s something about the casino I just don’t care for.
As each new hotel trumps the competition, I can’t imagine what we’ll find in 20 years. Gems like the Mirage may be razed because they lack the overkill and flash. A pity.
More support here for the Mirage. Loved the casino, nice location, and unlike some hotels, wasn’t overrun by kids (I love kids, but some hotels seem to have a surplus of them. For the love of God, stay away from the Excalibur.) Good restaurants, didn’t seem quite as cheesy as the other places, and the room service was outstanding.
If you really want to go all out, stay in the Four Seasons floors of Mandelay Bay. While I haven’t been there myself, a computer consultant we use gets to stay there for free because he set up their facilities computer network. He says it’s unreal. (At $600 a night, it had better be!) Bellagio is actually a step down from the Four Seasons.
Skip the Luxor. I stayed there once, just because, working in the facilities industry, I wanted to ride the damn sideways elevators. How weird is that? I would like to echo the warning about Excalibur and tiny children running about without let.
In addition to the much-discussed Bellagio, I’d suggest checking out the Venetian. Their entrance isn’t as magnificent, but I think the rooms are better – they’re slightly larger (every room is a mini-suite), and the ones on the strip side of the hotel (it’s a Y-shaped hotel, so check out a map and ask when you call) have a slightly better view. Also, I think Venetian has a better lineup of on-site restaurants. (Try Delmonico’s even if you don’t stay at the property.)
The one thing to be careful of is conventions. The Venetian backs up to the Las Vegas Convention center and actively markets itself to that crowd. You’d hate for your honeymoon suite to be sandwiched between a couple of Elks out on the town.
If you stay at the Bellagio (and I’d highly recommend it), make sure to get a room facing the fountains, which, IMHO, are absolutely breathtakingly fabulous. My wife and I spent many hours in our Bellagio bathrobes staring out the windows at the fountain show. (Which kept the gambling losses to a minimum, as an added benefit). The music to which the fountains are synchronized is played on one of the hotel TV channels.
We liked MGM Grand and Luxor, too; I think the Luxor tower rooms are bigger and better than the rooms in the pyramid, although you don’t get to ride in the inclinator. We were very disappointed in Caesar’s.
SLIGHT HIJACK … Folks, in answering the O.P., I would be interested to see you include what major hotels you find most disappointing.
I’ve never stayed at the Excalibur, but I have walked through it and it strikes me as terribly depressing inside. Circus, Circus is another four-star let down. Caesar’s isn’t a lot better.
The off-strip Hilton isn’t spectacular and certainly lacks wow, but it does have a certain refinement, IMHO.
Having never stayed there, but having sampled the restaurants and amenities, I would agree with the positive reviews of Mandalay Bay and the Bellagio. I would also like to put in a plug for Paris. I stayed there and loved it. The service is wonderful and the rooms are beautiful. If nothing else, wander over to get some bread and deserts at the bakery–Anniz will be missing European baking and the bakery at Paris is wonderful.
Married, huh? You crazy kids.
I should talk though… Me and the soon to be Mrs. Not-Taking-My-Last-Name are getting hitched at the Bellagio on Sept 30th! Went out there earlier this year and did a forced march up and down the strip trying to figure out where to get hitched.
The Bellagio it is! Like nearly everyone else said, it’s amazing. Most casinos there are just over the top-cheesy. Bellagio is more over the top-classy.
That said, we’re actually not staying at the Bellagio.
Why? Well it’s pricey as hell. Nearly twice as expensive as most other casinos. So while we’re actually being wed at the Bellagio, we’re staying at Paris, which is nearby. that way we get all the pretty pictures and elegance of the Bellagio while staying somewhere that won’t kill us financially.
Personally, we’re saving our pennies to honeymoon in Maui.
As neat as Vegas is, it aint no tropical island.
Hot tip: Use a travel agent. Shop a few and see what they can get you. I tried looking online for a good deal but the best buys ended up being through a local agency. And both of those means are cheaper than calling the casinos directly for reservations I’ve found.
Anyways, have fun and good luck!
-seriousart
PS: DO NOT leave Vegas without going to the Bellagio’s buffet.
It is AMAZING. I generally don’t like buffets but this was great. Especially if you like seafood. Imagine a 5 star restaurant serving all you can eat for 13 bucks. Almost too good to be true.
It’s still too early to book a room, but the Bellagio is the early leader. The fact that my father might be able to score us a free room there is a plus, in my book.
I’ll be bumping this thread in a month or so, as the date (what date?) gets closer.
When is the big day, I can let you know what I think.