It’s a shame, but I’ve only ever been to Vegas for work. That being said I’ve had the opportunity to stay at a variety of hotels there and I can say that I’ve been thoroughly impressed with quite a few. My stay at the Venetian however, tops the charts as one of the better hotels on the strip.
As a Venice-themed hotel, everything is ornate and luxurious. In the more expensive Vegas hotels, you’ll find the rooms are invariably large (usually with space for two queen beds, and a separate office and sitting area) and the Venetian is no exception. The rooms are spacious, with large beautiful bathrooms (usually complete with TV’s in the both the toilet room and shower area). The room decoration is decadent, playing off elaborate Italian detailing and rich colors of gold, red and green. The lobby is enormous (when I’ve been there it’s been done-up for the Chinese New Year complete with fake tigers, red lanterns and bamboo).
The element that is most convenient about the Venetian is the location. The hotel is connected to hundreds of high-end shops and restaurants (including Wolfgang Pucks Postrio and Mario Batali’s Enoteca). These other attractions are housed in the façade of Venice’s San Marco Plaza. There is a real canal that runs through the walkways, complete with a gondola ride and singing actors. With my adoration of Italy, as far as themes go, this is one of the better (if you can handle a slight element of cheese).
The Venetian also plays host to the restaurant Tao (great for Asian fusion food and nightlife), Jersey Boys (the theatrical) and is a short walk to the Palazzo. Down the street you’ll find the Wynn, a wonderful hotel for grabbing a cocktail and sitting on their outdoor patio. Though The Venetian is not in the middle of the strip, its placement is perfect for the types of venues I’d prefer to visit. And last but not least – The Venetian casino is one of the better. It has a larger selection of games and most are new. A few of my favorite include: Deal or No Deal (
see the full review), Indiana Jones, and Monopoly. Tables are a bit higher per hand, but not as steep as the Wynn (which gives newbie gamblers a chance to play without breaking the bank).
Tips:
Allow the bellboy to bring your suitcases up to the room for you! Remember this is a huge hotel. After a day of travel, you don’t want to be dragging your heavy luggage down their endless hallways.
The Venetian hosts a variety of eating options including a fast food court inside the casino area as well as casual/fine dining restaurants near the shops. Talk with the concierge about restaurant reservations as soon as you get there. I found restaurants (especially when there are large conventions in town) book up fast. It’s often easier to get a reservation through the concierge that calling the restaurant directly.
If you plan on gambling you should head directly to the Grazie desk and sign up for a Grazie card. The Grazie membership is a customer loyalty program. Use the card anytime you pay for anything in Venetian or the Palazzo (including gambling). Accrue enough points and you could get free items, a gambling voucher, a free airport shuttle, etc.
