Las Vegas - A Playground For The Sophisticated Traveler

VegasLAS

A Playground for the Sophisticated Traveler?

by Rachael Erickson

Enjoy the wonders and leave the craziness behind…

Most people think of Las Vegas as Sin City, party capital of the world. Wild pool parties fueled by loud music and excessive drinking…packed nightclubs pounding out a beat…out-of-towners living by the motto “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.” This saying has come to mean that socially unacceptable behavior is not only okay, but expected.

With this in mind, I took a recent trip to Las Vegas to see if the wonders of Vegas could be experienced in elegant, sophisticated style without the riotous parties. What I found was the side of Vegas that revels in indulgence, but leaves the craziness behind.

Where to Stay

There are hundreds of wonderful places to stay in Las Vegas, but only a few that have truly earned a 5-star rating.

• The Bellagio, with its stunningly beautiful plant conservatory • Wynn Encore, with its bold elegance • Palazzo with its waterfalls, • Trump Tower with its gold and crystal

These have been favorites for years because they are beautiful and boast top level service, comfort and style. While the Town Center hotels, Aria, Mandarin Oriental and Vdarra are also claiming the five star distinction, they are newer properties with mixed reviews. All of the favorites listed have lovely suites, but even an average room will be cleaner, quieter and will offer better amenities than many other hotels. Mandarin and Vdarra are non-smoking properties, which don’t have casinos or nightclubs, so they tend to be much more peaceful. My personal stay at Vdarra was enjoyable, and the 950 square foot suite with views overlooking the Bellagio fountains was stunning.

Much of the joy of staying in Las Vegas comes with experiencing the different themes of each hotel. The Venetian and its

Bellagio Fountains Venetian Waterways

more upscale twin resort, the Palazzo, do wonders with the theme of the Floating City. Grand canals flow through the Venetian, with gondola rides complete with singing gondoliers. The hotel ceilings are painted like beautiful skies with lighting and cloud movement that mimic the outdoors. These resorts have “quiet pools,” where surrounded by palm trees and misters, guests can lounge, read or relax poolside or in a rented cabana.

If you prefer something more than the 5-star experience, consider renting one of the extreme luxury villas such as the Mirage and Nobu Villa at Caesar’s Palace. They can include 10,000 square foot private villas with amenities such as private pools, terraces, butlers and VIP access to special clubs or attractions, such as yoga with the dolphins.

The Food Scene

Vegas has always been a place of gastronomic indulgence. In years past it was the land of grand buffets and steakhouses, but things have changed quite a bit. The steakhouses remain, but the buffets are few and far between. Restaurants run by TV chefs and personalities are the current trend. Gordon Ramsey, from Hell’s Kitchen and MasterChef, has a steakhouse and pub at Caesars Palace, along with a burger place at Planet Hollywood. His former cohost from MasterChef, Joe Bastianich, has paired up with well-respected Mario Batali at the Palazzo and the Venetian with four restaurants under the B&B label. The rest of the strip is inundated with restaurants named for Food Network celebrities: Bobby Flay, Giada De Laurentis, Guy Fieri, Scott Conant and Chris Santos. Word on the street is that most of the television star restaurants are not worth your time and money, with the exception

of Scott Conant’s Scarpetta at the Cosmopolitan. In addition, there are many well-known chefs who have restaurants here, including Emeril Lagasse, Wolfgang Puck and Thomas Keller. These restaurants tend to have high standards and the food reflects it. These are chefs whose reputation relies on excellent food, rather than on television fame.

Steakhouses abound in Sin City with amazing variety, from house aged filet mignon to Japanese Wagyu and more. It can be difficult to choose from the many available, so here are some suggestions. Michael Mina, the James Beard winning chef, has made quite a splash in the dessert with Strip Steak at Mandalay Bay. Guests can taste one of Gordon Ramsey’s famed Beef Wellingtons at Paris, Las Vegas. At the other end of the strip you will find Cut at the Palazzo, Wolfgang Puck’s entry in this category, and SW Steakhouse at the Wynn, serving real Kobe beef.

For the best al fresco dining, try Mon Ami Gabi at Paris for views of the strip, or Jardin at the Wynn Encore. The Bellagio also has great outdoor dining overlooking its fabulous fountains.

Experiences

Brand new as of last year is the High Roller, a gigantic observation wheel mid-strip at the Linq. At 520 feet, it is larger than both London’s and Singapore’s wheels. This wheel has 28 glassed-in cabins holding up to 40 people. Riders experience a 360 degree view of the entire strip while enjoying bar service. Book in advance of your trip to reserve a 30 minute ride at www.caesars.com/linq/high-roller.

The brand new T-Mobile Arena, located behind New York New York, hosts both sports and music events. It seats 20,000 and expects to present more than a hundred events this year. The arena has 50 luxury suites and over 24 private loge boxes. The Toshiba Plaza in front features parties before, during and after events. Check the schedule at tmobilearena.com.

Don’t miss a trip to the fountains of the Bellagio, where the more than 1,000 plumes of water soar over 450 feet in a truly mesmerizing display choreographed to music and lights. The show is free and runs every 30 minutes during the week, with shows on Sunday every fifteen minutes. After the show, wander into the lobby to see their impressive Conservatory and Botanical Garden, which displays a delightful mix of fresh flowers and Italian glass lighting designed around a “theme of the month.”

Sports fans should take a trip to Emeril Lagasse’s Stadium at the Palazzo. Enthusiasts can bet on sports events from comfortable stadium seating, with food and beverages available to order. Extreme fans can rent a private room with television, pool table, arcade games and private restroom. give Zumanity a try, or La Reve at the Wynn. Love, the Beatles show is more for the music and has fewer acrobatics.

The Fremont Street Experience in downtown Las Vegas is an upand-coming hot spot for visitors and locals alike. It is wild and crazy, and offers a four block party covered by a huge digital screen. There are street shows, light shows and zip lines, as well as free live entertainment every night on three stages.

Tour Wayne Newton’s ranch, Casa de Shenandoah, a 52 acre estate including his mansion, exotic animals and luxury car collection. Or visit a museum: the Mob museum, the Liberace museum or Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.

Outdoor adventures await just outside Las Vegas. Red Rock is stunning and appropriately named for its stately rock formations, cliffs and buttes. Take a drive or tour to Hoover Dam and the Grand Canyon. Some tours include bus, hummer or helicopter guided tours.

Shopping

There are more than enough shops in Vegas to satisfy even the most avid shopper. Visit the shop at Caesar’s and the Grand Canal Shops at the Venetian, for the boutiques of Balenciaga, Cartier, Jimmy Choo and Louis Vuitton. You will also find stores such as Banana Republic, Coach, Marc Jacobs and Michael Kors. Explore the Fashion Show across from Wynn, a fabulous megamall with 250 stores anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue, Nordstrom, Macy’s, Forever 21 and Dillard’s. For al fresco shopping, try Bally’s and the Linq Promenade. For the bargain shopper there is also an outlet mall north of the strip.

Golf

There are dozens of great golf courses in and around Las Vegas. You can play right on the Las Vegas Strip at the Bali Hai Golf Club or at the grand Wynn Golf Club. Unfortunately, Bali Hai is right under the flight path, so good luck with those puts, You can also play like a high roller at two of Las Vegas’s best known courses -- Tom Faziodesigned Shadow Creek and Rees Jones’ Cascata, both considered among the best and most exclusive golf courses open-to-the public. At Angel Park you can play into the night on its lighted par-3 course. Other famous courses include the Paiute, Palm Valley and Badlands Golf Clubs, each with more than one course. At the Royal Links, you will find holes from 11 different British Open rotation courses, and at Bear’s Best, Jack Nicklaus’s best holes in one course. For a brief description of these courses and more go to www.lasvegasgolf.com.

A Great Destination

This is by no means an all-encompassing list of great things to do. Las Vegas is ever changing and evolving, and becoming an even more wonderful destination for the Fabulously 50+ visitor.