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LAS VEGAS
by Alex Adad-Santos
Las Vegas has been through more changes
than Cher’s costumes, and in its current state,
it’s home to the world’s glitziest hotels,
the tastiest new ventures by celebrity chefs, and entertainment
that will thrill you 24/7. Who knows if you’ll
even see your hotel room during your stay, but someone’s
got to be resting their head in the 135,000 (and counting)
Vegas guest rooms if every weekend finds hotels at nearly
95% occupancy.
Longtime gay-favorite, THEhotel (3950 Las Vegas
Blvd. S. Tel: 702-632-7777. http://www.thehotelatmandalaybay.com)
offers a separate, smoke-free tower with its own private
entrance in the expansive Mandalay Bay. THEhotel stays
away from kitsch décor and gives you a modern,
suite-turned-haven swathed in greys and taupes, and
accented by black marble. Each room begins at nearly
800 square-feet and facilitates lounging; watch your
favorite flick on a TV suspended over your oversized
tub or in your flat-screen-adorned living room.
In that same fashion, The Venezia Tower (355
Las Vegas Blvd. S. Tel: 702-414-1000. http://www.venetian.com)
at the Venetian feels like a private resort. Here, you
can find a spot to decompress in the private garden,
or finish off that best-selling novel while luxuriating
by a private pool. The enormous suites have spacious
sunken living rooms, feature Bulgari products, provide
bath butlers to ready your relaxation, and pillow menus
ensure a good night’s sleep. Spoil yourself and
find a room on the top three floors—you’ll
feel like Clooney or Streisand, as the top-tier concierge
makes every whim come true.
Meanwhile, the Mandalay Bay (http://www.mandalaybay.com)
has pumped millions into modernizing its rooms with
fresh artwork, tranquil earth tones, dark woods, and
handsome furnishings. Anyone planning a boys’ night
out or girls’ weekend should look into booking
their 1500XB—a suite equipped with an extra bedroom.
With around 1,500 square feet of space, lofty pillow-top
beds, floor-to-ceiling windows, and an iHome dock to
play your own tunes, you’ll sink into relaxation
and comfort.
At The Venetian (http://www.venetian.com),
an homage to the historic Italian city of canals, the
700 square-foot rooms are double the size of what you
usually find in this city and feature a dulce de leche
color scheme, art deco motif, and canopied beds. The
newly renovated rooms feature an ingenious amenity,
a remote control to raise and lower the Roman shades;
perfect for those sleepy, recovery Sundays.
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If Lady Luck hasn’t been kind enough
to grant you a night in one of MGM Grand’s SKYLOFTS,
try and make reservations in its West Wing (3799
Las Vegas Boulevard S. Tel: 702-891-8521.
A cool combination of frosted glass and chrome,
and walls peppered with flat-panel TVs, make this section
of the massive entertainment compound feel like an intimate
boutique hotel. The MGM Grand also houses Signature
(http://www.mgmgrand.com/accommodations),
whose lastest tower was completed earlier this year. A
combination of residences and hotel rooms, the accommodations
in this part of the MGM take a page out of Sex and the
City. The rooms feel like faux Manhattan cribs; faux meaning
sans the cramped spaces, sirens, and loud neighbors. Equipped
with kitchens and kitchenettes, fireplaces, and fully-stocked
(at your request) full-sized refrigerators, it’s
perfect for a honeymoon or an extended business trip.
Off the strip, The Blue Moon Resort (2651 Westwood
Dr. Tel: 702-361-09099. http://www.bluemoonlv.com)
has gone Palm-Springs chic in their renovations. LCD
TVs, and clean, mid-century modern lines have given
rooms a new shine; and their always-popular social mixers
are still going strong.
In the coming year, Vegas’ new mantra may be “the
bigger, the better.” Becoming known more as the
home of the world’s flashiest digs rather than
the world’s flashiest casinos, 2008 and beyond
will have a lot of impact on this boomtown.
Sandwiched in between The Wynn and The Venetian will
be The Palazzo (http://www.lasvegassands.com/palazzo.html).
The 50-floor tower will rise high above the city and
house approximately 3,025 luxury suites. There’s
an air of mystery to this property. The illustrated
renderings are about as much as you’ll find out
about this luxe escape, as executives have been very
mum, but everyone knows that once it opens, it will
be the largest entertainment compound on The Strip.
Not to be outdone, City Center (http://www.citycenter.com)
will wrestle that title away once it opens its doors
(slated for 2009). The jewel of the center will be the
ethereal Mandarin Oriental. Its name has become synonymous
with opulence and elegance; the nearly 400 rooms promise
to be stunning and the expansive, 30,000+ square-foot
spa has massage junkies quivering. The resort complex
will also house the equally luxurious condo-hotel hybrids,
the Vdara and The Harmon.
Fittingly, Steve Wynn (http://www.wynnlasvegas.com)
has plans to bookend The Strip with Encore, a complement
to his caramel- and chocolate-colored namesake. The
aesthetic of the Wynn was the brainchild of openly gay
Roger Thomas, whose vibrant credo echoes throughout
the lobby with eye-popping flowers, spiraling lines,
and artsy mosaics. There’s no doubt that you’ll
find the Wynn’s ambiance, refreshing interiors,
and secure environment mirrored in the new, 2,054-room
Encore.
While Vegas is sinfully ripe with lust
and greed around every corner, it’s gluttony that’ll
leave you satisfied. So dive in. Having celebrated its
inaugural restaurant week this year, this city has emerged
from the land of buffets to become the perfect place
to savor palate pleasing international cuisine.
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