HOTELS
ARIA
Details like triple-sheeted beds and thoughtful technology make Aria a draw, and natural light from floor-toceiling windows softens sleek lines. The restaurants span the globe: Spanish from Julian Serrano, contemporary American at Shawn Mcclain’s Sage. Recent additions include Carbone, Bardot Brasserie, and Herringbone. INSIDER TIP: Aria’s Sky Suites, with their separate indoor and outdoor entrances to the hotel and casino—and a new pool for Suite guests only—lets guests stay close to all the action, the incredible Citycenter art collection, and the 80,000-square-foot spa, but still feel like they’re in a boutique hotel. 702-590-7111; aria.com
BELLAGIO
With its blue-chip art, seasonally rotating botanical displays in the massive conservatory, dancing fountains, and the Michelin two-star Picasso restaurant, Bellagio pioneered the sophistication of the Strip. Upgrades to the Lake Como-themed resort include the recent transformation of the dated Circo restaurant into Julian Serrano’s Lago. Request a room with a lake view, enjoy a massage in a poolside cabana, and sample liberally from master pâtissier Jean-philippe’s chocolate and pastry shop (or just ogle its chocolate fountain, the largest in the world). 702-693-7111; bellagio.com
CAESARS PALACE
One of the oldest hotels on the Strip continues to evolve with the recent debuts of its revamped Julius Tower, Omnia Nightclub, and trendsetting restaurants. Prepare to walk, since the nearly 4,000-room hotel spans five towers. Caesars is like a self-contained city, with its many restaurants, massive buffet (Bacchanal), Garden of the Gods pool area, and adjoining Forum Shops. INSIDER TIP: The best rooms are in the Augustus and Octavius towers; from Augustus Tower’s south side, you’ll get the best views of Bellagio’s fountains. 866-227-5938; caesars.com
COSMOPOLITAN OF LAS VEGAS
The Cosmopolitan multiplies Vegas luxe to the nth power: a 100,000-squarefoot casino, three pools, 32 spa treatment rooms and suites, Turkishstyle hammam, and restaurants that include outposts of Scarpetta, Estiatorio Milos, and Beauty & Essex. Its edgy art collection that extends from top to parking garage, wild New Year’s Eve performances, and outdoor concerts under the Boulevard Pool’s massive marquee (go for the boozy ice skating in winter) have secured Cosmo as the favorite of Vegas’s hippest visitors. With brand-new penthouses, the hotel is newly catering to a high-roller crowd. 702-698-7000; cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
THE CROMWELL
This boutique-style hotel plays host to
Giada De Laurentiis’s eponymous restaurant, Salvatore Calabrese’s bar Bound, and the rooftop Drai’s Beachclub & Nightclub. Rooms are quirky, with a steampunk vibe—but the hotel is one of the best located for those who love to walk the Strip. 702-7773777; thecromwell.com
DELANO LAS VEGAS
The breezy sophistication of Miami’s original Delano meets grandly modern desert décor at this boutique hotel at Mandalay, which occupies its own tower. The more than 1,000 suites each measure at least 725 square feet in a white-on-white color scheme. Don’t miss the serene Bathhouse Spa and Alain Ducasse’s 64th-floor kingdom, the French Riviera-themed Rivea. 702-632-7888; delanolasvegas.com
ENCORE LAS VEGAS
Wynn Las Vegas’s sister resort is home to a dynamic collection of suites, restaurants, and indoor/outdoor entertainment venues, including Encore Beach Club and XS Nightclub. INSIDER TIP: The Tower Suite lobby bar is one of Las Vegas’s power rooms for casual meetings and drinks with clients. 702-770-7000; wynnlasvegas.com
FOUR SEASONS LAS VEGAS
This rare boutique Four Seasons provides a casino-free respite from Vegas. Guests have their own entrance and elevator as well as access to babysitters, making this a family favorite. The brunch at the recently renovated Veranda restaurant is a huge draw, and it’s the weekday breakfast and lunch of local and visiting power brokers, casino executives, and Hollywood elite. 702-632-5000; fourseasons.com
GREEN VALLEY RANCH RESORT, SPA & CASINO
Just a short drive from the Strip, Green Valley’s lush Mediterranean resort has an award-winning spa and a clutch of great new restaurants, including Bottiglia (Italian) and Borracha (an upscale Mexican cantina). Just renovated at 15 years, the 500-room resort is newly glam—its lobby lined in travertine marble from Peru, Spanish limestone Promenade columns, and with 12-foot-tall and 21-foot-wide high-def LED video displays in the Race and Sports Book—the best viewing technology in the industry. 702-617-7777; greenvalleyranch.sclv.com
HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO
Embrace Vegas’s rock ’n’ roll spirit at this memorabilia-filled resort with multiple nightlife venues, theaters, and action-packed pools. One mile off the Strip on Harmon Avenue, plenty of guests come in for concerts at The Joint and stay for the outrageous pool scene. Meals at 24/7 diner Mr. Lucky’s are one of the best deals in Las Vegas, and there’s a lesser-known (but delicious) Nobu outpost. Culinary Dropout and Pink Taco both have outdoor patios that overlook the pool scene. 702-6935000; hardrockhotel.com
JW MARRIOTT LAS VEGAS RESORT & SPA
The grand Spanish colonial-style resort 20 minutes west of the Strip on 50 acres of gardens is a locals’ escape for its Spa Aquae and one of the best‚—and most sedate—pool scenes around. It’s also minutes from TPC Las Vegas, and its new Hawthorn Grill steakhouse, fronting a waterfall and tropical foliage, is set to become one of the west side’s popular escapes. 221 N. Rampart Blvd., 702-869-7777; marriott.com
MANDALAY BAY
The gold-plated palace at the south end of the Strip is the focal point of a resort complex that also features a sprawling pool playground, aquarium, and events center. 877-632-7700; mandalaybay.com
MANDARIN ORIENTAL
Traditional Eastern influences mix with a minimalist modern aesthetic. A hidden gem is Twist, by Michelin three-star chef Pierre Gagnaire, for its witty takes on traditional French cuisine. After lounging in the spa’s early 20th-century Shanghainese-inspired spa, head to the 23rd-floor Tea Lounge for breathtaking views. The cabanas around the hushed, very grown-up pool are some of the best around. 702- 5908888; mandarinoriental.com
MGM GRAND
Guarded by a 45-foot bronze lion, this massive 5,000-plus-room hotel is home to Hakkasan nightclub and restaurants from celebrity chefs Emeril Lagasse, Tom Colicchio, and the brand-new Morimoto Las Vegas by Masaharu Morimoto, among many others. INSIDER TIP: Formerly only available by invitation, The Mansion at MGM Grand, a decadent 29-villa retreat within the resort, can now be booked by anyone (60 days ahead of time). Luxuries like antique furnishings and access to a Michelin three-star Joël Robuchon restaurant abound. 877-880-0880; mgmgrand.com
THE MIRAGE
The Mirage’s tropically inspired grounds channel the spirit of Polynesia with an erupting volcano, saltwater aquarium, and dedicated animal habitats. 702-791-7111; mirage.com
MONTE CARLO RESORT & CASINO
The palatial Monte Carlo Resort offers nearly 3,000 guestrooms and suites, as well as prime positioning near the new T-mobile Arena. Its own new theater, The Park, a 5,000-seat stadium, opened with Stevie Nicks and the Pretenders, and will host residencies by Cher, Bruno Mars, and Ricky Martin among others in 2017. 702-730-7777; montecarlo.com
NOBU HOTEL
Located inside Caesars Palace, the first Nobu Hotel worldwide is a Japaneseinspired haven beloved by celebrities and Vips—who covet the 10,500-squarefoot David Rockwell villa, which has a private Zen garden, sauna and media room, and in-room Nobu chefs on demand. 702-785-6677; caesars.com
PALAZZO
The exclusive tower connected to Venetian provides uncompromised access to gourmet dining, Canyon Ranch Spaclub, and the Grand Canal Shoppes. 702-607-7777; palazzo.com
PALMS CASINO RESORT
This sexy three-towered resort features a glamorous array of Fantasy Suites inspired by themes like classic Hollywood and Barbie’s Dream House, plus the nightspot Ghostbar. 702-942-7777; palms.com
PARIS LAS VEGAS
Inspired by the City of Lights, this themed hotel features its own replica of the Eiffel Tower and Strip-front eateries like Mon Ami Gabi and Eiffel Tower Restaurant. 877-7962096; parislasvegas.com
PLANET HOLLYWOOD
Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez hold court at this ultra-hip casino resort connected to the Axis Theater and Miracle Mile Shops. 866-9197472; planethollywoodresort.com
RED ROCK CASINO, RESORT & SPA
This contemporary resort offers amenities ranging from a bowling alley to a top-ranked sports book to a newly reinvigorated dining scene. A brand-new spa, managed by Well & Being, is a destination all its own. And newly renovated, art-filled penthouses have some of the best views of Red Rock Conservation Area in the valley. 702-797-7777; redrock.sclv.com
SLS LAS VEGAS
SLS brings urban cool to the Strip’s north end with celebrity chef-helmed restaurants and a variety of chic nightspots. W Hotel has just opened in one of its towers. High rollers should check out its nearly 2,400-square-foot “Extreme Wow” suite designed by Lenny Kravitz atop the tower, whose balcony has great views of the mountains. 702-761-7000; slslasvegas.com
VDARA
Situated across from Aria, this understated, non-gaming, all-suite hotel offers a fireside patio bar, an Espa-branded spa, and an enviable center-strip location. 702-590-2111; vdara.com
VENETIAN
Large suites, miles of dreamy canals, some of the best dining on the Strip, and access to the 118,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch Spaclub make this one of the Strip’s most popular resorts. With its “outdoor” cafés and shops lining a system of canals, it’s infinitely possible to check in and never leave for days. 702-414-1000; venetian.com
WYNN LAS VEGAS
A Strip icon, Steve Wynn’s swooping building is light-filled, from the lobby atrium to the floor-to-ceiling windows in most rooms. All of the rooms are quite large (even the smallest), with huge bathtubs and great views (request a view of the mountains or Wynn’s golf course.) Gourmands will want to head to any of the restaurants around the resort. The retail in Wynn—from the US flagship of Givenchy to the Wynn Collection boutique—is unparalleled. 702-770-7000; wynnlasvegas.com