Las Vegas Hotels

"Get swept away" at this "Italian gem in the desert", a "huge", "all-suite" "city under one roof" in the "center of the Strip", touting "luxurious rooms", "endless quality dining" (from top toques like David Burke and Mario Batali), an "attentive staff", plus an on-site Canyon Ranch Spa and "great shopping" along the Grand Canal "mall" ("take a gondola ride"); though some bemoan the "maze"-like design, admirers ask "why would you ever leave?"; N.B. it shares amenities with its sister, Palazzo.

This "quintessential grande dame of Las Vegas" "remains one of the best mega-resorts" thanks to "a staff that's eager to serve", an interesting "restaurant lineup" and "newly remodeled rooms" boasting "all the comforts"; with "great entertainment" for all ages (a "hot nightclub" for adults, a "kid-friendly" dolphin habitat), it's no wonder that despite some gripes, the majority maintains this "original gem still shines"; N.B. a $25-million upgrade was completed to its iconic erupting faux volcano, including 120 new fireball-throwing devices.

"Top-of-the-line in every respect", this landmark is "as close to tasteful as one gets in Las Vegas", offering guests a "classic rather than plastic" experience at a true resort, "not a casino with rooms"; "plush" accommodations – the fountain views are "well worth the extra cost" – add to the "va-va-voom" factor, as do the "outstanding" public areas with "spectacular" flowers, a collection of "first-class" restaurants, "fantastic shopping" and a "phenomenal" 55,000-sq.-ft. spa.

"If size matters to you", this "sprawling", "mall-like" property with a "freshly renovated" interior "delivers big", with "a dizzying array of amenities" that "makes its less than central location on The Strip worthwhile"; fans say the dining – "from coffee shop to ultra-high end" (Joël Robuchon "is without equal" and was voted No. 1 for Food in our Las Vegas Restaurants Survey) – impresses, "the gaming floor is out of this world" and the remodeled rooms are "modern", but given the "crowds", service can be "impersonal"; N.B. the all-suite Signature (with three towers) is the newest addition.

"There may be more sparkle at other spots", but the majority agrees this "immense" staple of the Strip still "exudes elegance"; "rooms vary from classic" with "round beds" and "mirrored ceilings" to "state-of-the-art refurbished" in "the newer upscale towers", serviced by an "attentive" staff, while the Forum Shops are a "shopaholic's dream"; a few, however, liken this "zoo" to a "'50s cocktail waitress trapped in the '70s"; N.B. a new Octavius Tower is set for 2009.

With a "center-of-the-action" location and a casino that "isn't as hectic as most", this older property may not be "in the same league as Bellagio" but you can appreciate "French character without the attitude"; given the "average" rooms and facilities where "nothing stands out" ("other than the faux Eiffel Tower"), many are "not impressed."