I felt in love with Bellagio, in Las Vegas, NV the first time I gazed over its gracious singing and dancing fountains… and ever since I longed to explore more of it and desired to enjoy its amenities. My wish came true for the first time in Nov 2009, which also coincided with my big thank you trip to the SinCity for my parents.
After spending an unpleasant weekend at a different hotel I decided to move my family for our last night in this gorgeous location. Bellagio became my favorite attraction on my first visit to Vegas and since dreamed of being able to stay in its lush rooms. Surprisingly, Heaven has rates for regular people, too.
On the official website I found that Sundays have extremely low rates (almost half off) and that by calling the reservation office and by prepaying the reservation you can secure even a LOWER rate. Of course, the offer comes with restrictions – the reservation is unchangeable or impossible to cancel without losing your money, but hey!, who would cancel on such a beautiful place?!?!?...
We moved from the previous hotel at 11am, so the Bell Desk at Bellagio was kind enough to hold our luggage until check-in. Knowing the interminable lines at leading hotels front desks in LV, I attempted to avoid the hassle by delaying the moment of getting our keys, by continuing exploring the Strip. We toured of the property, first.
After watching amazing representations of the fountain’s show over the day and dusk, while listening to various artists – from the New York Philharmonic to Elton John, Madonna, Faith Hill, and Elvis Presley – we toured the impressive ground floor. Stepping through the main doors it’s impossible to miss the extreme attention to details. The legendary “B” is encrusted everywhere: in ashtrays’ sand, on door knobs, windows, elevator doors, souvenirs, coffee cups, candies. The refurbished lobby has beautiful flower arrangements mirroring Dale Chihuly’s ceiling sculpture of 2,000 dynamic hand-blown glass flowers. The casino who recently received a face lift offers a new color integrated palette, coordinated with the entire concept of the resort. Next, the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens amaze through the passionate display of nature and the work of 140 horticulturists in every season. Fall’s best treasured decorations were on display during our visit – a scarecrow, giant pumpkins, talking trees, immense glass leaves, rainy forest, and unexpected flower arrangements. Across this magical land, raises the one of Jean Philippe patisserie. This one has $6 European style deserts, along with fresh made on the spot crapes, and a breath taking chocolate fountain display awarded with the Guinness World Records. Continuing the exploration, a spa, a bar and convention rooms follow the long lobby that circles the pool area. Coffee tables with arm chairs and inviting sofas are displayed along the lobby, in front of the tall windows with heavy curtains, overlooking the a series of pools, cabanas and long chairs through the enclosed sunny area. With every step admiration grew for this place and the masterminds behind all creation. It felt like I was in my own little wonderland. No wonder it was hard to leave for the inquest of other attractions of the city.
We returned long after dark, rather late in the evening, maybe around 9pm, after a long day in the city to register at the Front Desk. However, my plan of avoiding unnecessary waste of minutes after millions of tourists to gain access to my room didn’t work and I still ended up in line for 20 minutes. Nothing was rushing me and I actually enjoyed being in that wonderful lobby. Then the amazing agent, despite my incredible low rate, and without even asking, checked us in a room at the 21st floor, with a fountain view!! I was happy, surprised and excited all together when he started explaining how to navigate through the resort in order to reach my room. I guess the policy is: if occupancy is low anyway, at least let’s make our guests happy. And it worked!!!! We were delighted to discover impeccable service everywhere around the hotel, as well as our enormous room with an almost similar size bathroom, exquisite amenities, and wonderful view over the fountains. With floating steps we reached the smashing silver doors elevators where a hotel attended asked us politely to show our room key for up stairs access.
Up on the floor I noticed that the music from the fountains resonates inside the hotel hallways as a perfectly integrated system. Inside the room, on the same note as the entire resort, everything was Spartan – the bathroom, his/her sinks, the shower, the beds, the windows... Oh! and on channel 21 on TV you can also hear the music of the fountain shows.
What really surprised me was to discover that Bellagio still has turn down service – something I did not see in a very long time in hotels. Therefore there was chocolate on the pillows… and fluffy they all were.
As we had an early flight, I was extremely happy to take advantage of the express check out box and not deal with the hassle of waiting again at the Front Desk.
Attention: This is a spoiler of the wonders of Las Vegas, NV.
Over three years ago I had to change planes in the Las Vegasairport. Back then I thought that if I'd ever visit LV I will be horrified by the falseness of the resorts that imitate among others impressive cities of the world – New York, Venice, Paris, etc. And... as life went on..., it came a time when I didn't get to visit the city once, but two times – in October and November 2009. First time I flew to Vegas, second time I drove, and both times I was fascinated by the unexpected appearance. I found myself more and more fascinated, while arriving, with the luminous image that laid in front of my eyes, at sunset – when LV actually wakes up –, and it continued to make me smile as I took my steps out of the plane into the terminal where I was welcomed by slot machines!!!..., on to the streets, shops, hotels, and casinos… This admiration was about to grow with every step, until the moment the plane took off again. So much, that it made me wanna return.
My trip to Vegas couldn't be anything, but some sort of field trip to admire hotels, shops, and the human genius that made this real – tfter all, the greatest pleasures of my life (giving the fact that you cannot speak about culture here…). Therefore, as soon as I arrived at the hotel and checked-in, my friends took me on a convertible Mustang and drove to the Strip (a.k.a. the Las Vegas Blvd.). We stroll down the street while I was fighting with one hand with the inevitable wind [that was blowing my hair away], and with the other with the camera, bubbling with excitement and snapping pictures of those famous hotels I read in books and websites about for so many years... Aaaah, this is the way any arrival in Vegas: drive, especially at night, from one end to the other of the Strip - it is a Show on its own!
All I wanted to see first was the Bellagio fountains' show. So, that's where we stopped. And there, looking over the fountains and over the Las Vegas Blvd. to Paris resort I remained astonished at what human force and especially financial power can do out of nothing. The Paris Las Vegas represents a Eiffel Tower of 20 stories (so, not a perfect replica) built over a building that looks like the Latin Quarter's buildings, next to Palais Elyssée and the Arc de Triumph.
Yes! everything at a replica level, but a very good one! This is what impressed me the most, my aha! moment – the amount of work used for some replicas of some truly amazing masterpieces built in a relatively small space(!) through inside everything seams built at gigantic scales and even more grandiose in the night's lights. Not really the falseness I was expecting, when I was wondering why these people would choose to come here rather than seeing the real Paris.
NOTE: Las Vegas has mainly hotels with a specific theme where everything gravitates around that theme. Plus, all hotels include shopping gallerias and casinos. The later being the local economy engine, while all the other facilities become amenities. The crowd is mixed and anybody, indifferent of the provenience is treated at the highest rank of hospitality. Another amazing thing is the pampering the guests receive here – free parking, free monorail from one resort to another, local bus that runs 24 hours, casinos open 24 hours, malls that are designed to keep you inside forever...
The Las Vegas Blvd. starts with Mandalay Bay. Mandalay in reality is a beautiful place which use to be the last royal capital of Burma. Therefore, all statues in the Mandalay hotel in LV look like Asian dragon-dogs, all entrances seam to be temples, and you can see even waterfalls with luxuriant vegetation in the gardens... This is also the home of a giant shark reef aquarium ($16.95) and to Disney's Lion King Broadway show. I toured the lobby, passed through the casino, and the shops which form a passage that leads to the next hotel.
Luxor ...was built in an Egyptian style, black shaped pyramid that covers the tallest atrium lobby in the world. In other words, when stepping out of a room guests have the entire lobby at their feet no matter what floor they are staying at. Inside, of course, stand Egyptians columns, tombs keeper dogs, and stone walls that resemble the real pyramids. Details go as far as the door knobs shaped as pyramids. The exit takes you through the Sphinx paws to the suspended monorail stop, which rides to the next hotel.
Excalibur ... was obviously built as a MedievalCastle and has a knights and ladies type of theme. However, the finished product, with splashy colors and reduced dimensions makes it look more like a Lego job than a trip to the dark ages. I avoided it, as I found it tacky, tasteless and annoying, unfitted for this place. Therefore, I crossed another suspended pedestrian bridge, that helps avoiding traffic on the boulevard, and stopped at the next attraction.
New York, New York ...inspires bad taste at first sight and the strongest feeling that Vegas is fake, raising questions about the people that chose to come here instead of stretching the finance a little bit and visit the real NY or the real Paris or the real Venice... Still the details impressed me – here also, details of NYC go all the way to the door knobs, or souvenirs, or typical food, ethnic influences, just like in the city... Another must of this resort is the newest Cirque du Solei show, Zumanity or the newest club in town, Rok. We kicked it at the Irish pub, which really felt like somewhere else!
From here I crossed the next pedestrian bridge and found myself in front of a long lost love – MGM Grant. This hotel still holds the yardstick in the industry. It is the hotel we learned about in college books, the one I first saw from the skies before I landed in Vegas, and the one that probably was well outperformed by other resorts in Dubai or Macao. The property has over 5000 rooms, is the home of Cirque du Solei shows, the new Studio 54 which copies the one in NY, and even of a lions habitat. It is huge and the services reach impressive levels, as there is even a limos only parking!!
Out on the street, shops and markets are aligned; where by far the most attractive is the M&M's World store who manages to open the door to fantasy. Next hotel worth visiting is Planet Hollywood, mainly because here lays the first decent prices mall – Miracle Mile – spread over a mile of shops, attractive deals, plus a ceiling painting like the sky, and completed with lights and sounds that imitate the out doors (thunder, rain or dusk).
In front of it, just across the Strip there's Bellagio (which is the name of small town in the north of Italy by LakeComo). Bellagio is amazing, and the fountain show is impressive day or night! Inside, the lobby exceeded all expectations and surprised because of the unique ceiling sculpture in the shape of suspended glass flowers by Dale Chihuly. Another attraction of the lobby is the Conservatory, decorated for fall holidays with huge pumpkins, talking trees and unusual flower arrangements (chrysanthemums, wild mint and chilies)...
Turning around I noticed this is where people stopped exploring and taking picture..., but not me! I continued walking by Jean Philippe the chocolate shop, where melted chocolate is displayed on a real life fountain based on communicating vessels principles, awarded in the past with the Guinness World Records. I kept walking the hallway that circles an interior courtyard with pools, cabanas, gazebos, statues, and fountains all influenced by the Italian style, and all built with raw materials from this same name small town. Along the tall windows with long heavy curtains I found coffee tables and armchairs just ready to have guests sipping warm drinks in winter or refreshing ones in the summer gazing to the grandiose garden.
Walking through the sparkling shopping galleria one crosses into Caesars Palace – a Rome themed hotel. Allot of buildings, a Forum, showrooms, restaurants, casino, shops, long hallways resembling the ones in the greatest world's museums, with pictures of Roman gods like in the Louver, and painted ceilings like in the Vatican take guests into a different mood. At a crossroad there is even a real life replica of the Michelangelo’s statue of David from Florence. But what makes your breath stop is the pool... immensely large, with a massive fountain in the middle of it!! and statues that raise from the water like the fountains of Versailles. Stunning were the lavishing flat sun bathing beds of a queen size dimension lying around the pools. Forget about cabanas!...
The Venetian... lies across the Strip, and as the name announces it depicts an almost ridiculous Venice, Italy theme resort. It is an opulent copy of the main attractions of the lagoon city – piazza San Marco, the gondolas, the channel, the RialtoBridge and the dodges' palace all together. Stepping in you're amazed by the painted ceilings typical to Italian museum, the columns, or by the Grand Canale Galleria which has a sparkling clean water and a sky-like painted ceiling where you can stroll in a gondola through the indoor channel, along the top designers boutiques.
The hotel lobby is the fair copy of the dodges' palace, transpiring a Louver or Vatican feeling – ceilings' paintings, golden columns, marble on the floors, massive chandeliers, murals... Even the valet parking canopy has Renascence ceiling paintings!
Next is Treasure Island – a “Pirates of the Caribbean” theme resort. Amazingly kitschy, the resort is the home of Mystère Cirque du Solei show, as well as the less attractive children inappropriate Sirens of TI – a waste of the front water pool and two massive sailors and pirates' battleships. The only remarkable reuse of the pirates’ ship comes to Christian Audigier's club (designer Ed Hardy's real name) where the club's terrace opens on the ship's deck.
Walking away fromti leads to the Fashion Show Mall, one of the great attractions in LV. This is the better sister of Ala Moana, just because it has something rare in US – a mix of American and European brands under the same roof.
Where I stop was the Wynn Hotel is an easy one. There is nothing too complicated on this resort. There is a general flow, a freshness, a breath of clean air everywhere. The exterior has a nice oval shape. The white ceiling and floor are completed with gold flowers, and the lobby with fresh flower bowls.
I finished my walk on the Strip at this end. The alternative to a tour bus or a long walk of the Las Vegas Blvd. was recommended by a witty concierge lady as the Deuce - the covered double decker city bus that links the Stratosphere to the outlet malls at the southern end of the city. This bus rides non stop, mainly along the Strip, for a 24hrs pass of $7 and offers a reliable, cheap and comfortable transportation.
Impressions on LV are still fuzzy. I tried to avoid the kitsch and appreciate only the impressionability force and imagination of humans who built a new word out of nothing. Still! the thing that impressed me the most was the level of hospitality of this industry. I heard repeatedly that LV is the place to toughen your skin as a tourism professional, because this place demands everything to the impossible. Thus, absolutely anybody that comes here is treated with the kindness and the respect of a five diamonds resort*.
* There is no hotels and resorts global standard classification, but in North America AAA offers diamonds to luxury properties, not stars.
It is not a new concept, but it seams to be the ideal traveling mode, good for both industry and tourists – the off season tourism. It also seams to speak mainly to the experimented tourists, who travels independently and organize the itinerary according to personal wishes, needs, finances, and interests. However, it doesn’t exclude the tourists that prefer to contract the services of travel agents. Though the ones that travel off season seam not to be so limited or hype, compared to the ones that travel especially during holidays and through the summer months of each year.
Adopting off season tourism brings some benefits. Travel agents, airlines and hotels have incredibly attractive sales during down season, that help saving for other guilty pleasures. Living in noisy cities triggers a huge satisfaction in succeeding avoiding urban overcrowds that suffocate under the tourists’ pressure. And last, but not least arriving at the destination things do roll: taxis come on time, streets are clean, lines are shorter in museums, waiters are more kind, sellers less stiff when it comes to negotiating prices, and front desk agents offer free up grades even without asking (like this 21st floor fountains view room at Bellagio of Las Vegas, NV in mid November '09).
Good Off Season Months:
Europe - April – June and September – November (Peak season is from June – July when the beaches and cities are packed)
Hawaii - January – April and September – December (before Christmas and New Years Eve when they have the coldest weather from the whole year) (Peak season is from Mid-June to August, along with Christmas and Easter vacation weeks)
Las Vegas - May – August: Super Hot! but great deals
Mexico - April & October – November: in order to avoid the crowds and rain (Peak season is from December – Easter & June – July)
Costa Rica - May – November: has more rain
Caribbean - spring – July brings hot weather (Peak season is from December – March; August – November is hurricane season)
Thailand - March – September: can be hot and rainy (Peak season is from October – February)
Fiji - December – February (Peak season is from May – September)
Australia and New Zeeland - springtime: which is their autumn (Peak season is in wintertime)
This concept is feasible and satisfactory despite the two permanent problems: finances and time off from work, which can definitely be regarded as low and easily adjustable excuses. My stories… to come.
After watching amazing representations of the fountain’s show over the day and dusk, while listening to various artists – from the New York Philharmonic to Elton John, Madonna, Faith Hill, and Elvis Presley – we toured the impressive ground floor. Stepping through the main doors it’s impossible to miss the extreme attention to details. The legendary “B” is encrusted everywhere: in ashtrays’ sand, on door knobs, windows, elevator doors, souvenirs, coffee cups, candies. The refurbished lobby has beautiful flower arrangements mirroring Dale Chihuly’s ceiling sculpture of 2,000
dynamic hand-blown glass flowers. The casino who recently received a face lift offers a new color integrated palette, coordinated with the entire concept of the resort. Next, the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens amaze through the passionate display of nature and the work of 140 horticulturists in every season. Fall’s best treasured decorations were on display during our visit – a scarecrow, giant pumpkins, talking trees, immense glass leaves, rainy forest, and unexpected flower arrangements. Across this magical land, raises the one of Jean Philippe patisserie. This one has $6 European style deserts, along with fresh made on the spot crapes, and a breath taking
chocolate fountain display awarded with the Guinness World Records. Continuing the exploration, a spa, a bar and convention rooms follow the long lobby that circles the pool area. Coffee tables with arm chairs and inviting sofas are displayed along the lobby, in front of the tall windows with heavy curtains, overlooking the a series of pools, cabanas and long chairs through the enclosed sunny area. With every step admiration grew for this place and the masterminds behind all creation. It felt like I was in my own little wonderland. No wonder it was hard to leave for the inquest of other attractions of the city. 
floor, with a fountain view!! I was happy, surprised and excited all together when he started explaining how to navigate through the resort in order to reach my room. I guess the policy is: if occupancy is low anyway, at least let’s make our guests happy. And it worked!!!! We were delighted to discover impeccable service everywhere around the hotel, as well as our enormous room with an almost similar size bathroom, exquisite amenities, and wonderful view over the fountains. With floating steps we reached the smashing silver doors elevators where a hotel attended asked us politely to show our room key for up stairs access. 
floor, with a fountain view!! I was happy, surprised and excited all together when he started explaining how to navigate through the resort in order to reach my room. I guess the policy is: if occupancy is low anyway, at least let’s make our guests happy. And it worked!!!! We were delighted to discover impeccable service everywhere around the hotel, as well as our enormous room with an almost similar size bathroom, exquisite amenities, and wonderful view over the fountains. With floating steps we reached the smashing silver doors elevators where a hotel attended asked us politely to show our room key for up stairs access. 
