Fontainebleau Las Vegas
Luxury reigns supreme in the top third of the Las Vegas Strip. There aren’t as many resorts here, but spacious rooms, exquisite details, and deep-sleep-inducing beds make four of them among the most luxurious in the world. This part of town is about a 30-minute ride from the airport and at least 20 minutes to the South Strip, so visitors often stay put once they're here. Then again, when you’re staying at resorts that have just about everything, who wants to leave?
The cluster of hotels that make up this section include The Venetian, Palazzo, Treasure Island, Wynn, Encore, Sahara Las Vegas, and Circus Circus. Of particular interest: pools. Swanky, ultra-exclusive day-lounge areas surround the pools at North Strip properties; The Palazzo’s Azure Pool is one of the newest, and Encore Beach Club is by far the most popular. As with most pools in Vegas, these offer European-style sunbathing sections, too. Bikini tops optional.
Other amenities are worth raves as well. Wynn, for instance, has a men's barbershop. The Venetian's spa is operated by none other than the world-renowned Canyon Ranch. Factor in additional amenities such as high-end shopping, indoor gardens, and breathtaking design, and it’s no wonder the North Strip is seen as the spot where Vegas meets high fashion, year after year.
As far as luxury is concerned, Las Vegas simply doesn't get much better than Encore, where all the rooms are suites that measure a minimum of 745 square feet (and a maximum of 5,829). These accommodations come standard with spacious sitting areas, 55-inch televisions, and floor-to-ceiling windows. Bathrooms feature oversized Italian marble tubs, glass-enclosed showers and TVs. Bedside control panels enable guests to operate nearly everything in the room. The entire hotel has a sophisticated look; designer Roger Thomas invested in antiques from all over the world. Another characteristic: sunlight, as most corridors have windows with views of the pools and gardens around the property. Encore Beach Club and XS combine an outdoor pool environment with a sizzling club atmosphere.
The all-suites Palazzo offers downright huge suites, almost exactly the same as those of the nearby Venetian, as well as nice amenities and a great pool area. Each suite comes standard with a sunken living room, three plasma TVs, a dining area, sectional couch, and desk. Remote-controlled Roman shades and curtains add to the modern conveniences; let the sun in without getting out of bed! Bathrooms are appointed with marble and feature a separate shower and soaking tub. The Palazzo has one of the Strip's largest pool decks, a humongous complex with seven distinct heated pools, private whirlpools and cabanas, plus food and drink in the Capri Pool Restaurant & Bar.
The rooms at the hotel at the "Big Top" are periodically renovated, giving some much-needed TLC to some of the oldest ones on the Strip (the resort opened in 1968). Other accommodations on the property range from luxury (in the Skyrise Tower, which includes its own casino) to campsites; the RV Park at Circus Circus, which has a children's play area, pet run, and seasonal pool and hot tub, is the only one on the Strip. In the casino, gaming is nothing if not affordable; in addition to rock-bottom table limits and 1-cent to 25-dollar slot machines, dealers offer complimentary lessons in blackjack, roulette, and craps. There are even more machines, and an adults-only arcade, in the adjacent Slots-a-Fun. Still, the biggest draw at this hulking resort is the Adventuredome Theme Park, Nevada's largest, featuring more than 25 rides and attractions. The Midway at Circus Circus holds a world record as the world's largest permanent circus.
The largest Conrad in the world takes the basic Hilton vibe and enhances it considerably with spacious rooms (in some cases topping out around 1,200 square feet), modern and comfortable furnishings, and huge bathrooms with free-standing tubs. Hotel guests have access to the Awana Spa and Resorts World's sprawling pool complex.
Lavish accommodations, cavernous bathrooms, and highly personalized service characterize this brand, the most upscale of the three Hilton brands on-site. It offers a spectacular private lobby right off the high-limit room of the casino. Rooms are plush and spacious—up to 7,000 square feet for the suites. Crockfords guests check in at the VIP desk in the Conrad Lobby, and then retreat to a daybed at the resort's pool complex, or indulge in a massage or facial at the Awana Spa.
The Las Vegas Hilton name, which was once attached to the now-Westgate, returned to Sin City with fanfare when it became one of three hotels in the sprawling Resorts World complex. The 400-square-foot sleek rooms, which are decorated mostly in neutrals, have pops of accent color as well as seating areas for relaxation. Bathrooms have walk-in showers and LED mirrors. Guests use the shared Resorts World pool complex and Awana Spa.
Minus Michael J. Fox and a weird DeLorean, this resort is as close as you'll get to a Back to the Future experience in Las Vegas, one that literally reinvents a reinvention (in this case the Sahara, whose ill-fated rebranding as the SLS was later rolled back). Zippy recap: the original Sahara, a totem of classic Las Vegas, closed in 2011, then reopened as the SLS in 2014, but never caught the magic of the original, so it was retro-rebranded (with new owners) in 2019. References from the past were both retained (renaming the lounge The Casbar after the original live music venue) and rejected (gone is the original Moroccan decor). The Sahara has pegged its appeal to a more boutique feel rather than a luxury blowout. The rooms are split between three modest-sized towers, and recommended eateries include Bazaar Meats, Bella Italian Soul, and Chickie's & Pete's. A few trendy bars and lounges are available for the undemanding nightlife seeker, and you can top off your Sahara experience with a dip in the rooftop pool—one of three on the property.
The Strat is synonymous with the 1,149-foot observation tower that soars over every other building in town, with newly renovated rooms that are downright sumptuous for the price. The tower itself, an iconic part of the Las Vegas skyline, contains one-of-a-kind thrill rides, a fantastic restaurant (Top of the World), and a great bar (108 Drinks)—but notably no hotel rooms. Those are down below, in two hotel towers, in both "standard" and "Elevate" styles, the latter with higher-end amenities and prices, though still a decent value. Restaurants worth exploring: McCall's Heartland Grill, a comfort food palace, and CHI Asian Kitchen. The Swim & Social Pool, on the eighth floor, has cabanas, daybeds, and poolside games.
Whether you call it Treasure Island or TI, what sets this resort apart is a dash of elegance mixed with a decidedly unpretentious vibe and reasonably priced dining options. Whereas other properties boast of a branch of Tiffany's, this one features a CVS and a vaping store (those aren't the only stores, but you get the picture). Whereas others feature sky-high-priced restaurants, Gilley's BBQ anchors the scene here. This more inviting approach for a modern Strip property is the product of owner Phil Ruffin's plan to make the place more accessible to all. Thankfully, accommodations are still top-notch. Mystère, the Strip's first Cirque du Soleil show, is still going strong here, and the Cove Bar & Arcade is family-friendly, despite the name. T.I. is a short walk from The Venetian, Wynn, and Fashion Show Mall.