The Venetian Las Vegas Resort

The Venetian is right up there with Caesars Palace as on the the most well designed, theme-based Las Vegas resorts. Built in 1999 on the Las Vegas Strip, the Venetian aims to offer its guests a taste of Italy, and they do a very good job. If there is one downside to the Venetian, it is the price. Rooms, drinks, and meals here tend to cost more than many of the other hotels in the area, but if you've got the dough, this might be the perfect place to call home for a few nights. To learn more about one of sin cities most luxurious resorts, keep reading, or get in touch with the hotel by using the contact information below.

• Phone: (877)-883-6423
• Website: www.Venetian.com
• Address: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109
• Find The Best Deal: Expedia's Las Vegas Specials

The Hotel

Every room in the Venetian is a suite, and a nice one at that. For the first few years of operation, the rooms were a bit over the top; think fuzzy BRIGHT furniture, but after some remodeling, the suites have become very classy. On top of the great furniture, and sprawling floor space, you'll receive a fully decked out bathroom with its own flat screen TV! The key to the Venetian's appeal is their attention to detail. For instance, the hallways are lit with gas lamps, and the reproduced Italian artifacts are strikingly accurate. Overall, these suites cost maybe $40 more than they would in other resorts, but for the experience, it's worth every penny.

Everyone who wants to do some up-scale shopping in Las Vegas knows about Caesars Palace's Specialty Shops, but The Venetian's own Grand Canal Shoppes are just as good. These shops change from time to time, but they are always pricey so a lot of people choose to simply window shop.

The Venetian has the standard fare for Las Vegas Dining, steak and buffets, but there is one restaurant that really stands out for an exceptional dinner. Wolfgang Puck's Postrio has a wide variety of seasonal entrees for dinner, but all of it is prepared masterfully. I'm normally hesitant to use the word gourmet, but it is just too appropriate for this place. My recommendations: try the scallops and yellow fin tuna, and finish it off with any of the pastries.

If you are looking to save a buck, you can exit the building (on the North Side) and get a decent meal at either Denny's or Outback Steakhouse. These restaurants are both located in Casino Royale which is not only right across the street, but as you'll see below, a better place to play craps as well.

The Casino

The Venetian has one of the newer big casinos, with a total of 120,000 square feet. The slot machines are said to be pretty tight, but with a player's card, you can earn quite a few comp points to balance out any losses. Since this is such a large casino, there are always enough table's operating to let you get in on the action, but when it comes to craps, they just can match the competition. Their eight craps tables will take bets ranging from $5-$5000, though the minimum is often higher, but they only offer 3-4-5x odds. For casual craps players, this isn't a big deal but if you are intent on using the odds bet, the smartest bet in craps, then you should play elsewhere. Casino Royale is right next door and they let you post 100x odds!

The Canals

The Venetian has some pretty impressive architecture, but nothing seems quite as over-the-top as the canals on the second floor! These canals provide atmosphere to the Grand Canal Shops, but they have one other BIG purpose: boat rides! That's right, up to four adults at a time can hop into a gondola and get a ride like none other. And at $15 for a ride, this is actually one of the better deals around; trust me, you can't go to the Venetian and not take a gondola ride.

While the guys who row the gondola's (gondoliers) are waiting for new passengers, they can be found in singing right next to the Grand Canal Shoppes! Just like in the old country.

Overall the Venetian is a great place for couples, or groups of adults but it really is not the most kid-friendly place in Vegas. Also, if you are on a budget, you might be surprised how much it actually costs to stay here after all of the. For the person with money to burn, though, you can have the time of your life and be treated like royalty at the Venetian. To save a couple of dollars, check out the best up-to-date Las Vegas specials at Expedia.com.