Las Vegas

Travelers' Takes

Getting There

High-end Las Vegas

A travel journal to Las Vegas by Go Girl!

Days of $.99 buffets are long gone, now Vegas is a Mecca of fine dinning, extravagant shopping and world class hotels, casinos and spas. The following list are my favorites...

  • 11 reviews

High-end Las Vegas Best of IgoUgo

Overview

For the longest, I dreaded visiting my husbands family in Vegas. I don't gamble and hate the tacky theme park feel of the city. However, recently I've found several things to enjoy -- shopping at the Bellagio, exploring the grand casinos (Ventian, Paris, Bellagio and my favorite, MANDALAY BAY) as well as all the wonderful restaurants and spas.

Quick Tips:

Book a land and air package -- usually a better deal.

Best Way To Get Around:

There's a free shuttle that takes you up and down the strip, but the best way is to put on a pair of walking shoes and explore the strip by foot.

Mandalay Bay Resort and CasinoBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Mandalay Bay"

There are a slew of amazing hotels, but one that's surpasses all others is MANDALAY BAY. I attended the grand opening of the hotel and was instantly impressed. When we're not staying with family -- we stay at the Mandalay Bay. It's a real treat! I highly suggest it to anyone who's looking for a luxury get away. We recently threw a party in one of the Penthouse suites -- which was very SWANK! Supposedly we had Julia Roberts, Brad Pitt and Michael Jordan as neighborhors -- but I never saw any signs of any of them. Nonetheless, the penthouse suite was had a spectacular views of the entire city. I reallly didn't want to leave. The beach and pool at The Mandalay beach are totally amazing! There are bungalows for rent, (with tv, refrig, and cool steam spritzers), there's the very crowed artifical beach, and the river rafting pool. The crowds during the summer weekends are crazy so if you can travel during the week you may be able to avoid the crowds.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 16, 2000

Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino
3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
(702) 632-7777

Four Seasons Las VegasBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Four Seasons"

One of the most exclusive hotels in Vegas -- and the only without a Casino. If you want to get away from it all and still get the one on one treatment you can't get from a large Casino, try the Four Seasons. It's attached to The Mandalay Bay so you have accessability but at the same time some privacy. It's at the very end of the strip -- thus one of the most quite, private hotels on the strip. In addition, it has it's own private pool with is one of the most lush in Vegas. You have access to Mandalay's pool & beach if you stay at the Four Seasons. A good choice if the sky is your limit, you enjoy your privacy and expect the best.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

Four Seasons Las Vegas
3960 LAS VEGAS BLVD SOUTH Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
702-632-5000

China GrillBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Highly acclaimed NY & Miami, this famed restaurant is now in Las Vegas. On Wednesday the restaurant turns into a club, live DJ and dancing abounds. If you go, check out the funky batherooms. The food is overpriced Chinese but you're paying for the atmosphere and the trendy people watching.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

China Grill
3950 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
+1 702 632 7777

AureoleBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Fantastic food, a great a wine list, interesting interior design makes this restaurant one of my top favorite restaurant in Vegas. Flying "wine angles" fetch wine bottles from a 3 story glass enclosed wine tower. It's rahter impressive.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

Aureole
3950 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89119
+1 877 632 7800

MGM Grand SpaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

While this hotel has seen it's better day and is totally eclipsed by some of the newer hotels, the spa has recently gone through a multi-million dollar face lift. It's very Japanese in essence -- peaceful, quite and of course relaxing. They offer a comprehensive list of services and the prices are average for a spa. This is proably my 3rd favorite spa in Vegas
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 16, 2000

MGM Grand Spa
3799 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 891 3077

Spa MandalayBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

My favorite spa overlooks the 11 acres of man-made beach area and has everything under the sun (steam, sauna, whirlpoools, cold plunges, massage, reflexology, aromatherapy, facials, body wraps etc.) Mandalay Bay is by far my favorite Casino in Vegas and I belive the nicest!
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 16, 2000

Spa Mandalay
3950 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 632 7220

Canyon Ranch SpaClubBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Canyon Ranch Spa"

This is a great , elaborate spa -- but I still prefer the down to earth air of Spa Mandalay. This spa (along with the one at the Bellagio) has an air of outlandish pretension. I get a massage to relax, not to check out the scene. But if you like to star watch, and be with the in crowd -- this is your type of place. I had to check out the Canyon Ranch Spa since it's being called the best spa in the West. I think it's good, but far from #1. An amazing spot nonetheless, and rather expensive.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 16, 2000

Canyon Ranch SpaClub
3355 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 414 3600; +1

Grand Canal ShoppesBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Grand Canal Shops"

This is one of Las Vegas newest and premiere shopping experiences. One strolls down stone walkways for nearly a quater mile along Venice's famed Grand Canal, encountering a long collection of fine stores and boutiques. It all culminates at St. Mark's Square, a vast piazza, beneath a 70 foot ceiling filled with the ever changing Venetian sky. At the grand canal shopes you'll fine a grand mix of shops, cafes and street performers. From Gondola Rides to the Carnivale charaters and performers one just might think they were in Venice.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

Grand Canal Shoppes
3355 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(877) 883-6423

Forum ShopsBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This is more than a shopping center, this is a major attraction in Las Vegas. Statues talk, fountains dance and the sky evolves dawn to dusk in an hour. While this mall does have a few high-end stores (Escada, Gucci, Louis Vuitton) it's outnumbered by run of the mill stores such as Gap, NikeTown etc.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

Forum Shops
3570 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
(702) 893-4800

Via BellagioBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

This mall located in the Bellagio hotel, is modern and avant-garde. It's tasteful as it is elegant. Here you'll find such famous stores as Gucci, Tiffany, Armani, Channel, Prada, Moschino, Hermes just to name a few. If shopping is your thing -- you'll love it here.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by Go Girl! on October 17, 2000

Via Bellagio
3600 Las Vegas Blvd South Las Vegas, Nevada 89109
+1 702 693 7111

About the Writer

Go Girl!
Go Girl!
Los Angeles, California

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