Vegas - The Venetian

[MichelleCarmen]

Hi everyone,

I'm exhausted and hung over (lol), but still alive having survived Vegas! We didn't gamble away our house or anything, but lost all the money we bet!

The Venetian is INCREDIBLE! Inlaid tile floors and amazing scenes painted on the ceilings and all kinds of fine details that make you feel that you're actually traveling and through Europe rather than inhaling ciggarette smoke and stumbling along drunk while quarters clink out of slot machines in the background (lol) . . .

I've some pictures of the room to share. . . it was HUGE and apparently from looking at one photo, haunted

Okay, off to bed shortly,
Michelle

 

[MichelleCarmen]

oops, okay, i'm having problems uploading pictures. . .I'll try again tomorrow after some sleep!

Michelle

 

[Mara]

Welcome back MC...the Venetian is indeed a nice hotel. I personally like staying in the newer hotels like the Venetian because it seems like the smoke isn't as bad in the rooms and the overall hotel. Coming from California, we are spoiled here...a bit of smoke goes a horribly long way on the clothes, hair etc. But we loveeee Vegas!

Love the entire suite hotel and their shopping and restaurant corridor, I spent a few hours there once waiting for Greg to finish up a meeting. Though I have to say that I was not super impressed with the Venetian's restaurants, IMO it seemed that the Bellagio has the best restaurants in terms of taste, what did you think?




Tell us more!!

 

[derekinla]

Here's my Venetian pic

I agree with Mara.. Vegas is SMOKEY! cough cough. I absolutely LOVED the Bellagio buffett. King Crab Legs, JUMBO cocktail shrimp, Kobe Beef, Prime Rib, the desserts....

 

[iceprincess]

I absolutely love the Venetian. Two years ago, my fiance and I went to Vegas over Memorial Holiday. In true spontaneity, Jason said we should extend our stay and play hookie at work and surprised me by checking us into the Ventian's Primo Suite, which is a true luxury penthouse.

I have never stayed in luxury such as this EVER. We don't have pics, but we did videotape our room: suptuous living room, bar area, monster bathroom with jacuzzi tub and multiple shower heads, and a bedroom fit for a Queen (much less a mere lowly, iceprincess, he he!). He made me feel like I was on our honeymoon. What a class act, my man! If you're ever at this hotel, go check out the Impressionist art on loan from the L'Hermitage museum.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Mara,

I agree with you about the Venetian's resturants. They weren't that great. I paid 12 or so dollars for a turkey salad and was brought an enormous salad, but it was all greens and maybe at most, an ounce of Turkey. Kind of cheap of them.

What I was most disappointed in was the coffee. Being from the Seattle area, my husband and I are huge espresso fanatics, and I'm not exaggerating in saying that here we have coffee drive through stands on EVERY street block so there's such competition that most if not all coffee is amazing. The Venetian's lattes were terrible! Gritty and oversweet!

Michelle

 

[MichelleCarmen]

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Vegas is SMOKEY! cough cough. -

Yes, it's terrible. This was our fourth trip there and two of the times we stayed at older hotels, and the other two times, newer ones, and you can tell mostly in the rooms that the older ones once allowed smoking. Harrah's was flat out gross. I'd NEVER stay there again. It was so bad in fact that we ended up switching rooms just to find one that wasn't so permeated with smoke.

Michelle

 

[MichelleCarmen]

here is the "ghost" photo

lol What is that orb thing?

Michelle

 

[MichelleCarmen]

bathroom. . .I just managed to erase the one that showed both the tub AND the accompanying shower, so I just have two pictures. The bathroom was truley spectacular.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

...

 

[MichelleCarmen]

Ah, okay, I'm having problems with almost every photo being too big and I can't spend all day fussing around with the picture sizes of all the shots

The place is amazing though, like climbing into the pages of my art history book!

Michelle

 

[Jennifer5973]

Hey Michelle! Welcome back... We are seriously thinking of booking a trip to vegas and are debating Bellagio vs Venetian vs Paris...I may PM you soon!

Are there good diamonds in Vegas?

 

[bof]

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On 2/20/2004 5:56:37 PM Jennifer5973 wrote:

Hey Michelle! Welcome back... We are seriously thinking of booking a trip to vegas and are debating Bellagio vs Venetian vs Paris...I may PM you soon!

Are there good diamonds in Vegas?

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Of the three destinations you are considering i would say Venetian > Bellagio >> Paris. The venetian is nice because every room is a suite and the rooms are much larger than the other two. Bellagio is fine but I didn't find the rooms particularly impressive. Kind of small and nothing too special. I really don't think you can compare Paris with the other two, it really is aimed at a different audience.

Any of the three places you listed will be fine and they all seem to be in the general locations so i don't think it will matter much in the end.

boF

 

[bof]

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On 2/20/2004 1:43:09 AM derekinla wrote:

Here's my Venetian pic

I agree with Mara.. Vegas is SMOKEY! cough cough. I absolutely LOVED the Bellagio buffett. King Crab Legs, JUMBO cocktail shrimp, Kobe Beef, Prime Rib, the desserts....----------------

I have to agree with superior buffett at the Bellagio. Paris is another buffett that must be tried while at Vegas.

boF

 

[Mara]

Yes Paris is not of the same caliber as Venetian and Bellagio but it sure is cheaper!

It's still a very nice hotel and newer.




Depending on what your priorities are will help decide where best to stay.




I personally would probably choose Bellagio then the Venetian. Reason being is that in Vegas, we spend NO TIME in our rooms. I'd much rather be out in the shops and restaurants and casino of the Bellagio than at the Venetian. But if you want to spend alot of time in the room, Venetian is probably better for you.

 

[Jennifer5973]

My husband has been to the Bellagio on business and he said the same thing baout the buffet....

And a good friend of mine suggsted the Venetian above Bellagio, so this may be the way to go. I've never been to vegas so this will be a first time for me. I really don't know much about the Paris but from what you guys are telling me, it's not the way to go...We want to be at the Bellagio/Venetian caliber for this trip--we really need a vacation and want to be spoiled!

What about the pool/spa? I am not a big gambler so when he is playing Texas Hold Em, I will be sunning muself in between facials & massages.

 

[hoorray]

The other one we like is the Mandelay Bay. It is new, and we have had great rooms there. They have some good "re-created" famous restaurants.

 

[Mara]

The Bellagio has what I have heard is the most amazing pools and outdoor fun...something like 3 pools and waterslides? Never seen it, but intriguing.

Mandalay Bay has some great restaurants too.

 

[hoorray]

I forgot to add that the Mandalay Bay has a "beach" with waves for their pool. I haven't actually seen it since I'm not a sunbather, but I've heard rave reviews.

 

[jackieblue]

How disappointing to hear about your experience with the restaurants. We had our wedding reception at the Venetian at the Grand Lux, and people could not say enough about how fabulous the food was. We had our own room and menu, and most people ordered the filet of the 4 entrees we selected for them. We even ate there again for brunch the next day. It's about my favorite spot to eat in Vegas now because it is so reasonable, it's always open, and the food is so good. Very similar to its sister, The Cheescake Factory. I would highly recommend it to anyone planning an affair in Vegas. or just wanting to grab a quick bite.

I love Vegas, and you are making me want to go there now!!

 

[pqcollectibles]

Welcome Back, MC!!

Sounds like you had a fabulous time!! And, from the pics, looks like you could easily get spoiled by such luxury!!

Glad you had a great trip!!

What a wonderful belated Valentine's present for you both!!

 

[diane5006]

WOW I love Vegas...the Bellagio buffet is soooo good...

We are spending the last 3 days of our honeymoon there...we are doing Grand Canyon, Bryce and Zion for the most of it...

So my FH has been doing lots of research (he is geeky that way) we are going to stay at the monte carlo...they have these spa suites where the jacuzzi is right up against the window so you can look out at the strip or mountains while...relaxing....

We looked at the belaggio...and Mandalay bay...but they did seem to have the right combos of things we were looking for...although they are very nice...

 

[Kay]

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On 2/20/2004 1:24:15 AM Mara wrote:


I personally like staying in the newer hotels like the Venetian because it seems like the smoke isn't as bad in the rooms and the overall hotel. Coming from California, we are spoiled here...a bit of smoke goes a horribly long way on the clothes, hair etc. ---

It's not just Vegas. Everytime I leave California and travel to another state I have to re-adjust to people smoking in restaurants and bars.

 

[MichelleCarmen]

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On 2/24/2004 8:15:56 PM Kay wrote:

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On 2/20/2004 1:24:15 AM Mara wrote:


I personally like staying in the newer hotels like the Venetian because it seems like the smoke isn't as bad in the rooms and the overall hotel. Coming from California, we are spoiled here...a bit of smoke goes a horribly long way on the clothes, hair etc. ---

It's not just Vegas. Everytime I leave California and travel to another state I have to re-adjust to people smoking in restaurants and bars.
----------------

hmmm. . .California is sounding like a pretty nice place to live

Here what drives me nuts is people smoking in public parks where i take my kids to play. in fact, one lady chain smoked the entire time she was there and I kept having to move my kids to other play toys to keep out of breathing distance! Flat out rude. lol - I should have pepper sprayed her

Michelle

 

[Buena Girl]

The decor at the Venetian is great! I did not eat at any of the restaurants there, but I did get some gelati ice cream. Very authentic and delish.

The Belagio was my favorite place to visit. I browsed their Judith Leiber shop so many times that the one salesclerk began to recognize me

. I definitely need to get one of her small, swarovski crystal purses someday...

 

[Mara]

Kay..I know what you mean...we are so spoiled here in CA with the no-smoking thing!! It's great.

 

[Iceman]

I just got back from Palm Springs and 3/4 of the casino was smoking ? I guess the
indians make their own rules on their land ?

I was really disappointed in Palm Springs. Its got the highest HIV problem in the
USA. The majority of alternative life style that goes on their does not make a great
vacation.

What people do with their life's is up to them. I just choose not to be around it.

My wife and I flew out for the weekend to get some sun that has avoided us here in
the midwest

The Venetian is were we stay for a week every year for the trade show at the end of
May.

 

[jackieblue]

Not in NY. No smoking here either. Lots of people (smokers and bar owners) complain about it, but I LOVE IT!!

 

[Mara]

Ice..I love Palm Springs...but it depends on where you stay/go.




We stay in the Hyatt which is an all-suite hotel in the 'downtown' strip area...where all the activity is (which in PS isn't much..hee hee). I love the sun and the relaxed lifestyle, we just relax by the pool, sleep alot, and go out for dinner and ice cream at night.

It's a great few-day getaway. However, when we did venture into other areas of the town...we were not impressed--even with other hotels. That one street is the best place to be IMO.

It's a fun 7 hour drive from the Bayarea...we leave at 6am and get there at 1pm.

 

[hoorray]

Hey Mara, have you ever ventured out into Palm Desert or any of the other resorts in the PS surrounding area? They are a different crowd -- typically a little older. But they have terrific spas, golf and tennis along with the pools and lounging. And you would probably like El Paseo shopping if you haven't been there before. Lots of more upscale shops and galleries. Not the t-shirt shop variety that you find more in PS. (I can't say no t-shirts anymore since a Crazy Shirt just moved in.) This is also where a new Tiffany's just opened

.