Top 5 Hotels in Las Vegas

Top 5 Hotels in Las Vegas

Here is something to consider very carefully the next time you're planning a trip to Las Vegas: what exactly do you seek to gain from the experience? That may sound like a rather asinine question, on the face of it. I can just hear you grumbling right now: "Jeez, Floyd, what the heck do you think I'm trying to gain from traveling to Vegas? A damn good time, what else? Duh!"

Well, perhaps I should have been a bit more specific in my query. What I meant to ask is precisely what kind of good time are you seeking to have? Because one of the great strengths of Las Vegas - particularly as it has reinvented itself over the past decade or so - is that it offers an extraordinarily wide range of diversions for any given visitor. Sure, some of us can remember the days back in the 1970s when there was only one fun activity you could find in Vegas (legally, anyway). Back then, it was all about gambling.

Well, as we all know, times have changed dramatically. Nowadays, Vegas appeals just as much to screaming toddlers and drooling septuagenarians as it does to hip gambling studs like you and me. Whether you are in the mood to ride a roller coaster, purchase some outlandishly overpriced personal items, or just take in a Broadway-worthy show, these and other attractions are at your fingertips in the Las Vegas of the 21st century. Therefore, it is of the greatest importance to pinpoint what you want out of your trip beforehand, so that you make the most of it. Even for a city that is open 24 hours a day, the time can truly fly when you’re having fun in good ol' Vegas.

The first item on your agenda should be determining which hotel you want to stay in. Here you have a wide range of options which cater to your budget as well as your general aesthetic preferences. Allow me to list five of my own favorites.

The Rio. Anyone who's stayed here knows this is one of the most luxurious hotels in all of Vegas. The only rooms offered at the Rio are full-size suites, which makes it a pricey place to stay, and certainly one of the most popular.

The Hard Rock. If you’re looking to be surrounded by pale, flabby Mom & Pop types from Middle America, for God's sake do not stay here. This is where the sexy L.A.- based crowd likes to party. The pool is one of the very best in all of Vegas, and during the weekly Sunday "Rehab" it goes absolutely insane.

The Palms. Not the most visually stunning hotel - at least not from the outside - but the Maloof Brothers (owners of the Sacramento Kings) made all the right decisions in designing this hip place to hang.

The Mirage. A straight-up classic all the way. Sure, the volcano out front may seem a little cheesy by today’s standards, but this is one of my all-time favorites.

The Venetian. Often overlooked, a great place to find reasonable room rates on the Strip, where you will be close to all the action. It’s also a nice place to stay.