Las Vegas Hotels

The same people who brought you the fantastic Green Valley Ranch Resort trumped themselves by opening the swank Red Rock Resort in 2006, a hotel and casino complex that pretty much outdoes every other non-Strip hotel and most of the Strip hotels, also.

Built at a cost of nearly a billion dollars (an outrageous sum for a 400-room hotel not located on Las Vegas Blvd.), the hotel is named for its perch right on the edge of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area, a stunning natural wonderland of red-hued rock formations and desert landscape. It's a toss-up, really, which view you should choose -- to the west, you get the beautiful nature vistas, and to the east, you get an unimpeded view of the Strip and Downtown Las Vegas, about 11 miles away.

Yes, it is bit of a trek out here, but people seeking a luxury resort experience with the added bonus of a casino, restaurants, and more will find it worth the drive. Start with that casino, an 80,000-square-foot monster that is one of the most appealing in town, meandering through the building wrapped in natural woods, stonework, glass sculptures, and stunning amber-hued chandeliers. Eight restaurants serve up a wide variety of food selections, including a buffet and a branch of the famed Salt Lick BBQ out of Austin, Texas. Even the food court knocks it up a notch with a Capriotti's outlet offering some of the best submarine sandwiches we've ever tasted. Throw in a 16-screen movie theater, a day-care center, nightclubs and bars (including two from Rande Gerber of Whiskey Sky renown), a sumptuous spa and health club, and a 3-acre circular "backyard" area with a sandy beach, swimming and wading pools (eagle-eyed sunbathers caught a pre-second-pregnancy-announcement Britney Spears wandering around here after a spousal tiff, so you know this is an instant celeb hot spot and getaway), Jacuzzis, private cabanas, and a stage where big-name entertainers perform, and you've got a terrific recipe for success.

The rooms are impressive, modern wonders with high-end furnishings and linens, 42-inch plasma TVs, iPod sound systems, giant bathrooms, and more, all wrapped up in clean, sleek lines and vibrant earth tones.

The major downside here is price, which despite the occasional low end of $139 was averaging well over $300 per night in the property's opening months. Weekends were often going over $400 a night, which is a heck of a lot of money to pay for a room that isn't right in the heart of the action, no matter how nice it is. Adding to the already high prices is a mandatory $20-per-night "amenities" charge that is tacked on to the room rate. This fee covers unlimited entry to the health club and spa (services extra), nightly turndown service, and an airport shuttle, among other miscellanea. While it's a good deal if you plan to actually use any of that stuff, most people probably won't, so it's just another thing to jack up the room rates. (Turndown, after all, should be automatically included.)

We're hoping that once the initial (well-deserved) hype wears off, rates and fees will come down. Even if they don't, you may well find it worth the prices they charge to stay here.

Facilities: Casino, 16-screen movie theater; 8 restaurants plus a food court; bars, lounges, and nightclub; outdoor pools & beach area; health club & spa; day-care center; concierge; business center; 24-hr. room service; in-room massage; babysitting; laundry service; dry cleaning.

- Frommer's