Tag Archives: Hotel

Wynn Salon Suites at the Wynn Las Vegas Hotel

06/26/2019 Shirley

The first time I stayed at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel was in the beginning of 2006, not too long after the resort was opened.

My first stay at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel has forever changed my experience and expectation of the luxury properties on the Strip in Las Vegas! And after going back to the Wynn Las Vegas hotel year after year, the Wynn property is still on my top three favorite hotels list.

The Wynn Las Vegas property has a special Wynn Tower Suites which is separate from the resort’s general guest room tower. And the Tower Suites has its own private drive entrance, registration lobby and access to the exclusive Tower Suites pool.

The first time I stayed at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, I booked its Tower Suites Tower King Suite. Upon arrival to the Wynn’s Tower Suite front desk, the friendly receptionists welcomed me and offered me a FREE upgrade to the Salon Suites at the Wynn’s Tower Suites. (The Tower King Suites is about 640 square-feet and the Salon Suite is about 1,890 square-feet.) It was a great treat for the beginning of my vacation!

The 1,890 square-foot Wynn Salon Suite has an entry foyer, a private massage room, a separate powder room, a large living room with dining area, and a granite wet bar. The living room and the private bedroom have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer views of the Las Vegas strip. The master bathroom has a glass-enclosed shower, dual sinks, whirlpool deep-soak tub, and walk-in closets.

As a Wynn Tower Suite guest, you get access to the exclusive private Tower Suites pool and daily complimentary breakfast for two at the Tableau restaurant (one of my all-time favorite place for brunch at Las Vegas), and morning coffee and tea service.

That first luxury Salon Suite room experience in 2006 has gotten me hooked on the Wynn Tower Suites. When I go to Las Vegas, I usually stay in one of my four top favorite hotel properties (Wynn / Encore Tower Suites, Bellagio Suites, Aria’s Sky Suites, and Skyloft at the MGM Grand).

If I stay at the Wynn Las Vegas hotel, my top room choice would be the Salon Suites inside of the Tower Suite. A nice thing the Tower Suite staff does to the returning hotel guests is complimentary chocolate with a card placed in the suite.

The Wynn’s Salon Suites is an ideal place when you want a lot of space and some sort of privacy. Once you shut the door, you won’t hear any activities outside of your suite.

The Salon Suites is also a great place to host private parties with friends. Last time I went to Las Vegas with a group of friends, I stayed in the Wynn’s Salon Suites while the rest of my friends stay in other properties of their choice. My Salon Suites became the go-to place after we chilled out by the private Tower Suites pool and ate dinner at our favorite restaurants. As a matter of fact, one of my friends really enjoyed bar-tending for us at the wet bar in my suite.

Each of my stays at the Wynn’s Tower Suites was great! All the service staff were very friendly and helpful. The breakfast at the Tableau restaurant was always consistently excellent. And the access to the exclusive private Tower Suites pool was another highlight for each stay.

If you haven’t had the chance to stay at Wynn’s Tower Suites, I highly recommend you give it a try on your next visit to Las Vegas!

Wynn Salon Suite Head Shot — Wynn Salon Suite Living Room

All Posts, Food, Travel

Sunday Brunch at St. Regis Monarch Beach Hotel at Dana Point

04/09/2014 Shirley

During the past weekend I visited my family in California. We went to St. Regis Monarch Beach at Dana Point for Sunday brunch. Dana Point is known for its beautiful beach view and the St. Regis is always a nice hotel to visit (regardless of location). The opportunity of eating at the St. Regis at Dana Point was too good to pass up.

The restaurant we went to in the St. Regis Monarch Beach hotel is called Motif. It was named the best brunch place in Orange County, California. I booked the reservation a few weeks before my trip. Being a Seattle person, I got tired of the rain and cold. I was longing for the Sunday brunch in the sunny Dana Point.

We arrived at the St. Regis Monarch Beach a bit early before our brunch reservation. We walked around the hotel and enjoyed the stunning view as well as the hotel’s interior and exterior designs. I’ve stayed in the St. Regis in San Francisco before, but the hotel design completely different from the St. Regis Monarch Beach at Dana Point.

The Sunday brunch at Motif was great. There was a variety of food options, including international dishes, and a dedicated dessert bar. In addition to the typical brunch items, such as made-to-order omelets, pancakes, classic eggs benedict, and French toast, Motif also offers sushi, Korean beef BBQ, dim sum, salad, fresh seafood, desserts, etc.

One especially nice thing about Motif’s omelet and pancakes/French toast bar was that they offer about sixty toppings. My three-year old niece was excited to order her ideal pancakes with chocolate M&Ms and sprinkles, with fresh berries on the side. I even added Macaroons to her plate from the dessert bar. I ordered French toast with Grand Manier and fresh berries. The combination was perfect for me.

Another thing I like about having Sunday brunch at Motif is its intimacy. Unlike typical brunch buffet places where they were too crowded with too many tables, Motif is just about the right size. I didn’t have to worry about running into people while I was getting food.

Motif Sunday brunch is more about quality than quantity. They might not offer as many items as other brunch buffet places, but their dishes are freshly made in small quantity. They replenish their items continuously.

The service at the Motif was excellent. I have to say no matter how delicious the food a restaurant offers, the dining experience wouldn’t be as memorable without great service. I really enjoyed my Motif Sunday brunch at the St. Regis Monarch Beach at Dona Point. When I return to CA to visit my family in a few months, we will definitely visit Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach again!

Some people said that Motif offers the most extravagant Sunday brunch in Orange County. After my first-hand experience, I can’t agree more. The beach scenery, the quality of the food and the services made Motif stand out!

The price for an adult is $69 ($79 with unlimited Champagne) and $39 per child (age 5-12).

St Regis Monarch Beach at Dana Point, CA

St. Regis Monrach Beach at Dana Point, CA

Sunday Brunch at Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach

Oversized Omelet and Korean QQK at Motif — Oversized Omelet and Korean BBQ at Motif

French toast with Grand Manier and fresh berries

Fresh Berry Crepe with Coconut & Berry Sorbet

All Posts, Food, Travel

Jean Philippe Patisserie in Las Vegas

10/31/2012 Shirley

One of my all-time favorite bakeries is the Jean Philippe Patisserie (at Aria Hotel). During my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at the Bellagio Hotel. Although there is a Jean Philippe at the Bellagio, I slightly prefer the one next door at the Aria Hotel. If you’ve never seen a Jean Philippe bakery, trust me, you would be amazed. It’s hard to imagine how spectacular the items on display are unless you see it with your own eyes.

One of my favorite items is the chocolate croissant, but there are dozens of items that are incredible. So, if you’re ever in Las Vegas and are anywhere near the Aria or the Bellagio, be sure to seek out the Jean Philippe Patisserie. Even if you don’t eat anything there just looking at the baked goods and desserts is a great experience.

All Posts, Food, Travel

The Circo at the Bellagio Hotel in Vegas

10/29/2012 Shirley

During my most recent trip to Las Vegas I ate dinner at the Circo restaurant in the Bellagio Hotel. Overall I was very impressed. When I update my list of Top Ten Restaurants in Las Vegas, I’m pretty sure Circo will be on the list.

The evening began in the small bar near the entrance of the restaurant. There were three or four small tables and an intimate bar with about 10 tall chairs. The bartender was very friendly and suggested a Raspberry Fizz, one of their house specialties. It was very tasty and the next time I’m at Circo, I’ll probably order it again.

I was seated at a window overlooking so-called Lake Bellagio and had an excellent view of their world famous water fountain show. The waiter was friendly and helpful. For an appetizer, he suggested the lobster salad. The great evening got better when I found it was the best lobster salad I’ve ever had. My friend had a 20 vegetable soup that was fantastic too.

The waiter suggested one of Circo’s signature dishes, a lamb entree, but I decided on an elegant duck ravioli instead. My meal was excellent but be honest I think the duck ravioli would be better as a shared appetizer or shared plate with a group of people. My friend had a New York Steak that was excellent but it’s hard to distinguish between excellent steaks so I can’t really compare it to other steaks I’ve had in Vegas.

For dessert, I had “Zabaglione” – made with raspberry sorbet, champagne, and poached peach. It was perfect – not too sweet, not too heavy – just right. If you’re at or near the Bellagio, and want a good selection with items that are different, but not too different, I recommend that you check out Circo.