Tag Archives: Travel

All Posts, Travel

My Favorite Regular Las Vegas Hotels

Some time ago I posted a blog that describes my favorite upscale / luxury suites in Las Vegas. But I don’t always get to stay in upscale rooms; I sometime stay in what I’ll call ordinary hotel rooms (even though Las Vegas is far from ordinary).

So, here are my current top 10 places to stay in Las Vegas, assuming I’m not going to stay at a luxury suite of some sort.

Wynn_Encore_Hotels

  1. Encore – I love the Encore Hotel. It’s at the north end of the Strip which means I can’t walk to a lot of venues, but other than that, Encore is just about perfect. It’s hard to describe, but the Encore just feels right. The prices here are a bit higher than most hotels, but well worth it in my opinion.

  2. Wynn – The Wynn and the Encore are practically the same — the two hotels are connected and many times are referred to as Wynn/Encore collectively. I love the Wynn, especially the restaurants, which I think, as a group, are the best of any hotel in Vegas.

  3. Bellagio – The Bellagio has a different feel than the Wynn and Encore — it’s hard to describe, but the Bellagio is a bit more conservative in some ways, mostly the décor I think. I’ve noticed that staying at the Bellagio either before or after staying at the Wynn/Encore makes the experience at all three hotels seem even better.

  4. Palazzo – The Palazzo has great rooms — essentially all suites. And the Palazzo is directly connected to the Venetian which has a lot of great restaurants and shopping.

  5. Aria – The Aria doesn’t seem to have one characteristic that makes it really stand out, but the property is good in a lot of ways. Nice location near the center of the Strip, nice rooms, good restaurants, and one of my all-time favorite bakeries (Jean Philippe).

  7. The Venetian – Every time I stay at the Venetian I recall one of my all-time favorite shows, The Phantom of the Opera. I like the rooms at the Venetian (all 700+ square feet), and the shopping arcade with restaurants by the indoor canal.

  8. Cosmopolitan – The Cosmopolitan is a nice hotel, but clearly a notch below the hotels I’ve listed above. The Cosmopolitan tries a bit too hard to be trendy, but it’s still a good hotel, and much better than older properties like the Luxor and the Tropicana.

  9. The MGM Grand – the MGM is maybe one of the best values in Vegas. On the downside, MGM is near the very south end of the Strip which makes it impractical to walk to many other places. But the MGM has a lot going for it, and I’ve often stayed there.

  10. Mandalay Bay – The Mandalay Bay is a good hotel, but not in the same league with my top five Vegas hotels. Mandalay has good (but not great) restaurants, good (but not great rooms), good (but not great) service, and so on.

Palazzo Hotel at Las Vegas
Palazzo Hotel at Las Vegas

 

 

All Posts, Travel

The Sky Suites at Aria Hotel in Las Vegas

Where did you stay the last time you went to Las Vegas? I go to Vegas quite often and have some favorite hotels. But I also enjoy trying new places. On a recent trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at the Sky Suites at Aria hotel.

Many hotels in Las Vegas has special sections, for example, MGM Grand has Skyloft suites and Wynn has Tower Suites. When I arrived in Las Vegas I had arranged to be picked up by the Sky Suites limo. The driver took me to a private entrance separate from the main Aria entrance. From there the doorman showed me to the private Sky Suites lobby area, where I checked in to the room.

Overall, I’d rate the Aria Sky Suites with eight out of ten. I especially liked the complimentary refreshments throughout the day; it was at least as good as any of the other special suites I stayed in Las Vegas. The hotel design and the décor was modern and sophisticated, but I slightly prefer the Wynn/Encore and Bellagio suites.

From a value point of view, the Aria Sky Suites offers slightly larger rooms and a slightly lower rate compared to my favorite specialty suites, the Wynn/Encore, MGM Skyloft, Bellagio suites, and the Palazzo. The Sky Suites at Aria are really nice, but the Tower Suites at Wynn/Encore are still my favorites. However, the next time you are in Las Vegas consider the Sky Suites at Aria.

Aria Sky Suites - One Bedroom Aria Suite
Aria Sky Suites – One Bedroom Aria Suite
Aria Sky Suites - Bedroom
Aria Sky Suites – Bedroom
Aria Sky Suites Private Lounge
Aria Sky Suites Private Lounge
Aria Sky Suites Complimentary Refreshments
Aria Sky Suites Complimentary Refreshments
All Posts, Food, Travel

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

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 Monarch Beach at Dana Point, CA
St. Regis Monrach Beach at Dana Point, CA
St. Regis Monrach Beach at Dana Point, CA
Sunday Brunch at Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach
Sunday Brunch at Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach
Sunday Brunch at Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach
Sunday Brunch at Motif at St. Regis Monarch Beach
Sushi Boat at Motif
Sushi Boat at Motif
Oversized Omelet and Korean QQK at Motif
Oversized Omelet and Korean BBQ at Motif
Desserts at Motif
Desserts at Motif
Desserts at Motif
Desserts at Motif
Pastry at Motif
Pastry at Motif
Pancakes with fresh berries and macaros
Pancakes with fresh berries and macaros
French toast with Grand Manier and fresh berries
French toast with Grand Manier and fresh berries
Fresh Berry Crepe with Coconut & Berry Sorbet
Fresh Berry Crepe with Coconut & Berry Sorbet
All Posts, Holidays, Travel

The Venetian Macao Hotel Light Show

Video

While I was in Macao visiting the famous Cotai Strip, I watched the light show presented outside of the Venetian Macao Resort Hotel. The show was designed to celebrate the winter holiday. It included a Chinese dragon running across the screen, gold coins, fireworks, a snow storm, and a gondola (which reminded me of the Venetian in Las Vegas). The winter holiday theme of the show was perfect for the season. I think the light show was amazing!

Venetian Macao Winter Holiday Light Show

All Posts, Food, Travel

Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina in Vegas

Wolfgang Puck has several restaurants in Las Vegas, ranging from casual (Wolfgang Puck Bar & Grill in the MGM Grand) to fine dining (Cut at the Palazzo). On my most recent trip to Vegas I ate at the Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina located in the Crystals Shopping Center right next to the Aria Hotel. I’d classify WP Cucina as a mid-range restaurant, somewhere between casual and fine dining.

I was looking forward to ordering lasagna so I could compare it to other lasagnas I’ve had in Vegas. To be honest, the lasagna at WP Cucina was a mild disappointment. It wasn’t bad by all means but it clearly didn’t come close to the lasagnas I’ve had at Sinatra (Encore Hotel) or Allegro (Wynn). The WP Cucina lasagna’s cheese was a bit too mild and soft for my taste.

I also shared an Italian Sausage pizza with Rapini, Caramelized Garlic, and Pecorino Romano. The pecorino (sheep’s cheese) and rapini (a type of broccoli) gave the pizza a very different but good taste. And it is one of my traditions to always have at least one side order of meatballs every trip, so I ordered the Grilled Meatballs, Red Pepper-Olive Ragu, Pecorino Toscano. The meatballs’ taste was also different but interesting and good. My friend had Rigatoncini (pasta), Piedmontese Meat Sauce, Parmesan, which was the best dish of the evening, and Tuscan White Bean Soup, Prosciutto, Rigatoni Pasta, that was also excellent.

All in all, I highly recommend Wolfgang Puck Pizzeria and Cucina at the Crystals Shopping Center if you’re in the mood for an medium-upscale Italian restaurant in Las Vegas.

Wolfgang Puck Bread
Wolfgang Puck Bread
Wolfgang Puck Grilled Meatballs
Grilled Meatballs, Red Pepper-Olive Ragu, Pecorino Toscano
Italian Sausage pizza with Rapini, Caramelized Garlic, and Pecorino Romano
Italian Sausage pizza with Rapini, Caramelized Garlic, and Pecorino Romano
Wolfgang Puck Lasagna
Wolfgang Puck Lasagna
Rigatoncini (pasta), Piedmontese Meat Sauce, Parmesan
Rigatoncini (pasta), Piedmontese Meat Sauce, Parmesan

 

All Posts, Food, Travel

The Hyde at Bellagio in Las Vegas

On my most recent trip to Las Vegas I visited the Hyde lounge / nightclub at the Bellagio for the first time. My overall impression: good but not great unless you’ve never seen the famous Bellagio water fountain show.

Hyde(the name doesn’t really do much for me – not sure what the name is supposed to bring to mind) is a nightclub starting at 10:00pm on “clubbing nights” (Friday, Saturday, and other days depending on the season and events going on) and a lounge starting at 5:00pm on most days. It’s hard to pin down exactly what gives a lounge a comfortable, inviting feel. To my friend, Hyde seemed a bit too night-clubby and not quite enough loungy, but I felt the opposite – a bit too loungy. Maybe Hyde is trying to be two different things.

The décor was very modern but maybe a little bit too dark. I enjoy people watching while sitting at a bar. The layout of Hyde was OK but not optimal for this because the bar faced a wall. But the entire east wall of Hyde is made of glass, which gives a fantastic view of the Fountains of Bellagio (water fountain show). The seating areas were arranged in traditional lounge style in pods that can accommodate about six to a dozen people.

On the plus side, my bartenders Erica and Dave were very personable, and I met some interesting, fun people while enjoying my drink. Erica recommended a house specialty drink called a Love Unit. The ingredients sound very, very strange – vodka, basil, lime, grapefruit, and bell pepper! Surprisingly, these ingredients worked very well together.

All things considered, I liked Hyde a lot but for a lounging experience at Bellagio I think I prefer the more classical open area Petrossian lounge and the Baccarat Bar lounge.

Hyde
Hyde – Front Entrance
Love Unit Cocktail from the Hyde at Bellagio
Love Unit Cocktail from the Hyde at Bellagio
Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas
Fountains of Bellagio in Las Vegas
LED Back Lit Check Presenter at the Hyde
LED Back Lit Check Presenter at the Hyde

 

All Posts, Food, Travel

Michael Mina Restaurant at Bellagio in Vegas

During my most recent trip to Las Vegas, I ate dinner at Michael Mina (MM) in the Bellagio Hotel. Michael Mina is classified as an “innovative seafood” restaurant. Overall, the meal and experience were fantastic, and when I update my list of Top Ten Restaurants in Vegas, I’m certain that Michael Mina will bump an existing restaurant off and join the list.

The entrance to MM is near the Bellagio’s famous conservatory which is a must-see if you’re anywhere near Bellagio. MM is what I’d call medium-size and the initial visual impression was very nice.

Our waiter, Paul, was excellent. Paul carefully answered all my questions about the menu items – there were lots of items that I had no idea what they were. I decided to order the chef’s tasting menu.

The meal started with tuna tartare. It was very different from others I’ve had; it had pine seeds, Asian pear, and sesame oil which gave the dish a unique taste. After the appetizer, I had Michael Mina’s house specialty lobster pot pie. It was delicious – very rich but the moderate portion was just right. My second main course was American Wagyu ribeye steak. The portion was small, about 3 ounces, but it complemented the pot pie perfectly. My dessert had three items: cheesecake with blueberries, passion fruit panna cotta, a mini root beer float, and chocolate chip cookies.

I talked to the restaurant manager David, and complimented the service, food, and experience. He was very gracious and gave me his business card. I learned he has been promoted to the general manager of a MM restaurant in Dana Point, California.

Michael Mina was a bit pricey, but really only just a bit more than other fine restaurants in Las Vegas. I felt MM was a great value considering the entire experience. MM isn’t for everyone, but if you don’t mind paying a premium price for a premium meal, I recommend Michael Mina.

Michael Mina at Bellagio
Ahi Tuna Tartare at Michael Mina restaurant
Michael Mina at Bellagio
Lobster Pot Pie from Michael Mina restaurant
Michael Mina at Bellagio
3oz. American Wagyu Ribeye from Michael Mina restaurant
Michael Mina at Bellagio
King Salmon from Michael Mina restaurant
Michael Mina at Bellagio
Dessert Tasting Trio from Michael Mina at Bellagio
Michael Mina at Bellagio
Front view of Michael Mina at Bellagio
All Posts, Food, Travel

Jean Philippe Patisserie in Las Vegas

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.

JeanPhilippePatisserie
Jean Philippe Patisserie at the Aria Hotel
JeanPhilippePatisserie
Jean Philippe Patisserie
JeanPhilippePatisserie
Desserts made for Halloween
JeanPhilippePatisserie
More dessert made for Halloween
JeanPhilippePatisserie
Chocolate dragon