“Viva Las Vegas!” It’s All About the Experience!

 

Las Vegas! It’s all about THE Experience!

 

Jack: “Soooo…. Where are we off to this year?”

Jill: “Somewhere hot, I would hope.”

Jack: “Really?”

Jill: “Really.”

Jack: “Really, really??”

Jill: (Silence)

Jack: “Somewhere hot sounds good.”

Jill: “That’s a great idea, Jack.”

Well, if I am going to be forced to tolerate a ‘hot getaway’ (as in temperature, as opposed to my carnal time with Jill) then it’s got to be exciting. Hence… Viva Las Vegas!

Having been to Las Vegas before on business, unlike Jill, this was not my first trip. Seeing as she was a virgin (not in the biblical sense), I wanted to make this perfect. As such, I chose the Palazzo. Why? When you stay at the Palazzo you know exactly what you’re going to get. A first class experience!

Unlike a few of the other establishments in Las Vegas, the Palazzo, as well as the Venetian, (sister hotel) are synonymous with class; impeccably clean and maintained, from the casino to the guest suites to interaction with the various staff.

Upon our arrival we were greeted by various clerks, securing our luggage and leading us to check-in. A better welcome, I cannot imagine. Our hostess gleamed with charm and personality, complimenting both Jill and I through the process. Her questions were provocative and exploring, obviously meant to enhance our experience. I was smitten, as was Jill. I do believe a few more minutes of this interaction would’ve lead to a threesome… for dinner (c’mon, this is PG folks!).

Upon entering our room, we were taken by the sheer size of the suite.

Jill: “The suite?”

Jack: “Yes, Jill. The suite.”

The rooms are extremely spacious with steps separating the suite in two; the bedroom and the living room. The couches were simply elegant as well as comfortable. And the bed replete with plush bedding. The bathroom? Naturally, Italian marble. The end of the suite provided outstanding views via the near-floor to ceiling windows (whether they be of the strip, pools or the mountains in the distance). All that being said, Jill and I were instantly drawn to the comfy bench at the foot of our bed. About an hour later, Jill was online ordering one for our bedroom back home.

Wanting to take advantage of our early arrival, Jill and I changed into swimwear and made our way to the pool area. There are a number of pool scenes to choose from with each area providing its own personality and ambiance. Throughout our stay we took advantage of several options. Whether we were looking to simply lay back, relax, read, sleep, etc., there was a pool. If we were feeling more social, there was another pool with various personalities to strike up conversations with, everyone simply enjoying the sun and drinks. And if we were looking to experience the ‘nightlife’ in the afternoon, Tao was the answer!

Our pool time served as the perfect activity, a liaison between daylight and nighttime, both in allowing us to recover from the previous night’s activities as well as stirring the animal spirits for that evening’s adventures!

The casino consistently had an air of excitement, not the least of which was generated by the ever-smiling dealers and their welcoming supervisors (pit bosses). It’s not hard to see that your average guest there cares for more than just the game. They’re looking for the experience, which is exactly what WE look for and found at the Palazzo. To that point, the casino offers ‘Learn to play…’ sessions during the day which at the very least serve as a refresher and at the most introduces you to a new adventure. Although we limit our gaming to both Craps and Blackjack (a post on The Games People Play later), we have found the dealers incredibly helpful in both explaining the rules and vagaries of the games as well as betting strategies and the reasoning behind them. Needless to say, THAT alone increases the odds of enjoyment (pun intended). And if your luck needs a change of venue, the Venetian and its casino is but a very short and comfortable indoor walk away. And yes, they hold to the same standards.

There are so many restaurants to choose from, each an excellent experience: Aquaknox (fresh & delectable seafood), SushiSamba (simply outstanding with unique ambiance), and DelMonico Steakhouse (incredible steaks and an even better wine list).

Delmonico Steakhouse, located in the Venetian, is a chophouse we are quite fond of. This is an Emeril Lagasse restaurant which features steakhouse fare with his New Orleans twist. The restaurant is well-appointed with a subtle nouveau-steakhouse flare. You feel good dining there. Based on its location, it is rather busy though that does not translate to the service or experience. The hostess was lovely and the head waiter very much engaged. All servers were very much in-tune with our needs, course by course.

The offerings here, regardless of course, are always outstanding; fresh, generous and varied. Steaks, as is the fish, are prepared to perfection with extraordinary flavor and the traditional accompaniments are exactly that; accompaniments. They do not overtake the main course but, rather, serve as a perfect compliment. Equally impressive is their wine list. For more of that adventure, please see our post, The Fruits of Life!

For a ‘sinful’ lunch, we ventured to B&B Burger & Beer (mouthwatering burger creations along with alcohol infused milkshakes- Bailey’s Chocolate!). Sadly, the shuttering of this location has been confirmed. As for breakfast, the Grand Lux Cafe is fail-safe (nothing compares to the blueberry pancakes). These are just some of the offerings we experienced on our trip.

Silly as it may sound, a simple walk thru the Grand Canal Shoppes is joyful and quite romantic. They offer gondola rides, both indoor and outdoor, where one is serenaded with romantic, Italian classics by the gondoliers. Very soothing and magical. Between the Palazzo and Venetian, you have what appears to be a mini-city providing you with plenty of strolling options as well as people-watching. There are many high-end shops (eye candy of another sort) to browse through as you walk through this incredible mall.

We would be remiss not to mention an offsite attraction, well within walking distance; the Bellagio Fountains on the strip. It is simply a must-see when visiting Las Vegas. Time appears to ‘stand still’ once the show begins as virtually EVERYONE stops to watch. You can never get tired of it. Jill and I took it in one late night prior to our gaming. Locked arm in arm, we listened to the beautiful music which accompanied the water show, quickly succumbing to the romance of the moment, soon thereafter finding ourselves locked lips to lips.

In its entirety, the Palazzo provides an incredible experience. And that is what WE are all about… the experience.