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Families and travelers not enthralled with the Vegas casino vibe will be happiest at the Mandarin-Oriental hotel, which feels like a tucked-away oasis. Striking a chord of serenity in Las Vegas is surely no easy feat, but the Mandarin pulls it off beautifully, thanks to it’s location on the top floors of a gleaming residential tower, a tranquil spa and the fact that there’s no casino on the premises. Rooms are spacious, with floor-to-ceiling windows, clever open bathrooms with wooden sliding doors and gorgeous bathtubs, and king-sized beds in the comfortable living spaces.

Some of the more overt Asian-Zen design details, like a framed kimono scroll in the rooms, can seem a little odd in juxtaposition with the neon lights of the Strip, and common spaces like the dramatic-sleek lobby are a bit flashier than one is used to at the company’s other properties. But in the grand scheme of Vegas, this is understated.

The pool, flanked by private cabanas and with views of the Monte Carlo, is another place to escape the crowds, as is the excellent two-story spa, with its extensive wellness offerings (the hammam, steam rooms and vitality pool are only open to people who make an appointment for a treatment).

The Mandarin is part of the multi-billion-dollar City Center development, built on a seventy-six-acre site between the Bellagio and the Monte Carlo that was once the Dune’s golf course. It has retail, residential, gaming, entertainment and other hotel components, none of them particularly memorable or special. The Mandarin-Oriental is the clear highlight of the development and anyone looking for a more intimate Vegas experience will be very happy here.