Las Vegas: Where to Stay: Most Indulgent: Wynn Las Vegas Resort & Country Club

Wynn Las Vegas Resort & Country Club

This is my favorite Las Vegas hotel, hands-down. Steve Wynn, the master who is generally credited with inaugurating the new, luxurious age of Vegas when he built Bellagio, in 1998, unveiled this $2.6 billion, 2,700-room-and-suite palace in 2005, and it is now the only AAA five-star, five-diamond casino resort in the world. (It’s also the only Strip resort with its own golf course on the grounds.) I like it because even the simplest rooms are expansive, with cozy beds and great linens. Reception is close to the room elevators, precluding long walks with luggage, and crowds are always at a minimum, so it’s ideal for a romantic getaway.

Although Wynn is known for bringing the “wow” factor to Vegas (he built the fountains at Bellagio), this time he kept the atmosphere more Zen, using lots of light and foliage inside the casino. The best suites are the thirty-six one- and two-bedroom Fairway Villas, situated right on the golf course. Rooms from $250.

TIP: Ask for a room in the South Tower, which is a bit more expensive but where you’ll have a private entrance and pool area. Musical-theater fans should mark their calendars: the Broadway production of Spamalot opened last March in the Grail Theater.

ON THE HORIZON: The $2.1 billion Encore tower with 2,034 suites, duplex sky villas and penthouses, which will be separate from the Wynn but connected via public areas. Encore will have its own restaurants, nightclubs, shops, spa, salons and 72,000-square-foot casino. It is expected to open in early 2009.