Luxor Las Vegas

Kitsch worshipers were dealt a blow when the people behind this hotel came to the inexplicable decision to eliminate most of the Egypt theme from the inside of it, casting aside identity in favor of generic luxury. Obviously, they can't get rid of certain elements -- the main hotel is, after all, a 30-story onyx-hued pyramid, complete with a really tall 315,000-watt light beam at the top. (Luxor says that's because the Egyptians believed their souls would travel up to heaven in a beam of light. We think it's really because it gives them something to brag about: "The most powerful beam on Earth!") Replicas of Cleopatra's Needle and the Sphinx still dominate the exterior and touches of Egypt remain in the lobby and main entrance (you figure out what to do with those three-story high statues of Ramses). But other than that, virtually every other trace of the land of the Pharaohs is gone. And some magic is now gone from Vegas. Now guests will be attracted only by the generally good prices, not by the giddy fun the theme produced.

But they can't take away fundamentals and so staying in the pyramid part means you get to ride the 39-degree high-speed inclinators -- that's what an elevator is when it works inside a pyramid. Really, they are part conveyance, part thrill ride -- check out that jolt when they come to a halt. Rooms in the pyramid open onto the vast center that contains the casino -- indeed, ground-level rooms open more or less right into the action (though many of these have been turned into offices), so if you want only a short drunken stumble back to your room, these are for you. Otherwise, ask for a room higher up. Marvelous views are offered through the slanted windows (the higher up, the better, of course), but the bathrooms are shower only, no tubs. Bathrooms are better in the Tower rooms, including deep tubs.

Among the many restaurants are the margarita heaven of Tacos & Tequila and the archaeological dig-themed MORE, The Buffet at Luxor. Criss Angel: Believe pairs the popular exotic magician with the spectacle of Cirque du Soleil. Comedian Carrot Top is also in residency. Enormous nightclub LAX is state of the art, and attracting a fashionable crowd. Two notable attractions here are Titanic: The Exhibition and Bodies . . . The Exhibition.

Facilities:
5 restaurants; food court; nightclub; casino; concierge; executive-level rooms; health club; 5 outdoor pools; room service; showrooms; spa; arcade

Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.

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