The Mirage

Frommer's Review

Imagine the levels of frustration of the Las Vegas hotel-casino. There you are, once the hottest thing on the Strip, and then everyone copies you and takes it to the next level of luxury, or theme, or lunacy, depending on what this year's trend is; and there you are, the former front runner, now years behind the ever-evolving curve. Desperate fashion crazes call for desperate measures, and so, if you are The Mirage, you dump nearly all your tropical theme in favor of that sleek, sophisticated, dark wood look that is currently all the rage. It was a good choice. The Asian elegance produces unexpected sharp design touches -- just peer in at the bar of Stack Steakhouse, full of sensuous wood curves. The place is looking sharp, stylish, and grown up, instead of tired. Even though it has become somewhat eclipsed by the very hotels whose presence it made possible, we still really like this place. From the moment you walk in and breathe the tropically perfumed air and enter the lush rainforest, it's just a different experience from most Vegas hotels.

The Mirage was Steve Wynn's first project built from the ground up. It seems funny now, but back in 1989, this was considered a complete gamble that was sure to be a failure. That was before the hotel opened, mind you. On opening day, the crowds nearly tore the place down getting inside, and The Mirage soon made its money back. Now it is the model upon which all recent hotels have been based.

Occupying 102 acres, The Mirage is fronted by more than a city block of cascading waterfalls and tropical foliage centering on a "volcano," which, after dark, erupts every 15 minutes, spewing fire 100 feet above the lagoons below. (In passing, that volcano cost $30 million, which is equal to the entire original construction cost for Caesars next door.) The lobby is dominated by a 53-foot, 20,000-gallon simulated coral-reef aquarium stocked with more than 1,000 colorful tropical fish. This gives you something to look at while waiting (never for long) for check-in.

Next, you'll walk through the rainforest, which occupies a 90-foot domed atrium -- a path meanders through palms, banana trees, waterfalls, and serene pools. If we must find a complaint with The Mirage, it's with the next bit, because you have to negotiate 8 miles (or so it seems) of casino mayhem to get to your room, the pool, food, or the outside world. It gets old, fast. On the other hand, the sundries shop is located right next to the guest-room elevators, so if you forgot toothpaste, you don't have to travel miles to get more.

Fresh room renovations have turned the lodgings into that white bed/bold, solid colors/70s-inspired look that everyone is sporting a variation of these days. Admittedly it does fit the current mod look of the hotel. Plus, a pillow-top mattress and 42-inch LCD TVs do wonders for overcoming any decor concerns. The bathrooms remain small -- though they have been given a solid makeover as well -- which won't bother you unless you have space issues and/or have seen the bigger ones elsewhere on the Strip. The Mirage has one of our favorite casinos and some excellent nightclubs and bars. We miss the so-Vegas-it's-bad lounge but have to admit that the Zen Japonais Lounge is more appealing in every way, with its fluttering spalike curtains and proximity to the rainforest. It's an odd bit of serenity right off the casino bustle.

Out back is the pool, one of the nicest in Vegas, with a quarter-mile shoreline, a tropical paradise of waterfalls and trees, water slides, and so forth. It looks inviting, but truth be told, it's sometimes on the chilly side and isn't very deep. But it's so pretty you'll hardly care. There is also Bare, a "European-style pool" offering a more adult aquatic experience. Free swimming lessons and water-aerobics classes take place daily at the pool. Behind the pool are the Dolphin Habitat and Siegfried & Roy's Secret Garden. The Mirage Day Spa teems with friendly staff anxious to pamper you, bringing you iced towels to cool you during your workout, and refreshing juices and smoothies afterward. The gym is one of the largest and best stocked on the Strip.

Facilities:
11 restaurants; casino; concierge; executive-level rooms; health club; beautiful outdoor pool; room service; showrooms; spa

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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