Palms Casino Resort

The Palms was Britney Spears's base for her (first) wedding debacle and is still the retreat of choice for tabloid staples. In keeping with the tropical-foliage name, it's more or less Miami themed (but without the pastels), with a strange aversion to straight lines (really, check out all those curves). Inside a bland building is a pretty nice complex with some downright family-friendly touches -- which we say only because it's a puzzle that the place is such a hot spot. That's mostly due to the nightlife options -- ghostbar, Playboy Club, and the nightclubs Rain and Moon sport lines of people every night the facilities are open, offering to sell their firstborn sons for a chance to go inside. Why did the two clubs catch on so? Quite possibly MTV's The Real World: Las Vegas, which featured seven strangers picked to live in the Palms and have their lives taped . . . oh, never mind . . . what you need to know is that the entrances to the clubs stand right by the elevators to your hotel room, which means on a busy weekend night, there can be upwards of 4,000 gorgeous and antsy (if not angry) people standing between you and access to your hotel room. If you are a Hilton sister, or wish to see whether one will date you, this could be heaven, but if encountering the beautifully dressed and coifed, with 0% body fat and sullen expressions of entitlement, and the 19-year-olds who seek to become all that (and usually affect a thuggish demeanor) makes you, like us, itch, this might not be the most comfortable place to stay. And yet there is an excellent child-care facility, Kid's Quest, plus movie theaters, and a family-ready food court (with a McDonald's, Panda Express, pizza, and subs). So it's both totally wrong for kids and rather right at the same time.

The Palms has perhaps some of the most comfortable beds in Vegas, thanks to fluffy pillows and duvets that make one reluctant to rise, plus big TVs and huge bathrooms. The workout room is decent size, but the spa is underwhelming, though it does offer yoga and Pilates classes. The pool areas got party-spot makeovers, turning what were kind of bland "stand and pose" watering holes into the kind of trendy must-visit beach areas this kind of crowd loves. Also on the property is the gorgeous and romantic Alizé, one of the best restaurants in town.

Facilities:
7 restaurants; food court; casino; concierge; executive-level rooms; health club; movie theater; nightclub/showroom; outdoor pool; room service; 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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