Wynn Las Vegas

Frommer's Review

Because Steve Wynn is a modern-day Vegas legend, because this town almost entirely owes its present-day look and outlook to him, because this hotel (built on the site of the old Desert Inn and opened on the same day, Apr 28, that grand old dame was originally opened) came with a $2.7-billion price tag, and because there was a great deal of hype that used words and phrases such as "like nothing you've ever seen before," there was a corresponding amount of anticipation surrounding the opening of this, Vegas's newest and perhaps most trumpeted resort. The result? Something that is at once pretty "wow" and a whole lot "It looks like Bellagio." In short, it was something many of us had, in fact, seen before, just down the street. And that is both fair and not; sure, the hotel does not live up to its sui generis claims, but that's obvious only if you have previous knowledge of other Vegas hotels. If you are new to town, this will look plenty spectacular. A better question might be "What's the visitor getting for that price tag?" This is especially relevant because the room rate can be upward of $400 a night (though even as soon as a month after it opened, certain e-mail-only offers went as low as $139). Just about everything here can generate sticker shock in all but those used to costly resorts, but note that costly resorts usually have one-tenth the number of rooms here.

The hotel feels a little bit cramped when you first enter -- we are used to swooping Vegas lobby displays -- and the reception area is impractically proportioned, resulting in some check-in waits. The suspicion is that all this makes the place seem less behemoth and more resort-size. The hotel has no discernible theme (apart from that tendency to prompt constant comparisons to Bellagio), which may be disappointing for those looking for theme-aganza. The interior has some superior moments, including considerable use of natural light (via various skylights and atriums), unusual in this town and most welcome, and a floral motif reflected in eye-catching brightly hued floor mosaics, artistic fresh-flower arrangements throughout, and, best of all, the atrium that runs down the center and, like its predecessor at Bellagio, features frequently changed displays. There are also some of the most garish lighting fixtures in a town not known for its subtlety in chandeliers. The layout is devoted to old-school Vegas floor planning, which forces guests to maneuver around and through the casino to get anywhere.

As with all other Wynn hotels, there is an installation in front of the building, a 150-foot-tall man-made mountain covered in trees (many mature trees taken from the old Desert Inn golf course) and waterfalls, and, like the others, this comes with a "free show." The quotation marks are because said show is not viewable from the street -- neither, in fact, is the mountain itself. The latter can be glimpsed only in bits and pieces, though there is a decent shot at a portion of it as you enter from the Strip across from the pedestrian walkway; the former can be viewed only when either dining at the SW Steakhouse or Daniel Boulud Brasserie, or having a drink at a couple of bars, where you will be required to purchase two drinks per person, starting at $12 a glass. There is one truly free viewing platform, but it is tiny.

These complaints notwithstanding, there's nothing really wrong with the place; we just nitpick because the hype invited it. In fact, there is much to like here. The rooms are hands-down the best on the Strip (at least, that aren't suites, such as at The Venetian or THEhotel, or those at sister Encore). They're particularly large (and have kind of ruined us for even the more spacious of other rooms), with much-appreciated floor-to-ceiling views (west side shows off the mountain and waterfalls, east side the golf course; both are choice); deeply comfortable beds, with high-thread-count sheets and feather beds atop good-quality mattresses, plus down comforters; flatscreen TVs; and excellent up-to-the-minute bathrooms, complete with quite long and deep tubs, their own flatscreen TVs, and lemony amenities. Take note of the silky-satiny robes (the best we've ever had in a hotel) and plush velour slippers. All the rooms are done in shades that happily break the recent trend toward bland parchment tones, but at least one of the palettes is a strange hybrid of salmon and terra cotta, so while we appreciate the effort, the result can be disconcerting. Love the Warhol flower prints, though. There is alleged turndown service at night, but that can be spotty.

The gym is excellent, stuffed with up-to-the-minute equipment, most with individual TV screens, though we could do without the windows looking onto an interior hallway that make our workout visible to all passersby. The spa area is serene and particularly pretty, with an atrium emitting natural light into the bathing areas. The pool area has four oval-shaped numbers connected by some stretches long enough for laps, plus a "European sun-bathing" (read: topless) area that includes outdoor blackjack tables.

Dining options are superb (though generally exceptionally pricey), including Alex, Bartolotta, Daniel Boulud Brasserie, Red 8, and the Wynn Las Vegas Buffet. A shopping street features high-end choices -- Chanel, Cartier, Manolo Blahnik, Gaultier -- but still seems a bit more lower-economic (that's relative, mind you) than a similar one at Bellagio. Make special note of the apothecary-style shop next to the sundries shop; it stocks all sorts of fine lotions and potions, including, remarkably, the centuries-old, coveted (and still difficult-to-find) monk-produced line from the Santa Maria Novella Pharmacy in Florence. Monk-made products in Vegas? Well, why not? There's also a Ferrari dealership -- no, really; and, what's more, it's so popular that they actually charged admission to gawk for a while.

In the end, this is a very adult hotel, in the best sense -- classy and mature. But still, so was the old Desert Inn, which hit all the right resort notes even in its last days, only to be replaced by the bigger-is-better ethos.

Facilities:
22 restaurants; casino; concierge; executive-level rooms; health club; 4 outdoor pools; room service; showrooms; spa; 3 wedding chapels

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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