Clever Magazine, Dec. 06 "Las Vegas " (www.clevermag.com)

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My Vegas Vacation
By Lina Rehal

If you’re ever in Las Vegas , say “hello” to my money.

A late night arrival got us off to a bad start at check-in. My husband and I were assigned to a room in the Roman Tower , an older section of Caesar’s Palace. It was dark, smaller than I expected, filled with ugly furniture, had a view of what looked like the air conditioning system and a bed that pulled down from the wall. Disappointed and angry, I called the front desk and asked to be moved. I argued with the clerk when she told me no other accommodations were available and threatened to check out immediately if she didn’t find us something better. We agreed to stay there the rest of that night after she promised to upgrade us the next day and comp us $50 for food.

The next morning, they moved us to the Augustus Tower , the new section of the hotel. The second room more than met our expectations. It was at least 500 square feet of luxury. Amenities included, a king size bed, spacious sitting area, plasma tv, dry bar, three telephones, full length mirror, a huge bathroom with a tv, double sinks, marble counters and floor, a glass shower stall and bathrobes. We had a breathtaking view of the infamous Las Vegas Strip and the Dancing Fountains of the Bellaggio Hotel.

From the moment I walked into its ornate lobby, I was in awe of the extraordinary statues at Caesar’s. The incredible works of art adorn every area of the hotel. They tower over fountains, restaurants and shops, stand on pedestals by elevators and seem to welcome guests at the grand front entrance. There are two animated statue shows every hour from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. in the first and fourth rotundas of the Forum Shops.

Shopping in Vegas is an adventure. I spent half a day browsing through The Forum Shops at Caesar’s. I window shopped at pricey designer stores such as Gucci, Fendi, Coach and Versace before settling for a pair of sparkly ice pink earrings at the Landau Store and a pink nightshirt at a Caesar’s specialty kiosk. I had my first ride on a spiral escalator.

In the late afternoon, I crossed the Strip to the Desert Shops at the Aladdin where I found the prices more affordable. After a leisurely lunch at an Italian restaurant, I made a quick stop at the casino, lost some money and headed back to my hotel to join my husband for dinner.

Entertainment in Vegas is outstanding. From juggling bartenders to headliners, this town has it all. We were lucky enough to get tickets to LOVE, the newest Cirque du Soleil show at the Mirage featuring the music of the Beatles.

We also saw the Legends show at the Imperial Palace . I sat in the front seat, center stage and was sung to by a handsome young Elvis impersonator who almost had me believing that Elvis does still live. He sang Teddy Bear, Jail House Rock, My Way and ended the show with an energetic Viva Las Vegas.

The Bellaggio is my favorite of all the hotels on the Strip. I love its grand elegance, Tiffany’s, the layout of the casino and the Prime Steakhouse. The Fountain Show in front of the Bellaggio is the best free show in town.

We went on the Eiffel Tower Ride at the Paris Hotel. For $9 each, we rode the elevator to the top and spent a half hour enjoying the spectacular view and taking pictures. The hotels in this photo include the Barbary Coast, Flamingo, Mirage, Treasure Island and the new Wynn.

We took the monorail to the Wynn and had a drink in the Parasol Up Lounge. This new addition to Vegas is upscale, elegant and colorful. It’s on my list of places to stay in the future. (If I hit a jackpot, that is.) I love the glitz and glamour of Las Vegas : the hotels, restaurants, shows, shopping, lights and the casinos. It was our second trip to this amazing fun place. I hope to return some day soon and visit my money.