The Venetian Resort Las Vegas has long been an icon; not only is it a strip landmark but it carries the highest reputation among luxury travellers across the world. Bringing Italian splendour to North America, we check in to the Palazzo Tower to uncover its finest corners.
Hotel
The resort comprises three all-suite towers: The Venetian, The Palazzo, and The Venezia. Shared between them are world-class restaurants from celebrated chefs; Canyon Ranch spa and fitness; a variety of pools and decks; two casinos and a poker room, retail options at Grand Canal Shoppes and much, much more. You could probably spend an entire weekend here without needing to step off the premises.
The Palazzo layout is better than many of the giants on the strip. Parking, casino, restaurants and bars are arranged within easy reach of each other, plus the hotel has plenty of staff to help you at any time. If you’re sick of getting lost and standing in long lines in Vegas, this is your solution as it’s all efficient and equipped to handle its load. What’s more, if you do as LLM does, book a Prestige suite with exclusive access to the Prestige Lounge and floors, and you’ll get an upgraded experience.
Room
The Prestige Lounge is located on the 23rd floor of The Palazzo tower and the Prestige suites lie on floors 24 to 26. The lounge provides breakfast, cocktails and hot and cold appetisers exclusively for Prestige guests. The service was spectacular on my visit, I was able to get a table by the window each time I set foot inside, and there’s the option to either hit the bar yourself, or enjoy table service.
The luxury king suite has enough room to feel like home and enough luxury to remind you that you’re not. It successfully blends a contemporary apartment-like feel with the Italian opulence that the Venetian is famous for.
At 720 square feet, the suite has a separate sunken living area with perfect views of Vegas including its mountainous background. It makes for a great space to entertain friends, but also just pulling up a chair and taking in the views with a glass of whiskey did the trick for me.
When you’re done with the view, the remote-controlled Roman shades and curtains facilitate your move to the bedroom, where an oversized king bed awaits. Or how about a bath in the deep soaking, Roman style marble tub? The housekeeping team leave enough bath salts for you and your guests to enjoy each day. As for the rest of the bathroom, there’s a separate shower and twin basin sinks that have charging points where I was able to conveniently slot my new Curaprox toothbrush in.
Food
The Venetian offers a variety of dining options outside of the Prestige Lounge, including fine dining run by superstar chefs David Chang, Buddy Valastro and Wolfgang Puck.
On my first night, I dined at David Chang’s Majordōmo Meat and Fish. Inspired by the energy of Las Vegas, the modern steakhouse restaurant is a lively and engaging experience for guests. It’s sharing style – you’ll find lobster bucatini alongside fried chicken and even a raw bar. I found dessert especially impressive. The ‘major doughnut’ is an event – pan fried Krispy Kreme doughnut, vanilla ice cream, banana flambé and caramel whip. It was the fanciest Krispy Kreme I’d ever had.
On the second night, I dined at Mott 32, a multi-award-winning Hong Kong restaurant which opened its first US location here at The Palazzo tower. The menu combines authentic Chinese recipes handed down from generations with progressive cooking techniques. Their famed dish is the Applewood smoked Peking Duck prepared in a custom designed oven and preparation fridge. The team roll out the trolley of the most succulent plump duck you’ll ever see and select the finest cuts for you at the table. If you’re a fan of dumplings, I also recommend their Dim Sum, an elevated version of anything you’ll ever have in Chinatown.
I had a quick round of drinks close by at Electra Cocktail Club. Its cocktails are designed by award-winning Bartender Sam Ross and some of them come in unusual (and very photogenic) cups. Electra has the high energy you’d expect in a Vegas nightclub, but earlier in the evening it has a chilled, local hot spot vibe. I enjoyed people-watching and nodding along to the hits on my way back upstairs.
Amenities
Renovated and redesigned in 2019, the waters of The Venetian pools evoke the charm and allure of their seaside Italian influences. The resort has four large pools, three of them infinity, in-pool chaise lounges, and daybeds in the centre of the pools combine to create a luxurious oasis. Their Cabanas are the height of luxury, all are air conditioned and come with a fully stocked fridge, and Wi-Fi access.
It’s not a Vegas resort without a casino, and The Palazzo floor has a stunning offering, with new elements that go beyond the thrill of gaming, from an overhead electric ribbon of colour that creates waves of light as it ripples hue-to-hue, to new marble pathways with patterns and medallions drawn from rich Italian history. To be honest, I don’t know a lot about the games, but from what I saw on the floor, it attracted a range of players and the setting was every bit the flash of Vegas you’d want in a casino.
To do
The famous gondola is a must-do when at The Venetian for couples, friends and families alike. Float beneath bridges, beside cafes, under balconies, all while coasting down the Grand Canal. There are also photo packages available to capture the journey.
Note that this is a hugely popular attraction, so I suggest booking ahead to avoid a long wait time. The experience also includes a few little surprises along the way (as someone who has taken a Gondola ride in Venice, I can verify that this is not a copy, it’s a unique Vegas homage).
Getting there
McCarran International Airport serves most international flights and is just 10-minute drive from the Vegas strip, including British Airways, FinnAir, Air France and KLM. In 2021, JetBlue unveils a fully reimagined version of its premium Mint service to and from London.
Factbox
Address: The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109
Phone: +1 866.659.9643
Website: venetian.com
Images courtesy of The Venetian Resort Hotel
