Overall Impression One of the features we most liked about The Palazzo, an all-suite resort that opened its doors at the end of 2007, in addition to the hotel’s Las Vegas Strip location, was our spacious and handsome suite. Our new looking suite in one of the lower floors had a sunken living room separated from the sleeping area by three steps and half a wall.

The bathroom was extra-large with Italian marble as well as a glass enclosed shower and separate bathtub. Other luxury features we liked included remote-controlled Roman shades and curtains, as well as a work corner with a copier and fax machine. The hotel was conveniently located within walking distance of most of the Strip attractions and restaurants, and the suite size made it especially pleasant for an extended stay.

Class Of Accommodation Luxury hotel and casino

Concierge Tyra Bell-Holland is the executive director and chef of concierge services

Connectivity The hotel offered in suite Internet access for a daily fee ($10 per guest). It was possible to connect using an Ethernet cable attached to the desk or a WiFi connection. The system was down for most of our stay.

General Manager Michael Collins

Handicapped Access Yes

Length Of Stay Five nights

Location On the Strip next to the Venetian Hotel; across the street from the Wynn Hotel on one side and Treasure Island on the other.

Owned-Managed Las Vegas Sands, Corp.

Size The hotel had 3,066 suites, 50 stories and 2,666 employees occupying 6,948,977 square feet of floor space on 159.5 acres.

Year Opened-Renovated The hotel opened in December 2007

Lobby And Common Areas The lobby consisted of a circular area with very high ceilings, the registration area and a small concierge section. There were two restaurants nearby and a valet area as well. Escalators led to a lower level valet pick up area and a side hallway led to the casino and beyond it to the rooms and shops. The lobby had marble floors and a huge water feature. The casino and guest room floors had wall to wall carpeting.

According to property representatives the interior design was meant to be in a timeless style, “classic, contemporary and sophisticated.” There was original art throughout the property, Lalique columns on the casino floor, a cascading waterfall in the atrium area, and four 80-foot glass domes with wrought iron detailing.

Bathroom The entrance hallway and bathroom floors were of pale yellow marble with a pattern in black marble. On the left wall of the hallway across from the entrance to the bathroom was a full length mirror. It was possible to close a set of double doors to have privacy in the bathroom. To the right of the bathroom entrance there was a glass enclosed shower. Try as we might every time we showered there was a pool of water next to the shower door. Next to it there was a plastic white bathtub. The walls in the bathtub and shower were of the same pale yellow marble.

Across the room from the bathroom entrance there were twin sinks and the toiletries on a tray. The wall was double mirrored. A water closet which seemed to have no ventilation was next. I placed several bars of soap in the hope of getting rid of a pervasive odor in the water closet without success.

Suite Our east facing Standard Suite, 720 square feet big, was on the seventh floor, the first floor where guest accommodations were found. The brown and beige color theme was pleasant. There was a brown gray carpet with a pattern and the walls were beige and gray. An entrance hall led to a sleeping area with a wood framed king bed with matching night tables and identical lamps. The left side oval night table was made of dark wood and black marble. On it there was a Timex radio CD player. The right side night table was rectangular and made of dark wood as well. On it there was a wireless two line telephone. At the base of the bed there was a narrow blue settee. Across from the bed there was a dresser, also in wood, with glasses and a small ice bucket. Above it a flat screen LG television was mounted on the wall.

Two black marble steps led to a slightly sunken living area. The living and sleeping areas were open except for demi-wall with a matching black marble top. The living area faced large windows. It was populated by a sectional gold velour sofa, a metal and marble side table, a beige metal coffee table, and a dining table set for three in wood with a circular modern wood and plastic oriental design hanging lamp. Opposite the dining table in the corner there was a desk facing the room. The desk was home to a lamp, a two line telephone, and a fax machine. An oversize mirror that nearly reached the ceiling was mounted on the wall next to the desk. Across the room from the sofa there was a wood entertainment center with an LG television and a mini bar with beverages and snacks. Framed signed artwork hung on the walls in both rooms. There were soothing recessed lights and for sunlight we kept the curtain open during the day.

We liked the remote control curtains (inner and outer). Thick green curtains allowed us to steep the room in darkness when the sun was too bright and gauzy white curtains provided privacy from the neighboring Wynn Hotel and the city beyond it.

Although we were in a non smoking floor there was a strong odor of cigarettes in the hallway. When we asked the cleaning lady she said a cigar aficionado convention was taking place and the guests in the room next to ours had been smoking in their room. She was trying to deodorize it.

Amenities Agragria brand toiletries (made in the United States) including shampoo, conditioner, body gel, body lotion, amenity kit (sewing kit, shower cap, nail file, facial cotton swab) as well as cotton bathrobes and slippers.

Facilities In addition to the casino, the hotel was home to Canyon Ranch SpaClub, The Shoppes at The Palazzo, Lamborghini Las Vegas, The Pools at The Palazzo, Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse, Charlie Trotter and Mario Batali restaurants. The neighboring Venetian Hotel area, owned by the same company, was accessible to Palazzo guests willing to walk the distance via walkways.

Fitness Center And Spa There was a third party spa and fitness center on site. Hotel guests were allowed to use the facilities for a $35 per person per day fee.

Pool We found a single pool area for use by all 3,066 suite guests. We saw many lounge chairs (no umbrellas) closely set around and inside the shallow parts of the pool. According to the attendant, the only shade was to be found by moving one of the lounge chairs to a shady area next to the building.

Other There was ample complimentary parking availability in the hotel parking garage which was accessible from the casino elevators. Valet parking was also available. Group transport or limousine pick up was rather confusing and unpleasant when we were there. There was an official pick up area underground with numbered parking bays where transport services could pick up hotel guests. Unfortunately, there was a foul odor of garbage whenever we were there. Commercial transport drivers and limos were unwelcome at the main entrance one driver explained after we waited at the wrong place and nearly missed each other. A secondary covered area for guest pick up was available but once again we nearly missed our driver.

It was necessary to show our room key to access the elevator to our suite.

Check-In-Check-Out Process Ease There was a huge check in line when we went to pick up our keys in the early afternoon the day we checked in. Fortunately, because we had an early morning activity we had arrived very early that morning and checked in. Although our room was not available, we were able to complete the check-in process and pick up our keys at a separate much shorter line later in the day.

Cleanliness Very good

Date Of Review September 2008

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Would You Stay There Again? Yes

Overall Impression We were surprised to discover Vintner Grill tucked in an office building in a strip mall in Summerlin, an elite Las Vegas suburb. Once inside, the décor was modern and inviting, full of gentle waning sunlight. Although the patio looked positively alluring with its tented theme we chose to remain indoors for dinner. The staff were welcoming and before we knew it we were sipping the most delicious peach and blueberry cocktails at Table 32, which we later discovered is the restaurant’s best table, known as the “Power Table.”

That’s when the feast began. After glancing at the menu, we invited the staff to make recommendations. In the end, we issued them carte blanche for the meal and only discovered what was in our surprise menu as each dish arrived and it was described by our knowledgeable and friendly server. We expected two or three simple courses. Instead, the chef selected an amazing diversity of delectable dishes in seven courses with a worthy international wine pairing on the part of the wine steward. Every dish was surprisingly good, with an attractive presentation and most importantly, well balanced flavor combinations.

If we lived in Las Vegas we would be Vintner Grill regulars. Since we don’t live in that desert city we plan to return to the suburban restaurant the next time we are in the area. Congratulations to Vintner Grill!

About The Executive Chef Chef Silverman is corporate executive chef for the Michael Corrigan Restaurant Group, where he provides the direction for the company’s restaurants: the RoadRunner Restaurants, Agave Comida y Tequila, and Vintner Grill.

In his youth and prior to becoming a chef, he was an aspiring musician. Silverman ended his musical career before he was even old enough to vote and followed his heart into the kitchen of Wolfgang Puck. When he was 18, he moved to Las Vegas to enroll in the Community College of Southern Nevada’s culinary program. He began his career working as a dishwasher in one of Wolfgang Puck’s local restaurants where he quickly moved up the ranks. Seven years later, Silverman was the youngest person ever within the Wolfgang Puck organization named executive chef. His tenure with Puck’s restaurant group included the opening and managing of nine restaurants across the country.

Eventually, Silverman tired of traveling and began work as executive chef of the Michael Corrigan owned RoadRunner restaurants. Six months later the company opened Agave Comida y Tequila, in Las Vegas and he became corporate executive chef for the company’s restaurants. In November 2007, Chef Silverman presented his cuisine at the James Beard House in New York City. In 2008, he was selected to be a Chef Ambassador for the Wisconsin Artisan Cheese Council.

Chef De Cuisine Lyle Kaku

Class Of Restaurant Moderate to expensive

Executive Chef Matthew Silverman

Handicapped Access There was a ramp to facilitate access.

Head Sommelier Troy Kumalaa

Location In an office building in Summerlin, a suburb of Las Vegas

Manager Peter Varela

Opened-Renovated December 2006

Owned Michael Corrigan

Pastry Chef Antonieta Munoz

Size The 6,000 square foot restaurant could accommodate up to 280 guests with a staff of 70.

Type Of Restaurant Neighborhood restaurant serving Contemporary American cuisine with Mediterranean influences

DÉCor-Ambiance The style of décor was “casually elegant” featuring contemporary custom artwork such as The Wedding Cake by Maryanne Davis. The idea was to offer a setting that was “light and airy.” There was an attractive Moroccan inspired patio anchored by two dining cabanas.

Cellars Wine And Alcoholic Beverage Selection There were multiple wines by the glass and half bottles to allow guests “to feel that they can try things.” Also, it was possible for guests to purchase wine directly from the restaurant via the sommelier. Our aperitif drinks, White Peach Bellini made with floris prosecco and fresh white peach purée, and Blueberry Crush made with Stoli Blueberi, fresh blueberries, a squeeze of a lime, and rock candy syrup were memorable.

Meal We enjoyed the following dishes with wine pairing: First a wonderful White bean hummus served with olive relish and spicy pita chips. We were served fresh tasting and delicious fruit mixed drinks, at the wine steward’s suggestion. Although neither of us favors mixed drinks we loved these.

Next, Endive salad with marinated figs, gorgonzola, green apples, frisee, and mustard vinaigrette accompanied by Stellina di Notte pinot grigio, IGT Venezie from Italy, 2006. Then there was Tagliatelli pasta with wild boar bolognese, topped with truffle pecorino, and finished with fresh nutmeg and opal basil was served with Artero grenache, DO La Mancha from Spain, 2005. Just when we thought we were done, the chef surprised us with Wild California halibut served over cous cous with, toasted orzo, spinach, lemon gremolata, and sweet tomatoes. It was served with Poppy pinot noir, Monterey, California, 2006. Then there was Grilled tri-tip with eggplant caponata served over truffled-dried cherry polenta cake and finished with basil-chili infused olive oil and Rock Rabbit syrah from the Central Coast, California, 2006.

Although I was quickly running out of space, I welcomed the cheese. Our Cheese plate had Humbolt fog, a Cypress Grove, California goat’s milk cheese aged eight months; an Italian sheep’s milk black truffle Pecorino Cacao di Bosco; and a 90 month old cranberry chipotle cheddar from cow’s milk from Carr Valley, Wisconsin. They were served with Pascal Toso Reserve Cabernet “Las Barrancas,” from Mendoza, Argentina, 2005.

The dessert: Peach cobbler pound cake with baked peach and carmelized peach compote served with gelato and fresh berries and a glass of Elderton botrytis semillon from Australia, 2004.

Other The restaurant offered one of the largest selections of cheeses in Las Vegas. The chef paired meats and cheeses with assorted artisan breads, dried fruits, nuts, and house made jellies. Also, it was possible to order cheese as an appetizer or dessert.

According to someone in the know, Table 32 is “the” table to have. The restaurant doesn’t reserve it for anyone other than Oscar Goodman, the mayor of Las Vegas, who frequents the restaurant. Local celebrities and entertainers pop in sometimes and and many of the Strip chefs come up on their day off (Sunday and Monday).

Date Of Review September 2008

Number Of Visits One

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Service Staff were knowledgeable, attentive, friendly and efficient.

Would You Dine Eat There Again-Recommend It? Yes

Overall Impression Our half day helicopter excursion was an air and land adventure over Las Vegas and Lake Mead through the Grand Canyon, to the new Grand Canyon Skywalk and the Hualapai American Indian reservation in Arizona and back to Las Vegas. Flying to the reservation was the fastest and most efficient way to get there from Las Vegas.

The helicopter ride itself was smooth and exciting. There was a 20-minute stop on the South Rim of the Grand Canyon, allowing us a lasting memory of the Canyon and the Colorado River. What made this trip special was a short visit to the Hualapai land in the Grand Canyon West, and a tour of the $30 million skywalk. Although at times the steel and glass attraction becomes very crowded, we were lucky that day. It was eerily quiet so we able to walk at our leisure and chat with some of the staff while peering down 2,300 feet to the bottom and 4,300 feet to the Colorado River.

We throughly enjoyed the Wind Dancer trip. In addition to the tour of the skywalk, we especially appreciated the pleasant Maverick facilities, new helicopter, two hours of comfortable flying, and friendly pilot. It was a fun way to spend a day.

Average Duration Of Visit The transport picked us up at 6:10 a.m. at our Strip hotel and dropped us back at about 2:30 p.m.

Handicapped Access Maverick welcomed handicapped passengers provided there was someone with them to assist in lifting them in and out of the helicopter.

Location We departed from and returned to Las Vegas. The company also operated out of airports in Henderson and Grand Canyon (a town called Tusayan).

Open The company was established in 1995

Owners Greg and Brenda Rochna

Size The Las Vegas location has a 4,000 square foot lobby, 3,000 square feet of office space and a 9,500 square foot hanger. When we visited the area, Maverick Helicopters had 90 employees, including 33 pilots.

Transportation A Maverick transport picked us up and dropped us off at our Las Vegas Strip hotel. Within the Native Amercian reservation there were buses from the airport to the skywalk for visitors.

Description The transport picked us up at our hotel just after 6 a.m. for a prompt 7:30 a.m. departure. Following a briefing by Ben Tippet, our affable pilot with seven years of helicopter flying experience, we were on our way. Take off in our seven-seat ECO Star aircraft was smooth and from my seat I could see the Las Vegas Strip. As we left the city behind the urban view changed to arid landscape. That day we flew over Lake Mead, the Hoover Dam, and Colorado River, and made a 20-minute stop on the South Rim on the Grand Canyon. From our shady spot we could see the North Rim of the Canyon and the Hualapai land. We took advantage of the stop to meet our fellow passengers from near and far. The desert heat had made us thirsty. We gratefully imbibed the complimentary beverages (bubbly, water and juice) and sampled the pastries.

From there we flew to the newly built Grand Canyon West International Airport. The Hualapai land occupies 1.2 billion acres. We wanted to maximize the limited amount of time we had at the reservation before our departure back to Las Vegas. We quickly snatched a glimpse of Hualapai Ranch, still under construction; and from there went on to the world famous horseshoe shaped glass skywalk, the reason we and another one thousand visitors each day made the trip by air and land to this remote location. We returned to the airport, a little hungry but just in time for our return flight.

Restaurant There was Native American food for sale at the skywalk.

Souvenir Shops The Maverick shop sold hand made Indian jewelry, shirts, hats, gold flakes, toy helicopters that look like theirs, jackets, and real time video of passenger tours. There were two gift shops at the skywalk offering clothing, recordings, Native American and Hailapai crafts, music, jewelry and sundry items. There was a larger gift shop at the Grand Canyon airport selling foreign made clothing and souvenirs.

Tours During the flight our pilot described the major landmarks and noteworthy areas. At the skywalk, visitors walked on their own across the observation area, after donning protective shoe covers and leaving photographic equipment at the gift shop. Just after exiting the skywalk we spent a few minutes listening to a group of elderly local ladies sitting in the shade of a performing area singing to the sounds of a recording by Keith Mahone.

Other The company owned and 31 helicopters, making Maverick the largest operator of the ECO Star in the world, according to a company representative. The company’s oldest helicopter was four years old at the time of this writing.

Date Of Visit September 2008

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photos by Gary Cox

Would You Visit This Attraction Again? Yes

Overall Impression Although over the years, Cirque du Soleil shows have amazed and delighted us many times and I enjoy The Beatles music now and again, I was skeptical about Love. It turns out the 90 minute show was our favorite musical by a fair margin of three shows we saw in Las Vegas that trip. As usual, the set up was everything we might have expected including a 360 degree theatre with video projections and surround sound, including 6,500 speakers throughout the 2,013-seat theatre (three per seat).

Born of the mutual admiration of Cirque founder Guy Laliberte and the late band member George Harrison, the show marked the first time Apple Corps Ltd. collaborated with Cirque du Soleil. To date two million people have seen the show and the theatre looked sold out the night we attended.

Perhaps it was the Cirque experience organizing musical performances combined with the knowledge and understanding of the original Beatles music brought by George Martin, who produced the music back in the day, and his son. Ultimately, what matters is the result and that was a success. It was a lively, fun, colorful, uplifting and entertaining performance.

Cast In addition to the behind-the-scenes musical and creative executive and administrative staff that made the show a reality, more than sixty performers, one third dancers, one third acrobats and one third character actors, from 17 countries made the show come alive. They ranged between the ages of nine and 74.

Directed Dominic Champagne, (Sir) George Martin and Giles Martin

Established Love was established June 2006.

Handicapped Access Yes, there were elevators and special seating.

Location At the Mirage Hotel in Las Vegas

Owned And Managed Cirque du Soleil in collaboration with Apple Corps Ltd. and The Mirage. Dubai World, a diversified holding company owned by the government of Dubai, owns 20 percent of Cirque du Soleil.

Prices Tickets costs $99, $125 and $150

Description During the show, we saw character interpretations for the inhabitants of The Beatles famous songs such as the Kids of Liverpool, Father McKenzie, Eleanor Rigby, The Walrus, Krishna, Nowhere Men, The Fool, Mr. Piggy, the Sailor, Sgt Pepper, Sugar Plum Fairy, Lady Madonna, Julia, Groupies, Her Majesty, Teddy Boys, the Nurse, Lucy, the Fireman, and Doctor Robert. We heard many of the band’s songs such as Get Back, Class Onion, Eleanor Rigby, I am the Walrus, Rock and Roll Run, Something, Being for the Benefit of Mr. Kite, Help!, Blackbird, Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band, Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds, Within You Without You Tomorrow Never Knows, Octupus’s Garden, Lady Madonna, Come Together, Here Comes the Sun, Revolution, While My Guitar Gently Weeps, A Day in the Life, Hey Jude, Sgt Peppers Reprise, and All You Need is Love. From our seats L1 and L2 in Section 209 we had an excellent view of the stage.

Souvenir Shop Just outside the entrance there was a Cirque du Soleil shop with branded and colorful tops in sleeveless, short and long sleeve styles, circus theme figurines, masks, Cirque du Soleil CDs and DVDs. There was an All Together Now DVD documenting the making of the Love production and including interviews with Paul McCartney, Yoko Ono, Ringo Starr and Olivia Harrison ($30); copies of the Grammy Award Winning Love Soundtrack ($20); a Beatles juke-box ($9,000); and a Beatles rug ($380).

Other Cirque du Soleil was established by Guy Laliberte in a small Canadian town near Quebec in the early 1980s. Born of a theater group founded by Gilles Ste-Croix, it has grown from 73 workers in 1984 to a series of performances viewed by more than 70 million people across five continents to date.

The soundtrack to Love won two Grammy Awards for Best Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or other Visual Medium and Best Surround Sound Album at the 50 Annual Grammy Awards 2008.

Camera and cell phone use were prohibited.

Date Of Most Recent Performance Attended September 2008

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Would You Attend This Show Again? Yes

Overall Impression Located in the casino of a Las Vegas mammoth, Joel Robuchon seems out of scale, seating only 42 guests in the main dining room.

Outside the doors of this famous restaurant, typical casino dissonance was pervasive, inside was an oasis of quiet.

In a city where size, opulence, impersonal attitudes and larger than life motifs reign over substance, Joel Robuchon stood out for its simple formula. During our visit, we shared the restaurant and staff with between one to three other tables, further enhancing the luxurious ambiance. .

Although we were tempted by the 16-course tasting menu, we opted for the six-course seafood menu instead. It was marvelous! Every dish, from the sea urchin to the raspberry dessert, was perfectly prepared and served.

The service was equally perfect. Staff were unobtrusive yet efficient. When we replied to a question or made a request the staff were immediately responsive. Most of the time they just took care of the meal in such a manner as to go by mostly unnoticed, even in the quiet of the nearly empty salon.

Although Joel Robuchon’s role in the restaurant seems slight – mostly as a consultant with occasional visits (the MGM declined to provide details) – his name, expertise and the staff that trained with him and now work at the restaurant appear to be a winning combination, judging by the restaurant’s success and our dining experience.

The meal was superb, but even die hard gourmet food lovers may feel a sting at the hefty price tag. Everything from the soothing ambiance, exacting service and well prepared and beautifully presented dishes was to our liking. We would gladly make a dedicated trip to Las Vegas for a meal at Joel Robuchon, the best French dining we have had the pleasure of discovering in the United States.

About The Executive Chef He is listed among the recipients of the 2004 Meilleur Ouvrier de France award. Le Tohic worked with Chef Robuchon for more than a decade prior to arriving in the Las Vegas. Before working with Joel Robuchon, he was chef de cuisine at La Chaumière, sous-chef de cuisine at Restaurant L`Assiette Gourmande, chef de partie at Le Château de Locguenole and chef de cuisine at Restaurant Yours Faithfully. Prior to that, he worked at Le Jamin and Le Restaurant. In addition to his native French, he speaks English and Portuguese.

Chef De Cuisine Tomonori Danzaki worked with Chef Robuchon for more than 10 years in Paris and Tokyo before arriving in Las Vegas.

Cost Very expensive

Executive Chef Claude Le Tohic

General Manager Loic Launay who worked at Joel Robuchon-Monte Carlo prior to joining the Las Vegas restaurant.

Handicapped Access Yes

Location In the casino of the MGM Grand Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada

Opened-Renovated The restaurant opened September 2005

Owned-Managed MGM Grand Hotel and Casino. Chef Joel Robuchon is a partner.

Size The restaurant could accommodate up to 42 guests in the main dining room which we estimated to be about 1,500 square feet. There were two additional smaller dining areas with space for 10 and 12 people each. According to an MGM Grand representative the restaurant assigns dining room staff depending on the number of guests at a rate of 1.5 staff members per guest. The company declined to identify the total number of staff that work at the restaurant.

Sommelier Bertrand Despinoy received the Trophe Ruinart in 1989. Prior to his work at Joel Robuchon he opened a restaurant with Joel Antunes, an Atlanta, Georgia chef. He worked for three years at the Relais Chateau de la Pinede in Saint Tropez, and for two years in at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco. He worked with Alain Ducasse for the opening of MIX. He also worked in Macao with Joel Robuchon at Robuchon à Galera.

Type Of Restaurant “Classic French Gourmet with international accents”

Pastry Chef Kamel Guechida grew up in France where he attended the Centre de Formation et d’Apprentissage de Boulazac, a pastry school in the southwestern region of the country. He received a degree in professional pastry making with a specialty in chocolates and confections. Following his graduation, Guechida completed a two-year apprenticeship with Mazi Francis, a chocolatier in Perigueux. In 1994, he was hired at Restaurant de Crissier in Switzerland. In March 2000, after he was introduced to Chef Robuchon during a dinner hosted by Girardet, Guechida joined Robuchon’s team as pastry chef and worked at several of his restaurants around the world including Robuchon à Galera in Macau and Château Restaurant Joël Robuchon in Tokyo. Guechida also was part of the opening team for L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Paris in 2003 and Joël Robuchon Monte Carlo in 2004.

DÉCor-Ambiance The dining room was designed by Pierre-Yves Rochon, known for his work at the Four Seasons George V Hotel in Paris and the St. James Hotel in London, to remind diners of Paris in the 1930s. We noticed the restaurant had the type of beautiful dinnerware, simple glassware, and Christofle silverware that are ubiquitous in the best restaurants in Paris. The first thing we noticed on entering the restaurant was the black and white tiled foyer lit by a crystal teardrop chandelier. To one side there was a small bar area, empty on our arrival. Then in the dining room the soaring 17-foot ceilings made us crane our necks slightly. We looked for the black and purple fabrics we had heard about and caught sight of the ivy covered area that was the secondary dining room. The carpeting was black with beige swirls. We were seated in the middle of the section that occupied the center of the dining room. A turquoise linen runner on our table added a cheerful note to the ambiance. There was space for four couples in that section with tables set close together. There was a fireplace set in the wall opposite the entrance and fresh flower arrangements adorned some of the dining room tables.

Cellars Wine And Alcoholic Beverage Selection When it opened its doors the restaurant boasted the largest collection of Philliponnat Clos Des Goies ever released from the

chateau. At that time there was a list of more than 100 champagne options, including 1950s vintages and selections from small growers; and many wines by the glass.

Meal We selected the six course Extravagance de Crustaces Menu and a bottle of Taittinger Prestige Rosé champagne. The champagne was served at a perfect temperature and our glasses were kept refreshed throughout the entire meal.

Although there were no pre appetizer courses there was an ample selection of breads served on request warm, with salted butter. The first course was L’Oursin en gelee tremblotante recouverte d’une oncteuse crème de fenouil (Sea urchin in a gelée of shellfish topped with fennel cream ). Next we were served Le Homard en fine ravioli de nave a l’aigre-doux, rapée de muscade et romarin (Lobster in a cold sweet and sour turnip ravioli, flavored with nutmeg and rosemary); La Crevette Royale friande royale, asperges blanches au caviar Osciétre, gel de herbes fraiches, sauce mousseline, infusion coraline au gingembre (Crispy tiger shrimp, white asparagus with Oscetra caviar, herb gelée, mousseline sauce, ginger and coral tea); Le King Crabe épicé aux aromates dans une mariniére de legumes printaniers á la coriander (King crab served with spring vegetables perfumed with coriander); and La Langoutes en duo de langoustine en marmite dans un bouillon safrané relevé d’une rouille (Duo of langoustine and spiny lobster cooked in a cocotte with saffron bouillon).

For dessert we had La Framboise comprimeor dessert we had La Framboise comprimeé aux confit d’agrumes et lait glacé au yuzu (Rasberry gelée, yuzu ice cream and meringue). Our espresso coffee and Egyptian chamomile infusion were accompanied with a handful of the 40 homemade mignardises choices from a pretty cart.

Special Menus A la carte options ranging in price from $70 to $160 per course, were available on request. There were three set menu options: two six course menus ($250 and $325) and a sixteen course menu ($385). It is said that the majority of diners, 60 percent, order the 16-course menu.

Joel Robuchon The world renowned chef has 12 restaurants in three continents named after him. He is the recipient of the following French national honors: Commander of the Order of Agricultural Merit, Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, Officer in the National Order of Merit and Officer in the Order of the Legion of Honor.

Other The bread and post dessert carts were impressive. There were so many choices it was hard follow the description of the various types available. Bread seasonal selections include: Bacon and Mustard Bread, Walnut and Raisin Bread, Baguette Classique, Traditionnel Brioche, Rosemary Brioche, Olive Baguette, Country Bread, Baguettine, Comté and Gruyère Brioche, Basil Focaccia, Saffran Focaccia, Comté Cheese Bread, Country Ball and Milk Bread. Mignardise selections include: Cannelet de Bordeaux, Caramel, Chocolate caramel paper purple, Congolait, Guimauve apple, Macarons orange, Nougat provincale, Nougat Montélimard, Paté de fruit passion, Tuile red wine, Rocher dark chocolat, Tuile coco nibs, Meringue Sake, Meringue coco nibs, Financier neutral, Bubble truffle cacao, Speculos praline, Pistachier amarena, Mendiant fruits secs, Plaque white chocolate lemon, Muscadine amande cacao icing sugar, Truffle coco nuts white chocolate, Coque chocolate cream lemon, Opera, Chocolate stick mint, Meringue praline syrup grenadine, Macadamia chocolate, Nougat Pistachio, and Rocher White Truffle.

Date Of Review September 2008

Number Of Visits One

Reviewers Article by Elena del Valle

Photographs by Gary Cox

Service Superlative service. Staff members were polite, attentive, highly professional and welcoming. The champagne service was the most impeccable we we have enjoyed anywhere. Our glasses were kept at an ideal level and temperature during the entire meal. This allowed us to enjoy the champagne at its best with the most unobtrusive and efficient refilling service I have ever experienced. The handsome young man who looked after our drinks was ever so gracious and polite and so discrete we hardly noticed when he topped off our glasses.

Would You Dine Eat There Again-Recommend It? Yes

Overall Impression We were pleasantly surprised by the staff’s professionalism and emphasis on safety. The tour was fun, worth the time and expense, especially for ecotourism oriented travelers visiting ‘Vegas.

Cost The cost is reasonable for the value! Helicopters and pilots are expensive, and there are only 6 people on the tour.

Duration 3.5 hours (including hotel pick up)

Established: 1965

Memberships And AwardsT.O.P.S., HAI, NTA, ABA, TIA, RSA, USTA, American Academy of Hospitality Sciences Five Star Diamond Award (1999 and 2000)

Souvenir Shop: A small souvenir shop in the lobby offers t-shirts, caps, aerial photos, a group photo taken by a photographer prior to departure and other trinkets.

Tour We were six passengers on a 1997 helicopter for the Grand Canyon Celebration Tour, which included aerial views of 400-foot deep Lake Mead, one of the largest man made lakes, and the Hoover dam. We made a brief stop to fuel the helicopter. The high point of the tour was breakfast at a small Papillon owned covered picnic area near the bottom of the Grand Canyon with a wonderful view of the Colorado River. It was great to stand near the bottom of the 277-mile long and 3,000 to 6,000 deep majestic Grand Canyon.

Advantages With 4 million passengers and 370,000 hours of flying time, Papillon has lots of experience. Professionalism, emphasis on safety, including survival equipment and nightly safety inspection of the helicopters, customer service. Our in-flight experience was noteworthy.

Challenges It was difficult to communicate inside the helicopter. At times, I battled to hear the pilot’s comments because the background music was too loud.

Company Information 277 employees; 34 Bell 206L, 206B, Bell 407, A-Star 350B, MD900 helicopters. They offer tours 364 days a year (closed for Christmas)

Other A van picked up and dropped off the six tour passengers at their respective hotels before and after the tour. We were late because of a change of time error. Though we were willing to take a taxi, as soon as we reached them, they came back to pick us up. Before our flight took off, they showed us a safety video and discussed safety precaution basics. The pilot was courteous and knowledgeable. He constantly checked to ensure all his passengers were comfortable and free of motion sickness. His flying was smooth. He seemed experienced and appeared to enjoy his job, flying the helicopter and sharing the pleasure of the Grand Canyon tour with us. Once they take off, someone keeps track of the helicopters while they are incommunicado at the bottom of the Canyon.

The wheelchair accessible terminal is capable of welcoming disabled passengers

Reservations Required Yes

Ease Of Making Reservations Excellent

Number Of Visits One

Quality Of Tour Excellent

Service Excellent

Visit August 2003

Would You Tour With Them Again-Recommend It Yes

Overall Impression We managed to arrive on the terrace just as the full moon rose over the hotels across the street. Between the moon, the variety of music, the watershow and the beautiful evening, it was a great experience! The menu degustation was excellent, I particularly enjoyed the foie gras.

Class Of Restaurant AAA 5 Diamond Award, Mobil 5 Star 2000/2001

Cost Expensive by most standards, comparable to a top restaurant in Paris. Prices were fair for the quality delivered.

Location Bellagio Hotel. Has access to view the famous water show from the patio. The view from the terrace looks out at the Eiffel tower at the Paris hotel and the lights of the strip.

Type Of Restaurant French Mediterrean with Spanish influence.

DÉCor-Ambiance The walls in the dining area are decorated with authentic Picasso works. The atmosphere is elegant and luxurious, with a wonderful bar area just inside the door. The terrace seats face out over the lagoon at the Bellagio hotel, which features entertaining water shows and music. The interior features quiet, elegant dining with Picasso art throughout the dining room.

Cocktail Selection And Prices In addition to the wines, Picasso Restaurant offers several champagne options and a number of single malt whiskies. We were pleasantly pleased to be able to enjoy a glass of rose champagne as we waited for our table. We arrived a few minutes early and were received graciously.

Wine Selection And Prices The wine list contains over 1300 wines from around the world. Prices are relatively high, but typical of a restaurant of this caliber and level of service. A nice feature is the option to purchase wines specifically tailored to each course along with your menu selection.

Other Julian Serrano is the executive chef. He was not there the night we visited, Yoshihiru Honda (Julian’s longtime assistant was supervising the kitchen that night).

The only problem with the terrace was the presence of smokers, particularly those that wanted cigars after dinner who ran out and sat in the empty tables. Normally cigars do not bother me, but while enjoying a fine quality entree, they are annoying (especially in a group of six) and put a damper on an otherwise excellent meal. It would be a good idea for the restaurant to have them wait until others on the terrace have finished their meals.

Reservations Required Yes

Date Of Review August 2003

Ease Of Making Reservations Difficult to obtain. Concierge at Four Seasons Hotel obtained evening reservations on short notice.

Number Of Visits 1

Service Good to very good, not quite up to standards of a top Parisian restaurant, but adequate. The staff were attentive and accomodating to special requests. We asked for a substitution of one course, as one party member did not like scallops. This was handled smoothly and without a fuss.

Would You Eat There Again Yes

Would You Recommend It Most definitely, one of the best restaurants in the US, let alone Las Vegas.

Quality Of Food Very good to Excellent – the best food we tried in Las Vegas. The one weak spot in the meal was that one of the portions of lamb was overcooked, oddly enough the other was very nicely prepared. The other courses of the meal were well prepared and presentation was marvelous throughout.

Overall Impression There are a lot of hotels in Las Vegas, many of them with rooms and suites just as nice as the Four Seasons. But for the overall experience, from check-in to breakfast to evening turndown, this was the hotel for us. No slot machines and casino to walk through to access the elevators, quick check-in without velvet roped lines of dozens of travellers. If you have to travel to Las Vegas, are willing to spend the money and prefer less chaotic accommodations than the other hotels offer, consider the Four Seasons Las Vegas. During our stay, it was head and shoulders above the rest.

Class Of Accommodation Five Stars

Length Of Stay 7 Days

Location Atop the Mandalay Bay Hotel in Las Vegas (35-39 floors)

Restaurants We enjoyed breakfast and lunch at the Verandah, which offers a choice of indoor or outdoor dining and delicious food. We enjoyed the business special swordfish and accompanying salmon pancake appetizer, the Cobb salad, and turkey wrap for lunch. During breakfast, the pastrami and corned beef hash and the mini Belgian waffles were among our favorites. Service at the Verandah was spotty. At times, speedy and efficient; other times, slow and slightly disjointed. Staff was courteous and endeavored to accommodate special requests.

Size 424 rooms, including 86 suites

Year Opened-Renovated 1999

Lobby And Common Areas : Usual classic Four Seasons look including muted earth tones and marble

Bathrooms Luxurious marble bathroom included a separate WC, a full size bathtub, separate shower and two sinks. A set of cotton bathrobes and slippers was included along with natural scented French Occitaine toiletries. Enough space for two and plenty of lighting.

Rooms Strip view room was comfortable at 500-550 square feet. It included a king bed with canopy, a desk and two chairs, a lounge chair and matching foot rest and a dresser/TV stand. We found a wet bar, minibar (well stocked and expensive) and safe near the entrance along with an ironing board. The view of the strip and mountains in the background was charming, especially at night. Worth the extra $100 per night if you enjoy having a view from your room.

Amenities Good quality room amenties, including bathroom supplies, bathrobes, complimentary newspaper (choice of several, including NY Times), fruit amenity daily, coffee service. Small touches like oversize towels fitted to the pool lounge chairs, complimentary Evian (water) spritzers, iced water pitchers, chilled towelettes and slices of fruit made us feel pampered.

Facilities Two restaurants including a kosher kitchen, and a lounge. Hotel facilities are independent from those of its neighbor the Mandalay Bay Hotel. Guests have access to a private swimming pool, kiddy pool, jacuzzi and complimentary cabanas when available (see pool description). The lobby also features a jewelry store with some of the loveliest jewelry we saw on the Strip though maybe I did not look like I could afford any of their wares. Few times have I been greeted with such disinterest inside a jewelry store and been offered so little information. There is a sundry shop and the Spa also sells beauty products and bathrobes.

Spa The work out area was clean, well equipped, including free weights, treadmills, bicycles, Lifecycles and Precor machines. It was stocked with plenty of towels, complimentary chilled water and Gatorade, newspapers and fruit. Headsets and remote controls for the individual TV sets were available (no glaring TV’s or obnoxious music there). Staff brought us chilled water unbidden. I spoiled myself with some massages. I had explored several local spa options before we arrived thinking I would sample some of the other facilities. After seeing how crowded the other hotel areas were and what a production it would be to get to the more desirable spas at the opposite end of the strip, I decided to stick with the hotel spa. The spa was pleasant and serene though on the weekend the pace became much more frenetic. One of the staff even apologized for the tension level. I decided to reschedule my appointment to a quieter time. During the week the Spa was pleasant and soothing. On the weekend though it still felt a bit like an assembly line.

Pool And-Or Beach The hotel has its own private pool, and guests have access to the multiple Mandalay Bay pools. The Four Seasons pool area is nearer and more convenient. The Four Seasons pool is only three to four feet deep.

Poolside service was irregular. At times, the amenities were brought frequently while other times and days it was a challenge just to get a pitcher of iced water, in spite of strategic tips upon arrival. The biggest poolside challenge was the availability of shade, especially in the 100 degree summer days. The majority of the lounge chairs circle the pool and there are no umbrellas near them. With the exception of the cabanas, and there is a limited number of those, there is little shade. If you are able to secure a cabana following the first come first served policy, you have to watch it carefully. Staff threatens to evict you if you are away for more than 30 minutes and all the cabanas are taken. If you plan to spend your day poolside, you either have breakfast and lunch at your cabana, which accommodate two comfortably, or risk losing it. On the plus side there is wireless Internet access poolside and if you are lucky enough to have a cabana, phone service and an electrical outlet so you can lounge and be connected simultaneously.

Watersports the Mandalay Bay offers a wave pool and a pool with a circular current that allows floating, but no other real watersports available. The pool at the Mandalay was very crowded and without adequate shade, so we avoided other than a quick walkthrough and rapid return to the serenity of the Four Seasons.

Other In theory, a pet friendly hotel is good, especially if you like to travel with your own dog. However, dogs who are not socialized properly or owners who are impolite or inconsiderate can put a damper on your enjoyment. Our neighbors in the next-door room brought two yappy dogs with them. They barked constantly, apparently because their owners left them alone against hotel rules. Hotel staff was not much help. They said they were going to move the dogs temporarily out of the room and suggested we consider moving to another room! After four calls and two days of dog yapping, we were enticed to change rooms around 10:30 pm with an upgrade to a suite. Though we appreciated the upgrade, the request to hurry up was unwelcome, especially since we had to wait half an hour for the room key and bellman to arrive. The large suite had a stunning view including the north and south parts of the Strip. Only damper was the loud concert at the Mandalay Bay that kept me awake until 1 a.m.

Check-In-Check-Out Process Ease : Easy and pleasant. We were especially pleased with the check-in when we compared it to every other hotel we visited from the less expensive to top properties. They all had long lines. Some hotels even offer airport check-in service and that was crowded too. When we arrived at the Four Seasons, we went straight to the check-in without a single moment’s wait. In addition, our room was available way before the official check-in time, which meant we were in our bathing suits and poolside way ahead of schedule. We purposely selected a weekday to minimize the potential for large crowds. What a pleasure!

Cleanliness Excellent. The cleaning staff did a great job of maintaining the room, keeping it tidy and being unobtrusive. While cleaning the room, they would work within the room and not leave a cart parked in the hall with the room unlocked, and whenever we encountered them, they were always courteous.

I cannot but wonder what effect the many small dogs we saw around will eventually have on the overall cleanliness of the hotel and rooms.

Date Of Review August 2003

Ease Of Reserving A Room Easy, using American Express Platinum Travel Services

Overall Service At times, the service was excellent (like a concierge getting hard to find reservations), other times it was downright poor (like the bell service at the door who was too busy to help with luggage when our cab arrived, left by himself to handle all arrivals). Weekend service in the Spa was much lower than during the week.

Would You Stay Again? Yes

Overall Impression Vegas is a city that can be a lot of fun if you stick to the resorts and nice shows. It is not really a nice city to walk around in, just outside the strip is a bit rough and tumble looking, and provides a stark contrast to the clean lines and neon of the good hotels. It is a fun place to vacation and residents enjoy a good lifestyle, but there is a gritty side that we prefer to avoid, which means taking a cab up the strip and staying in good hotels. The people tend to be friendly, but service providers are a bit jaded and cynical in their outlook, which colors interaction with them. Basically money talks and …

Cost Of Visiting: Varies widely from inexpensive to expensive

Currency US Dollar

How To Get There Major commercial airlines, drive from Southern California

Location Southwestern United States, approximately three hour drive from Los Angelos

Technology Level Very high, including US cellular coverage, full satellite television and radio, high speed Internet access available at economic prices, some wireless Internet coverage.

Transportation Taxis, rental cars, bus service on strip

Facilities Large number of shows, hotels, conference centers. Nearby golf, hiking, tours of desert attractions such as the Grand Canyon and Hoover Dam.

Shopping Tremendous amounts of shopping, including huge discount and outlet malls. All the hotels have shops consistent with the price level of the hotel itself and the malls contain all major stores available in the western United States.

Advantages Casino gambling and shows put this city on the map. There are some other industries, including a US Airforce base of some notariety (area 51) nearby. The shopping opportunities are unrivaled in the United States, and the weather is warm and dry most of the year. The city has experienced large growth and has a diverse population with relatively good employment levels.

Challenges Water is a severe challenge for the city and its growth. Lake Mead provides all the water in the area and it is currently seven or eight feet lower than normal. Drought conditions may eventually force water restrictions at the resort hotels. The presence of gambling has also meant a number of con men and ripoff artists are attracted to the wealth and opportunities. Although under control, crime is present and Las Vegas was also recently cited by watchdog groups for its handling of the homeless.