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Romantic Vegas Hotels on the Strip

The largest hotels in the world are located right on Las Vegas Boulevard, mammoth complexes that are like cities in a single building. These are no ordinary hotels, however; their goal is to create a fantasy world where visitors are transported to a different time or place either through a theme or a special atmosphere, making it all that much easier to forget your cares (and your budget...these are, after all, casino hotels...)

The days of the unbelievably cheap Vegas hotel room are just about gone; high occupancy rates keep these rooms booked. While prices are higher than they were a decade ago, you'll still find that, compared to top of the line hotels in other US cities, prices are reasonable. They also fluctuate greatly, reaching a peak on Friday and Saturday nights (or when jumbo conventions come to town or for major holidays) and dipping on Monday and Tuesday nights. If at first you don't succeed, keep trying and you'll generally find a room within your budget.

Here's a rundown of some top romantic hotels along Las Vegas Boulevard:

The dancing fountains of Bellagio. Photo courtesy Las Vegas New Bureau

Bellagio This billion dollar property is ultra luxurious, a romantic masterpiece right on the Strip. The dancing waters in front of the hotel are synced to music and a must-see for lovers. Inside, just past the lobby, a conservatory and botanical gardens fill your senses as seasonal displays capture the mood. The hotel is known for its fine dining (home of Le Cirque), fine art (with the Gallery of Fine Art exhibiting rotating displays), and fine entertainment (home of "O," Cirque du Soleil's most lauded production.) Guest rooms are decorated in sophisticated, muted tones. Outside the heated pool echoes the Old World style of a Mediterranean villa.

Caesars Palace You'll be transported (literally, if you enter on the moving sidewalk) into the world of Caesar's Rome at this elegant, enormous casino hotel. Guests here find that many of the rooms at Caesars are large (we would say colossal but maybe that’s just going too far.) Some of the guest rooms have, of course, Roman baths but the standard (actually they call them deluxe) rooms include a king or two double beds, armoire, and writing desk. The swimming pools are located in, appropriately enough, the Garden of the Gods. The pools and courtyards are overlooked by statues and fountains, giving the area an elegant feel. Shoppers find plenty of temptation at the adjacent Forum Shops (even if you don't want to shop, it's well worth a visit as the indoor area is styled like a Roman street. Celine Dion and Elton John both play here, making this one of the top entertainment venues in town; you'll also find top dining here as well. Definitely a top choice for romantics.

Excalibur If you love Renaissance faires, you'll love Excalibur. One of the best priced hotels on the Strip, the hotel is styled like a medieval castle. As soon as you see its white towers, drawbridge, and moat, you know you’re somewhere special. The King Arthur theme is carried through in everything from its restaurants to its entertainment. You’ll walk up a drawbridge into this castle-like hotel, where jugglers, knights in armor, and costumed minstrels stroll around in a very un-casino like atmosphere. The first floor of the hotel has the feel of a fair with craft booths, medieval games, and popular magic motion machines. The third floor contains the Medieval Village, with theme restaurants and shops that sell everything from magic wands to toy swords; it's also the location of the wedding chapel where you can opt for a wedding or vow renewal in medieval style, if you choose.

Flamingo This hotel was long one of the best known in Las Vegas, the place that Bugsy Siegal built. Among Parrothead romantics, it's best known as the home of Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville cafe and nightclub.

Four Seasons The Four Seasons is a breath of fresh air along the Strip; there is no gaming at this exclusive, luxurious property and its atmosphere is calmer and quieter. The more serene atmosphere begins at the entrance which, unlike most other Strip properties, is set back off the bustling street by a private drive. Once inside, you’ll be met by muted Mediterranean colors, marble floors, and simple statuary. It’s not a kids’ resort, but its quieter feel is a good retreat for couples looking for some peace and quiet. The location of the resort is also a Vegas first: the hotel is actually located in Mandalay Bay, floors 35 to 39. The guest rooms are accessed only by private elevators (the lobby is located in a two-story greathouse at the entrance). Suites are especially popular with families and can be configured to include three bedrooms. (OK, you need to have hit the jackpot to afford one of these suites, but we’re just giving you the options.)

Luxor Luxor is the kind of hotel that symbolizes Las Vegas: theme, theme, theme combined with fun and glamour. Luxor is housed in a truly royal pyramid that soars 350 feet in the air. The Egyptian theme fills the hotel. Just inside, a replica of the Great Temple of Ramses II, soars 35 feet into the atrium. In the registration area, mosaics depict scenes from ancient Egypt. At night, it’s easy to find the Luxor – just look up. From the pinnacle of the pyramid shines the brightest beam of light in the world. It is produced by 45 Xenon lights and projects a beam that you could read a newspaper by even 10 miles in space.

Mandalay Bay Located on the far south end of the Strip, this hotel is named for a Kipling poem. A subtle tropical theme runs throughout the expansive property, which is also home to the Shark Reef Exhibit, the House of Blues, rumjungle, and a host of eateries. Mandalay Bay is also home to the Four Seasons and THEhotel; the complex is connected to Luxor and Excalibur by monorail.

MGM Grand This mega-resort is Vegas's largest and the second largest in the world. This hotel has it all: fine dining with celeb chefs (French chef Joel Robuchon at The Mansion, Emeril, Wolfgang Puck), special events (the Grand Garden Arena hosts names like the Rolling Stones and Paul McCartney), nightclubs (Studio 54), and shows (KA, our favorite Cirque du Soleil production, and the nude La Femme, straight from Paris's Crazy Horse). There's also an expansive spa here and the Grand Pool Complex, with five pools. To top it off, the hotel is linked via the Las Vegas Monorail to stops further north on Las Vegas Boulevard.

>>continued on page 2 More Romantic Hotels on the Las Vegas Strip

Related Pages:

• Romantic Hotels off the Las Vegas Strip
• Romantic Resorts Near Las Vegas