The Venetian Resort

The Venetian is the kind of place people either love or can’t stand. It’s got all the trappings of a Las Vegas mega-resort -- interactive elements, plenty of retail therapy, two towering guest room buildings, and a glam pool deck. There’s a "canal" where tourists can take a gondola ride, and a replica of the famous Rialto Bridge. (Unlike the one in Venice, the Venetian's has a moving escalator floor, and leads to the Madame Tussaud’s Wax Museum.)
The Italian city of Venice, of course, is the inspiration for the frescoed and gilded ceilings, gold paint, and serenading accordionists in the lobby next to the check-in desk. Those willing to suspend their belief, if just for a moment -- say, while strolling through a replica of Saint Mark’s Square -- might feel they've stepped into Venice itself. Chic outdoor pools, renowned performances at the theater, and a large casino, however, are completely Vegas.
Opened in May 1999, the Venetian boasts more than 5,000 guest rooms, making it one of the biggest resorts in the country. (That doesn't even count its next-door sister, the 3,068-room Palazzo hotel.) The property is divided into two towers -- the Venetian, with 4,027 rooms; and the quieter 1,013-room Venezia, built in 2003 as an exclusive retreat for high-rolling gamblers.
Inside, the ornate Baroque lobby is perpetually filled with the hotel's trademark floral perfume scent. Some visitors love it, others can’t stop sneezing. That may be why -- like an old Italian chef who hides his recipes -- the Venetian won’t reveal what they’re spritzing.

The Venetian is located on the north end of the Strip, between the Palazzo and Harrah's and across the street from the Mirage. Most Vegas visitors want to explore all of the big hotels, and it's easy to get around on the Strip. Wynn Las Vegas is a 13-minute walk. Cabs are easy to find at virtually any time of day or night, as are ride-share services such as Uber and Lyft. But a less expensive option is the Deuce, a double-decker bus that runs up and down the strip 24 hours a day, seven days a week. There's also a monorail, which stops at Bally's, Caesars Palace, Harrah's, the Las Vegas Convention Center, the Hilton, and the Sahara. (If you're traveling with at least one other person, a cab is usually less expensive.)
Virtually every hotel on the Las Vegas Strip is a 10- to 15-minute cab ride from McCarran International Airport.

At 650 square feet, the standard rooms at the Venetian are among the largest on the Strip (though the rooms at its sister property, the Palazzo, are even larger). Each room contains a bedroom separated by a metal fence from the sunken living room with a sleeper sofa.
All adding to the opulence factor: Floor-to-ceiling windows, three flat-screen LCD HDTVs (one 46-inch in the living room as well as the bedroom, plus a 19-inch in the bathroom), and massive bathrooms (which are a huge 130 square feet) that feature deep soaking tubs and upscale bath products. Minibars, dining tables, bathrobes, and ironing facilities are also provided, but empty mini-fridges must be requested and will incur a charge.
If all that space and luxury doesn't quite cut it, further upgrades are available. The Piazza suite, for example, weighs in at 1,400 square feet, and has a jetted tub, walk-in closet, and Italian-marble foyer with double doors.

The Venetian has 10 pools, including the infamous Tao Beach, a rollicking adult pool area that permits European-style (topless) sunbathing on specific days. Guests are also welcome to use any of the pools at the Palazzo next door, which are connected via a pedestrian walkway to the Venetian pool decks. At least one pool will stay open during the fall and winter.
On the 10th floor, adjacent to the Venezia tower, is a pretty pool deck with blooming rose bushes, two additional pools, and several small whirlpools. Expect a little more decorum here (or at least a bunch of naked statues).
An outpost of the world-famous Canyon Ranch Spa offers more than the usual range of spa services. A day pass buys access to the "Aquavana," which includes the Herbal Laconium (a warm, ceramic-tiled room with individual thrones and color-changing ceiling), the Hydro Spa (a fancy name for a whirlpool), a Finnish sauna, the Igloo (the opposite of a sauna), Experiential Rains (a shower with new-agey sounds like "Cool Fog," "Tropical Rain," and "Caribbean Storm"), and other highfalutin features. One warning: The spa, especially the facilities for women, can get crowded.
The hotel’s fitness facility has a huge range of cardio and strength equipment (all with video monitors), a 40-foot climbing wall, and spinning and yoga classes.
Guests may upgrade to concierge-level rooms, which buys them access to a VIP lounge with free amenities like a continental breakfast, snacks, and early-evening cocktails.
Unlike most Las Vegas hotels, The Venetian offers free parking. Similarly to other Vegas properties, a daily resort fee is charged to rooms, which covers Wi-Fi and access to the fitness center.

The Venetian casino boasts endless rows of slots machines, marble floors, frescoed ceilings, and a busy room dedicated to poker. Medium rollers take note, the Venetian doesn't provide comps to gamblers who aren't shelling out the big bucks. That means no free rooms, food or beverages, and no entertainment discounts.

The Venetian and its sister property, the Palazzo, together house restaurants from five James Beard award-winning chefs, including Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico’s Steakhouse, Cut steakhouse by Wolfgang Puck, and the French bistro Bouchon by Thomas Keller.
More casual fare includes the Grand Lux Café coffee shop and Noodle Asia for Chinese noodle soups, dumplings, and congee. Another popular eatery, particularly for brunch, is Yardbird Southern Table & Bar, which serves tasty fare such as fried chicken and shrimp and grits.
The casino has its own food court, offering an array of pizza places, taco joints, Asian counters, and sandwich shops.
 

Is The Venetian Resort Las Vegas a Good Option for Families?

The Disneyland-like feel to the hotel should be a great hit with children, and the spacious rooms are suitable for families.

Kids love an over-the-top theme hotel, and the Venetian delivers with gondola rides in the shopping mall and loads of performances and living statues in Saint Mark’s Square.
The couches in all of the suites pull out into full-size beds. Rollaway beds are available for a fee, but not in standard rooms. Cribs are available at no extra charge.
The food court on the casino level, with eateries like Chipotle, Panda Express, Primeburger, and Johnny Rockets, offers plenty of reasonably priced options for kids.
 

What Entertainment is Offered at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas?

Singing gondoliers, elaborately costumed street buskers performing in the "Town Square", and a quality theater lineup are available.

A visit to the Venetian would not be complete without a gondola ride; gondolas seat four, but private two-person rides are available.
In Saint Mark’s Square, there are six theater performances a day, which happen at the top of the hour starting at 10 a.m., and involve elaborate costuming, classic Italian song, and sometimes even a man on stilts. Living statues are visible throughout the day and they don’t even flinch when you leave them a dollar.
Visitors hoping for a brush with celebrity while in Vegas might want to consider a visit to Madame Tussaud's Wax Museum, where famous people don't say -- or move -- much, though they are more than happy to pose for photo ops. Guests can marry George Clooney in the museum's chapel, put on a pair of bunny ears and hang out with Hugh Hefner, shoot some hoops with Shaquille O'Neal, and request for a wax model of their in-laws to be made.
Like most Vegas megahotels, the Venetian has long-running large scale shows. Past performances have included Blue Man Group and the Phantom of the Opera.
 

What Bars are Available at The Venetian Resort Las Vegas?

A hot nightclub and several bars provide ample drinking options.

In the evening, the line of young people waiting to get into TAO nightclub wraps around the escalator of the mall. For something a little less high-energy, Bellini Bar offers bellinis and beers round the clock. The Dorsey is the late-night casino option, plus there's even more happening next door at the Palazzo, the Venetian's sister property.