The Westin Lake Las Vegas Resort & Spa

The Westin Lake Las Vegas, formerly the Loews Lake Las Vegas, is half an hour from the Las Vegas Strip, but it may as well be a million miles away. Set on a 320-acre, man-made lake in the middle of the Nevada desert, the resort doesn't have a hint of the Strip's party atmosphere or flagrant excesses. There is decadence, to be sure, but it's a subdued, lounge-around-a-lakeside-terrace-with-a-flute-of-champagne kind of decadence. This kind of place is not for everyone -- in particular, it's not for anyone looking for a classic Vegas experience -- but it's hard to imagine anyone not appreciating the lushness and tranquility of this desert oasis.

The hotel's Moroccan architecture complements the red-rock landscape, rolling terrain, and gorgeous lake views. The surrounding area is filled with posh vacation homes, a handful of other upscale hotels, and a Jack-Nicklaus-designed golf course. The look works its way into the resort's large guest rooms as well, which were renovated when Westin bought the former Loews resort in 2012. Inside the large, posh rooms you'll find such aptly upscale niceties as a 37-inch flat screen TVS, Keurig coffeemaker, and Westin's signature Heavenly bed.

Many families stay here, since the hotel is loaded with kid-friendly features like a kids' camp and water sports. At night, the lake-view terrace is stunning with its waterfalls, fountains, fireplaces, and lounge beds. Weddings and conferences are regularly held at Westin, but they hardly interfere with regular-guest stays.

The service here is of a very high level -- professional and efficient yet friendly and laid-back. The staff anticipates your needs and works hard to ensure you never need to lift a finger. For example, if you're lounging by the pool and you suddenly you need to send a fax, one of the "pool concierges" will take care of it for you. If you didn't pack for a workout, the hotel has a Stay Fit concierge who can arrange fitness apparel delivered to your room. Add to that a Fitness GPS to monitor your workout and navigate the area around hotel. If it suits your fancy, the hotel can also prepare a picnic basket to take on your lakeside excursion.

To handle standard requests like dinner and show reservations, the hotel concierge is available from 7 a.m. to 9 p.m. The concierge can also arrange tee-time at the nearby Jack-Nicklaus-designed golf course. Family-friendly services like a kids' camp, and extensive business services like professional secretarial services, are also available.

I spoke to a couple who are regular guests at this hotel, and they said, "The staff here are so nice. It doesn't feel snooty, like at the Ritz." A father and daughter I met concurred: "It's much homier here."

Located in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, this Westin property sits on Lake Las Vegas, a man-made, 320-acre lake surrounded by upscale hotel and residential properties. Neighboring properties include the recently closed Ritz-Carlton and Montelago Village Resort. High-end vacation homes are interspersed among the resorts.

Getting to Lake Las Vegas from the Strip or the McCarran Airport takes roughly 30 minutes and costs about $60 in a cab. The hotel does not offer shuttle services to airport or casinos; most guests get around in rental cars or private vehicles. There's a free shuttle that goes between Westin and the other area resorts.

The resort has two large pools. The Upper Pool has a great view of the lake and is the location of the Sandsa Pool Bar, which lends it a more adult atmosphere. The Lower Pool never gets deeper than three feet and features a waterslide, volleyball net, and a basketball hoop. Each level includes a hot tub.

Comfortable lounge chairs are plentiful on both levels. The cabanas, which rent per day, are secluded behind manicured hedges and include a couch, coffee table, and armoire.

The rooms feature Westin Heavenly Beds, known for their other-worldly comfort. The 37-inch flat-screen TVs offer a standard cable package and pay-per-view movies. A strong in-room Wi-Fi connection and hard-wired Internet is part of the $22 per day resort fee. There's also a mini-fridge (but no minibar), a laptop-friendly safe, and a Keurig coffeemaker that brews individual cups of coffee at the touch of a button.

Spa Moulay features 11 treatment rooms and a full-service salon. Each massage room faces its own private garden, and guests get complimentary use of the Finnish sauna inside the spa.

The well-equipped, 24-hour fitness center features four Life Fitness treadmills, four ellipticals, four exercise bikes, several weight training machines, fitness balls, yoga mats, free weights, and a couple of unusual bonuses: free headphones for use on the individual TV screens, cold towels and fruit.

The resort hosts many conferences and conventions, and their business services are extensive, though there's a charge for everything. Besides renting out a variety of function spaces, the hotel offers professional secretarial services, photocopying, faxing, overnight packing, and shipping. There is a 24-hour, self-service business center with two PCs, a printer, and a fax machine. The hotel also has PC's, cell phones, and pagers for rent.

The lake offers ample recreational possibilities, including boating (kayaks and pedal boats are available for rent); bird-watching (the lake attracts migratory birds, including the golden eagle and the great blue heron); and catch-and-release fishing (for large-mouth bass, rainbow trout, and catfish).

Then there are the trails outside of the resort. Bike rentals are per hour; the two-mile ride to the cobblestone village of Montelago offers amazing views of the lake.

Tee times at the nearby South Shore Golf Club -- its 6,917-yard, par-71 course was designed by Jack Nicklaus -- can be booked through the concierge. The course is about a five-minute drive from the hotel.

The most basic room, the Superior Room, comes with either a king-size bed or two double beds. Rollaway beds are charged a fee per night; cribs are free.

But it's really what's outside the rooms that make this resort ultra family-friendly. The hotel offers a thrice-a-day kids camp for children ages three to 12, where an activity coordinator organizes games and events based on the group's general vibe. This can mean anything from hunting lizards on resort grounds to a basketball tournament. The morning and evening sessions cost slightly more than the afternoon session.

Other kid-friendly features include a basketball/tennis court, kayaks and pedal boats, bikes, water volleyball, and a FisherPrice "Kidbana" at the Lower Pool. All of these can be rented out from the recreation desk near the Upper Pool. The hotel also has a lending library of games, which families can borrow for free.

Room service includes a kids' menu. I spoke to a sassy six-year-old named Isabela who raved about the beignets. Besides sugary confections, the menu offers waffles, pancakes, cereals and eggs for breakfast. Mac and cheese, spaghetti, and hot dogs are available from 11 a.m. to midnight.

And if you must indulge your daughter's diva fantasies, Spa Moulay offers Lil' Miss Manis and Pedis for kids 12 and under.

The resort is pet-friendly, and doesn't even require a deposit. Upon arrival, the hotel will provide "welcome kits," which include treats and information on pet services in the area. They do have a 40 pound weight limit, but pet-owners can still ask reservations about breed and manager approval.

This resort maintains a high standard of cleanliness. 

An impressive range of food choices includes the Mediterranean-inflected Rick's Cafe, a go-to place that serves breakfast, lunch, and dinner at midrange resort prices; sandwiches at the Sandsa pool bar and grill; Marrakesh Express for coffee and quick bites; and critically acclaimed fine dining at Marssa, which serves wonderful sushi and inventive seafood dishes.

For libations, Arabesque Lounge serves cocktails at the lakeside terrace, and the hotel carries an extensive wine list, featuring vintages from around the world, in every restaurant.

Still, if you stay more than a few days, you'll want more options. Fortunately, a free shuttle takes guests to other area resorts, opening up more local possibilities.