Dining/Entertainment: At the theater there’s the French show Le Reve, which translated into English means “The Dream.” There’s also the award-winning musical Avenue Q. This hotel has its very own golf course with an amazing landscape, so you can enjoy an eighteen-hole game with the boys right on the premises! If you forget your golf gear, go to the pro shop, which sells everything from golf accessories and apparel to premium cigars and humidors. Nice! After a fulfilling day beating all your buddies at golf, you’ll surely have worked up an appetite. At the Wynn Las Vegas, the focus is not only on the restaurants but on the star chefs who are preparing the meals. Want fine Italian cuisine? Look no further than Bartolotta Ristorante Di Mare. Chef Paul Bartolotta will personally prepare you one of his signature dishes. They don’t fool around here. In fact, they fly ingredients in daily, such as seafood directly from Europe. Have a sweet tooth? Indulge at Chocolat, executive pastry chef Frederic Robert’s pastry heaven. The secret ingredient of all the Wynn hotel restaurants is that these well-known chefs are actually on the premises and in the kitchen, preparing and cooking these one-of-a-kind meals. Now, after dinner, a man’s man will definitely go to Wynn’s hot nightclub Lure. Crack open a bottle of bubbly and really let loose. No hats, jeans, or athletic wear allowed, so you know the clientele is going to be exclusively man’s man caliber.
Gaming: The Wynn offers many games of chance for a man’s man. Try betting on a horse or your favorite sports team in the sports book area within the ultimate lounge setting. They also have 1,900 slot games to choose from. The poker room has such popular games as Texas Hold ’Em, Seven-Card Stud, Hi-Low and more; players are offered pot-limit and no-limit games. From blackjack to Big 6 to craps to roulette, a man’s man will be able to keep himself busy at the Wynn Casino for sure!
Shopping: This hotel has the ultimate as far as upscale shopping goes. It offers everything from Louis Vuitton, Dior, Chanel, Cartier, to Brioni and probably anything else your heart or your lady’s heart desires. Let’s face it, a man’s man definitely has a need for speed. So, if you get very lucky at the tables, waltz on over to the Ferrari/ Maserati showroom and check out the best rides in the world. It’s only man’s man territory at the Wynn.
The Venetian
First Opened: 1999
Major Attraction: Every room is a suite.
Ambiance: Old-world Venice.
Location: 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South (across from the Mirage and next to Harrah’s).
Contact Info: 877-427-7243, www.venetian.com
Resting Your Head: The Venetian’s man’s man draw is that every room is a suite. Which means every man is treated like a king! The décor of each room is very sexy, with red velvet drapes everywhere. The new wing, Venezia at the Venetian, offers even more amenities and more spacious rooms than the first phase of the hotel. Of these, fourteen of the suites on the pool level include elaborate private trellises, offering privacy for the most discerning guests (a.k.a hook-up heaven!).
Recover: At the Canyon Ranch Spa Club (named one of the top seven spas in the United States) you can test your testosterone level with a rock climb, and afterward unwind with a rubdown and steam in the sauna to get rejuvenated for the long night ahead. At the Venetian and its concierge-level Venezia Hotel, you have the choice of two pools. The first pool is located off the fourth floor of the Venetian, and is surrounded by private cabanas, two hot tubs, and outdoor showers. If you want some real “privacy,” reserve an outdoor private cabana which will run you anywhere from $150 to $300 per day. At the Venezia Tower, enjoy the Pool Garden Courtyard, which is located on the ground floor and is flanked by some ritzy suites.
Dining/Entertainment: The indoor gondola ride at the Grand Canal will have you and your lady fooled (if just for a moment) that you’re really in Venice. There is so much to choose from as far as great dining is concerned. For a gourmet man’s man hamburger, hit the Solaro Café (from Wolfgang Puck’s Postrio). If you truly like to eat, look no further than the hotel’s Delmonico Steakhouse, Postrio, and Valentino’s (with a man’s man wine list offering over 24,000 bottles to choose from). Stroll into Zeffirino and savor the best brunch in Las Vegas, hands down.
Gaming: After a juicy filet mignon at Delmonico (winner of the James Beard Award), stroll over to the casino for an evening with lady luck. The Venetian offers lavish surroundings while you play some of their top table games like craps, baccarat, pai gow, poker, roulette, three-card Poker, Casino War, Caribbean Stud, and more! The beautiful cocktail waitresses keep the drinks coming. Hopefully, the money will be coming, too.
Shopping: A 500,000-square-foot luxury shopping experience awaits you. If you were lucky at the tables, head over to famed jewelers Chopar, Concord, and Rado for some new cuff links for yourself, and something hot for your special someone.
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
First opened: 1999
Main Attraction: Eleven-acre tropical lagoon with realistic waves.
Ambiance: Tropical oasis.
Location: 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South (on the south side of the Luxor Hotel)
Contact info: 877-632-7800, www.mandalaybay.com
Resting Your Head: The Mandalay Bay (which cost $1.5 billion to build) still reserves its most exclusive suites for high-rollers. However, you can stay at its luxury adjacent digs, called THEhotel. This “all-suite” tower has a private entrance with completely separate check-in, lounge spots, and eatery. The suites (750 square feet apiece) priced from $179 to $399, are decorated with man’s man dark rich furniture, floor-to-ceiling windows, and twenty-seven-inch flat screen TVs for your viewing pleasure.
Recover: Ready for your rubdown, men? Cruise over to the 30,000-square-foot world-class Spa Mandalay—a complete relaxation mecca offering rejuvenation of the mind, body, and spirit. Hey, are you dreaming of a two-on-one? Look no further than the Massage in Tandem. This spa service offers two massage therapists for fifty minutes, for $205. A great treat for the lady in your life is an appointment for a stylish haircut at the Robert Cromeans Salon, followed by a unique Floral Fantasy pedicure at the Salon Mandalay. If you’re in the doghouse for some reason, this will get you out for sure! No hotel pool in Vegas compares to the tropical sand beach (with simulated ocean waves) at the Mandalay Bay. With three pools (open from 9 A.M. to 5 P.M.), there’s enough water to go around.
Dining/Entertainment: A man’s man always has a yen for a quality burger. So, bring your appetite to the Burger Bar (located in Mandalay Place) and enjoy that juicy meat with a side of crisp potatoes. If you are in Vegas on business, you should schedule your dinner meeting at the swanky 3950 Restaurant. Want to really impress those clients with a hard-core appetizer that starts things right and really sets the pace? A man’s man orders the Seafood on Ice ($85) for openers, which contains oysters, clams, chilled Maine lobster, jumbo shrimp, and savory sauce. Make a reservation because this place is very popular. Missing that New York City flavor? Book a table at Aureole, modeled after Charlie Palmer’s famous NYC spot, which features a four-story wine tower. The professional boxing matches are always a big draw at Mandalay Bay. Also, make sure not to miss the live acts at the House of Blues. Or, bring the love of your life to a smash-hit show like Mama Mia and make it a Vegas night to remember. One of Vegas’s best nightspots is in Mandalay Bay. It has great music, many larger-than-life waterfalls and tropical drinks to get your date feeling good. The next day you should go to the million-and-a-half-gallon Shark Reef aquarium, where you can see some of the most dangerous sharks in the world. Man’s man or not, thank God they are behind thick, thick glass!
Gaming: Test your luck in a tropical setting of palm trees and flowing water. Blackjack minimum bet is $5 and maximum bet is $10,000 (if you’re rolling hard). When you are playing at one of the tables, order your favorite man’s man drink (on the house, and only name-brand alcohol served) from one of the friendly Mandalay Bay waitresses. They also have a race and sports book where you can not only bet on your favorite team, but also root them on on one of
the seventeen large screens.
Shopping: The Bali Trading Company has some great home décor items like cool accent tables, frames, and many jewelry boxes to choose from for your lady. For some fine art, peruse the world-renowned Jack Gallery. Need some poolside attire because the airline lost your luggage? Surf Shack has got it all—swimsuits, hats, shades, flip-flops, and more. Also, go to the Wave for the top golf shirt brand names all in one place. Remember that a man’s man always surprises his lady with fresh flowers while on vacation. So, smell the roses at Mandalay Bay Floral and put your money where your mouth is. She’ll love you for it, guaranteed!
The Palms Hotel
First Opened: 2002
Main Attraction: Constant party atmosphere prevails at the hotel’s top clubs, Rain and Ghostbar.
Ambiance: Futuristic cool.
Location: 4321 West Domingo (off the Strip, across from the Rio Hotel)
Contact Info: 866-942-7770, www.palms.com
Resting Your Head: Honestly, there will be probably very little resting at this party hotel. If you feel like being a celebrity during your stay in Sin City, look no further than the “Real World” Suite. At an impressive 2,900 square feet and $7,500 per night, you will be partying harder than a rock star. There are also rooms called the Play Pens. What does that mean? Use your man’s man imagination and figure it out for yourself! These suites (decorated in a ’60s vibe) offer bachelor and bachelorette accommodations complete with stripper poles, a dance floor and a sound system that will blow your mind. Also, the NBA Suites cater to those men’s men who have big hands and are very tall, boasting ten-foot ceilings and extra-large beds. Maybe you’ll get some rest in Vegas after all.
Recover: The 18,000-square-foot spa (open 6 A.M. to 8 P.M. daily) features whirlpools, steam, sauna, cold plunges, and other man’s man offerings. The state-of-the-art fitness center overlooks the swimming pool. Nothing like a good view while running like a maniac on the treadmill! The couples’ massage room is a great place to unwind and loosen up with the lady in your life. I gotta recommend the Southwest Stone Therapy. It relieves stress, tense muscles, and sore joints. Remember, a man’s man must keep an open mind to new experiences. Want to cool off? Aptly called the “Skin Pool Lounge,” this 75,000-square-foot man’s man oasis offers private cabanas, outdoor blackjack, poolside massages, and a bevy of beauties you’ll wish you could rub some SPF 30 on.
Dining/Entertainment: If you would like to impress a date or just get a first-class meal with some of your buddies, you gotta dine at Alizé. It’s gourmet French dining at its best with an intense panoramic view of all of Vegas. There’s also N9NE Steakhouse, which is where the beef’s at! Prime aged steak, fresh seafood, and an exclusive champagne and caviar bar are among its highlights. The modern décor makes you feel like you are “in the know.” It received 2005’s coveted The Best of Las Vegas Award in the highly respected Las Vegas Review Journal poll. Another restaurant at the Palms with a little “Asian persuasion” is Little Buddha (restaurant, sushi bar, and lounge). The sizes of the portions are only outdone by the Buddha statue you pass on your way in! Now, after you eat at one of these top eateries you can work off the meal at one of two hot nightclubs right at the Palms. The first, Rain, is a 28,000-square-foot playground, which has hosted such top acts as Jay-Z, Carlos Santana, Seal, and too many more famous names to mention. Skyboxes and cabanas provide some privacy for you and that special someone from the crowds on the dance floor. The second, Ghostbar, gives you a view of the whole Strip from fifty-five floors above. Also, from the “ghostdeck” there’s another amazing outdoor view via a see-through acrylic floor looking right down at the Skin Pool Lounge. This is man’s man clubbing at its very best.
Gaming: With over 2,000 slots and video poker machines, a keno lounge, and all the table games a man’s man could desire housed in a 95,000-square-foot casino, you’ll probably end up hanging out in this section of the hotel during much of your stay.
Shopping: The Palms Shop has logo clothing, dress clothes for club wear by designers like Kenneth Cole, and also women’s lingerie and kinky merchandise if you’re in the mood. Also, check out the Palms’ gift shop called Stuff.
Caesar’s Palace
First Opened: 1966
Major Attraction: Celine Dion extravaganza housed in the $95 million Colosseum (built just for her show).
Ambiance: Neo-Roman Empire.
Location: 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South (next to the Mirage in the heart of the Strip).
Contact Info: 877-427-7243, www.caesarspalace.com
Resting your Head: Some rooms include large whirlpool tubs (in case you have twins as company), European-style marble bathrooms, elegant armoires, dressing rooms, sitting and desk areas, guest safes (to keep your money stash), and small refrigerators (to keep your beer stash). If you forgot to press your best shirt, no worries, because all rooms come equipped with ironing boards and irons. Don’t be shy, take advantage of round-the-clock room service.
Recover: A man’s man can really kick back at Caesar’s. Their top-notch spa and fitness center offers a full array of relaxation services. They have massages, body treatments, wraps, salt glows, baths, a coed relaxation room (a man’s man loves anything coed), and more. Looking to recharge with a healthy fruit drink (and I don’t mean Absolut Mandarin)? Their juice bar has got everything, including outdoor terrace seating, overlooking the Garden of the Gods Pool Oasis. The pool is an ode to the Greek gods. Unfortunately, the naked statues are predominantly male, but the scantily-clad women poolside more than make up for it. Hotel facilities include men’s and women’s whirlpools, steam rooms, saunas, tanning booths, gym and a rock-climbing wall (for those who are too chicken to attempt the Grand Canyon).
Dining/Entertainment: I suggest trying restaurants in the Forum Mall in Caesar’s Palace. If you’re on a date with a “ten,” I recommend Spago (a true Beverly Hills classic transplanted to Vegas), Palm Restaurant, or Il Mulino New York. If you’re dating a “six,” I recommend the Cheescake Factory and if she’s a “four,” do a plate share. Mangia!
Gaming: Are you into slot machines? Well, Caesar’s Palace offers a wide variety of slot machines in denominations raging from 5 cents (monopolized by old little ladies from Pasadena) to $500 (played by men’s men from Beverly Hills). In fact, Caesar’s Palace has been the site of more million-dollar-plus slot machine jackpots than any casino in the world! Other games include blackjack, dice, roulette, baccarat, Spanish 21, mini-baccarat, pai gow and pai gow poker. Also, check out the Caesar’s Palace Race and Sports Book to let it ride on your favorite thoroughbred or sports team.
Shopping: With more than 160 boutiques and stores, your lady and your credit card are sure to have a strenuous workout. If flying solo, the Versace store will outfit you in something that’ll be sure to attract all the women.
The Hard Rock Hotel
First Opened: 1995
Major Attraction: Performances by today’s most famous musical artists, memorabilia from yesterday’s biggest musical artists, and the sexiest pool atmosphere in all of Las Vegas.
Ambiance: Rock ’n’ roll meets art deco.
Location: 4455 Paradise Road (off the Strip. Atrium Suites Hotel is next door, and the topless Club Paradise is across the street.)
Contact Info: 800-HRD-ROCK, www.hardrockhotel.com
Resting Your Head: There are many different stylish and sleek rooms to choose from. But, the man’s man options are clear: The Celebrity Suite (1,300 square feet, starting at $550 per night) screams “bachelor pad” with its plush suede sofas; the Penthouse Suite (3,500 square feet, costing $5,000 per night) has three huge bedrooms, view of the Strip from your mosaic hot tub, and an actual single-lane bowling alley. Wow! The Boom Boom Room (1,300 square feet, starting at $1,000 per night) has a pool table, state-of-the-art sound system, overstuffed leather couches, bar, and stripper pole built in for all your bachelor party desires. (Sorry, strippers not included.)
Recover: After a night of man’s man debaucher
y, drag your ass over to the Rock Spa for some R&R. This spa offers an array of massages, wraps, and facials. The spa is designed to protect your body from stress inducers—just what you need before you head out for another night of craziness with your fellow men’s men! Oh, by the way, get pumped up at the health club. Inside, there are flat-screen TVs everywhere, but you won’t be watching them with all the incredible eye candy on the treadmills. Last, but certainly not least, the Hard Rock Hotel Beach Club it a must-see. It’s got more silicone than Silicon Valley. The palm-shaded sandy-beached pools are known to house the most beautiful bodies from all corners of the world. Swim up to the pool bar and sip on a cocktail while you’re working on that tan, boys. Also, if you like to gamble while in the water, backstroke over to Hard Rock’s Poolside Palapa and play some blackjack. If you feel like reminiscing about your trip afterwards, be sure to check out the website’s cams, which take live pictures of the pool area.
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