FLYING to Salt Lake City via Las Vegas, I decided to stop over and, travelling with my 15-year-old daughter, I was certainly surprised to find so much on offer for families with young, teenage or grown children.
Caesars Entertainment Corporation, formerly Harrah’s Entertainment, owner of some of Vegas’ best-known resorts provides a wide variety of choice.
With Caesars Palace, Flamingos, Paris, Rio, Ballys and, most recently, Planet Hollywood as part of the group, there is something for everyone in terms of accommodation, price and entertainment.
I stayed at Caesars Palace, which is designed on Greek and Roman themes. Set across 85 acres in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip, the resort features more than 3,300 guest rooms and suites, catering to both the FIT market and VIP guests, 26 restaurants and cafés, the 4.5-acre ‘Garden of the Gods’ pools and gardens area, world-class spa Qua and 240,000 sq ft of premium meeting and convention space.
The 4,100-seat Colosseum features world-class entertainers such as Bette Midler, Cher, Elton John and Jerry Seinfeld and you certainly need a map to find your way around – which is part of the fun.
 |
We were in the Augustus Tower which provides a separate VIP check-in facility. The room was spacious with a super-king, super comfortable bed (we slept for 12 hours!), workdesk, lounge area and a generous marble bathroom with double sinks, rain and regular shower and a spa bathtub.
The Qua Baths & Spa, which has separate men’s, women’s and couple’s areas, is inspired by the healing and calming powers of water and ‘social spa-ing’, reviving ancient Roman traditions of relaxation in specially set aside gathering areas.
The harmonious atmosphere stimulates the senses and there are Roman baths, an Arctic ice room, Ayurvedic treatments and hypnotherapy as well as a state-of-the-art fitness centre.
A tea sommelier creates tea pairings to complement guests’ spa treatments and, in a first in spa aesthetic services, the Crystal Body Art Room at Qua offers customised designs of Swarovski crystals artistically adhered to the body – the ultimate personal accessory. Also located in the spa is a salon by Michael Boychuck who has styled the rich and famous including Paris Hilton!
Among the numerous eateries is Restaurant Guy Savoy, whose Paris establishment has three Michelin stars. Frenchman Savoy received the Legion d’Honneur, his country’s highest honour, and this is his only US outlet.
Rao’s legendary Italian restaurant, Bradley Ogden, another award winning chef, Mesa Grill, Neros, Payards Patisserie & Bistro, famous for its classic croque monsieur, crepes and pastries and Serendipity 3, one of New York’s most beloved venues also stand out.
New at the complex is a concept called Total Experiences. This service puts all the planning in the hands of the experts – whether you visit for a friend’s birthday party, a golf tour or a girlfriends’ get away, a Caesars specialist will customise a group trip inclusive of insider access and VIP services.
The resort complex is a shopper’s paradise with more than 120 retail outlets at Caesars Palace, The Forum Shops and Appian Way housing designers from Jimmy Choo to Valentino and Louis Vuitton as well as treasures from the Roman Empire.
With so much to see and do, you do not actually need to step outside Caesars Palace to enjoy your visit.
However, there are performances across the city, such as Donny and Marie at the Flamingo, nightly shows at Planet Hollywood and we tried the Ultimate Variety Show with comedy acrobats and the world’s fastest jugglers. We found it brilliant and I would recommend it for all ages.
In addition there are a number of tours you can take either by car or by helicopter including the Hoover Dam, Red Rock Canyon and the Grand Canyon and there is even a bus tour in the company of celebrity lookalikes such as Elvis and Marilyn Monroe.
By Kim Thomson