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Tags: Palazzo / Wynn / Bellagio / Travel and Leisure / Best of Vegas / → All Tags

Palazzo is Better than The Wynn: Agree or Disagree?

We don't usually like to put too much faith into listicles from glossy travel magazines like Travel and Leisure about the best of the best in the travel world. Let's just say we've learned not to trust their recommendations.

But lists compiled from reader votes and reviews are a different thing entirely and in this year's World's Best list from T+L, three Vegas hotels have made the list.

The results are a bit surprising. Turns out there must not be enough Wynn fanbois in the world because Palazzo bested the The Wynn Las Vegas by taking the #18 spot out of 100 for best hotels. (Wynn was #20.)

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Tags: Room Rates / Deals / Bellagio / Hotels / → All Tags

Bellagio Is Playing it Cool With $129 Room Rates

Yesterday, as we were coming back from a little Vegas-style vacation to New York, we met a taxi driver who’d just returned from a week at the Bellagio, and rhapsodized about the place as if his life depended on it. So as soon as we got back, the first thing we did was to see how the rates are doing over there at the moment.

And the answer appears to be: not too bad. Although they don’t have any special deals or discounts going at the moment, they do have special online rates – cheaper than the standard prices you get booking online.

You access the rates by signing up for their special offers emails (go to the “exclusive web offers” page on the website), and straightaway it’ll knock down the price of the room. By how much depends on the price in the first place – so you can get a $159 room (the cheapest standard rate in July) for $129, while a $179 room on 1 August becomes $139. For the Bellagio? Sounds pretty fine to us.

According to the blurb on the website, the special rates are only available Sunday through Thursday, but from what we can see, the discounts apply on weekends as well. There are blackout dates though – the last two weekends in July and then 15-19 August for starters.

And don’t forget the best thing – as of yet, there’s still no resort fee at the Bellagio - at least, there isn't for now. Which gives you $20 to waste on some posh slots.

Tags: Tweet of the Weekend / Twitter / Old People / Bellagio / → All Tags

Tweet of the Weekend: Old People Get Drunk Too

Many people got trashed in Vegas this weekend, and lots of them told the world about it. So, every Monday we’re bringing you our favourite tweet of the weekend. And don’t forget to follow us at @vegaschatter.

Sometimes, reading Twitter, we get the impression that the only people getting down and drunk in Vegas are the young ‘uns. Then we go into the casinos and see old people doing it too (it as in drinking and gambling, not “it”, because that would be disgusting, obviously).

So we loved this tweet from @MrsJ0430 on Friday:

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Tags: Snapshot / Free Vegas / Bellagio / Gardens / → All Tags

Do Not Attempt The Bellagio's Spring Display On A Hangover

Walking through the Bellagio this weekend we were stunned to see the new display in the conservatory. We thought the Chinese New Year display was awesome but this one – where do we start? The oversized trowel? The giant daffodils? The supersized ant?

There are apparently some 100 year old potted olive trees in there, but we can’t begin to see for all the muck. And though we appreciate that all the green stuff is probably going to flower into something cool, but even then, we predict that we’ll be too taken aback by the giant purple toadstools to appreciate it. Come come guys – let’s have some delicacy in the next one please. This is something like a bad cartoon come to life.

If you want to see it, it’s on display till May 9. Take sunglasses. And don't try it on a hangover.

Tags: VegasChatter Reviews... / Brunch / Restaurants / Bellagio / Buffets / → All Tags

Lovely Brunch at Jasmine in the Bellagio, Not Sure About the Dead Duck Though

Let’s hear it for our courage. Despite our grossout at Aria the other week, we braved another buffet this weekend. This time it was the new Fountains Brunch at Jasmine in the Bellagio. It’s a pricy affair - $55 plus tax per person* – so we were hoping for some proper gourmet munchies. And here’s what we found.

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Tags: Weddings / Snapshot / Bellagio / Twitter / Facebook / → All Tags

How to Propose in Style in Vegas: At the Bellagio, On Camera, Tweeted Live

Where would you propose in Vegas? Up the Eiffel Tower? At the Las Vegas sign? Under the cowboy on Fremont Street with an Elvis impersonator crooning in the background? (We’d like our ring in some mash at the Crown and Anchor. Just FYI.)

One couple last night kept it classic with a proposal in front of the Bellagio fountains, but added a cutting edge twist by getting the whole shebang photographed and subsequently uploaded on Twitter and Facebook, seeing as they unwittingly asked a social media maven to take the photo.

@skydiver – AKA Peter Shankman – was watching the fountains when he was asked to take a photo of a couple. When the guy got on one knee, he kept snapping. And uploaded the results to Facebook this morning. Now if they'd skipped straight off and did the deed at one of the chapels, that would really be beautiful.

[Photo: Peter Shankman]

Tags: Brunch / Bellagio / Breakfast / Restaurants / → All Tags

The Bellagio Promises a Swank Sunday Brunch with a View

"Pretty" typically isn’t one of our requirements for Sunday Brunch in Las Vegas. Maybe if we were on a romantic getaway or had parents in tow, but usually, we’re on a stealth mission for a greasy hangover fix and couldn’t care less about our surroundings.

We’re thinking we may have to step up our standards a bit and check out Fountains Brunch at Jasmine at Bellagio; we hear it’s mighty swanky and full-blown experience for the senses. Butter-laden baked goods greet guests upon arrival in the form of a “Tableside Bakery Trio.”

Next, guests have several stations of delectable options to consider, including the Lakeside Shellfish Bar (we’re a sucker for freshly shucked Oysters on the Half Shell), an Organic Egg Station and a Carving Station where they can choose from Peking-style Duck, Roasted Prime Tenderloin or house-made Sausage.

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Tags: Snapshot / Bellagio / Free Vegas / Chinese New Year / → All Tags

Hello, Tiger! The Bellagio Does Chinese New Year

Well hello, tiger. It’s Chinese New Year, and the Bellagio is doing its bit for the celebrations by turning its Conservatory and Botanical Gardens into all things tigerish – 'cos it’s the year of the Tiger, see.

We went down to see it last night and it's pretty impressive. Tiger himself is made entirely of marigold petals, while the 18ft tall dude to the left is the Chinese God of Prosperity (hence all the gold coins).

There are also 9,000 plants on display, but by far the cutest part of the whole shebang are the three pandas. We like these two best:

The display has been laid out according to Feng Shui and you’ll find it in the conservatory until February 28.

And before you say it, yes, we’re guessing that will be the only Tiger living it up Vegas-style for the foreseeable future. At least, until a certain divorce winds itself up.

Tags: Tweet of the Weekend / Twitter / Bellagio / Drinking / → All Tags

Tweet of the Weekend: Lying In at the Bellagio

Many people got trashed in Vegas this weekend, and lots of them told the world about it. So from now on, every Monday we’ll be bringing you our favourite tweet of the weekend. And don’t forget to follow us at twitter.com/vegaschatter.

Our first Tweet of the Weekend comes courtesy of MacGruberGyver from Huntington Beach, who dropped in for a quick one on Saturday, staying at the Bellagio. He liked the bathroom. He partied late into the night.

And then he woke up at lunchtime on Sunday with the following tweet:

Vegas, thanks for letting me get fucked up last night, but not giving me a hangover this morning. Bellagio, thank you for the comfy bed.

Sunday lie ins. Don't ya just love 'em?

Had more fun than that this weekend? We want to know the gory details! Tweet us or email us what you can remember, or drop your comments in below.

Tags: CityCenter / Vdara / Bellagio / Monorail / Anti-View / → All Tags

When Taking the CityCenter Monorail, Be Sure to Wave to Bellagio Guests

A few months ago, a tipster sent in these shots that showed some of The Bellagio's suites would be overlooking the new CityCenter monorail. While those pictures certainly told a certain truth, we still were shocked to see just how close the monorail was to the Bellagio rooms.

This is the view from our room on the 14th floor at Vdara. That white canopy is the monoraiil stop but also a walkway that leads inside The Bellagio and while we were walking under it, we could see The Bellagio room windows right above us. They were dark so we surmised no guests were in there but we sincerely hope that The Bellagio makes a better use of those rooms.

No one deserves to be gawked at by monorail riders. Certainly not while soaking in the bathtub!

Tags: Bellagio / Christmas / Only In Vegas / Holidays / → All Tags

Try Not To Eat The Bellagio's Christmas Display

Last year’s display. We think this year’s should top it.

Flying reindeer made from pecans, polar bears with coats made from white carnations and a 42 foot fir tree – it could only be Christmas at the Bellagio.

The hotel’s currently creating its ”shimmering winter wonderland” in the Conservatory and Botanical Gardens, ready to open December 6. And yes, they’re throwing the lot at it. The 42-ft tree will be the centerpiece, with “oversized holiday ornaments” floating around it (because why hang them from the tree when you could float them beside it?)

Then around it, you’ve got the crazy stuff. Toy soldiers standing 15 foot high? Check. A family of polar bears with coats made from white carnations (34,000 of them to be precise)? Check. A fleet of reindeer made from pecan nuts? Check. Oh, and they’ll be “flying” over a “living holiday card” made from flowers. Nice.

The whole shebang’s on display until January 2, and if, like us, you’re wondering how the flowers will last till then, they’re being kept fresh by a “specially designed water drip system”.

Nuts. We love it. See you round the Shasta Fir.

[Photo: brianstrublephotos]

Tags: Cashing Out / Slot Machines / Venetian / Michael Jackson / Neville Brothers / Bellagio / → All Tags

Come to The Dark Side...Video Slots Machine

Are casinos now going after middle-aged nerds? We kid, we kid. Seriously, don't send us angry hate mail. You're not middle-aged nerds and it's totally fine if you play slots. Especially this kind. The Star Wars video slots feature "authentic characters, vehicles, footage, dialogue and sound effects from the films." And they are penny slots so you can play them forever.

We ourselves are no better than the smoking granny slots players you often see. We'll play Wheel of Fortune 'til we're bankrupt and then we'll sit at a penny slot machine for hours drinking Manhattans and 'tsk, 'tsk-ing the girls who walk by in short dresses with their boobies hanging out.

So really, The Star Wars Dark Side slots players are way cooler us.

Here's what else is on in Vegas:
· Prive needs bankruptcy protection [LVRJ]
· The Bellagio will unveil Winter Wonderland on Dec. 6 in its conservatory featuring a 45-ft Mt. Shasta fir tree [Bellagio]
· The Venetian and The Palazzo will host Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s 5th annual Carnivale du Vin charity event this Saturday. Neville Brothers are promised. Tickets are a whopping $1,000 [Venetian]
· Michael Jackson, the newest Cirque du Soleil show?

[Photo: Enersauce]