Weekend in Pictures: Why I Love The Venetian

A couple of weeks ago, we went to Las Vegas for Labor Day weekend.  We go to Vegas several times a year because my husband’s family is there.  It not only allows us to see the family so they can spend time with our son Dominic, but it also allows us time to have a date night on the Strip or date weekend in Mesquite.

One of my favorite hotels on the Strip is The Venetian, maybe because we stayed there on our honeymoon.  Right after our ceremony and reception, we stayed at The Venetian on our wedding night, right before we went to New York and Europe.  So many times on The Strip you see couples going around the casinos dressed in their suit and gowns, so we did the same.  Lots of congratulations and well wishes showered us as we walked through the hotel.  The best part was that we were given the Presidential suite for the price of our regular suite.  My husband still thanks me to this day for that small but effective idea!

Like all of the larger hotels on the Strip, the decor is larger than life and almost overwhelming, depending on which hotel you visit.  Places like Circus Circus, The Excalibur and even New York, New York have almost an amusement park feel to them.  That’s why I enjoy hotels like Mandalay Bay, The Bellagio, The Cosmopolitan, The Wynn, and The Venetian.  They feel a little more luxurious and opulent.  I enjoy faux Italian interior of The Venetian, resplendent with beautiful fountains, gardens, waterways, gondolas, and bridges.  Even their bars and restaurants are works of art themselves.

What I really love about The Venetian are the shops and eateries.  Right off the bat, they have the only cafe on the West Coast (as far as I know) dedicated to my favorite coffee: Espressamente Illy.  I posted a picture of a small portion of the pillar of cups previously, but below is a shot of just how high up the cups went into the ceiling.  Also pictured is my favorite item from their menu, the Affogado.  It is a scoop of gelato with a shot of espresso, topped with whipped cream.  A few people both inside and outside the cafe stopped me to find out what I was having.  It is even better than it looks.

We tried a new place to eat at The Venetian called Valentino.  My husband heard about it through a guy he played golf with, who also happens to be a waiter there.  I have learned lately to ask the servers what their favorite dishes are, and he told us about a dish only made when this certain couple calls to request it ahead of time.  I can’t remember the name of it exactly, but it’s basically a cheese stuffed ravioli with a black truffle cream sauce.  Other than in Italy, it was one of the best pasta dishes I’ve ever had.  They have a great gnocchi dish, too.

Of course last but not least, the shopping.  The shops range from affordable to high-end, depending on your taste.  I got a couple of shots of some beautiful store fronts.  Even if I can’t quite rush in and immediately buy something at a moment’s notice (I actually could, but the hubby would protest), it’s always fun to window shop.  So if you’re ever in Las Vegas, one of your must-see hotels on the Strip has got to be The Venetian.  Hope you all had a great weekend!