Three Las Vegas Resorts That Hit The Jackpot
Hotel-resorts that set the standard for luxury and entertainment
Photo courtesy of Ryan Gobuty | Circa’s Stadium Swim combines gaming and pools for the ultimate Vegas experience.
Las Vegas has long been a mecca for gamblers, built on the promise of pleasure, sports, unlimited entertainment and escape: a 24/7 wonderland that never stops.
Coloradans looking for a weekend getaway or a special place to celebrate are among its biggest fans. The state is the fifth-largest feeder market to Sin City, which offers more than 170,000 rooms—an overwhelming array of places to stay.
Among three options to consider are a newish property where it all began, on Fremont Street in downtown; a classic Strip resort that has long set the standard for luxury and entertainment; and a recently opened hotel-resort with legendary Miami roots.
Circa Resort & Casino | New Kid on an Old Block
Three years ago, a new hotel opened in downtown Las Vegas on vibrant Fremont Street. Appropriately named Circa, a tribute to a bygone era, it was the first new hotel and resort to be built downtown in four decades.
With 520 rooms and 35 floors, it’s the tallest building in the city limits and the only downtown property to have a AAA Four Diamond rating.
The adults-only hotel has a blend of old and new design with references to Las Vegas history, such as the restored neon-lit “Vegas Vickie” cowgirl sign hanging over the lobby. Elevators feature vintage mural-size black-and-white gaming photographs.
Circa’s prime attraction is sports betting—with a three-story, stadium-style sports book and seating for 1,000. Gamers have two floors for playing slots and table games. Upstairs is the much-acclaimed Stadium Swim, a rooftop six-pool amphitheater with a 143-foot screen. The pools, with two swim-up bars, can accommodate 4,000, and host popular parties during big sporting events.
Located in Circa’s 458-foot tower, the Legacy Club offers a rooftop lounge adjacent to an outdoor terrace with fire pits and music. Additional amenities include a spa and a variety of restaurants.
Photo courtesy of DREX Agency | Suites offer sweeping views of Las Vegas
Fontainebleau Las Vegas | From Miami Beach to the Desert
Patience is a requirement for good gaming. It was also mandatory in building the Fontainebleau. Construction started in 2007, but the hotel sat unfinished for years, the victim of issues that included the 2008 financial crisis, cost overruns, ownership changes and the COVID-19 pandemic. The original owner repurchased the property, and construction resumed on the $3.7 billion project.
A sister property to the 70-year-old iconic Fontainebleau Miami Beach, the stunning blue building, which can be seen for miles, opened its doors in December 2023.
The resort, which covers almost 25 acres, has 3,644 rooms and suites, a 6-acre outdoor pool district, and 36 first-to-market restaurants with award-winning chefs from around the globe.
Photo courtesy of DREX Agency | Marble and stone accent a Panorama Suite bathroom.
To unwind and refresh, guests can visit the 55,000-square-foot Lapis Spa and Wellness Center with its 44 treatment rooms; and for workouts, a 14,000-square-foot fitness center. The lush casino area has 128 tables and 1,300 slot machines.
Fontainebleau boasts a boutique retail district and 550,000 square feet of customizable meeting and conference space on five levels. The ballroom has no pillars and is large enough to fit two Boeing 747s nose-to-nose.
The new hotel will create “a one-of-a-kind experience for guests and will be- come a beacon for those seeking to indulge in the unforgettable,” says chairman and chief executive officer Jeffrey Soffer.
Photo courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas | The Wynn Tower Suites entrance has a sunlit atrium with koi ponds, palm trees and flowers.
Wynn | Encore Resort and Casino | Star-Studded Classic Elegance
The Wynn loves stars, and the guests who award them love the Wynn. The resort holds more Forbes Travel Guide Five Star Awards than any other independent hotel company in the world. For four years in a row, Travel + Leisure magazine has named Wynn the No. 1 hotel in Las Vegas.
It’s more than facilities that make for spectacular five-star stays; reviewers say Wynn and Encore team members, driven by an exemplary service culture, offer guests warmth and hospitality, keeping them coming back.
Opened in April 2005, the distinctive, bronze-toned 60-story hotel stands out on the Strip. An entrance atrium lets natural light flow into the casino, showcasing an indoor garden featuring trees, plants, colorful perennials and seasonal blooms. Throughout the resort, koi ponds, fountains and waterfalls, as well as the signature Lake of Dreams, create a welcome escape from the desert.
The adjacent Encore opened in 2008, and together the hotels have 4,748 serene and stylish rooms and suites and nearly 190,000 square feet of gaming space. Shopping esplanades feature top global brands.
Photo courtesy of Wynn Las Vegas | The lavish decor at Delilah supper club.
Wynn has an impressive lineup of programs and services. Last year, it launched Wynn Living Well, a wellness-focused program including personal training, in-room workout videos and special menus in every restaurant. Wynn Master Classes offer an inside look at a variety of hotel operations, from chefs sharing signature recipes to horticulture operations.
A unique amenity for the hotel is the newly redesigned championship Wynn Golf Club. The course, designed by Tom Fazio, is a surprising oasis in a desert, and the only one on the Strip.
For entertainment, the signature “Awakening” is a hot ticket, and the Encore Theater regularly features top musicians and comedians.
Restaurants include Italian-inspired Sinatra and Wynn’s renowned Mexican destination, Casa Playa, on the Encore side. On the Wynn side are the newly renovated Mizumi, a Japanese-inspired eatery; Lakeside and SW Steakhouse, overlooking the Lake of Dreams; Wing Lei, the only Chinese restaurant in the U.S. to receive a Michelin star; and the Delilah supper club.
8 Fremont St. | 702-247-2258
2777 S. Las Vegas Blvd. | 833-702-7272
WYNN | ENCORE RESORT AND CASINO
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. | 702-770-7000
Charlie Brown is a former Colorado state representative who also served more than 14 years on the Denver City Council. Proudly known as the “Cowboy Councilman,” he’s been bunking at the Wynn for 17 years. His favorite views are the lush Wynn golf course from the Tower Suites, and the roses blooming outside Tableau, especially in winter.
