PRICE:
Frommer's Very Highly Recommended

Since 1966, Caesars has stood simultaneously as the ultimate in Vegas luxury and the nadir (or pinnacle, depending on your values) of Las Vegas cheese. It's the most Vegas-style hotel you'll find, covering all the bases from the tacky fabulous schmaltz of the recent past to the current trend in high-end luxury. When Caesars was originally built to reflect Roman decadence, its designers probably had no idea how guffaw-inducing this would be some years later. It's the level of kitsch all should aspire to: Roman colonnades, Roman pillars, gigantic faux-marble Roman statues, staff attired in gladiator outfits -- it's splendidly ridiculous. It's what Vegas ought to be. But all things change, and Caesars was outshined over the years by more modern glamour. And frankly, that facade was looking dated 2 decades ago. Never one to rest on any kind of laurels, Roman or otherwise, Caesars gave itself a massive face-lift and keeps on building and expanding. Never fear, the Roman statues still remain, as do the toga-clad cocktail waitresses, and so does the Caesars giggle factor (it's still pretty campy). Past or future, Caesars remains spectacular. From the Roman temples, heroic arches, golden charioteers, and 50-foot Italian cypresses at its entrance, to the impressive interiors, it's the spectacle a good Vegas hotel should be. It still retains its core of Vegas romance, even if that core is getting harder to find. The haphazard layout has become ever more confusing and hard to negotiate, and it takes forever to get anywhere -- especially out to the Strip. Sometimes you feel like just surrendering and staying in, which isn't necessarily a bad thing, especially since Caesars is also known for its service. Accommodations occupy five towers (six by the time you read this), and there are too many decorating schemes to describe here. Until the latest tower opens, Augustus is the newest and somewhat biggest, while the Palace is the most recently upgraded. Standard rooms in the new tower are done in the sleek, unfussy neutrals that are all the rage, plus whirlpool tubs, marble and wood sinks, and little flatscreen TVs in the bathrooms. If you like elbow room, it's worth it. If you are looking for old-time Caesars romance, ask for rooms with a Greco-Roman theme (some have classical sculptures in niches); furnishings tend to neoclassic styles; Roman columns, pilasters, and pediments are common. Some may still have four-poster beds with mirrored ceilings. Some newer rooms have floor-to-ceiling windows that offer a hypnotizing panoramic view and, better still, older ones have lavish tubs in the middle of the room (which can be uncomfortable if you wish to shower and don't want your shower to turn into a spectator sport). Caesars has a well-deserved reputation for superior in-house restaurants. There are quite a few in the hotel, plus dining facilities in the Forum shopping area. All are highly recommended. Restaurants in the Forum Shops arcade include Spago and the Palm. In the newer Atlantis section is a Cheesecake Factory. Having spent over $100 million renovating its Garden of the Gods, Caesars has created a tasteful, undeniably "Caesaresque" masterpiece. With three pools measuring a total of 22,000 square feet, there is plenty of space for frolicking in the hot sun. Inspired by the healing Baths of Caracalla in Rome, each of the pools is adorned with griffins or sea horses and inlaid with classic granite-and-marble mosaics. To feel even more regal, snatch one of the shaded cabanas that offer phones, TV, and air-conditioning, starting at $150 a day (reserve them early). Several amenities are also available by the pool area, including massage, two whirlpools, the Neptune Bar, and, of course, a Snackus Maximus. The Qua spa is a knockout. Stone-and-water themed Roman baths with infinity pools, an ice room with shaved ice exfoliation, rain showers and best of all, heated tile curved lounge chairs. Add in a tea lounge with drinks and you've got the perfect place for post-party detox. If you have the energy, the fitness room is large, with plush padded equipment and plenty of windows. Go work off some of that Caesars indulgence and then get a little pampered. The Forum Shops are in the grandest mall you can imagine (think of the La Dolce Vita walk on the Via Veneto), with stores ranging from the pedestrian (Gap) to the exclusive (Dolce & Gabbana). Not content to stop paying contractors, Caesars also added the 4,000-seat Coliseum, a replica of the original building in Rome. This was built for one purpose only -- to give diva Céline Dion a place to play. No kidding. Céline moved on after some years of residency, but Bette Midler and Cher have taken her place. When they aren't in town, the venue is taken over by various über-names, such as Elton John and his The Red Piano production. Facilities: 25 restaurants; nightclub; casino; 4 wedding chapels; 4 outdoor pools; health club; spa; concierge; tour desk; car-rental desk; business center; extensive shopping arcade; salon; 24-hr. room service; laundry service; dry cleaning; executive-level rooms

Copyright: Excerpted from Frommer's Las Vegas 2009, (c) 2008, Wiley Publishing, Inc.

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