Las Vegas’ most luxurious spots

Wine, dine and slumber
First up: luxury hotels. Greg Ward, author of "Las Vegas Directions," a travel book in the "Rough Guide" series, picks the Venetian.

''This hotel," he says, "touches all the buttons a luxury traveler would want.''

Even the 4,207-unit hotel's standard rooms are split-level with living areas, antique-style canopy beds and oversize marble baths. If you book one of the suites, you’ll get your own concierge. When you tire of testing your mettle at the Craps table, relax in the attached 69,000-square-foot Canyon Ranch Spa. Then dine at restaurants like Thomas Keller’s Bouchon and Emeril Lagasse’s Delmonico Steakhouse.

Where can you find the best suite? If you’re willing to shell out $40,000 a night, Kelly suggests checking into the Hugh Hefner Sky Villa at The Palms. This 9,000-square-foot space is modeled after the Playboy mansion and may be the next best thing if you can’t score an invite to the original in Los Angeles. It has three bedrooms — one with an eight-foot rotating bed — a living room, a media room, a gym and a private spa. You can also chill out on the large outdoor terrace that has a Jacuzzi pool and views of the strip.

If you’re a gourmand in search of a good meal, take the recommendation of the reviewers from restaurant ratings guide "Zagat" and head to Rosemary’s, a New American spot that’s located off the strip and was rated the highest in the 2007 survey (it beat out previous winner Nobu). Reviewers called it “a hidden treasure” and raved about the prix fixe menus. You might start with a twice-baked parmesan soufflé with wild mushroom ragout, followed by a sweet corn soup with chive butter. A crispy striped bass with rock shrimp and andouille can be the main event. The finale? Coconut bread pudding with coconut sorbet and dark chocolate sauce.

Living well in Vegas can mean spending more than $5,000 on a four-day stay at a luxury hotel, show tickets and meals. Shopping, spa visits and gambling can jack up the cost even more. A night in a standard room at the Venetian is $350 on weekends and $259 during the week; a tasting menu at Guy Savoy is $190 a person before alcohol, tip and tax. Buying a seat in the first ten rows at Celine Dion's show will run you $420.

A pricey playground for sure.

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