The Venetian: Intimacy within A High-Powered Luxury Resort
When the Venetian Resort Hotel Casino opened in 1999, it upped the standard within the decade-long trend toward luxury on the Las Vegas strip. Modeled after the historic city of Venice, the resort and convention center features a number of statement elements including architectural structures based on Venetian monuments, a canal with gondolas and a shopping center enclosed with a ceiling mural of a blue sky with white clouds.
More than 18 years later (an eternity in a town constantly reinventing itself) The Venetian has not only aged well but has grown to become the world?s second-largest hotel with the addition of a second tower (Venezia), a second resort-casino complex (The Palazzo) and the Sands Convention Center.
Las Vegas is one of the few places on earth where world-class luxury can be delivered on such a massive scale and The Venetian does it better than most. With no fewer than 10 pools; a world class spa; luxury retail; big-name restaurants, bars and nightclubs; and of course a spacious casino, the resort in many ways is similar to other properties along ?The Strip.? However, few are able to do it while providing a high level of intimacy. It was the last point that most impressed me and my wife, Maria, during our four-night stay.

Our two-level, 650-square-foot Luxury Suite in the all-suite hotel had a king-sized bed that looked upon a sunk-in living room with a plush couch and chairs, a work desk and a di...