Las Vegas

Hotels in Las Vegas may no longer offer $79 weekend specials—amazing, when you consider that there are over 140,000 hotel rooms and counting. That said, tourism in Las Vegas has taken a beating, and many hotels are selling rooms at unheard-of prices. Which means it's a great time to experience the celebrity-chef restaurants, first-rate spas, and lavish, generously proportioned guest rooms that hotels in Las Vegas have been adding over the past few years. Another thing that's in the past: kitschy themes. The new Vegas recognizes the power of good design and over-the-top luxury. Does this mean gambling has gone by the wayside? Absolutely not. That's the engine that keeps Las Vegas in motion—and Las Vegas hotels in business.

The hotel deals in Las Vegas are likely to keep coming through 2009 and possibly beyond, as luxury Las Vegas hotels planned during the boom finally come online (many have been delayed by financial troubles). The latest megaresort, Steve Wynn's Encore, opened in early 2009. Still on deck: the massive, starchitect-bedecked (Foster, Libeskind, Viñoly) CityCenter project on the Strip, which will increase the number of upscale hotel rooms in Las Vegas by 15% when its four hotels (including a Mandarin Oriental) open; and the 4,000-room Fontainebleau, sister to the iconic Miami Beach hotel.

As for the hotels in Las Vegas that are open, which should you choose? The hotels on the Strip (also known as Las Vegas Boulevard) are the biggest and glitziest in Las Vegas; that's where you want to stay if your agenda includes casino-hopping, fine dining, shopping for luxury goods, and generally diving into the scene. Staying downtown (at the Golden Nugget, for instance) is a good way to save money, though don't forget to factor in taxi rides to and from the Strip. If you're looking for a quieter experience with spa treatments and outdoor activities, consider an off-Strip resort such as Green Valley Ranch or the Red Rock.