Sizing up the Lake Las Vegas Ritz-Carlton
Plenty of Vegas hotels dazzle, but of them do so without tapping directly into the incredible energy, but sometimes overwhelming chaos, of the Strip. Set about a 30-minute drive away from downtown (about 20 minutes from the airport) at Henderson's oasis-like Lake Las Vegas resort, the Ritz-Carlton straddles serene desert lake and is styled after a secluded Tuscan palace. It's intimate (349 rooms) by Las Vegas standards, and the crowd you see here differs a bit from the norm in these parts - think discerning, low-keyed, professionals who enjoy jumping into the Vegas Strip scene here and there but ultimately prefer to sleep in a peaceful, less-hurried property. Part of the gay-friendly, customer-service-driven Ritz-Carlton brand that has steadily shed its somewhat fussy reputation over the years, this particular resort feels posh but unpretentious - you can walk through the lobby in neat jeans or tennis shorts without feeling out of the place. The hotel has a superb spa and restaurant, and it adjoins a lively retail-restaurant village with just enough diversions to keep you entertained. In short, you'd be hard-pressed to find a more alluring yet relaxing high-end hideaway in the greater Vegas area.
Pros:
- Posh and beautifully designed and furnished.
- A 30-minute drive from Vegas lights is calming and translates to fabulous star-gazing at night.
- Home to one of the most stunning spas in the Southwest.
- There's a cool shopping/dining plaza next door with a nice range of retail and restaurant diversions.
- The staff is highly professional but low-keyed and fun - there's a nice balance here between soliticous and friendly.
Cons:
- There's a relatively small casino next door to the hotel, but this is otherwise a nongaming facility, so fans of gambling action may be disappointed.
- On the same note, the Ritz is 20-minute drive from the Strip - if you want to be right in the center of the action, this isn't your best bet (and the drive back and forth is easy but not especially scenic).
- Casual though it is, this is still a Ritz-Carlton, and the "what happens in Vegas, stays in Vegas" mindset of the general region doesn't really prevail here. You can be yourself at this Ritz, but it's not the best place to carry out your wildest antics.
The Vibe:
The hotel is part of the Lake Las Vegas Resort (along with another property, the Loews Lake Las Vegas, which is just down the road). This upscale desert community on the edge of Henderson is a 30-minute drive from the Vegas Strip (that's factoring in traffic - you can sometimes make it a little faster at less busy times), and along a route that passes by some rather uninspired scenery (think dowdy old shopping centers). But once you turn into this sprawling community with its perfectly manicured green lawns, three championship golf courses, and central lake, you feel as though you've been airlifted to the poshest enclaves of Palm Springs or Maui - in some ways, Lake Las Vegas feels completely removed from Sin City.
Yet, you can see the jaunty, pulsing Strip skyline in the distance, and drive there easily. This makes the Ritz a popular draw for non-gaming visitors who nevetheless want to hop into Vegas to shop, dine, and soak up the vibe.
Rooms are done in soft, earthy palettes, with spacious marble bathrooms. If you want to go all out, book one of the Club Level rooms are suites - these are located on the bridge, inspired by the Pontevecchio Bridge in Florence, and come with access to the hotel's club lounge, with its several meal presentations throughout the day. Here you can, for instance, enjoy a light breakfast on a balcony overlooking the lake - a pretty wonderful way to start the morning.
Medici Cafe & Terrace is the hotel's estimable restaurant, enough of a destination dining venue that it's absolutely worth sticking around the hotel for at least one dinner - and that's saying a lot in a city packed with celeb-chef eateries. The menu changes often, but typical are such creative inventions as Muscovy duck confit with sherry lentils, shaved foie gras, and apples; followed by sake-soy-brined salmon with coconut-jasmine rice, candied Japanese eggplant, and Thai butter. Another great feature of the restaurant is the Veuve Clicquot champagne brunch, held on Sundays from 11 am until 2:30. It's a lavish buffet spread, and you dine to the jazzy tones of saxophonist George Butts. Afternoon tea in the airy Firenze Lobby Lounge (weekends 1 to 4) is another tradition at the hotel, and it's less fussy than similar teas at more stilted luxury hotels.
The resort's impressive spa and fitness center is adjacent to the property, seeming very much in its own wonderful little world, yet just a short stroll from the lobby. It's a two-level space with a tranquil garden, a cafe serving light and healthful food, and access to a stately pool area. Treatments offer a nod to the desert setting: the Mesquite Tree Coccon body polish is a favorite, and many guests unused to the Nevada dry air appreciate the Gentleman's Fitness Facial (if you're here with a friend, romantic or otherwise, consider the Duet Massage - it's great fun for the pair of you together).
The Details:
Address, phone, and web: 1610 Lake Las Vegas Pkwy., Henderson, NV, 702-567-4700 or 800-241-3333; book online at the hotel's web reservations page. It's about a 30-minute drive to the Strip in the heart of Las Vegas.
Rates: Rates run begin around $179 per night during quieter times, but generally you can expect average rates of about $249 to $299.
Rooms and notable in-amenities: 349 rooms and suites with plush linens and goose-down comforters, in-room safes, Wi-Fi, stocked minibars, clock radio/CD players, and large writing desks.
Noteworthy hotel amenities: Exceptional full-service restaurant, some of the swankiest ballrooms in Vegas, an outstanding spa and fitness center, and two highly regarded golf courses; adjacent is MonteLago Village, a faux Italian hamlet with upscale shops and restaurants and a full casino (there's no gaming on-site at the Ritz itself).
