Most of us have been to Las Vegas at one time or another, whether it be to gamble, enjoy the great show offerings, or indulge in some of the finest culinary delights the world has ever known.
In fact, it’s an incredibly exciting place to visit, any way you look at it. And if you book a stay at the Venetian, your experience gets even better. It’s extremely difficult to comprehend the scope of the Venetian’s complex, as it encompasses not only the hotel’s many facets, including the Palazzo, which is yet another luxurious wing entirely, but then there’s the casino, the multitude of fine dining restaurants, the Canyon Ranch Spa and endless high-end shops, but also the show venues including the phenomenal Sphere, the piรจce de rรฉsistance where the Eagles are enjoying an extended residency.
If you see only one concert in your lifetime, you must catch the sublime Don Henley performing in front of an awe-inspiring, visual concerto equipped with a hundred sixty-six thousand speakers so you can hear every note and nuance from any seat in the house.
Going a bit further, the Sphere is a venue unlike anything anyone has ever seen or experienced before, and I would strongly suggest securing tickets in sections 300 and 400 as they are the best vantage point for catching the grandiose visual perspective. Don’t fret that they are the two farthest sections from the stage because you can see perfectly from any seat in the house. Plus, multiple cameras capture all the performers up close and personal and project their likenesses upon the gargantuan screen.
If you book the Eagles through Vibee (Founded by Live Nation, providing fans the opportunity to experience the best entertainment events), they feature a special space at the resort where a documentary is shown on the Eagles as well as areas to purchase Eagles souvenirs and memorabilia. The Eagles are extended through April 12, 2025.
As for accommodations, we stayed in the luxurious Palazzo wing, which is a bit quieter and lower-key than the Venetian itself. Our suite was tastefully decorated in veined black marble countertops throughout the elegant black and white color scheme, with a spacious lounging area overlooking the strip, including a comfortable sofa, large screen TV, mini-bar, writing desk, and dining table.
In addition, the California king bed featured a unique, chocolate brown, upholstered headboard impressively reaching to the ceiling. As for the master bath, it is exceptionally large, consisting of a deco-inspired marble make-up table, classically refined double vanities, a shower, a tub, and a small TV to catch up on the latest news.
When discussing restaurants at the Venetian resort, it may be difficult to choose as many are available, featuring an endless array of culinary tastes, all receiving 5-star ratings. We dined at the lively Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano, which, for its relatively small square footage, packs a real punch during the dinner hour as there’s not a seat to be had either at the bar or at a table, so reservations weeks or even months in advance are recommended.
Run by restaurateur Matteo Ferdinandi and Michelin award-winning chef Angelo Auriana, the homemade fresh pasta is to die for, especially the pork and veal-filled casonzei, which is a delicious stuffed pasta typical of the culinary tradition of Lombardy in the North central part of Italy.
Service is impeccable, but don’t forget to partake in one of their wonderful desserts, from panna cotta to tiramisu or some refreshing, homemade gelati or sorbet.
The Canyon Ranch Spa is a wonderful, relaxing addition to a fast-paced visit to Las Vegas. With over 145 spa services and 90 treatment rooms, it’s a veritable feast for spa aficionados. My wife and I experienced a couples massage, which was blissful, to say the least.
However, if massage isn’t your thing, you can opt for one of Canyon Ranch’s many custom facials or mani-pedis or experience the spa’s aqua thermal environments such as the HydroSpa, their Finnish sauna, steam room, or for the real adventurers, the Igloo. The spa also has fitness facilities, two great dining offerings, multiple classes, a salon, and a variety of wellness services.
Depending upon the time of year and outdoor temps, the Venetian pool deck features four wonderful pools, including in-pool lounge chairs and daybeds, and the Palazzo pool deck has seven more pools for your swimming pleasure. Of course, if you’re into gambling, the resort is fully equipped with blackjack and roulette tables and a boundless assortment of tempting slot machines. And last but not least, don’t forget the large TV screens everywhere for sports betting.
The most impressive aspect of the Venetian is its endless, realistic sky ceiling covering the whole resort, not to mention the extraordinary re-creation of Venice featuring water-filled canals and even singing gondoliers!! In other words, a good time was had by all and since the resort is incredibly large and filled with everything you could possibly imagine, you needn’t venture anywhere else in Vegas for your entire stay.
If You Go
The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino – venetianlasvegas.com, reservations at 866.659.9643, Reservations@VenetianLasVegas.com, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino – reservations at 866.263.3001, Reservations@VenetianLasVegas.com, 3325 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
Canyon Ranch Spa Reservations – 702.414.3600, LVSpaAppointment@canyonranch.com.
Matteo’s Ristorante Italiano – Reservations at 702.414.1222.
Tickets and events – 866.641.7469 or locally at 702.414.9000.
Book the Eagles through Vibee – eagles.vibee.com
Richard Atkins is a travel writer, photographer, screenwriter, pianist/composer who can be reached at: rcratkins@att.net or thesandiagroup@gmail.com.
Richard Atkins is a travel photo-journalist, playwright, screenwriter, actor and pianist. He can be reached at: rcratkins@att.net.