Review: Bellagio

How did it strike you on arrival?
There's a reason Bellagio's lobby is one of the most Instagrammed locations in Las Vegas (as is its Conservatory). It can be argued that Bellagio ushered in the era of the super-resort in Las Vegas. Sure, we already had themed hotels like Luxor and Mirage, but the 20-year-old Bellagio signaled absolute luxury when it was built. The lobby hasn't changed much, with its massive installation of Dale Chihuly blown-glass flowers all over the ceiling and the naturally-lit conservatory just beyond, but it still feels like a fabulous garden party whenever you walk in.

What’s the crowd like?
Bellagio gets a huge variety of travelers these days. A lot of the people you'll see in the hotel are here to gawk at the Conservatory, which was modeled after conservatories Steve Wynn had seen in France and changes its displays—which are made of tens of thousands of flowers and kinetic sculptures—with the seasons. With so many people here to see the famous dancing fountains and other public sights, it's hard to categorize travelers. Needless to say, however, this hotel is busy from all the foot traffic. So the lobby is almost always busy-to-crowded.

The good stuff: Tell us about your room.
Resorts in Las Vegas are constantly updating to compete with their counterparts on the Strip. In 2015, Bellagio renovated all of its nearly 4,000 rooms at a cost of $165 million. Only a few years later, it has refreshed all 2,568 rooms in its main tower (for those of you who love a bathroom with good lighting, the backlit mirrors encircled by mother of pearl are for you). Bathtubs are out, giant marble showers are in. And all the room redesigns, done by The Getty’s Group with MGM Resorts’ own design group, are inspired by the water (think Bellagio’s fountains), light and nature. They feel light, modern, and thoroughly unexpected for Las Vegas. The rooms start at 510 square feet, so are on the large end for standard rooms. The hotel is currently renovating its Spa Tower to the tune of $110 million, in jewel tones Champalimaud Design is borrowing from Lake Como and the Alps, and this is where to check in for a more residential feel. There are lots of different room categories, so if having a view of the fountains is important to you, the best thing to do is call the reservations people on the phone and work with them to request a specific room.

We’re craving some deep, restorative sleep. They got us?
Some of the rooms have specially branded pillow-top Bellagio mattresses or Serta mattresses. The bedding is luxurious, and I like the fact that you can call housekeeping and request hypoallergenic pillows.

How about the little things, like mini bar, or shower goodies. Any of that find its way into your suitcase?
There are some seriously useful things in Bellagio's mini-bar, like a universal electronics kit (packaged in nice Bellagio boxes, just like the honey mustard pretzels and other snacks). Before actually spending the money on that, I'd call the front desk or housekeeping and request the use of an adaptor. Tip: You might not know that you can actually buy access to the Chairman's Lounge, which is like a club floor lounge. It comes included if you reserve a suite, but you can add it to a Fountain View King or Queen for $100 per night. (My recommendation: Since room prices are so variable because of conventions and special events, do the math on just springing for a suite or upgrading your room with the purchase of a Chairman's Lounge package.) You'll likely recoup your money in food alone, since there's a rotating selection of snacks and treats.

Please tell us the bathroom won’t let us down.
Bathrooms at Bellagio are good-sized, and they have marble vanities, lighted makeup mirrors, and big soaking tubs. Bellagio has its own branded bath amenities, and you'll also get some useful extras, like razors, sewing kit, cotton pads.

Maybe the most important topic of all: Wi-Fi. What’s the word?
Wi-Fi here is solid, and it's included in a higher-than-usual daily $45 resort fee.

Room service: Worth it?
Bellagio doesn't go too crazy with exotic in-room dining offerings, although they do have vegan and gluten-free options. It's expensive, like most, but they're fast at bringing tables in and also clearing them away, so you'll never have to worry about having to step over trays people have lazily shoved out their doors. Two great perks on the menu are an all-day breakfast and caviar service (since there's a Petrossian downstairs adjacent to the casino, you can order a tradition caviar service, complete with buckwheat blinis, toast points, creme fraiche, and at least three different kinds of caviar all to your room).

Staff: If you could award one a trophy, who gets it, and why?
Each season, Bellagio Conservatory & Botanical Garden’s 120 horticulturists, engineers, and designers create unbelievable displays (new plants and trees, massive animatronic characters, and once, a 110-foot-tall deceased banyan tree from Palm Beach, Fla, weighing 200,000 pounds). They create all this magic behind the scenes and assembled it under the 50-foot-high glass ceiling seemingly when no one is watching. It’s one of the most incredibly well-orchestrated productions in the world.

Anything stand out about other services and features? Whether it’s childcare, gyms, spas, even parking—whatever stuck with you.
The restaurants, like Picasso and Lago, are some of the most romantic in Las Vegas, and if you call in advance (and ask nicely), you'll likely be able to secure a table with a great view over the fountains. If you’re very into a fountain view, have brunch at Spago, which sits virtually on top of them. Overall, the restaurants and public areas of Bellagio, while extremely busy, are also some of Las Vegas's must-sees.

What was most memorable—or heartbreaking—about your stay?
The most memorable thing about staying in Bellagio is that you're in the middle of the action. It not only has great restaurants, but a very good (though small) art gallery and a new Perrotin Store Las Vegas, which sells art and artis-made objects as well as books. Bellagio has fantastic retail, of course (Breguet gets some of the rarest of the watch brand’s traveling collections), but the most remarkable thing about this luxury hotel is how democratic it is. You really can just come in to see the sights.

Bottom line: worth it, and why?
Especially since the renovations, the once slightly tired hotel rooms have all been seriously perked up. Since the entry of higher priced hotels on the Strip, Bellagio's prices seem slightly gentler, and you can get a lovely renovated room for not much more than you'd pay for a room off the Strip. It's a great deal.