Mutual Affection

You might not know Vdara, but the new hotel at CityCenter knows you. Every deluxe suite contains an MP3 hookup in the ceiling-high TV console, plainly labeled “iPod/iPhone” — because Vdara is aware you prefer touching a small screen when it comes to placing a phone call or choosing a song. The TV console is perfect for separating work from sleep. Your hosts also know this might not be your first trip to Vegas and you’re often in town on business. Vdara is ideal for those who appreciate its amenities (including a quiet, airy lobby) and are not looking for a casino. Meanwhile, come time to play, simply take a gander out the window. There you will find plenty of options awaiting.

2600 W. Harmon Ave.
866-745-7767
www.vdara.com

Veni, Vidi, Venetian

At The Venetian, with 4,049 suites the nation’s largest AAA Five-Diamond hotel, it’s the little luxuries that count. Even the smallest suite — 650 sq. ft., about the size of a New York studio apartment — has the goods: soft 400-thread-count wool bed throws, hard-to-find Agraria San Francisco bath amenities, remote-controlled Roman shades, and sunken living rooms (a lovely retro design attribute smacking of the ’60s). Toss in singing gondoliers, outdoor beds on the massive pool desk, an audition for American Idol with Simon Cowell at the in-house Madame Tussauds, and you have yourself one special Italian American getaway in the heart of the Las Vegas Strip.

3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-414-1000
www.venetian.com

Artful Sins

When the Mandarin Oriental, Las Vegas Hotel debuted in December 2009, so did an ode to modern art in Sin City. Frank Stella, Henry Moore, and Nancy Rubins are all represented in the opulent Asian hotel’s celebrated collection. So is an in-your-face Claes Oldenburg/Goosje Bruggen outdoor sculpture, which greets you as you enter this snazzy new Nevada retreat. Standing there is a four-ton, 19-foot stainless steel and fiberglass rendering of a big, bright, old-school typewriter eraser — a sure bet for inspiring any aspiring writer.

3752 Las Vegas Blvd. S.
702-590-8888
www.mandarinoriental.com

Change of Pace

Modern and contemporary, you don’t get that “been there, done that” feeling at the Red Rock Casino, Resort & Spa, but you do get that old Vegas flair. A big plus: Check in without ever passing a slot machine. And while you’re there, don’t forget to look up — the lobby and bar chandeliers feature more than three million pieces of Swarovski crystal. A great treat is the resort’s Adventure Spa experience, where we hiked, biked, and rode horseback through breathtaking Red Rock Canyon National Park.

11011 W. Charleston Blvd.
702-797-7777
www.redrocklasvegas.com

Soaking In the Night Life

What a conversation piece: The oval bathtub sitting in the middle of the floor at Palms Place’s one-bedroom condos overlooking the Strip. How it got out of the bathroom is unknown, but it certainly takes a turn from the hip/sophisticated vibe flowing through the new tower retreat located adjacent to the original Palms Hotel. The one-bedroom units (counting Jessica Simpson among investors) are tailored for a party of 10 to 20. Go smaller (studio) or larger (two-bedroom) to suit your needs, and take advantage of full kitchens. If you prefer, a translucent glass pane slides over to cordon off the bathtub. The message is clear: Privacy is optional.

4381 W. Flamingo Road
702-932-7777
www.palmsplace.com

The Donald’s Deal

The Apprentice host usually isn’t associated with an understated bargain, but the 64-story Trump Hotel Las Vegas started life in 2008 as a condo, only to be dealt the same hand in the economic crunch as the rest of the country. This luxurious lodging’s salvation was to turn its units into plush hotel rooms, outfitted with smartly equipped kitchens, and even bathroom shower stalls for two — and at a price more enticing than the clink-a-ching of the slot machines. There’s no casino, but there’s a comfy lobby bar with a happy hour and a bar menu that will satisfy dinner appetites, and a spa that rivals those in Europe. The location may be just off the Strip, but you can walk right into the Neiman Marcus shopping mall directly across the street. Jackpot.

2000 Fashion Show Dr.
702-982-0000
www.trumplasvegashotel.com

Vegas Oasis

Part of the Mandalay Bay complex, THEhotel is the very antithesis of what you’d expect to find on the Las Vegas Strip. This 43-story retreat emulates those peerless contemporary hotels so popular, up to and including the impeccable service. Check-in is a breeze, attention from the staff is non-stop, and the lobby is so stylish you start to wish you could stay right there. But, upstairs, in your groomed room, you’ll be happy whenever you get to sleep. And if being at THEhotel at Mandalay Bay means being there for work, don’t fret: In a city where walking to the next meeting can mean a half-hour of your time even when you are working and staying under the same roof, the helpful THEhotel offers special accommodations on floors three through six directly across from conference and function space — making it just a hop and a skip from one to the other.

3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South
702-632-7777
www.mandalaybay.com

Odds-On Favorite

Want off the Strip to save serious coin and curb the hectic pace? Then travel seven miles to the Eastside Cannery, the first new hotel built on the Boulder Highway since 1994. On tap: Some low-risk fun (like $5 per blackjack hand) and the latest in slots (we doubled our $20). For serious gamblers looking for an edge: The Cannery begs the best odds. Case in point: a small collection of draw poker machines, where, if played correctly, give you slight odds over the house — a boast practically unheard of in Vegas.

5255 Boulder Hwy.
702-856-5300
www.eastsidecannery.com

Equal Comfort

Practically every room at the massive JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa at Summerlin comes equipped with a deep Jacuzzi tub and rain shower, plus a mini-refrigerator. That’s quite a feat for a hotel that’s rated as a top convention hot spot. But this Spanish revival-styled resort has all the comforts one could ask for, and then some — such as golf and a slew of restaurants for every cuisine and every budget spread out over 54 acres of lush landscape, and water, water, everywhere in the form of waterfalls, streams and pools, and a first-class spa. Did we mention an off-to-the-side, fun-but-not-too-huge casino? A winning roll of the dice.

221 N Rampart Blvd.
702-869-7777
www.JWLasVegasResort.com

*Confidential Deal: June 1 through Oct. 31, 2009, enjoy a special massage package especially for Conway Confidential readers: a Standard Deluxe Room and one 50-minute Sampler Massage. Rates start at $215 per night (a savings of over $60). Enter package code PKGS when booking.

Yeah Yeah Yeah

Widely considered the Father of modern Vegas, the Mirage Hotel and Casino — with its erupting signature volcano out front — has been the mainstay on the Strip since 1989, literally offering something for everyone. Kids flock to Siegfried & Roy’s Secret Garden to check out the new tiger cub litters, while Beatlemaniacs, young and old, line up for Love, the Fab Four-inspired Cirque du Soleil show performed only at the Mirage. Dining options abound, whether you want a burger and alcoholic milkshake (from BLT Burger), authentic New York deli fare (from Carnegie Deli), or matchless Chinese at reasonable prices (from Fin). And we saved the best for last: cocktails at the Beatles Revolution Lounge. Grooviest part of this sauce spot? The 30,000 dichroic crystals adorning the ceiling. Talk about Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds.

3400 S. Las Vegas Blvd.
702-791-7111
www.mirage.com

*Confidential Deal: Receive 15% off room rates by mentioning Conway Confidential when booking by phone. In addition, bring in a copy of this article or mention Conway when booking to receive 10% off the “Trainer for a Day” program.