by Karen Nowalsky of Take Wing Travel 609-618-9599

With so many honeymoon options it is easy to overlook Las Vegas – the name alone summons kitschy chapels and Elvis impersonators. But with the chic big-name resorts that have recently come to town, not to mention their accompanying upscale offerings, you may find love and romance in Las Vegas an attractive domestic option. Paired with cheap cross-country flights (minus the hassles of passports or customs!) and the area’s unique shopping, spas, shows, tours and activities, you can have a honeymoon you’ll be talking about for years to come. You may even be surprised at the price.

Here’s a look at Take Wing’s top 5 Las Vegas luxury resorts under $250/night:

Want gondolas and canals without the transatlantic fare? The all-suite Venetian Resort may be the next best thing. Sure it’s heavy on the Italian theme, but it’s a gorgeous shimmering palace, complete with a 1/4-mile Grand Canal – and gondoliers! Think the Bridge of Sighs and St. Mark's Square meet a giant shopping mall with over 80 stores from Ann Taylor to Movado. Suites are other-worldly here: the smallest starts at 650 luxurious square feet, featuring a sunken living room, plus enormous bathroom with what else -- Italian marble!

If it’s an 11-acre tropical lagoon you’re after, AAA Four Diamond Award winning Mandalay Bay Resort on the south end of the Strip offers the ultimate seasonal beach environment - a true desert oasis with 2,700 tons of real sand. Too cold for the beach? You’ll find the water flowing in the wave pool, lazy river ride and three swimming pools. For attractions, Shark Reef is not to be missed - North America's only predator-based aquarium features 2,000 creatures from the world's tropical waters.
For more all-suite understated luxury, take a peak at THEhotel, a non-gaming sophisticated tower of Mandalay Bay. Upscale spacious 1-bedroom suites here start at 750 square feet and include floor-to-ceiling windows, plasma TVs and granite bathrooms.

Another non-casino hotel worth a mention is the new luxurious PH Towers, one of the best kept secrets on the Strip that quietly opened in 2009. Step through the grand entrance to Planet Hollywood and discover its own exotic tropical pool area with yes, white sand here too. The studio suites are sleek and modern and even feature a kitchenette with high-end stainless steel appliances, microwave, refrigerator, flatware and dishwasher. Two-bedroom suites are lavish retreats, top out at 1,538 square feet and sleep up to 6 adults.

4. The Trumpster – what list of luxury would be complete without including his brand? Again nongaming, and also off-Strip, five-star Trump International Hotel Las Vegas is a 24-carat gold-encased spectacle built to elegant perfection. More than 1,200 suites and 50 opulent penthouses round out the offering with magnificent panoramic views of the city skyline and surrounding mountains. All of the suites are very high end and amenities include Euro kitchens with appliances by Wolf, Bosch, and Sub-Zero. Best of all, since it’s relatively new, this level of quality is wildly affordable.

 

Last but not least, five-star ultra-modern Aria Resort & Casino, located in the very heart of the CityCenter complex, just celebrated its first birthday since making a grand entry into the deluxe market. As the crown jewel, it’s all about design and sustainable environmental impact – surprisingly offering some of the best values on the Strip today. The 61-story Aria features 4,000+ rooms, a giant casino floor, three main pools, 16 restaurants, 10 bars and lounges (including a hot new nightclub) and an 80,000-square-foot spa.
Exclusive shopping is right next-door – all the highest end stores in the world are here: Cartier, Tiffany, Louis Vuitton and many more. And you’ll also find the world’s top chefs, and shows, including its own Cirque du Soleil production, "Viva Elvis," dedicated to the musical legend. What could be more Vegas?

For more information on these or other suggestions, contact Karen Nowalsky, resident honeymoonologist of Take Wing Travel, here in South Jersey at 609-618-9599; www.takewingtravel.com for the honeymoon, destination wedding or vow renewal of your dreams. Take Wing Travel is your personalized romantic travel and honeymoon specialist offering unique custom vacation packages since 2002. From experienced destination planning to the best value and professional service, Take Wing Travel provides convenient one-stop shopping. E-mail travel@takewingtravel.com. All quotes and consultations are complimentary, no-obligation and can be made according to your schedule, including evenings and weekends.

 

Check out some of our many honeymoon articles on everything from cruises to all-inclusive resorts in our Honeymoon Article Archives