Page 114 - (DK Eyewitness) Travel Guide - Southwest USA & National Parks

112  LAS VEGAS LAS VEGAS  113

5 MGM Grand Copperfield Theater attracts pool has a bar alongside Tiffany & Co., and North
many top entertainers, such and also offers somewhat America’s largest branch of
3799 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 891-
7777; (877) 880-0880. Open 24 hours as come dians Drew Carey unusual casino action with Louis Vuitton.
(see p239). 7 8 and Lewis Black. swim-up blackjack tables, Perched away from the Strip,
∑ mgmgrand.com MGM is also home to several which have a waterproof the Aria Hotel & Casino is a
nightclubs, including Wet surface and money dryers. sleek monolith far removed
The emerald- Republic, which takes over part The resort also has several from Las Vegas’ usual
green MGM of the hotel’s huge pool out door spas for the ultimate ostentatious style. It boasts
Grand building is complex. in relaxation. Visitors come a collection of contemporary
fronted by the famous During daylight here to escape from the bright sculpture ranging from Maya
Leo, a 45-ft- (14-m-) tall hours, the major lights and full-on action of Lin and Henry Moore to Jenny
bronze lion that serves as attraction for visitors the city and to enjoy luxurious Holzer, and holds restaurants
the symbol of the MGM is CSI: The Experience, spa treatments amongst the run by some of the country’s
Hollywood film studio. The in which participants tropical greenery. top chefs, such as Julian
original MGM hotel was built make their own self-paced Serrano and Michael Mina, and
in the 1970s, farther down interactive investigation the ultra-hip Jewel nightclub.
the strip where Bally’s now of a fictional, mocked-up 7 CityCenter The 4,004 high-tech guest
stands, and was named for murder scene. 3740 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 590- rooms with floor-to-ceiling
the 1920s film, Grand Hotel, 9230. Open varies for each attraction. windows provide panoramic
starring Greta Garbo. In  CSI: The Experience 7 ∑ citycenter.com views of the city.
1980 the worst hotel fire MGM Grand MGM Grand. Tel (702) 891- The entire complex was
in Las Vegas history figurine 5749. Open 9am–9pm daily. Designed as a city within a built with green technology
destroyed the building & ∑ csiexhibit.com city to exploit the vast acreage in mind, using natural lighting
and killed 84 people. After of unused land west of the and reclaimed water. Even
first reopening on the same site, Strip, CityCenter took three Aria‘s slot machines promote
the MGM Grand subsequently 6 Tropicana and a half years to complete, at conservation, as the bases
opened at its current location 3801 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 739- a cost of $8.6 billion. It opened serve as air-conditioning units,
in 1993 at the corner of the 2222; (800) 462-8767. Open 24 hours in 2010 as the most expensive effectively cooling guests
Strip and Tropicana Avenue. (see p239). 7 ∑ troplv.com privately funded project ever from the ground up.
It covered a mammoth 114 built in the US.
acres (46 ha) and was themed One of the few 1950s boom Consisting of five different 8 Cosmopolitan of
on the movie The Wizard of Oz. hotels still on the Strip, the properties, CityCenter stretches
Subsequent refurbishments Tropicana was built in 1957. between the Monte Carlo to Las Vegas
have progressively removed Las Vegas’ famous illusionist the south and the Bellagio 3708 Las Vegas Blvd S. Tel (702) 698- The giant Coca-Cola bottle at Showcase Mall
most of its associations with act, Siegfried & Roy, first to the north – a free, futuristic 7000; (877) 551-7778. Open 24 hours
MGM movies. appeared here at the Folies tram runs from one end to the (see p239). 7 ∑ cosmopolitan 9 Showcase Mall Hollywood Resort & Casino)
The 5,000 or so rooms that Bergères in 1973. In 2009 the other in just three minutes. Its lasvegas.com 3785 Las Vegas Blvd. Tel (702) 597- opened in 2007. The glamorous,
originally made the MGM resort was restyled, and it now most conspicuous component 3122. Open varies for each 1930s- style lobby features
Grand the world’s largest hotel boasts lush tropical gardens is the quartz-shaped Crystals Situated within two high-rise attraction. 7 eight sparkling crystal
have been supplemented by and a fine South Beach façade. mall, a high-end retail and towers on the Strip between chandelier columns and
another 1,728 suites in its three A 5-acre (2-ha) water park is dining district characterized the Bellagio and CityCenter, Dominated by a 100-ft- (30-m-) the hotel’s two pools offer
Signature towers, not to one of the hotel’s most by dazzling architecture, indoor The Cosmopolitan offers a high neon Coca-Cola bottle, the alfresco poolside cocktails.
mention 51 ultra-luxurious delightful attrac tions with gardens, sculptures, and water 100,000-sq-ft (9,300-sq-m) Showcase Mall entertainment The focus at Planet Holly-
Sky Lofts. It also boasts a waterfalls and exotic flowers features, as well as upmarket casino, an oasis-inspired spa, and retail complex is best wood is firmly on entertain-
171,500-sq-ft (16,000-sq-m) and foliage. The huge main stores including Tom Ford, and three pools. There are known as the home of M&M’s® ment. Major head liners –
casino, and an array of big- 2,995 hotel rooms, most with World. This promotional exhibit, including Britney Spears,
name restaurants that include marble bathrooms and sliding spread over four stories, offers Jennifer Lopez, and Lionel
the Hakkasan with indoor and glass doors that open onto a some fun chocolate-themed Ritchie, sign-up for long term
outdoor seating and the Joël large terrace. Some suites even displays for kids and abundant residencies and regularly
Robuchon Restaurant; however, have their own kitchenettes. opportunities to buy chocolate appear at the properties'
the MGM Grand is known Among the 21 restaurants on in a rainbow of colors. main theater, The Axis, while
above all for its entertainment. site, guests will find most kinds a separate showroom hosts
The Grand Garden Arena of cusine, including Chinese- the burlesque show, Crazy Girls.
is a 17,000-seat venue famous Mexican fusion food from chef 0 Planet Hollywood The Miracle Mile shopping
for hosting big-name acts, José Andrés at China Poblana, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S. Tel (702) 785- mall, which does indeed
includ ing Barbra Streisand, and authentic Italian cusine at 5555; (866) 919-7472. Open 24 hours snake for a full mile around
the Rolling Stones, and Kanye Scarpetta. The Chandelier, one (see p239). 7 ∑ planethollywood­ the casino, still features
West. It also hosts major sports of several bars, spans three resortcaesars.com Arabian-Nights touches
events and world champion- levels, each with a different dating back to the Aladdin
ship boxing, most memorably theme, while the Marquee On the site formerly occupied era, and offers 170 shops and
the legendary 1997 fight in Nightclub & Dayclub combines by the Aladdin, scene of the 17 restaurants, as well as its
which Mike Tyson bit off clubbing with poolside 1967 wedding of Elvis and own theater, which runs a
Evander Holyfield’s ear. The entertainment, complete with Priscilla Presley, Planet Holly- continuously changing
more intimate 740-seat David Classic Floridian 1950s style at the Tropicana infinity pools and a cabana. wood (then known as Planet line-up of shows.
For hotels and restaurants see pp238–40 and pp251–4

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Eyewitness Travel LAYERS PRINTED:
Catalogue template “UK” LAYER
(Source v2.6)
Date 12th July 2013
Size 125mm x 217mm