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You're bound to find weekend brunch wherever you turn at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, since they offer more than 30 restaurants combined. It just depends what you're in the mood for.
 
Assuming you can find a table, we recommend hitting Bouchon, a Three-Star restaurant from acclaimed chef Thomas Keller that serves authentic French fare in a Parisian bistro setting. We’re big fans of the croquet madame, which features toasted ham and cheese on brioche with a fried egg and side of pommes frites, as well as the three-egg omelet du jour.
 
Another reliable choice is Zeffirino, which offers a decadent Sunday brunch highlighted by steamed lobster, shrimp, oysters and clams, along with a selection of pastas, pastries and omelets. Champagne, mimosas and Bloody Marys are also available if you want to make it a boozy brunch.

Unfortunately, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino do not allow cats, dogs or any other animals on the premises, with the exception of service animals. If you or a member of your group does have a service animal, be sure to inform the concierge at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel when booking your reservation.
 
If you have any questions about where to board your pets during your stay in Las Vegas, the concierge at The Venetian and The Palazzo will be more than happy to make recommendations for reliable places to keep the furry members of your family.

If you’re planning to hold your wedding reception in The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino’s ballroom, you can expect to spend about $150 per plate, but the cost of your wedding really depends on which of the 10 wedding packages you choose.
 
Wedding ceremony packages start at $3,800 at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels, but note that price does not include use of a chapel. Some packages do include a wedding terrace and chapel, while others feature ceremonies in the Grand Canal. For more information about wedding package options and prices, contact one of the onsite wedding planners at The Venetian or The Palazzo since costs and amenities can vary based on the season.

If you’re interested in hosting your wedding at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, you’ll have a number of beautiful locations to choose from for your special day.
 
These Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels offer 10 different wedding packages, each with a unique location and style. For example, you could hold your nuptials in the Grand Canal on The Venetian’s signature white wedding gondola, on the Bridge of Love above the canal or any number of other popular locations such as the Palazzo Waterfall, Venezia Courtyard and the hotels’ wedding chapels.
 
Both of these Four-Star hotels offer a full range of custom wedding planning services, along with fixed packages that include amenities such as photo services, limousines and tuxedo rentals.
 
Contact one of the onsite wedding planners to get your celebration under way.

Rest assured that you won’t have to travel far from The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino if you’re itching to hit the links during your stay in Sin City. The golf course nearest to these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels is Bali Hai Golf Club, a championship 7,002-yard course located right on the Las Vegas Strip.
 
This 18-hole course features more than 4,000 trees, 100,000 tropical plants and flowers, Augusta white sand and black volcanic rock outcroppings. It has earned a slew of prestigious awards and mentions, including being named in GolfWeek Magazine’s “America’s Top 40 Resort Courses,” and includes an onsite Balinese-themed restaurant that serves fantastic sandwiches, curries and seafood.
 
You can make tee time reservations at Bali Hai Golf Club up to 180 days in advance if you’re staying at The Venetian or The Palazzo, with rates beginning at $155.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino do not have children’s room service menus, but don’t let that stop you from ordering in-room dining for your kids. In fact, the in-room menus at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels are filled with yummy options kids are sure to love for breakfast, lunch and dinner.
 
For breakfast, your best bets include eggs and omelets, fresh fruits and French toast. Reliable lunch and dinner choices include burgers, chicken sandwiches and a variety of pizzas, along with a long list of other kid-friendly favorites such as fish and chips, lasagna and grilled cheese with or without ham. There’s also a dessert menu featuring sweet-tooth favorites like cheesecake, milk shakes, giant cookies and chocolate-fudge cake.
 
If your kids have any food allergies or other dietary restrictions, don’t hesitate to ask the staff if the kitchen can accommodate your needs.
 

With more 30 restaurants to choose from between The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, you and your kids will both have no shortage of tasty food options right inside your hotel. We think the casual dining spots at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels will probably suit you better, though for a special treat older kids who might be somewhat familiar with pop-culture chefs like Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse would also enjoy visiting one of their eateries on Restaurant Row.
 
Amongst the casual options, though, our favorites include Grand Lux Café, which has a massive menu with something for everyone, and Tintoretto Bakery, where display cases with freshly prepared sandwiches, salads and desserts allow your kids to check out their options before they decide what they want. In-room dining is also a convenient option, with all sorts of yummy kid-friendly favorites such as burgers, pasta and desserts on the menu.

Unfortunately, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino do not offer any in-house babysitting services. However, if you’re traveling with kids, the concierge desk at either of these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels can provide you with the contact information of recommended babysitting and nanny services elsewhere in Las Vegas.
 
Companies that concierge specifically recommended to us were Nannies and Housekeepers, Artsy Nannies and Dial-a-Granny, though note that none of these services are directly affiliated with either The Venetian or The Palazzo. You should also keep in mind that any recommendations from these Four-Star hotels are only recommendations — they cannot be held liable for your satisfaction with the services you receive.

Go ahead and bring the kids with you to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino: There are plenty of kid-friendly amenities at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels, as well as in Las Vegas at large. Here are our five favorite amenities for kids:
 
1. The pools. Nothing beats a cool dip in the pool on a hot day in Vegas. While some pools are only for adults, most of the 10 pools shared between the two hotels are open to families. You can also dine poolside at one of two restaurants from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck.

2. Madame Tussauds. Older kids will love posing next to their favorite, eerily lifelike wax replicas of their favorite celebrities inside the Vegas outpost of the famous Madame Tussauds.

3. Gondola rides. Give your kids a Vegas-style taste of Italy by taking them on a memorable gondola ride down the entrancing Grand Canal. The crooning gondolier will surely leave a lasting impression on little ones.

4. Video game systems. Consoles are available on request, a nice touch for keeping kids occupied and making them feel right at home.

5. Gelato. Your kids may come to this Four-Star hotel as ice-cream fans, but may leave clamoring for Italian gelato after a few scoops at Espressamente Illy, which serves 54 terrific flavors along with sweet crepes and European-style chocolates.

Whether you’re flying solo, traveling with the family or escaping to Vegas on a whirlwind romantic getaway, there are all kinds of fun things to do near The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and connected The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino. Five of our favorites include:
 
1. Golfing. Bali Hai Golf Club is a championship 18-hole course located just around the corner from these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels, so pack your clubs and get ready to hit one of the best courses in the country — or, if you forget your putters, simply rent a pair from the club.

2. Cirque du Soleil. Whether you opt for O, KÀ or The Beatles LOVE, these three Cirque du Soleil mainstay shows are sure to wow you with their unbelievable acrobatic feats and driving musical soundtracks.

3. Nightclubs. You don’t have to leave your hotel to visit two of Las Vegas’ most exclusive nightclubs, TAO and LAVO. We particularly enjoyed the everything-goes vibe at TAO, where a giant Buddha statue presides over an infinity pool teeming with Japanese koi fish, and a 40-foot-long outdoor terrace plays host to international DJs, go-go dancers and throngs of traveling clubbers.

4. Shopping. If you haven’t satisfied your shopping fix at The Grand Canal Shoppes at The Venetian or The Shoppes at The Palazzo, the Fashion Show Mall, Encore Shopping Center and The Forum Shops are all within walking distance.

5. Helicopter rides. You’ll love having a bird’s eye view of all the natural splendor that is the Grand Canyon from the comfort of a helicopter. Ask the concierge at these Four-Star hotels for operator recommendations and help booking a reservation.

The best time of the year to experience holiday events at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino is during the annual “Winter in Venice” festivities, when these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels put on their best holiday cheer and turn into an indoor winter wonderland between the last two weeks of November and the first week of January.
 
A dazzling array of bright holiday lights and decorated trees pop up during the festival, along with seasonal treats such as eggnog cupcakes, spiced apple cider and rich hot chocolate. You can also strap on some ice skates and hit the ice at the largest skating rink on the Strip, and at night enjoy daily light shows and live performances.

Any time of the year is a good time to enjoy a luxurious stay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, but we think the best time to plan your visit to these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels is during the (relatively) low tourism seasons.
 
The hotel predictably tends to host more families and groups of travelers during the late summer and around major holidays such as Valentine’s Day, Fourth of July and New Year’s Eve. Fall and spring are both generally great times to go to Vegas, as you can still enjoy plenty of warm weather and sunshine, along with smaller crowds.
 
We also recommend checking The Venetian and The Palazzo’s convention schedule: Both of these Four-Star hotels are attached to the Sands Expo Center, a gigantic meeting space that hosts trade shows throughout the year, so even though there are some 7,000 suites between these hotels, some shows can push them near their maximum occupancy.

If you fashion yourself more of an outdoor runner than a treadmill warrior, we recommend taking in the sights and sounds of Las Vegas with a jog down the world-famous Strip during your stay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino.
 
The best time to get a run in that’s relatively free of human obstacles will be in the early morning, from 7 to 9 a.m., when you’ll also have the least amount of traffic to navigate and can more easily cross the main roads on pedestrian walkways without having to slow your pace because of all the people. Keep in mind, though, that even in the morning you’ll still have to dodge some early risers and late-night clubbers.
 
For a more secluded run during your stay at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel, try heading off-Strip to Koval Lane, which runs parallel to Las Vegas Boulevard and sees much less foot traffic.

As part of Canyon Ranch SpaClub, the gym locker rooms at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino feature posh facilities and amenities to help you unwind after a tough workout.
 
Gym locker rooms at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels are highlighted by magnetic-key lockers, spotless showers and restrooms, luxury bath products and ample relaxation space. For more amenities, including free beverages inside the spa relaxation area and access to wet areas that include thermal spa cabins, tubs and aqua-thermal baths, consider upgrading to a SpaClub Passport, which is available for one ($40), three ($110) or five ($150) days. Additional services such as personal training classes and access to a 40-foot indoor rock-climbing wall can also be purchased.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino offers a variety of fitness classes and personal training sessions at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. In fact, the SpaClub just might offer more classes and activities than your local gym does.
 
In addition to yoga, Pilates, aerobics and other group fitness classes, during your stay at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel you can also sign up for private weight-training and cardiovascular sessions with a certified trainer, climb a 40-foot indoor rock wall (private or group) and get an innovative “movement training” workout using SpaClub’s Kinesis training method. Check the gym’s schedule for current personal-training rates and class times.
 
Of course, if you prefer to work up a sweat on your own, the 134,000-square-foot spa and gym space has all the latest technology and fitness equipment you’ll need, including multiple weight-training rooms, treadmills and other cardiovascular machines and fitness studios.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino offers a variety of fitness classes and personal training sessions at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. In fact, the SpaClub just might offer more classes and activities than your local gym does.
 
In addition to yoga, Pilates, aerobics and other group fitness classes, during your stay at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel you can also sign up for private weight-training and cardiovascular sessions with a certified trainer, climb a 40-foot indoor rock wall (private or group) and get an innovative “movement training” workout using SpaClub’s Kinesis training method. Check the gym’s schedule for current personal-training rates and class times.
 
Of course, if you prefer to work up a sweat on your own, the 134,000-square-foot spa and gym space has all the latest technology and fitness equipment you’ll need, including multiple weight-training rooms, treadmills and other cardiovascular machines and fitness studios.

As with most high-rise hotels, the best views at Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino come with suites located on the higher floors.
 
At The Venetian, we recommend booking a room in the Venezia Tower, which offers more seclusion, a private pool garden and better views of Vegas than suites located in the main part of the hotel. You’ll also have easy access to the Forbes Travel Guide Three-Star restaurant Bouchon from master chef Thomas Keller.
 
If you’re looking for a room with a spectacular view at The Palazzo, splurge on a Prestige Suite, which gives you access to a private lounge and other fine amenities such as a private champagne check in, complimentary hors d’oeuvres and cocktail receptions, access to the Canyon Ranch SpaClub and a personal concierge.
 
Of course, the very best views just might be from the palatial 2,900-square-foot Penthouse Suites at The Venetian, which are located on the top three floors of the hotel.

Whether we’re craving a light salad, a sweet dessert or want to kick off a night on the town with a bottle of champagne, we love the convenience of being able to order a huge assortment of food and beverages from The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino’s book-length room service menu 24 hours a day — and having it delivered in 30 minutes or less.
 
One glance through the in-suite dining menu will have you thinking twice about leaving the comfort of your king-sized bed at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel no matter what time of the day it is. Breakfast options, for example, include everything from Belgian waffles and French toast to American and Japanese platters served with coffee or green tea.
 
For lunch and dinner, if you can think of it, you can probably order it. Crab cakes, grilled cheese with braised short ribs, custom-made pizzas, steaks, Italian panini — it would take several months to try everything available. This Four-Star hotel also has five different party platters on the menu that serve up to four people, as well as a large variety of wines, spirits and bottled beers.

A premium is placed on top-notch entertainment throughout The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, from the labyrinthine gaming floors and posh VIP rooms frequented by high rollers to a wide variety of family-friendly activities and dazzling Vegas shows.
 
Kids and adults alike will love taking a languid gondola cruise down The Venetian’s Grand Canal, where your boat will be guided by a singing gondolier. Madame Tussauds, where you can snap pictures with uncannily lifelike wax replicas of your favorite celebrities, is another popular spot for families at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel.
 
If you’re interested in show-stopping theatrics and operatic ballads, The Venetian hosts both Blue Man Group and The Phantom of the Opera.
 
Finally, both of these Four-Star hotels regularly bring comedic stars such as Tim Allen, David Spade and Rita Rudner to the stage for strings of headlining shows, so be sure to check The Venetian and The Palazzo’s respective events calendars to see who’s in town and which shows are running during your visit.

While The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino have a whole city’s worth of bars and restaurants between them, we loved being able to order a number of refreshing signature drinks right off the in-room dining menu that these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels have claimed as their own unique creations.
 
Our favorites are the Passion & Palazzo, a mix of Remy Red, Moët & Chandon and a splash of lime juice, and the Silver Bullet, a blend of Hpnotiq, Sauza Plata and lime juice. Of course, if you’re just in the mood for something simple and straightforward, the in-room menu also features a bevy of spirits, wines and beers.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino make it easy to enjoy early-evening or late-night drinks in a Sin City hotspot without stepping foot outside the hotel.
 
Two of Vegas’ most popular nightclubs are located within these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels: the Venetian’s TAO and The Palazzo’s LAVO. If you want to check out one of the sexiest pool parties in Las Vegas, there’s also The Venetian’s hedonistic Tao Beach, which features house international DJs, pool light shows and 14-foot-tall columns of fire.
 
If you’re not interested in the nightclub scene, these Four-Star hotels have a number of cozy bars at many of the 30 onsite restaurants. Two of our favorite bar restaurants are found at Pinot Brasserie and SUSHISAMBA, both of which serve their own specialty house cocktails and beverages.
 
For more laid-back experiences, check out one of the casual lounges at The Venetian or The Palazzo. Lagasse’s Stadium is a sports fan’s paradise, with tons of TVs and stadium seating, while V Bar is a great spot for sipping marvelous martinis. We’re also fond of Laguna Champagne Bar, where you can take in the razzle-dazzle of the gaming floor while imbibing a glass or two of bubbly.

You couldn’t taste your way through all 30 restaurants shared between The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino even if you tried — and believe us, we have.
 
These Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels have it all, whether you’re in the mood for something quick and casual or want to dress up for an upscale sit-down dinner at restaurants from world-renowned celebrity chefs. To that end, we recommend all three onsite eateries from Italian-cooking mastermind Mario Batali: B&B Ristorante, which serves traditional Italian fare, Carnevino, an Italian steakhouse, and Otto Enoteca Pizzeria, the most casual of the three.
 
Of course, Batali isn’t the only celebrity chef sharing his culinary masterpieces at these Four-Star hotels: Emeril Lagasse hosts Lagasse’s Stadium, Delmonico Steakhouse and Table 10, Wolfgang Puck’s restaurants include CUT, Postrio and Solaro Poolside, and Tom Moloney serves amazing seafood at AquaKnox.
 
On past visits we’ve also enjoyed the French cuisine at Morel’s and Pinot Brasserie, fresh, innovatively presented sushi at SUSHISAMBA  and family-friendly fare at Grand Lux Café and I Love Burgers. The extensive in-suite dining menu has something for everyone, too, and is a great option if you don’t feel like leaving the considerable comfort of your suite.

Two types of suites at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino include terraces: the aptly named Terrazo Luxury Suite and the Terrazo Bella Suite.
 
These suites feature the same amenities as the standard Luxury Suites and Bella Suites, including 32-inch flat-screen TV, Egyptian cotton sheets on pillowy king-size beds and Roman tub, plus additional outdoor patio space for soaking in that hot Las Vegas sun. Each terrace is furnished with a table and comfortable lounge chairs that are flanked by neatly trimmed hedges that provide a little extra privacy. If you’d like, you can even order request that your terrace at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel be stocked with snacks and beverages.

Suites at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino have undergone two separate renovations over the past four years. Those suites at this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel that still sport some of the hotel’s original, more traditional color schemes and design patterns are being updated for 2012. Otherwise, many suites were updated and renovated in 2008 to coincide with the opening of sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino.
 
Given its relative infancy, The Palazzo hasn’t yet undergone any significant room renovations, but everything from the gleaming in-suite Italian marble and 32-inch flat-screen TVs to the dazzling grand entrance remains as sparkling and spotless as it was when it first opened.

There’s a lot to love about the special amenities found in the more than 7,000 suites shared between The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino.
 
For starters, many suites at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels are equipped with three TVs: a 32- and 42-inch flat-screen in the separate living room and bedroom, as well as a 17- or 20-inch LCD in the gleaming marble bathrooms. If you’re traveling with kids, don’t forget to pack a few of their favorite movies since all suites also have DVD players, and if they love playing video games, bring their favorite games, too, since some consoles are available on request.
 
We also found it plenty easy to kick back and relax in our Luxury Suite with long, luxurious soaks in a Roman tub and a blissful night’s sleep on the soft, king-sized Sealy pillow-top mattress with Egyptian cotton sheets — and opening and closing the Roman shades and drapes with a remote control from the bed had us feeling wonderfully, luxuriously lazy too.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino stocks a full range of Paiza bath products in all suite bathrooms that are produced exclusively for this Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel. The bathroom goodies include body wash, shampoo, conditioner and body lotion, as well as bar soap, toothbrushes and a small toiletry kit with all the other essentials you’ll need during your stay. We think the soaps were particularly gentle on our skin – and they smelled great too – so like us you’ll probably try to find some room in your toiletries case to bring a few home with you.
 
If you stay at The Venetian’s sister hotel, The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, you’ll have bath products supplied by luxury soap and candle-maker Agraria San Francisco. The lemon verbena soap has a delightful, subtle citrus scent that will leave you smelling clean and your body feeling nourished.

Exuding elegant, Italian-style luxury with extravagant design and décor touches such as marble foyers, Roman soaking tubs and remote-controlled Roman shades, suites at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and connected The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino are comfortable, spacious and, with more than 7,000 suites between the two hotels, plentiful.
 
Standard Luxury Suites at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels have separate bedroom and living room areas, a 32-inch flat-screen TV and DVD player (The Palazzo’s Luxury Suites also have a 42-inch flat-screen), Wi-Fi access, and fully stocked refreshments. Many suites also have sleeper sofas, too, which are convenient if you’re traveling with the family or a group of friends. Rich Italian fabrics blanket the sofa and cushy king-sized beds, which feature a custom Sealy pillow-top mattress and Egyptian cotton linens.
 
Inside the 130-square-foot bathrooms you’ll find a double-sink vanity, glass-enclosed shower separate from the soaking tub and complimentary bath products from Paiza (at The Venetian) and Agraria San Francisco (The Palazzo).

Along with a few convenient technological touches such as remote-controlled shades and drapes, suites at LEED-certified The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and connected sister hotel, The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, are equipped with all the in-room technology you’ll need to stay plugged in and entertained during your stay.
 
All suites at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels have either 32- or 42-inch flat-screen TVs in the living room — some, such as the 1,100-square foot Rialto Suite, have both — as well as 17- or 20-inch flat-screens in the bathroom. You’ll also find a DVD player, CD player alarm clock, Wi-Fi access and video game systems for the kids (the latter upon request).

You’ll enjoy just about every luxurious amenity you can think of during a stay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or its connected sister hotel, The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, but here are five things you should still remember to pack:
 
1. Bathing suit. The variety (and quantity!) of pools is one of our favorite things about these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels. You’ll be able to cool down in three different ones at The Venetian, while The Palazzo actually trumps it with seven pools.

2. Your appetite. Tom Moloney, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali are just a few of the master chefs with signature restaurants amongst the more than 30 eateries shared between these two Four-Star hotels. We’d stay here for the copious amount of gourmet food alone.

3. Walking shoes. You’re bound to be on your feet often and covering a ton of ground inside the massive complexes of The Venetian and The Palazzo, which include huge gaming floors, a Venetian-style canal (no pun intended) and a sprawling shopping paradise at The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo.

4. Formal wear. With so many upscale dining options and two of the hottest nightclubs in Vegas located right inside the hotels — LAVO at The Palazzo and the world-famous TAO in The Venetian — you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the onsite extravagance and get dressed up for an evening or two of memorable wining, dining and, perhaps, clubbing.

5. Your credit card. Beyond the plethora of top-notch dining and nightlife opportunities that might require use of your plastic, these Four-Star hotels also have a number of luxury boutiques from the likes of international brands such as Chloé, Fendi and Swarovski.

You’ll enjoy just about every luxurious amenity you can think of during a stay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or its connected sister hotel, The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, but here are five things you should still remember to pack:
 
1. Bathing suit. The variety (and quantity!) of pools is one of our favorite things about these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels. You’ll be able to cool down in three different ones at The Venetian, while The Palazzo actually trumps it with seven pools.

2. Your appetite. Tom Moloney, Wolfgang Puck and Mario Batali are just a few of the master chefs with signature restaurants amongst the more than 30 eateries shared between these two Four-Star hotels. We’d stay here for the copious amount of gourmet food alone.

3. Walking shoes. You’re bound to be on your feet often and covering a ton of ground inside the massive complexes of The Venetian and The Palazzo, which include huge gaming floors, a Venetian-style canal (no pun intended) and a sprawling shopping paradise at The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo.

4. Formal wear. With so many upscale dining options and two of the hottest nightclubs in Vegas located right inside the hotels — LAVO at The Palazzo and the world-famous TAO in The Venetian — you’ll definitely want to take advantage of the onsite extravagance and get dressed up for an evening or two of memorable wining, dining and, perhaps, clubbing.

5. Your credit card. Beyond the plethora of top-notch dining and nightlife opportunities that might require use of your plastic, these Four-Star hotels also have a number of luxury boutiques from the likes of international brands such as Chloé, Fendi and Swarovski.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino do not offer any planned activities, but the concierges at either of these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels are happy to make recommendations on must-see shows, the best restaurants and other things to do during your time living it up in Vegas. The concierge can even help you score show tickets or book day trips to the Grand Canyon.
 
Keep in mind, too, that The Venetian and The Palazzo both offer sprawling onsite gaming facilities, multiple pools and glitzy live performances from Blue Man Group and others, so you’ll have plenty to do within the resorts themselves.

Whether you’re coming to The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino to kick back and relax, or to use it as your base for a wild ride in Vegas, you’re sure to enjoy our favorite special amenity: the truly special pool facilities shared between these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels.  
 
For starters, the pool deck of The Venetian has three pools, a hot tub, four pavilion beds, a seasonal shop and outdoor showers, while The Palazzo features seven more pools and four more hot tubs. Obviously, if you like to swim, you’re in luck. It’s the luxurious cabanas, poolside restaurants from celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck and the hedonistic TAO Beach lounge, however, that truly make these Four-Star hotels’ aquatic amenities really stand out.
 
The 23 cabanas at The Venetian and 41 cabanas at The Palazzo can each handle up to eight people and feature a 32-inch flat-screen TV, DVD player and fully stocked fridge, as well as air-conditioning and cooling mist system during the summer. You can even book a massage and order food-and-beverage service for inside your cabana.
 
You can’t beat the poolside dining options either. The convenient location of Wolfgang Puck’s RIVA (The Venetian) and SOLARO (The Palazzo) ensure you won’t have to towel off to enjoy gourmet Belgian waffles, pizzas or lobster club sandwiches.
 
Finally, when it comes to pampered exclusivity nothing beats the celebrity playground that is The Venetian’s TAO Beach. The cabanas at this spin-off of the famous TAO nightclub combine the luxury and energy of the Asian nightclub with the popular Las Vegas pool-party trend. If you’re looking for a uniquely Las Vegas experience, a visit to TAO Beach definitely belongs on your Sin City bucket list.

The five words we think best describe the Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star Venetian Resort Hotel Casino are Italian, sparkling, sprawling, diverse and convenient. Here’s why:
 
1. Italian. This one is admittedly a bit obvious — it is named The Venetian, after all. From its charming Grand Canal to the in-suite Roman shades and curtains, the entire hotel exudes an unmistakably Italian ambience.

2. Sparkling. Everything at this Four-Star hotel seems to sparkle with Sin City glitz, from Italian marble foyers and the sprawling pool deck to the sweeping hotel entrance that just might take your breath away.

3. Sprawling. You could spend a few weeks in Vegas and still probably not find enough time to fully explore the expansive grounds of The Venetian and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino, which share more than 30 restaurants, loads of shops, several thousand guestrooms and a massive expo center between them.

4. Diverse. We absolutely love the variety of stores and restaurants spread out between The Shoppes at The Palazzo and The Grand Canal Shoppes.

5. Convenient. Finally, you simply can’t beat the convenience of having a wealth of options for shopping, sleeping, dining and playing all under one roof.

If you need a ride, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino provides house car and limousine services. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel keeps a fleet of Lincoln Town Cars as its standard house car for shuttling you around Sin City, while its limos are extended-wheelbase Town Cars.
 
You’ll be able to request car services 24 hours a day, seven days a week at The Venetian, but you should note that it can sometimes be difficult to secure a car on short notice, particularly during busy times of the day. With that in mind, if you’re planning a night out on the town or have to catch an evening flight, we recommend reserving a car or limo in advance.

If you need a ride, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino provides house car and limousine services. The Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotel keeps a fleet of Lincoln Town Cars as its standard house car for shuttling you around Sin City, while its limos are extended-wheelbase Town Cars.
 
You’ll be able to request car services 24 hours a day, seven days a week at The Venetian, but you should note that it can sometimes be difficult to secure a car on short notice, particularly during busy times of the day. With that in mind, if you’re planning a night out on the town or have to catch an evening flight, we recommend reserving a car or limo in advance.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has a number of luxurious amenities befitting its Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star rating. Here are the five we love the most:
 
1. Waterfall area. The space connecting The Venetian with connected The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino is a tranquil area to escape from the craziness of Sin City. It’s also a prime photo-op spot, particularly for weddings.

2. The Grand Canal Shoppes. You simply can’t beat the convenience of having shops such as Banana Republic, Brookstone Dooney & Bourke and other popular brand-name stores right inside your hotel.

3. Restaurant Row. We love having so many fine-dining restaurants from acclaimed celebrity chefs like Wolfgang Puck, Mario Batali and Emeril Lagasse all bunched together in one long, heavenly row of culinary genius.

4. In-room dining. If you can’t tear yourself away from the comforts of your spacious suite to grab a bite to eat, this Four-Star Las Vegas hotel offers a wonderful in-room dining menu that includes gourmet seasonal specialties.

5. Pools. The Venetian and The Palazzo have 10 pools and five hot tubs between them, along with 64 private cabanas.

There’s a lot to love about The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and its connected sister hotel, The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino — both Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels. Here are the five best things about The Venetian and The Palazzo:
 
1. The Grand Canal. Get a feel of what it’s like cruising the canals of Venice by taking a relaxing ride with a crooning gondolier through The Venetian’s Grand Canal. Afterwards, stop to watch one of the street performances in St. Mark’s Square while you grab a bite to eat at one of the surrounding restaurants.

2. Restaurants. Speaking of food, you’ll be spoiled for choice inside the sprawling complexes of The Venetian and The Palazzo with more than 30 restaurants to choose from, including award-winning spots from celebrity chefs like Mario Batali, Emeril Lagasse and Wolfgang Puck. In the mood for gourmet Italian, French or sushi? No problem. How about Mexican or traditional American favorites like burgers and sandwiches? You’ll have all of that and more.

3. The Grand Canal Shoppes and The Shoppes at The Palazzo. With a diverse variety of well-known brand-name stores that includes Banana Republic, Dooney & Bourke, Coach and Sephora, The Venetian and The Palazzo are great places to satisfy your shopping fix.

4. Restaurant Row. We obviously can’t get over the wealth of dining options at these Four-Star hotels. If you can’t decide where to go for an upscale dinner, get inspired by taking a short jaunt down Restaurant Row, which has a number of fine-dining options such as Batali’s B&B Ristorante, Puck’s CUT and Tom Moloney’s AquaKnox.

5. The pools. Whether you want to go for a quick dip or just lounge poolside, you’ll have a whopping 10 pools (and five hot tubs) to choose from: three at The Venetian and seven at The Palazzo. 

The average price of a room at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino depends on which size room you book, as well as the time of year you visit. Every room at these Forbes Travel Guide Four-Star hotels is a suite that ranges in size from 650 - 2,900 square feet, so rest assured you’ll have plenty of space to move around regardless of your selection.
 
The Value Package at these Four-Star hotels is one recommended accommodation option. Beginning at $149 per night, the package includes the price of your suite, plus discounts at several restaurants within The Venetian and The Palazzo complexes, $35 off a 50-minute spa service and complimentary admission to the LAVO Nightclub. Other packages are offered throughout the year that offer additional amenities such as show tickets and spa treatments, so be sure to check each hotel’s website for details on current offers.

When you’re thinking of booking a room at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, it’s nice to arm yourself with a little info before taking the plunge. Need proof? Here are five things we think you should know about the Four-Star hotel:

1. The Italy theme. The hotel does a terrific job evoking its namesake Italian city. Luxury is ramped up at every turn, with marble everything, world-class restaurants and luxuriously large suites. Every restaurant in the complex features a patio area, mimicking the experience of dining al fresco in Italy. The Grand Canal is the centerpiece of the Four-Star hotel. It draws guests from all parts of the Strip with its gondola rides and singing gondoliers.

2. The luxe spa. The Venetian and its sister hotel, the Palazzo, share the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, which presents a host of top-notch massages, facials and wraps. After a night of gambling, you can recoup with one of these signature spa treatments: the deep barefoot massage, a conditioning body scrub or the ultimate hydration facial.

3. The restaurant options. Although you’ll find more than 20 restaurants from celebrated chefs like Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, The Venetian puts its best offerings right in its “restaurant row.” There, you’ll find Valentino, Canaletto, Pinot Brasserie, Aqua Knox, V Bar, Delmonico Steakhouse and B&B Ristorante.

4. The Grand Canal. Stroll along a cobblestone walkway or take a ride in an authentic Italian gondola. Sure, it’s kind of kitschy, but The Grand Canal on the second floor of the hotel helps make The Venetian what it is — an ornate nod to Venice. You can join a group on the canal for $16 a person or shell out $64 for a private voyage.

5. The shopping. The Grand Canal Shoppes will give you plenty to do — and you don't even have to leave the hotel (which can be a good thing, considering the hot Vegas sun). Head here to browse upscale shops like Banana Republic, Dooney & Bourke, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has more than just a pool; in fact, the hotel boasts three pools on its fourth-floor pool deck, along with a hot tub, outdoor pavilion beds, shops and bars. And you won’t have to go back inside to get great food when you’re lounging poolside; RIVA by Wolfgang Puck serves terrific seasonal cuisine.

If you’re looking for a particularly pampering experience, reserve one of the 23 cabanas, which will give respite from the sun to you and a few friends (think air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, chaise lounges, refreshments and more). And if that’s not posh enough for you, there’s always TAO Beach, the nightclub’s own exclusive pool party — one of the hottest past times in Vegas right now.

And while you have access to three pools at the Venetian alone, sister hotel Palazzo has seven pools of its own, each offering you a little different experience.

It may sound simple, but the design style of The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino can be summed up in one word: Venetian. The hotel does a terrific job evoking the Italian city throughout. Luxury is ramped up at every turn, with marble everything, world-class restaurants and standard suites large enough to make you think you’re in an entirely different country — not just in a different city.

Rooms feature king-sized beds, velvet-upholstered sofas and colors that conjure the most Italian ambience you can get this side of the Atlantic. The color palette is warm and airy. You’ll see golds, rich browns and red accents, as well as elaborate pink marble with red-and-black inlays at the entrance of every room.

The Venetian style carries throughout the rest of the complex as well. The Venetian has lower ceilings than its sister-hotel, the Palazzo, which create a more intimate gaming experience. And virtually every restaurant in the complex features a patio area, mimicking the experience of dining al fresco in Italy. The Grand Canal, the centerpiece of the Four-Star hotel, draws guests from other hotels, too, with gondola rides featuring singing gondoliers.

The mini-bar at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino offers a slew of drinks and snacks. Non-alcoholic options range in price from soft drinks and juice to Red Bull and Vitamin Water. Alcoholic drinks include beer and mini bottles of liquor. Larger bottles are also available, including Belvedere vodka, white wine, red wine, champagne, and Baluarte tequila. Additional bottle service estimates at $75, depending on the bottle’s price and applicable tax. As far as snacks go, sweets include both milk and dark artisan chocolates, whole cashews, peanut M&Ms, sour gummy bears, chocolate chip cookies, potato chips and gourmet kettle popcorn.

Whether you come to Las Vegas for a quickie ceremony or want something as grandiose as The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and its sister hotel the Palazzo, you’ll likely find it here. The hotels can take care of just about any detail you could imagine. The Four-Star hotels share a wedding planner and many of their wedding spaces, with pre-planned packages that take the headache out of planning. For example, the Garden Romance package, which has a maximum of 10 guests, includes use of one Venezia side garden of a half hour, a personal event planner, a custom-created bouquet with matching boutonniere, an hour of professional photography, prints, and up to a 20 percent discount on rooms for the bride and groom and a celebrant, all for $1,650.

If you’re looking to throw more of a big fat Vegas wedding, the 100-person guest Dolce Romanza package offers a little more. You’ll have your choice of the Venezia Courtyard, Palazzo Waterfall or wedding chapel for a location, with a personal event planner, two nights in a Prima Suite, a Fortuna photo package with a second camera, DVD of the ceremony, bouquet and matching boutonniere, six floral arrangements, floral aisle markers, a bottle of Dom Perignon, a photo album, 30-minute rehearsal, breakfast in bed, tuxedo chocolate-covered strawberries, a string trio — all to the tune of $16,500.You can plan and customize many parts of your wedding at the Venetian and the Palazzo while the professional wedding-planning staff will take the burden off your shoulders.

The business and package center that The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel, the Palazzo, has virtually everything you could need to emulate your workspace while you’re out of the office. Your suite includes a Brother all-in-one printer, scanner and fax machine, allowing you to take care of just about whatever business you need to in your room. The business center at the Four-Star hotels offers photocopy, notary and computer services, as well as the ability to ship and receive packages. You can also rent computers, laptops, printers, fax machines and professional-grade copiers as rent time on the business center’s PC workstations.

If you prefer to take public transportation to and from The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino or Palazzo to other destinations along the Strip, you have two options: the Las Vegas monorail and the Deuce bus. The monorail runs from the MGM Grand station on the south end up to the Sahara station on the north end. The Deuce, a double-decker bus that has traditionally run up and down the Strip and to downtown Las Vegas, has expanded service in recent years, with new routes taking you to farther-flung parts of Sin City. If you’re just looking to get to another casino and don’t want to hoof it, the Deuce will run you $3 for a one-way ride, or $7 for a 24-hour pass.

You’ll never be more than two fingers from flagging a taxi in Vegas, as cabs run along Las Vegas Boulevard as long as the lights are lit (that’d be 24/7), and you can get to just about any other spot along the Strip for less than $20, even in the worst traffic.

Lucky for you, booking a stay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino means you’ll never be far from a whole host of world-class shopping. Inside the Four-Star hotel on the second floor, you’ll find the Grand Canal Shoppes, flanking either side of the Grand Canal. Expect a slew of upscale retailers such as Kenneth Cole, Lior, Banana Republic and Dooney & Bourke. And if you’ve brought the kids along for the trip, Kids Karnivale specializes in children’s apparel. Of course, when you’re in Vegas, you end up walking more than you realize (all those steps between shows and restaurants), so you can invest in a good pair of flats or new wingtips at Arche, Rockport or the Walking Company.

The Grand Canal Shoppes are open Sunday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., and on Fridays and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to midnight.

If you’re looking to hit the bars and clubs while you’re staying at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, you won’t even have to leave the hotel complex to discover some of Las Vegas’ best nightlife scenes. The Four-Star hotel offers V Bar, an ultra lounge in the middle of restaurant row with an almost futuristic feel to it, filled with double-sided leather chaise lounges and rich, clean lines. On Thursday nights, the lounge offers hookahs and special guest VJs.

The star of nightlife at the Venetian crown is TAO, the posh, Asian-themed nightclub on the hotel’s second level. This three-story lounge and club features tubs filled with water and flower petals, a giant statue of Buddha and several rooms with different thumping beats. The dark atmosphere and numerous nooks let you get down with discretion, or, if you’re VIP, you can watch the main room from one of the private booths or upstairs tables.

If you need to get working on your fitness at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, jus head to the gym at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. The Venetian’s gym is akin to a big fitness center, with loads of equipment. You’ll find 24 treadmills, 13 ellipticals, recumbent and upright bikes, as well as weight equipment, benches, free weights and dumbbells. There’s even a rock-climbing wall and a variety of fitness classes you can sign up to take. And while the resort fee grants access to the spa’s gyms and regular locker rooms, use of the wet areas in Canyon Ranch will cost an additional $40 per day.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino’s gym offers you a whole host of cardio equipment perfect for getting the blood pumping; the Four-Star hotel’s TechnoGym equipment includes 24 treadmills, 13 ellipticals, three steppers, seven waves, one UBE, eight recumbent bikes and four upright bikes. The gym also has one Precor AMT and one Precor elliptical, as well as six StarTrac Step mills and two StarTrac NXT spinners. And if that’s not enough for you, there’s also four Expresso bikes, a rock-climbing wall and three aerobics studios — one with 15 StarTrac Spinner NXT bikes, one Pilates studio and a third with basic balls, bands and Bosu trainers.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino can bring the restaurant right to you, thanks to the 24-hour room service. The in-suite dining menu includes a list of standards you’d expect to find for breakfast, lunch, dinner and pretty much everything in between. Breakfast includes classics like eggs and potatoes, Waffles and even Starbucks coffee. Bloody Marys, mimosas or Bellinis can spruce up just about any morning too. The menu also includes a handful of burgers, sandwiches and deli wraps such as the turkey, prosciutto and melted fontina cheese sandwich, or the classic B.L.T. You can order a number of steaks and seafood filets, as well as dishes such as kung pao chicken, pastas and jumbo shrimp scampi.

The Venetian offers party menus, which serve three to four people and feature several different packages. The Bachelorette Party, for instance, serves Boursin cheese dip and roasted red pepper ranch dip, domestic and imported cheese with crackers and rolls. (Party platters run between $110 and $160.) And of course, the in-suite menus at the Venetian serve a variety of desserts, wines, beers and spirits.

Though The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino offers a whole slew of restaurants at every price point from grab-and-go to posh sit-downs, only a handful are open for breakfast. Bouchon, the French bistro owned by Thomas Keller, serves breakfast every day and brunch on weekends. You’ll fall in love with the flaky pastries — savory and sweet — at Keller’s bistro. If you’re looking for something more casual, head to the Grand Luxe Café, which is open 24/7 and serves a variety of dishes suiting the entire family, along with an express bar that lets you serve yourself. And if you’re in the mood for a quick bite, stop in at Espressamente Illy — so named for the famous coffeemaker — which, of course, serves coffee and crêpes to order. And if you just don’t feel like leaving your suite (it happens to all of us, sometimes), the Venetian offers an extensive list of in-room dining options to help wake you up — or to keep that extra-late night rolling.

We could easily say the Penthouse Suites are the best rooms to stay in at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, but we actually prefer the Siena Suite for a couple. While all the rooms in the hotels are suites, the Siena are the first level of suites to have a door separating the living room space from the bedroom space offering a little extra privacy if you need it. The 1,280-square-foot Siena Suites include a separate powder room by the entryway, dining area, full-sized sleeper sofa and all the amenities you’d find in a standard suite.

If you plan to entertain, you might opt for on of the Lago suites, which offer 1,943 square feet. But for our money, we think the Siena Suite has everything we’d need in a hotel suite — even enough space to entertain a few friends.

With more than 35 restaurants of all varieties and food specialties among them, The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino and sister hotel, the Palazzo, have something for everyone. With that in mind, here’s our list of the five best things to eat and drink at the Venetian:

1. Breakfast at Bouchon. What better place to have the most important meal of the day than at a French bistro? The Thomas Keller-owned restaurant serves a variety of terrific sweet and savory options, though we recommend the cheese Danish and the quiche du jour.

2. Grilled octopus. It may not be for everyone, but we think it’s worth stepping out of your comfort zone to try something new. The octopus comes with “Fagioli Marinati” and spicy limoncello vinaigrette. Octopus is a difficult dish to do right, and B&B does it perfectly.

3. The Black Pearl. You won’t find a curse or Captain Jack Sparrow at TAO, but the Black Pearl cocktail will make you come back for sequels. A skewered blackberry sits in your drink, which is fruity without being too sweet.

4. Pizza at Postrio. You pretty much can’t go wrong with a wood-oven fired pizza, and Postrio is no exception. Try the prosciutto, kalamata olive, oven-dried tomato, basil pesto and goat cheese pizza for a real taste of the Mediterranean.

5. John Dory. It’s a fish, not a person, and the signature dish at AquaKnox is simply delicious. It’s not always on the menu &mdash ;as the fish can be hard to get fresh at a decent price — but if it’s available when you’re there, you two need to be introduced. It’s served with Maine lobster succotash and sweet corn broth.

You can expect to sleep like royalty at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino — king-sized beds come standard in most rooms, even in the basic Luxury Suites. Your bed will consist of a Sealy pillow-top mattress — custom-made for the Venetian — blanketed with white Egyptian cotton sheets and a 400-count wool throw. Reading lights above the headboard make it easy to read, and the stylish headboard and upholstered bench feel like super luxurious trappings of home. And if you can’t bear to part with your bed at the Venetian, you can actually purchase the custom-made Sealy mattress and bring the luxury home with you.

Sometimes you need a little respite from Sin City, and your room at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino can give you just that. Most rooms, even the most basic Luxury Suite, feature a 32-inch flat-screen television in the living room, with a 42-inch flat-screen in the bedroom and a third, 20-inch LCD TV in the bathroom. (One note: the Venetian is replacing its fleet of televisions in 2012 with LG flat-screens.)

As you move up in room size, so increases the number and size of televisions. The Hospitality Suite features the 42-inch flat-screen and two 32-inchers; the same goes for the Piazza Suite. When you step up to the Renaissance Suite, you’ll have a separate media room with a 50-inch TV, VCR, DVD and CD player, as well as two 32-inch TVs. And the aptly named Lago Media Suite features a media room with a plasma TV, along with the 32-inch and 42-inch TVs you’d expect to find in the bedroom and living room areas.

For the price you pay at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, you really get a surprising amount of luxury, and that goes for the bathrooms, too. Even the basic Luxury Suite comes with a full marble bathroom, separate glass-enclosed shower and deep-soaking tub. The green marble vanities have two sinks, with a 17-inch LCD TV hovering above in the corner of the room. The water closet has a door enclosing it, providing extra privacy. You’ll also have a separate countertop in the Venetian’s bathrooms with a few amenities that make getting ready easier (a mirror, tissues and a small sewing kit).

As you step up in accommodations, you’ll get the same luxuries plus a little more. Many suites at and above the Hospitality Suite level come with a separate powder room, allowing you to entertain and still maintain privacy. The Prima Suite adds a jetted tub and a double-headed shower to your private bath. And the Penthouse Suite takes all those amenities and doubles them: You’ll have two luxurious bathrooms with jetted tubs at your disposal.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has more than just a pool; in fact, the hotel boasts three pools on its fourth-floor pool deck, along with a hot tub, outdoor pavilion beds, shops and bars. And you won’t have to go back inside to get great food when you’re lounging poolside; RIVA by Wolfgang Puck serves terrific seasonal cuisine.

If you’re looking for a particularly pampering experience, reserve one of the 23 cabanas, which will give respite from the sun to you and a few friends (think air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, chaise lounges, refreshments and more). And if that’s not posh enough for you, there’s always TAO Beach, the nightclub’s own exclusive pool party — one of the hottest past times in Vegas right now.

And while you have access to three pools at the Venetian alone, sister hotel Palazzo has seven pools of its own, each offering you a little different experience.

When you’re thinking of booking a room at The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino, it’s nice to arm yourself with a little info before taking the plunge. Need proof? Here are five things we think you should know about the Four-Star hotel:

1. The Italy theme. The hotel does a terrific job evoking its namesake Italian city. Luxury is ramped up at every turn, with marble everything, world-class restaurants and luxuriously large suites. Every restaurant in the complex features a patio area, mimicking the experience of dining al fresco in Italy. The Grand Canal is the centerpiece of the Four-Star hotel. It draws guests from all parts of the Strip with its gondola rides and singing gondoliers.

2. The luxe spa. The Venetian and its sister hotel, the Palazzo, share the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, which presents a host of top-notch massages, facials and wraps. After a night of gambling, you can recoup with one of these signature spa treatments: the deep barefoot massage, a conditioning body scrub or the ultimate hydration facial.

3. The restaurant options. Although you’ll find more than 20 restaurants from celebrated chefs like Thomas Keller, Wolfgang Puck and Emeril Lagasse, The Venetian puts its best offerings right in its “restaurant row.” There, you’ll find Valentino, Canaletto, Pinot Brasserie, Aqua Knox, V Bar, Delmonico Steakhouse and B&B Ristorante.

4. The Grand Canal. Stroll along a cobblestone walkway or take a ride in an authentic Italian gondola. Sure, it’s kind of kitschy, but The Grand Canal on the second floor of the hotel helps make The Venetian what it is — an ornate nod to Venice. You can join a group on the canal for $16 a person or shell out $64 for a private voyage.

5. The shopping. The Grand Canal Shoppes will give you plenty to do — and you don't even have to leave the hotel (which can be a good thing, considering the hot Vegas sun). Head here to browse upscale shops like Banana Republic, Dooney & Bourke, Christian Louboutin and Jimmy Choo.

It may sound simple, but the design style of The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino can be summed up in one word: Venetian. The hotel does a terrific job evoking the Italian city throughout. Luxury is ramped up at every turn, with marble everything, world-class restaurants and standard suites large enough to make you think you’re in an entirely different country — not just in a different city.

Rooms feature king-sized beds, velvet-upholstered sofas and colors that conjure the most Italian ambience you can get this side of the Atlantic. The color palette is warm and airy. You’ll see golds, rich browns and red accents, as well as elaborate pink marble with red-and-black inlays at the entrance of every room.

The Venetian style carries throughout the rest of the complex as well. The Venetian has lower ceilings than its sister-hotel, the Palazzo, which create a more intimate gaming experience. And virtually every restaurant in the complex features a patio area, mimicking the experience of dining al fresco in Italy. The Grand Canal, the centerpiece of the Four-Star hotel, draws guests from other hotels, too, with gondola rides featuring singing gondoliers.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino does charge a resort fee, but it’s a small price to pay for all that it includes. For each night you stay at the hotel you’ll have to pay a $17 resort fee — it comes to about $19 after taxes — that gets you newspaper delivery to your room, 24-hour Wi-Fi and access to the gyms at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub. Keep in mind, while you have access to the gym and locker rooms at the Canyon Ranch SpaClub, you’ll have to pay an additional $40 to use the wet areas inside.

Promotions run often here and you are likely to find one that nets you perks (limo services, spa credits), so be sure to check out what the latest offering when you book.

The Venetian Resort Hotel Casino has a few defining traits that make it a stand-out, even among the crowd of Four-Star hotels. Consider this: You can’t stay in anything but a suite at the Venetian. Even the most basic room in the hotel, the Luxury Suite, offers you a king-sized bed, two sofas, three televisions and more than 720 square feet of luxury. And it’s really the little things that make a difference; for a business traveler, most rooms have a Brother all-in-one printer, scanner and fax machine. Plus, a daily newspaper delivery to your room means you won’t have to run down to the news stand to stay abreast of the day’s goings-on.

And there’s more to the Venetian rooms than space. A remote control opens and closes the Roman shades and curtains, meaning you have to lift only a finger to bring in natural light and a terrific view. Bathrooms feature spa-quality toiletries along with a separate shower and deep-soaking tub, a 20-inch LCD TV and a round vanity mirror with several light filters to make sure you look your best.

The Four-Star hotel also offers you all the gaming you’d find in a large casino, plus the one-of-a-kind canal, St. Mark’s Square, the Grand Canal Shoppes, and more restaurants than you can get through in a week’s time (trust us, we tried). Wolfgang Puck, Emeril Lagasse and Mario Batali all have restaurants in the complex, and between the Venetian and its sister casino, the Palazzo, you won’t be lacking for places to eat, shop or see a show. Truthfully, you could spend an entire week in Vegas and never leave the Venetian.