Siddhesh Devkar

Review of The Venetian Resort-Hotel-Casi...

The Venetian is the kind of place people either lo...

The Venetian is the kind of place people either love or can t stand. It s got all the trappings of a Las Vegas mega-resort -- interactive elements, plenty of retail therapy, two towering guest room buildings, and a glam pool deck. There s a "canal" where tourists can take a gondola ride, and a replica of the famous Rialto Bridge. (Unlike the one in Venice, the Venetian's has a moving escalator floor, and leads to the Madame Tussaud s Wax Museum.)

The Italian city of Venice, of course, is the inspiration for the frescoed and gilded ceilings, gold paint, and serenading accordionists in the lobby next to the check-in desk. Those willing to suspend their belief, if just for a moment -- say, while strolling through a replica of Saint Mark s Square -- might feel they've stepped into Venice itself. Chic outdoor pools, renowned performances at the theater, and a large casino, however, are completely Vegas.

Opened in May 1999, the Venetian boasts more than 5,000 guest rooms, making it one of the biggest resorts in the country. (That doesn't even count its next-door sister, the 3,068-room Palazzo hotel.) The property is divided into two towers -- the Venetian, with 4,027 rooms; and the quieter 1,013-room Venezia, built in 2003 as an exclusive retreat for high-rolling gamblers.

Inside, the ornate Baroque lobby is perpetually filled with the hotel's trademark floral perfume scent. Some visitors love it, others can t stop sneezing. That may be why -- like an old Italian chef who hides his recipes -- the Venetian won t reveal what they re spritzing.