Going all in: when work is done, it's time to enjoy a meal, hit the slots, unwind and let loose … and Vegas is just the place to do it all

Pool & Spa News, Oct 15, 2004 by Leland Zaitz

If you can't have fun in Vegas, maybe you should give up trying to have fun altogether. The city quite literally has something for everyone, regardless of your taste or temperament.

Besides just about every form of entertainment devised by humans, most major hotels/casinos can suggest a variety of ways to gamble away your money, along with casual and upscale (in some cases, very upscale) dining, late-night dance clubs, no-cover lounges, and decor ranging from the sublime to the sad.

Best of all, the city never sleeps; it never even gets tired.

Aladdin Resort and Casino

This Arabian Nights-themed casino's airy design includes a four-story ceiling, the highest in Vegas. Wrapped around the hotel is Desert Passage, a retail and dining complex resembling a vast and endless Kasbah, with wandering performers and a regularly scheduled thunderstorm. Dining: Steaks and seafood at Elements; Italian cuisine at Tremezzo; sushi at Banzai; and upscale continental at Crustacean. Nightlife: Curve offers a mellow groove and no cover fee, while Ibiza USA is a high-energy dance club. Location: 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (877) 333-9474 or (702) 785-5555; www.aladdincasino.com.

Bally's Las Vegas

It's hard to understand exactly what Bally's motif is supposed to be, with its color-changing monoliths and corkscrew-tunnel entrance, but the casino is large, bright and lively. A cool attraction at Bally's is the Jubilee! All Access Backstage Tour, in which an actual showgirl guides visitors on a behind-the-scenes look at what if takes to put on the extravagant stage production. Dining: Al Dente offers Sicilian; Bally's Steakhouse is among the Strip's oldest; Chang's for Chinese; and Ichiban for sushi. Nightlife: The Indigo Lounge features an Old Vegas atmosphere; The Tequila Bar & Lounge boasts more than 50 different tequilas. Location: 3645 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 634-3434 or (702) 739-4111; www.ballyslasvegas.com.

Bellagio

Bellagio claims to be the most opulent and expensive casino on Earth, and it's a hard point to argue. Resembling an Italian village, the Bellagio sits on an 8-acre lake, which is the setting for the impressive "Fountains of Bellagio." This enormous ballet of water and music bursts to life every 15 to 30 minutes and has become a fundamental part of the Vegas experience. Dining: Le Cirque offers rustic French; Osteria del Circe serves Tuscan; PRIME steakhouse evokes a '30s speakeasy; Jasmine serves Chinese; and Shintaro's sushi bar features a display of live jellyfish. Nightlife: Light nightclub combines state-of-the-art lighting and sound with a lavish decor. Location: 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (888) 987-6667 or (702) 693-7111; www.bellagio.com.

Caesars Palace

Las Vegas' first "themed" casino, Caesars has reigned over the Strip for more than 35 years. Its Forum Shops is an enormous, upscale mall mimicking the streets of Rome with piazzas, fountains, statues, and dozens of shops and restaurants. Dining: 808 features Polynesian-inspired dishes; Cypress Street Marketplace offers casual dining; Empress Court serves Cantonese; Hyakumi does teppanyaki; and the Mesa Grill dishes up Southwestern. The Forum Shops contains Spago, Chinois, The Palm and Planet Hollywood. Nightlife: At Cleopatra's Barge, you board via a gangplank for live music and signature cocktails. The Shadow Bar has bottle-flipping bartenders and nearly nude dancers. OPM rocks till dawn. Location: 3570 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 634-6661 or (702) 731-7110; www. caesarspalace.com.

Circus Circus Las Vegas Hotel Resort and Casino

Featured in Hunter S. Thompson's famous novel Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Circus Circus is showing some wear and tear, probably because it's usually overrun with families. Highwire acts go on over the casino floor; there's a carnival midway for the kids; and out back is Adventure-dome, an indoor theme park. Dining: Circus Circus has a respectable Steak House, plus Italian fare at Stivali; go to The Blue Iguana for Mexican. Nightlife: Hey, this is a family place. Location: 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 634-3450 or (702) 734-0410; www.circuscircus.com.

Excalibur Hotel and Casino

This King Arthur-themed hotel was built at the height of the "family-friendly" era of Vegas development, an idea that has been quietly abandoned. Suits of armor, knights, dragons and heraldic banners mimic the atmosphere of a medieval castle. There are carnival games for the kids and two motion-simulator rides. Dining: Simple food in satisfying portions is offered at Regale Italian Eatery, Sir Galahad's Prime Rib House & Pub, and the Steakhouse at Camelot. Nightlife: "Tournament of Kings" is a boisterous dinner show with jousting, dragons, wizards and jesters. Location: 3850 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 937-7777 or (702) 597-7777; www. excalibur.com.

Flamingo Las Vegas

This venerable resort was the dream of mobster Bugsy Siegel, and it still trades good-naturedly on its gangster past--there's even a Bugsy's bar in the casino. Unlike a lot of the Strip casinos, it's a quick stroll off the sidewalk into the gaming area. The property also features a 15-acre wildlife habitat with exotic birds and animals. Dining: Japanese at Hamada; Ventuno Ristorante for Italian; and Pink Ginger for Korean, Cantonese and Thai. Casual dining is available at Jimmy Buffet's Margaritaville. Nightlife: The famous Second City troupe performs improv sketches nightly. The Bottom's Up revue blends vaudevillian laughs with vivacious showgirls. Location: 3555 Las Vegas Blvd. S.; (800) 732-2111 or (702) 733-3111; www. flamingolasvegas.com.