The Best Hotels in Las Vegas: Top 5 Luxury Hotels on the Strip

The Fountains at Bellagio Las Vegas

If you're planning a holiday to Las Vegas, there's something you should not leave home without: lots of money. Everything from booze to gambling to Cirque du Soleil is priced a la carte and at a premium; so unless you're a high roller who's going to get comped, budget accordingly.

The fabulous thing about Vegas is that there is a surplus of hotel room inventory. The super resorts on the Strip have thousands upon thousands of rooms, and several of these hotels are four and five star properties. The surplus supply means that you can stay in a room that would cost $400 in any other city for much, much less. Select a few hotels you'd be willing to stay at, and watch their websites like a hawk (join their email list if you can) - they release deals and discounts all the time.

Today I'm going to run down my top 5 luxury hotels on the Strip, so buckle up and hold on to that wallet. The forecast is calling for sunny with a chance of $25 cocktails.

5. Aria

One of the newest hotels on the Strip, Aria opened in 2009 as part of the massive City Center complex mid-strip. With no discernible theme, Aria is a sleek and modern hotel that works very hard at looking upscale. Eschewing the over-the-top set pieces of other Vegas hotels, Aria is more understated but still features a casino. Rooms are plush with remote control curtains, and the expensive Sky Villas range up to 7,000 sq ft. The location on the Strip is not bad - walking or taking the tram to Bellagio is quick and easy, as is the quick stroll to the Cosmopolitan next door. City Center features Crystals, an ultramodern high fashion mall (ever wanted to visit a Fendi store? Here's your chance), so if you get tired of throwing money at Aria, walk a few feet and throw it at Tiffany's instead. Viva Elvis, the Cirque du Soleil show created for Aria, has been a financial disappointment and is closing. A temporary replacement Cirque show, Zarkana, opens in October 2012. Aria is owned by MGM Resorts International.

4. Caesars Palace

The famous Caesars Palace is a sprawling complex with huge pools, towering...um...towers, over-the-top architecture and Celine "My Heart Will Go On" Dion as the headliner. What more could a Vegas vacationer ask for? The newest tower is the Octavius, with the Augustus tower the second freshest. Try and snag a room in one of these towers if you can. The adjacent Forum Shops provide a full mall experience (you'll find more homey brands here like Abercrombie & Fitch, as opposed to Tom Ford at City Center's Crystals) and supplement the hotel's dining options, which includes the fabulous Serendipity 3. Location provides easy access to Bellagio and the Mirage, as well as the northern end of the Strip. Caesars Palace is owned by Caesars Entertainment.

3. The Venetian

The Venetian is opulently themed to Venice in its prime, complete with canals and gondolas. The huge resort features an all-suite configuration complete with sunken living rooms, giant pools and opulent decor that will make you feel uber-fancy and provoke you to speak in a terrible Italian accent. Through September 2, 2012, the hotel is home to Phantom - The Las Vegas Spectacular, a shorter but more electrifying production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Phantom of the Opera (not to be missed). Adjacent to its sister property, Palazzo, the Venetian has a fabulous location on the northern Strip across the street from the Wynn.  The Venetian is owned by Las Vegas Sands.

2. Bellagio

Bellagio set the bar for themed luxury on the Strip when it opened in 1998. Set away from the boulevard behind a vast lake, Bellagio is meant to evoke Italian elegance of old. The lake features a stunning display of fountains that perform elaborate choreographed shows every 15 minutes. The hotel itself features sumptuous rooms, the requisite casino, a massive Dale Chihuly ceiling sculpture, an elaborate indoor conservatory and my mother's favorite feature, the world's largest chocolate fountain. The only drawback to Bellagio is that it is so popular with tourists - especially tourists who aren't staying there. It's often very crowded with looky loo-ers, so be prepared if you're booking a stay here. Bellagio's signature show is Cirque du Soleil's masterpiece, O, a water-based spectacular the often sells out in advance. Bellagio is owned by MGM Resorts International.

1. Wynn Las Vegas and Encore

Sitting at the top of the Strip like a crown are Wynn and Encore, the two sister towers designed by former Mirage Resorts mastermind Steve Wynn. The decor is over the top without being tacky and lavish without being too glittery. Frankly, I could live in the Wynn and never miss the outside world. It's a style all its own, with Wynn having a distinct look and Encore featuring a butterfly theme. The shops are fascinating (try Wynn LVNV for furnishings from the hotel), food divine (SW Steakhouse is joy, pure joy) and the casino is bearable. At night, XS at Encore provides the premiere Vegas club experience with plenty of space for partiers (unlike Lavo at Palazzo, for example, which feels like a broom closet) and plenty of overpriced drinks. Le Rêve is Wynn's answer to Cirque du Soleil, a waterborne spectacular in the round with intimate seating (no bad seats here) that will blow you away. Book a room in the Tower Suites for the ultimate in five diamond luxury and access to the Tower's private pools and restaurant. Wynn and Encore are connected via sky bridge to the Palazzo/Venetian complex as well as the Fashion Mall across the street, and are owned by Wynn Resorts.

Which Airline Is The Best?

A few days ago we talked about all inclusive vacationing. Frankly, it's a lot more fun to talk about the destination than the journey, especially when that journey involves airline fees. There's something you need to know about airline fees, especially when comparing fares.

We discussed the transparency now required of airlines to quote their fares as inclusive of taxes. What they don't include when you're looking at your total ticket cost are baggage fees, food and entertainment charges. Once upon a time, airlines served full complimentary meals in coach as well as first class - those days are gone. And let's be real, the food was generally horrible, so in my mind it's not a huge loss.

Southwest makes a big deal of the fact they do not charge for checked or carry-on baggage, which is true, but their fares are also generally higher than other airlines unless a sale is running. Most of the airlines silently pile on charges, while Spirit Airlines is the most hilarious of all, charging $40 for each carry-on bag.

$40. Not for a checked bag, but for a carry-on. As of November 6, 2012, it will be $50, and if you wait to pay at the gate, $100. $100 for a carry-on bag. At that point, just do yourself a favor and walk wherever you're going.

Spirit's pricing is so "transparent" that their website will show you the fare (often something stupidly low), then your responsibility for the fuel (often something stupidly high) and then the taxes. That's how a Spirit $9 fare becomes $80 in real money. Then tack on your carry-on and checked baggage cost, and I don't see how it's possible for you to come out ahead.

Delta, American and United are the last of the old guard and are mostly in harmony when it comes to services and fees. Carry-ons are free, checked bags are not, food and entertainment are on a pay-only basis. The size of these operators often makes them the best choice as they offer the most routes and are often competitively priced. Overtime coach cabins have gotten more cramped with the addition of seats to previously existing aircraft and a tendency toward smaller planes, even on long flights.

JetBlue, Alaska and Frontier are frequent flyer favorites, but routes are limited. JetBlue touts its free first checked bag along with unlimited brand name snacks, free DirecTV and XM Radio, and ample legroom. Alaska is popular for its west coast flights and is known for good service. Frontier funnels almost all their flights through Denver, but scores high marks for ease and comfort.

The latest entry in the US market is Virgin America, an offshoot of Richard Branson's substantial empire. Virgin America is hip and trendy, offering USB ports and power plugs at all seats along with a personal entertainment system and onscreen food and drink selection. WiFi is available for an additional charge ($4.95 - $17.95 per flight depending on length, or $34.95 for a monthly pass). Did I mention the mood lighting? There's mood lighting.

So which is the best? There's no flat answer. If you're into flying bagless, Spirit could be the way to go. For many routes, Delta is a great option and highly reliable. And finally, for those who dig mood lighting, Virgin is the only way to fly.

Titanic Facts: Why Would Anyone Sail on the New Titanic?

You may have seen the ludicrous headline this week about Clive Palmer, Australian billionaire and poor decision maker. He has decided to build a new Titanic, just like the old one, only safer due to advances in ship technology. There's just one question...why?

The Titanic just before its ill-fated voyage in 1912

What would possess someone to want to rebuild the most infamous vessel of all time, and then retrace its steps? 100 years later we're unable to move on thanks to the Academy Award-winning film by James Cameron, and there were two ships that booked passengers to retrace the 1912 route on the 100th anniversary of the original voyage.

In 2012 your sailing options are so wide and varied that why anyone would want to relive maritime disaster is beyond me. Cruise ships have become entertainment centers on massive scales, with many offering lavish amenities, gourmet dining and of course, tax free shopping, and a distinct lack of iceberg encounters.

That said, if you've got your heart set on Palmer's Titanic 2, you'll have to wait till 2016 when the Chinese shipyard building the vessel delivers it. Make sure you take out some travel insurance - you know, just in case.