Hard Rock Hotel and Casino

Mar Yvette

Citysearch

The Draw
Las Vegas' undisputed king of rock-and-roll hotels, the Hard Rock signaled the trend of a newer, cooler Vegas ever since it opened its gold guitar-handled doors in 1995. True, it's set off the beaten Strip path, but this place has no trouble reeling in the crowds thanks in large part to its two not-so-secret weapons: The Joint and the Beach Club. The former is the music venue which has seen everyone from The Rolling Stones to Velvet Revolver rock its stage, while the latter is an outdoor playground featuring a nearly mile-long pool replete with a sandy shore, thatched roof cabanas and walking hard bodies in perpetual "Spring Break" mode.

The Details
By Sin City standards, the casino itself is relatively small, with a simple circular layout--but that's a good thing. It makes elbow rubbing between celebrities (often spotted playing blackjack) and hot singles inevitable. Along with the "Tower of Power," an imposing display of LCD monitors, guests can pore over the mind-numbing amount of rock memorabilia, ranging from Axl's guitar to vintage Beatles merchandise and a wall devoted to Elvis. The calmest part of the hotel: The spacious, minimally decorated rooms, set with rare tour posters and French doors (which actually open), and amenities like a Bose CD stereo system, cotton robes and cable TV.

Hits: The pool area is truly unbeatable and the on-site restaurant choices--Mr.Lucky's 24-hour diner, Nobu, Ago and Pink Taco--make it unecessary to step foot onto the Strip. Plus, how cool is it to get into a leopard-print elevator and have (the non-Muzak version of) Aerosmith blasting?

Misses: Those who want to shop with their winnings will have to head out to one of the other big casinos--the few onsite boutiques are pretty one-note and limited.