The Venetian is rated as one of the best places in the world to stay by Conde Nast Travelers. The Guinnes Book of World Records lists the Venetian as having the biggest hotel rooms in the world. (The average room size is 700 square feet.) It is a consensus five-star (*****) hotel and AAA gives it four diamonds, their top rating.

Actress Sophia Loren christened the Venetian, which is owned by Las Vegas Sands, Inc., in 1999. It is an all suite hotel/casino whose exterior is a surprisingly accurate likeness of Venice, including the Tower, Doge's Palace, and Rialto Bridge. There is a canal outside, in front of the property, and another inside, which runs through the Grand Canal Shoppes (the Venetian's upscale shopping plaza, perhaps the nicest in Las Vegas). You can take a short gondola ride if you wish.

The huge registration area is especially impressive, with a spectacular vaulted and painted ceiling and impressive statuary. The Venetian includes an assortment of nice bars and internationally celebrated restaurants of all types, an indoor food court, a large casino, and a lavish pool area.

The Grand Lux Cafe is serving what may be the best breakfast on the Strip, although patrons of the Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay coffee shops might reasonably dispute that statement. You must arrive before 11:00 AM to enjoy the upscale breakfast buffet; however, breakfast is served 24 hours a day from the regular menu.

The world famous Guggenheim Art Museum has partnered with the Venetian to open an art gallery that features some truly impressive displays. These rotate between the several Guggenheim Museums, and include works on loan from other world famous art museums, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersberg, Russia. Altogether, the Venetian is an attractive and upscale resort that delivers a high degree of customer satisfaction.