Top 5 Las Vegas Strip Hotels - #5: Wynn

(The final installation in my top 5 picks for Las Vegas Strip hotels that shouldn't be missed in 2012-2013.  It was hard to pick, because there are a couple of hotel/casinos that are soooo close, but this is what I round out my count with.)

Steve Wynn created the Las Vegas themed mega casino when he opened The Mirage in the 90's.  From then on, he sculpted bigger and better themes, with great service and beautiful surroundings.  Vegas hotel/casinos are like oases in the desert, and they are fantastic things.

You don't have a crystal peacock outside your lounge?

When he created Wynn, he went with RED.  The slot club is called RED, and the colors are red.  The color red has great importance in Asian cultures, and they are definitely a big part of the Las Vegas big spenders.

The hotel is beautiful, inside and out.  The bronze glow of the curved structure reflects the clouds, the sun and the desert mountains around it.  A mountainside waterfall and gorgeous flowers and trees entice you to enter the doors.  A beautifully decorated walkway leads you past shops and into a lovely conservatory (not huge like the Bellagio's, but seasonally changed and reflecting muted beauty befitting of a truly classy hotel).

Casino in the background - like someone's backyard!

Off to the left of the small conservatory is a beautiful lounge/bar area called Parasol Up/Parasol Down.  As the name suggests, it is actually TWO lounge areas:  one upstairs, overlooking the Lake of Dreams and right off the casino floor, and one downstairs, with a  large seating area and a patio that opens out onto the Lake of Dreams, which is great for relaxing when the weather is just right...or April and October, if you're not sure.

If you love beautiful light fixtures, visit Wynn.

The casino itself is muted red, and not very noisy.  The table games are surrounded by red chairs, and the carpeting keeps everything quiet.  I have good and bad luck in this casino.

Pretty light fixture over a bar, near the casino floor.

There is a large poker room here, with frosted glass so the gawkers don't bother the gamblers, and a Ferrari collection on display in the same area.

Outside the Sinatra restaurant

The hotel boasts some pretty high-end restaurants: Switch, Sinatra, Botero, and the Country Club to name a few.  On Sundays, the Wynn Country Club has one of the best theme buffets around:  The Jazz Buffet.  I took my mom to this buffet for her birthday in March, and I have to say it was one of my two favorite Vegas meal experiences to date.  See my review here: Jazz Brunch

Shrimp and Grits, how I love you!

Jazzy entertainment while you eat

A beautiful view of the Wynn Golf Course

A crystal dragon graces the wall at Wazuzu restaurant.

In addition to the Sunday Jazz Brunch, The Buffet at Wynn is also a great place to dine.  Breakfast, lunch or dinner - I've tried all three, and enjoyed them all.  It is one of the pricier buffets in Vegas, but definitely has a great atmosphere a fantastic selection of food, including King crab legs.  You can check out one of my reviews here:  The Buffet

The pool area is beautiful, surrounded by trees and gorgeous, private seating areas and cabanas.  I have never taken full advantage of Las Vegas pools on any of my 30-odd trips, but if I did this would be one of my top picks for a pool I'd spend a day at.

Pool area

Wynn is definitely not the largest hotel and casino on the Strip, but it is certainly one of the most understated, classiest places I've ever walked into.  Visit if you get the chance, and you'll want to visit again and again.