Saturday, April 18, 2009

The Encore Rules

encore las vegas
I have a new favorite hotel on the Vegas Strip: the Encore is Steve Wynn's latest property located just a poker chip throw from his namesake resort. A few of my work buddies flew into Vegas last week for a mid-week celebration for a small deal we recently closed. We decided to stay at the Encore after they offered some incredible rates on their rooms including a free night with $150 slot credits (offered to Wynn Red Card members).

I fell in love with the resort as soon as I stepped through the front door. Pleasant doormen are those simple touches that are important in a luxe hotel and the gentlemen who greeted us did their part. As you walk in, what you notice first is the amount of natural light in the hotel compared to most other Las Vegas casinos. Although we unfortunately came during the coldest, gloomiest day of the entire month, there was still plenty of light coming through the windows that surround the pool area located at the center of the resort. The result is a feeling of relaxation that you definitely don't experience at most Vegas resorts.

The excellent customer service continued at check-in where an adorable Filipina smiled throughout the process and readily accommodated our request for higher floor rooms. We proceed up to our floor and as we exited the elevator, we dug the black and red color themes of the hallways accented by the pastel portraits of flowers that hung on the walls. We entered our room and were happy to find the spacious, modern, and oh so comfortable accommodations that we were accustomed to at Encore's sister property. The beds are to die for and the perfect place to lay your aching body after a night out of debauchery. You'll also find a curved sofa ideal for entertaining friends/strippers, a flat screen in the main room and bathroom, and I think I even saw a fax machine somewhere.

Although global warming decided to take a break the day we landed, our SEAL friend Doug, possibly inspired from last weekend's pirate take down, insisted we check out the pool. When a SEAL says to do something, we do it, and risking hypothermia we even went into the water. Now they say the pool is heated but my shriveled boys in my swim trunks beg to differ. After just a few minutes, I got the hell out and decided to spend the rest of the time in the lounge chair ordering drinks from our has-to-be-a-model pool hostess.

Before heading out for the night, we grabbed a few drinks at one of the casino bars. The drinks were fine, but what was really spectacular were the hostess and waitresses that worked there. Goodness. Why these girls are working at the Wynn and not signed with some modeling agency and/or at the arms of some billionaire still escapes us. And keep in mind, this is the Wednesday night crew. One can only imagine the talent on the weekends.

Chill, luxe, sexy. That could be the motto for the Encore. I'm at that age where I'm sick and tired of the frat-like nonsense that you find at the Palms or Hard Rock Resort. Hanging around a bunch of loud-mouth, Ed Hardy-wearing, reality show rejects is not exactly how I want to spend my vacations. Those type of pricks are definitely fewer and farther between at the Encore - although we did find one at the jacuzzi bragging how he stays at the hotel two weeks at a time raping the hotel from his blackjack winnings.

We'll definitely be back at the Encore and we're looking forward to checking out their nightclub XS. We're sure that's going to be spectacular. Oh, and the best part: unlike the Wynn, we got no grief when we asked for a 1PM checkout. Go Encore.

photo via perfectescapes.com

2 comments:

cigartender said...

After your harrowing late check-out fiasco, I'm impressed to see you give another Wynn property a shot -and so soon. I do hope that you continue to harbor your Wynn grudge until that property unfucks their guest relations as well.

Jaba said...

Honestly, I was expecting more check out headaches and was happy they obliged quite readily. I like to think my little post had something to do with it...ha ha (Google "late check out wynn" and check out the number one post).