Ravella at Lake Las Vegas Rating: 5.0 Pearls

Henderson, Nevada, United States

The Florentine Garden

Overlooking the mountains and a crystalline man-made lake, Ravella at Lake Las Vegas got its marketing pitch right when it pegged this elegant resort an "oasis in the desert." More than 30 minutes from the Strip, the hotel sits on the shores of a lake created by developers in the late 1980s (dig hole, fill it with three billion gallons of water). Aspiring for a serene Tuscan feel in the middle of the desert -- stucco buildings with ceramic tile roofs -- the lushly landscaped property even includes a replica of Florence's 14th century Ponte Vecchio. With its picturesque views, huge 36,700-square-foot ballroom, and lovely Florentine garden, the property is well suited for the weddings and celebrations of other milestones that frequently take place here.

In the land of Elvis-themed weddings and over-the-top kitsch, this hotel resides in another world -- literally and figuratively. With the hotel-casinos of the Las Vegas Strip at least half an hour away, the nearest option for satifying a craving for slots is the tiny casino in MonteLago Village, another of the three hotels that circle Lake Las Vegas. Casino MonteLago is reachable via a connecting hallway, but compared to the over-the-top Vegas casinos, it has little to offer by way of fun. Instead, guests fill their days at Ravella lounging by the pool, taking in views of the mountains, lake, bridge, and beach, heading to a nearby golf course, visiting the hotel's highly rated spa, or boating or fishing in the nearby lakes.

As the premier Lake Las Vegas hotel, Ravella is a fine choice for couples seeking a luxurious yet quiet escape. Families may want to head to Loews Lake Las Vegas, which has service and style that's on par with Ravella, but more to keep kids entertained (swimming pool with a waterslide, basketball courts, water sports, and a kids' club). For a more complete resort experience in the desert outside of Vegas, consider Red Rock Resort in the neighboring suburb of Summerlin, which has multiple large pools, a wide choice of restaurants, a full casino with nightlife, and plenty of natural splendor (but no lake).

View on a Larger Map

Located outside of Henderson, the second largest city in Nevada, Ravella at Lake Las Vegas is at least a half an hour from the Strip, the densely packed three-and-a-half-mile-long stretch of hotel-casinos in the heart of Las Vegas. The immediate area -- Lake Las Vegas -- is home to three hotels (MonteLago Resort, Ravella, and Loews), and the quaint MonteLago Village just outside the hotel.

Though Henderson was once one of the fastest growing cities in the U.S., the area is in the midst of a massive economic slump. In the taxi ride from the hotel, I passed a number of new -- and completely empty -- shopping centers. Few people were walking around the village during my stay. Lake Las Vegas also has three golf courses (one private, one that has gone out of business, and another that's currently closed) and close to 3,000 vacation homes (many of which sit empty). Aside from the man-made lakes and Mediterranean villas, the area is a mostly hilly, dusty terrain in varying terracotta hues.

• 30 to 40 minutes from the Strip, depending on which casino you're heading to; around $60 by cab
• Hotel provides a shuttle bus to the Strip and airport (included in the $25 daily resort fee) at 5 and 7 p.m.; no return service to Lake Las Vegas.
• The hotel is about 35 minutes (about a $60 cab ride) from McCarran International Airport in Las Vegas.
• Boating and fishing at Lake Mead, the big reservior created by the Hoover Dam, is less than 10 minutes away by car.
• Snow skiing at Mount Charleston is an hour drive.

The memorable beds in the standard guest room

The 486-square-foot standard guest room is simply decorated, yet sprinkled with luxury details. Standard rooms are priced based on the view -- lake, village, mountains, golf course, or the hotel's lovely Florentine gardens. The priciest rooms are the ones above the Ponte Vecchio Bridge, which look out on the lake and mountains.

• With a down featherbed and 400-thread-count Frette sheets and pillow cases, beds are among the most comfortable around.
• Standard rooms come with either two queen or one king-size bed.
• Two oversize pillows that can be used to lounge on the floor or to prop yourself up to watch TV.
• The 42-inch flat-screen TV with pay-per-view
• Excellent iPod dock on the bedside table
• Both wireless and Ethernet wired Internet connection are included in the daily resort fee.
• The bathroom is a real treat, with a deep soaking tub, roomy shower stall, twin sinks, lots of fluffy towels, and Bulgari bath products.
• Other than the standard rooms, the hotel offers two other possibilities: suites that range from 960 to 2,400 square feet, and the Club option, a room with its own concierge, free snacks throughout the day, and a separate business center.

A pool with a view

The well-executed features -- like the pleasant pool with a view, award-winning spa, and man-made beach -- help create the self-contained feeling at this property; guests who want to veg out and revive harried souls will feel at home here.

• Daily resort fee of $25 covers a shuttle to the airport and the Strip, local telephone calls, in-room wireless Internet, use of the fitness center and spa facilities, and business center services.
• The single pool is small for Vegas, but the pool area is well maintained.
• The man-made beach next to the pool has plenty of lounge chairs and a waterfall for guests who'd like to pretend they are anywhere but the desert.
• The Jacuzzi, sauna, steam room, and locker facilities at the spa are open to all guests. The treatments range from a Mesquite Tree Cocoon to an Alpha Beta face peel to a Prickly Pear Couple's Ritual.
• The spa's wellness classes include personal training, meditation, and guided hikes or yoga in the Nevada mountains.
• The fitness center has new cardio and weight equipment and fantastic views of the terra-cotta-colored mountains, which makes for an especially nice workout at sunset.
• Free daily fitness classes ranging from spinning to pilates
• Lots to do on the lake, including boating (kayaks and pedal boats can be rented at village marina; concierge can arrange); bird-watching (the lake attracts migratory birds such as the golden eagle and the great blue heron); and catch-and-release fishing (large-mouth bass, rainbow trout, and catfish).
• Business center offers copying, printing, and computer use.
• There is a nearby public Reflection Bay Golf Cluba 7,261-yard course designed by Jack Nicklaus. The concierge can also arrange tee times at courses outside Lake Las Vegas.

The hotel allows guests to bring a cat or dog, as long as the pet weighs no more than 25 pounds. Guests must pay an extra $75 room cleaning fee per stay.

Kids sign in too.

Ravella does what it can to make a sophisticated, grown-up place appeal to parents and children.

• A small man-made beach next to the pool should entertain the kids.
• Guests 18 years and older can take out Trek full-suspension bikes for an hour for free.
• If all else fails, the concierge lends out board games.
• None of the couches in the suites opens into a bed.
• Rollaway beds are a nightly fee, but they can fit only in standard rooms with king-size beds, not the ones with doubles.
• Cribs available at no extra charge
• Though some of the restaurant menus might be too esoteric for the little ones, room service has a specially tailored kids' menu with favorites such as a peanut butter and jelly sandwiches, hot dogs, chicken fingers, and French fries, and the prices are reasonable for fine dining.

Medici Cafe at dinnertime

Ravella guests will find three spots to grab a meal in the hotel, all of which serve simple, fresh, and well-prepared dishes, with some even qualifying as unexpected. Plenty of other casual dining options are available just outside the hotel in MonteLago Village.

• The Poolside Café & Grill serves salads, sandwiches, wraps, and fruit smoothies at lunch; provides drink service at the pool.
• The Firenze Lobby Lounge offers morning coffee, light snacks (like this excellent hummus and pita), and creative, elegant cocktails (the raspberry mojito is popular during the super-warm months); tea service on weekend afternoons.
• At breakfast and dinner, Medici Café and Terrace serves creative Italian dishes in a lovely dining room. The inventive dishes include seafood spaghetti with saffron tomato sauce and donuts with nutella dipping sauce.
• On weekends Medici Café and Terrace features a farm-to-table breakfast, using only seasonal, locally grown ingredients.
• Extensive room service menu available 24 hours a day.
• MonteLago Village dining options include a popular Mexican restaurant, a handful of continental and Italian restaurants, and several eateries inside the casino (such as the great, inexpensive breakfast at Cafe Tenuta), plus a country-style general store and market, and a coffee bar.