Delano Las Vegas

The sleek public spaces here are a calculated nod to the Nevada desert, starting with a huge 126,000-pound boulder greeting guests at the entrance. Brown leather couches, chairs with leather belt buckles, and a suspended rock installation by Korean artist Jaehyo Lee continue the striking, earth-inspired decor. Connected to the bustle of Mandalay Bay, the Delano has a convenient location for those attending meetings at the convention center at Mandalay, but it has a quieter atmosphere. With no casino, only two full-service restaurants, and a spa, it’s an oasis of calm compared to the nearby party hotels. A favorite pick for business travelers, the hotel is trying to bring in a younger, leisure-oriented crowd.

Delano is located within the larger Mandalay Bay Hotel complex at the southern end of the densely packed, four-mile long stretch of hotel-casinos known as the Strip. The complex's 1,000,000-square-foot convention center and it's 12,000-seat events center host several major conferences a year, so it’s ideal for business travelers to stay at the Delano; they still enjoy proximity to the center, while being slightly more removed from the hustle-and-bustle of Mandalay Bay Resort. Guests can walk to the main area of the Strip, but seeing as it takes 35 minutes to walk to its heart (where The Cosmopolitan can be found), cabs are generally a better option.

If you’ve stayed at the Delano in South Beach, then you’ll be familiar with the design scheme in the rooms here. A major shift from the dark public spaces, all of the 1,117 rooms are styled in whites with gray and gold accents; they’re bright with light pouring in from the floor-to-ceiling windows. They’re all suite-style, so expect a separate living area and an additional half bath in each room. Furnishings are chic and more feminine looking, aside from a comfy black leather chair. Plush white bedding and very firm pillows (that are being replaced) are standard. Standard rooms are 725 square feet, which makes them some of the largest in Vegas.Although bathrooms weren’t renovated during the Delano takeover, each is spacious with two vanity sinks, a marble-backed soaking tub, and a separate glass walk-in shower. Snug robes, slippers, and a small flat-screen are thoughtful touches. Other unique decorations include pots of succulents and large black-and-white photographs of underwater scenes from the Delano property in Miami; the ice bucket is also shaped like FDR’s favorite hatbox.

Due to its size and the fact that it's connected to Mandalay Bay, the Delano has few features compared to other Vegas resorts. Downstairs there’s 3940 Coffee + Tea, which sells gourmet coffee, paninis, and flaky pastries until early evening. There’s ample casual seating, including a community-style table with built-in outlets. Across the lobby is Franklin, the suave bar featuring twinkling overhead lights and textured velvet sofas. Franklin serves a daily special punch and barrel-aged cocktails, along with a wide range of draft beer. At night it becomes more lively as a DJ spins music.Della’s Kitchen is located in the connecting hallway to Mandalay Bay and serves upscale comfort food in a modern farmhouse setting. Since it closes after lunch, you’ll have to head up to miX, the fine dining restaurant and lounge on the top floor, for a late-night meal. It will be replaced by Rivea in 2015. BATHHOUSE Spa is still at the hotel and includes a gym, plunge pools, and a variety of treatment options. Several of the rooms are dog-friendly, so you can bring your pooch with you (for a fee, of course.) There’s no pool, but guests can make the 10-minute walk down to the expansive pool complex at Mandalay Bay. Meeting rooms and a gift shop are also on-site.