I had the good fortune to stay as a VIP guest of the MGM Grand last July with some relatives. Conveniently located in the heart of the Vegas strip, the MGM Grand is a short drive to the airport and an easy walk or tram ride to the other connecting casino-hotel attractions. There are pedestrian overpasses if you choose to walk around and do some sight-seeing during your stay.

You may or may not be aware that most Vegas hotels have a theme, ranging from Paris (naturally the one with the Eiffel Tower) to the Luxor (the one with the Egyptian pyramids). The theme at the MGM Grand is not so in-your-face as the armor-clad Romans at Caesar's -- instead, it harks back to Hollywood's Golden Age of the 1920s to the 1950s. Rooms, the lobby, and hallways are decorated with large prints depicting famous Hollywood movie scenes and screen couples. Rather than being greeted by synthetic palm trees, you are faced with the familiar images of Rhett and Scarlett clasping each other. This familiarity is actually welcoming after you take the time to tour the other, over-the-top hotel lobbies.

As hotel VIPs, my three traveling companions and I had the use of the gold-colored stretch limousine (a bit decadent, but this is Vegas) and complimentary use of the fabulous spa and restaurants. I think guests on a more standardized vacation plan will have to take a cab if they want to go anywhere, but you should check with your casino host, because you may be able to hire a limo instead. It's more expensive than a cab, but in the words of Rodney Dangerfield (whom we saw perform at the MGM), you'll "get some respect".

If you go to the MGM Grand, prepare to be pampered. It is a fabulous resort that caters to the needs of everyone from the very wealthy "high roller" (gambler speak for someone who makes bets that look like your mortgage payments)to the tiny tot in need of babysitting services. There is an arcade/game room for the teenagers, retail shops on the Studio Walk and a close proximity to luxury shops (at the Bellagio) for the conspicuous consumer, every kind of betting game imaginable for the adults, and plenty to see and do in general. Nearby is an indoor amusement park at one of the other hotels, I believe, though I didn't manage to go there. For the daring, I did see a looping roller coaster at the New York, New York hotel across the way.

The MGM attracts real celebrities and not just the kind hanging in pictures on the walls. Many of the major boxing events and concerts are performed at the MGM, so don't be surprised if you bump into someone famous. If you have a teenager at home (or a husband) you may recall that HBO aired Britney Spears' concert live from Vegas...well, that was aired from the excellent concert hall at the MGM. Great acoustics, spectacular lighting, and plenty of special effects are routine in that hall, as the celebrated EFX show is performed there. If you are interested in any of the shows, be sure to call ahead because each show has "dark" days where there is no performance.

I highly recommend spending an afternoon doing the tour of the hotels on the strip, although be forewarned that you will be completely jaded by your extravagant surroundings as a result and will wander from one hotel to the next looking for bigger and better. It's amazing to compare newer hotels like the MGM Grand to older hotels like the Mirage. I found that there was a significant difference and that while I was wowed by places like MGM, I was disappointed by places like the Mirage, which in any other city would be a luxurious hotel. That's the power of Las Vegas. The fantasy appeal of places like Paris wears off pretty quickly, and in the end, it's much more pleasant to go to bed in a traditional hotel room that has a tasteful portrait of Audrey Hepburn on the wall.

As for the hotel amenities, I had the absolute best facial of my life at the spa there. I know it sounds odd, but the facial was the highlight of my trip. Forget the fabulous shows and the gut-busting fine dining. Get thee to the spa.

The spa itself resembled a life-size version of a homemedics waterfall (the small plug-in one where the water runs over the stones that you see advertised everywhere). The towels and robes they loaned you were fluffy, the staff extraordinarily helpful, the steam room suitably steamy, and the rooms where services were provided very quiet and relaxing. They provide you with lockers, so you can work out in the adjacent gym, relax in the whirlpool, or just hang out in the lounge eating some complimentary fruit and whole grain snack bars. Nobody rushes you, either, which is great.

The services I had performed at the spa were the facial (so good that even in this review written half a year later, I keep writing the word as if I could somehow reconnect to the experience), waxing, manicure (good as far as manicures go), and pedicure (in one of those spa chairs with the bubbles). They cleaned, moisturized, massaged, detoxified, moisturized some more, added some Vitamin C, and did goodness only knows what else, but after one hour of pure pampering, the results were perfectly glowing skin that lasted for several months. They offer a variety of facials for various skin types and will make a personalized recommendation for you. They mean business, and they know what they are talking about.

They offer a lot more than that, including various types of therapeutic massage (Swedish, hot stone, etc.), paraffin wrapping, and other treats.

I also had a haircut at the adjacent salon, which is actually independent of the spa. It was a great cut that lasted two full months, but had I been responsible for the bill (about $250 for cut, conditioning, and blow dry and not including tip), I probably would have asked my credit card company to raise my spending limit. The spa prices, by contrast, were really comparable to what you would expect to pay at a luxury spa in a major city. Expensive of course, but not so off-the-wall that you didn't know what hit you.

The room I had was lovely, and the suite my boyfriend's parents shared was exquisite. The suite even had the bath and body products sold in the spa available as complimentary toiletries. My room had a comfortable King sized bed, tv with cable, nice view, very modern looking furniture, and really was no different from a typical luxury hotel room. The decor was tasteful and kind of a desert tan and black from what I can recall. It was a Deluxe double room, which is probably what the average traveler would want and could afford.

The suite made my room look paltry, and my boyfriend's father mentioned that the suite didn't even compare to the suite he had the previous summer, which included two floors and a butler to cater to his every whim. The suite had an oversized tub rather than a standard one, a very large bathroom, a separate dining area, and all sorts of complimentary gourmet goodies. Logically, the more you spend (or in our case, were "comped") in terms of accommodations, the more you receive. I found that I really didn't spend much time in my room, because there was just too much to do and sleep was not a priority (though in Vegas, with all the lights and commotion, you just don't ever feel exhausted).

My boyfriend and I didn't really have a choice as to the hotel or room type, because my boyfriend's father made the arrangements with his casino host (I have no complaints!), so I can't lie and say that after months of research we settled on the MGM. We actually lucked into it. Originally we thought we were going to stay at the more formal Bellagio, but my boyfriend's father informed us that his casino host was willing to provide two complimentary rooms at the MGM rather than just one at the newer Bellagio hotel. At that point, it came down to an issue of cost. Do you take a free room, or do you spend $400? We opted for the free room, and I was very pleased with the resulting arrangements.

The staff in the VIP lounge were very friendly, and the perks enjoyable. Wine and champagne were available along with tasty pastries and petit-fours. The staff were happy to make any dining reservations or arrangements for shows that we needed. I was stopped once going into the lounge when I was wearing shorts and a t-shirt (I looked sloppy because I was heading towards the spa/gym anyway), and someone asked to see my room card, but nobody was rude. At that point I did look a little out of place in the lounge compared to the older women in full Versace regalia with their matching Manolo Blahnik shoes, but once I showed them my ID to prove I belonged there, it wasn't a problem.

I'm not a gambler (though I was with a few), and I found countless things to do both at the Hotel (a little city in itself) and on the strip. Location wise, it just doesn't get better. The MGM Grand is definitely one of the nicest hotels, along with the Venetian and the amazing Bellagio.

There were a lot of families with children staying at the hotel because of the film themed restaurants, shops, and rooms. Of all the hotels I saw, I thought the MGM was the most family friendly. There is an entire store devoted to memoribilia and souveniers from the Wizard of Oz.

I ventured out of the hotel onto the strip a bit, but food wise, I found myself completely content with the excellent selection offered in the hotel itself. There is a range of dining options from the inexpensive McDonald's to more formal restaurants. Emeril's is a must for seafood lovers (the lobster bisque was velvety and had nice chunks of fresh lobster), and the Brown Derby was excellent for steaks and lobster. The Chinese restaurant had fabulous Peking duck and generous portions. There is a new luxury restaurant at the MGM, but it opened a few days after our departure, so I did not get to sample it.

As far as luxury shopping goes, I found the MGM a little lacking. If you are looking for Tiffany, Chanel, or anything of that quality, your best bet is to wander off to the Bellagio and the Venetian (home to the rudest Jimmy Choo sales clerk I've ever met, however). The MGM's shops are definitely more touristy and family oriented, with moderately priced t-shirts and souveniers. It is not a place to purchase big ticket items like Mikimoto pearls or leather goods.

Yes, July in Vegas is HOT, but so are the travel deals, because July is the Vegas off-season. I'm told that as such, the perks for VIPs are also better during the summer as opposed to the winter high tourist season. While it is 100+ degrees Farenheit outside, the weather is not an issue as far as I'm concerned. My advice: if you are interested in a Vegas vacation do not let the summer heat deter you! You won't go outside much unless you want to use a pool (then it becomes a moot point) or go rock climbing (in which case you are probably best going at another time of year). Between the shows (several floor shows are provided at no extra charge, but the big ticket shows are pricey), the food, the gambling, the shopping, and the luxury spa, you won't feel like you are missing anything by staying indoors for the duration of your stay. Drink lots of water to stay hydrated, and you should be just fine.



Recommended: Yes