We recently stayed at Paris, Las Vegas, Nevada a hotel across the street from the Bellagio Hotel. I watched the Fountains of Bellagio day after day.

What is the Bellagio and these Fountains?

The Bellagio Hotel is known in Las Vegas as perhaps the most luxurious, expensive and nicest hotels on the strip. The address is 3600 Las Vegas Boulevard, South Center Strip. For information you can call 702-734-0410.

In front of the Bellagio is a large body of water. A boardwalk surrounds this water which in places looks like a bridge complete with holes in which a boat would go through if it were real. You can stand anyplace on this boardwalk but better viewing is elsewhere.

The Fountains of Bellagio is a free show. It is one of many free shows in Las Vegas. It is very well done, as is, in my opinion, the free show at The Rio, which is indoors.

Unless the weather doesn’t permit the show, you will see it Monday through Friday every 30 minutes starting from 3:00pm – 7:00pm. On Saturday and Sunday (and Holidays) it is shown every 30 minutes from noon – 7:00pm. Every day after 7:00pm it is shown every 15 minutes until midnight. (This schedule can vary – so give or take an hour – once you get there you can find out at the hotel exactly when the show will be on.) I saw it both during the day and in the evening. The show is beautiful during the day, but with the lighting, it is extra special at night.

If you go to the website http://www.vegas.com/attractions/on_the_strip/bellagiofountains.html you might be mislead a bit. I know this isn’t intentional but you might be expecting to see a show that lasts for 15 minutes and plays more than one song. This isn’t what happens. What you will see is a show with one song each time that lasts for about 4 minutes. If you watch it 22 times, you will have heard every song in the repertoire.

As I said in my review of Paris, the view from the top of the Eiffel Tower of these fountains is spectacular. You can see the show from any side of the water but the best view is on the street side. You will find some areas of the barrier protecting you from the water that are inlets. If you stand here, you will get the best view. We never had trouble seeing the show, whether it was during the day, at night, during the week or on the weekend.

What you will see:

The water, which abuts the hotel and one shop that can’t be missed, Hermes, is where you will see the show. It is on a 1/4 mile lake. The show is 1/5 of mile long, uses 1,200 nozzles (which become the fountains) and 4,500 lights. At a price of $40 million, the Bellagio fountain show is the most expensive water feature the company has ever done. There are speakers that can’t be seen along the European-styled sidewalk that allow the songs to be heard crisply with balanced sound.

A computer system prompts the jets of water and lights to perform in time with the music. A compressed air system fires rockets of water into the air during the show.

The fountains’ patterns, which do change with the season, are choreographed to the pieces of music listed below. You will know the show is starting because you will see bubbles in the water and the song starts just a few seconds before the water starts dancing. The water moves as the music moves. Pavarotti was the first show we saw. This is a good one to see if you can because the water rises to its highest at 240 feet. Others are very different, though, that you may enjoy more. Lionel Ritchie’s song “All Night Long” has the water more playful than the serious Pavorotti show.

It is truly impressive. I like it at night because the lake is lit so the water against the dark night is really spectacular. You’ll see water do things you could never believe can be done. It will curve in arcs, again, dancing to the music so you may see the water swaying side to side if the music warrants that. You will see the water spread out like a fan and also criss cross each other. What I mean by this is that all streams cross over one another in an x formation. You will see the water shoot up not in a straight stream but almost firework like – in spurts rather than one continuous movement.

Since it is shown so often, unless it is very windy, you don’t have to worry about getting there early especially if it is at night since you can just wait a few minutes to see the next show.

My final thoughts:

Do I think this is the best show in town? I think it is the best water show in town. I saw at least two others during this last trip that were good, but not as impressive as the Fountains of Bellagio. Do I think you should go out of your way to see it? If you are in Las Vegas, it is doubtful you will be going out of your way, you will probably pass the Bellagio many times so you may as well make the show one of your stops.

I am definitely recommending it. It is free, beautiful and in front of a truly gorgeous hotel, which you may want to take a stroll through while you are there. Enjoy. If you have any questions, feel free to ask I will try to answer them. Below are the songs that coincide with the water show or vice versa! I have noted the website this has come from.


http://www.bellagiolasvegas.com/pages/attrac_highfountain_pop.asp
1. Show # 1 Title: One, Singular Sensation. Artist: Original Broadway Cast. Composer: Marvin Hamlisch. Work: A Chorus Line, Broadway Musical. Year: 1975. Length 4:43

2. Show # 3 Title: Hoe-Down. Artist: London Symphony Orchestra. Composer: Aaron Copland. Work: Rodeo. Year: 1988. Length 3:30

3. Show # 4 Title: Simple Gifts. Artist: London Symphony Orchestra. Composer: Aaron Copland. Work: Appalachian Spring. Year: 1988. Length 3:12

4. Show # 5 Title: Singin' in the Rain. Artist: Gene Kelly. Composer: Alex North. Work: Singin' in the Rain, Movie Musical. Year: 1952. Length 3:32

5. Show # 7 Title: Rondine al Nido. Artist: Luciano Pavarotti. Composer: Vicenzo deCrescenzo. Work: La Rondine, Opera. Year: 1990. Length 3:23

6. Show # 8 Title: Luck Be A Lady. Artist: Frank Sinatra. Composer: Frank Losser. Work: Guys & Dolls, Broadway Musical. Year: 1955. Length 5:14

7. Show # 11 Title: Winter Games. Artist: David Foster. Composer: David Foster. Work: Composed for Winter Olympics. Year: 1987. Length 3:00

8. Show # 12 Title: Hey, Big Spender. Artist: Gwen Verdon & Original Broadway Cast. Composer: Cy Coleman. Work: Sweet Charity, Broadway Musical. Year: 1966. Length 3:35

9. Show # 22 Title: Con Te Partiro (Time to Say Goodbye). Artist: Andrea Bocelli & Sarah Brightman. Composer: F.Sartori, L.Quarantotto. Work: Pop Song. Year: 1996. Length 4:04

10. Show # 14 Title: Hallelujah Chorus. Artist: Mormon Tabernacle Choir. Composer: Handel. Work: The Messiah. Year: 1992. Length 3:53

11. Show # 15 Title: Carol of the Bells. Artist: Los Angeles Master Chorale.
Composer: M. Leontovich. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1996. Length 1:29

12. Show # 16 Title: O Holy Night. Artist: Placido Domingo. Composer: Placide Clappeau. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1984. Length 3:57

13. Show # 17 Title: It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas. Artist: Johnny Mathis. Composer: Meredith Wilson. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1997. Length 2:18

14. Show # 18 Title: The Most Wonderful Time of the Year. Artist: Johnny Mathis. Composer. Eddie Pola & George Wyle. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1997. Length 2:45

15. Show # 19 Title: We Need a Little Christmas. Artist: Johnny Mathis. Composer: Jerry Herman. Work: Mame, Broadway Musical. Year: 1997. Length 1:54

16. Show # 20 Title: Sleigh Ride. Artist: Johnny Mathis. Composer: Leroy Anderson. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1997. Length 2:57

17. Show # 21 Title: Santa Baby. Artist: Madonna. Composer: J. Javita & P. Springer. Work: Christmas Carol. Year: 1987. Length 3:57

18. Show # 35 Title: Your Song. Artist: Elton John. Lyrics: Bernie Taupin. Work: Elton John. Year: 1970. Length 4:10

19. Show # 36 Title: God Bless The USA. Artist: Lee Greenwood. Composer: Lee Greenwood. Work: American Patriot. Year: 1992. Length 3:57

20. Show # 37 Title: Star Spangled Banner. Artist: Whitney Houston. Composer: Francis Scott Key. Work: CD Single. Year: 2001. Length 5:08

21. Show # 43 Title: PinkPanther. Artist: Henry Mancini. Composer: Henry Mancini. Work: The Pink Panther, Movie Soundtrack. Year: 1964. Length 2:39

22. Show # 44 Title: My Heart Will Go On. Artist: Celine Dion. Composer: James Horner. Lyrics by Will Jennings. Work: Let's Talk About Love & Titanic: Music from the Motion Picture. Year: 1997. Length 5:08


For more Las Vegas reviews you can just click on the links:


Red Rock Canyon

Eating Our Way Through Las Vegas Buffets

The Rio Hotel and Casino

The Fremont Experience (Downtown Las Vegas)

The Strip - 2 Low Budget Shows

Valley of Fire
Tropicana Casino

The Luxor

The Rio Hotel and Casino

Paris Hotel

Don't forget to read my good friend Anthony, review:
Fountains of Bellagio








Recommended: Yes