Assorted fruits from buffet; Ritz Carlton Lake Las Vegas, Henderson, Nev.

With the very best in luxury hotels and fine dining, there are few cities in the world that rival the quality and the cachet of Las Vegas. Off the strip, on Lake Las Vegas, the Ritz Carlton offers a full luxury resort — not a casino hotel — that pampers their guests with everything from private butlers to aroma therapy baths, even personally monogram-embroidered pillows; they'll even arrange a helicopter and gondola transportation to and from the airport! For the best in fine dining, Bradley Ogden's and Alizé at the Palms embody all the best of Las Vegas. Chef and owner of eight other California-based restaurants, Bradley Ogden's latest self-entitled restaurant offers the finest in fresh produce and service. The chef and owner of Alizé restaurant at the Palms, Andre Rochet is one of the first chefs ever to come to Las Vegas and bring with him a cellar of the world's oldest and finest cognacs and armagnacs, dating as far back as 1777.

Caroline Haberfeld, Executive Editor, Departures Magazine, helps pick the perfect Las Vegas hotel.

• Check online to compare prices and locations. Hotels regularly offer special rates and packages.
  
• A good hotel should offer returning clients discounts or extra amenities.
  
• Be ready with price comparisons of other hotels when you book your room.
  
• Often, hotels discount rooms to those that ask, even without a promotion.
  
• Hotels on the strip offer many services without the extra cost of a luxury suite.
  
• Amenities and services vary greatly. Often you can find a better value with few compromises.

Resources

Departures Magazine
New York, N.Y.
212-382-5600
www.departures.com

Ritz Carlton, Lake Las Vegas
Henderson, Nev.
702-567-4700
www.ritzcarlton.com
Lake Las Vegas is a manmade structure covering 320 acres with ten miles of shoreline. The Ultimate Valentine's Package, offered by Mercedes exclusively through Ritz Carlton, includes a three-night stay, personal butler and matching Bvlgari watches. It's available at 13 Ritz locations.
Prices:
Ritz Carlton Royal Treatment, $1000
Mercedes-Benz Key to Luxury Package, $500
Bed and Breakfast Package, $200

Gondola Adventures, Inc.
Henderson, Nev.
www.gondola.com

Sundance Helicopters
McCarran International Airport
Las Vegas, Nev.
702-736-0606, 800-653-1881
www.helicoptour.com

Bradley Ogden's
Caesar's Palace
Las Vegas, Nev.
702-731-7110
Bradley Ogden changes the menu at Bradley's daily, but typically, dinner starts at $60 per person.

Alizé at the Top of the Palms Casino Resort
Las Vegas, Nev.
702-951-7000
www.alizelv.com
Chef Andre Rochet opened Alizé in 2001, naming it after the gentle trade wines of the Caribbean.