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ALO Editor's Choice: Las Vegas
 Las Vegas is the only place I know where money really talks—it says “Goodbye." Those were the words Frank Sinatra used in he flick The Joker Is Wild to describe most people's luck at the tables in Sin City. Therein lies the debate. Spend your time at a gaming or non-gaming facility. Hmmmm, interesting since ALO has a deep love for both kinds (see below). To help settle things we turned to Las Vegas guru Kate Borsheim to go inside the pros and cons of gaming and nongaming facilities:
PROS OF GAMING
PROPERTIES:
 Gambling, especially if you love it.
True gamblers love to be as close as they can to their lucky machines or
tables, so staying at such a property is a no brainer for them.
 People watching: The people you
will meet, walk past or sit at a gaming table with in a casino property are
probably a bit more WILD. There is a constant hustle and bustle inside
of a casino and never the shortage of entertaining people to watch
around you.
 General buzz and excitement.
Gaming properties have positioned themselves as a must see destination for Vegas goers. Most gaming properties have spectacular shows and concerts to entertain guestsif gambling doesn't interest them, as well as notable interiors worthy of a walk-through.
PROS OF NON-GAMING
PROPERTIES:
Serenity of the property. Most
non-gaming hotels position themselves as a welcome retreat from the chaos of the Strip. Non-gaming hotels have incredible rooms, guaranteed to give you a solid night's sleep, and they generally do not attract the wild
and crazy crowd that will keep you
wide awake at 4 A.M.
Non-smoking (mostly). While not
all non-gaming properties are nonsmoking, most are, and the quality of air is spectacular in comparison to its
gaming counterparts. I must say it's quite nice to grab something clean out of your suitcase that hasn't absorbed
the nasty smell of smoke like it would if you were at a gaming property.
Family business traveler-friendly.
The ability to be in Las Vegas but away from the gaming allows families to really enjoy themselves without
having to worry about who can and cannot walk through the casinos. For a business traveler, non-gaming properties
allow for a nice and calm retreat after a long day's work and are a great place for business meetings.
CONS OF GAMING
PROPERTIES:
 Loud and disruptive.
 Smoke heavy. Not the best
environment for non-smokers.
 Overwhelming and crowded
CONS OF NON-GAMING
PROPERTIES:
No Gaming.
Quiet. If you are not a fan of quiet
space, a non-gaming hotel is probably not where you want to be.
No blockbuster entertainment:
Now that's not to say that the hotel, food and the spa are not spectacular, but in general,
non-gaming properties have fewer entertainment choices than their gaming counterparts.
| ALO'S PICKS |
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NON-GAMING
The Platinum Hotel and Spa (211 E. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas,
NV 89169, 702/365-5000, from $159/night) is stylish and spectacular
and only steps away from the Strip. An upscale, chic hotel featuring
residential-style accommodations (read huge rooms). extraordinary
personal service and attention to detail is ever present. Perfect for
the entire family, young to old.
GAMING
 Paris Las Vegas (3655 Las Vegas
Blvd. Las Vegas, NV, 89109, 702/946-
7000, from $99/night) is the mini
homage to the City of Light. All the
allure of the French capital without
the over-the-top garishness of the
other Vegas metropolis-themed wonders.
Marble baths with separate
tubs and showers make relaxing
after a night at the tables that much
more enjoyable. Enjoy the octagonal
pool that is incredibly set in the
shadows of their iconic Eiffel Tower.
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