On Vegas4Visitors.com we rank hotels on the following criteria: location, price, value (what you get for what you pay), room quality, casino quality, amenities (things like ironing boards or dataports in the room), facilities (spa, restaurants, entertainment, etc.), and service. Then we through in bonus points for how fun the hotel is, just because we think that’s important in Las Vegas.

Our impressions of a place can change depending upon when we visit simply because prices may be higher than normal, we may do poorly in the casino, or we may have a run-in with a surly room-service waiter. The rankings you find on Vegas4Visitors ignore those ups and downs for a pretty standard snapshot of what we like and don’t like.

This list, however takes all those things into account and is based primarily on my most recent experience with the hotel. All of those criteria listed above are important to be sure, but a lot of the time it’s about the overall experience that is hard to quantify.

So, for better or worse, here is my list of the Top 10 Overall Hotels in Las Vegas.

10. Bellagio
Yes, it’s too expensive. Yes, the casino is notoriously “tight.” Yes, the “average Joe” can feel a little bit out of place in the swanky surroundings. But those are just about the only downsides. The fact that they could put all of the amenities and exceptional service of the finest luxury hotels in the world in a package that is 10 times the size of similar places without degrading the quality is not only noteworthy but miraculous.

9. Caesars Palace
Caesars isn’t what it used to be – in ways that are both good and bad. All of the recent remodeling has removed a lot of historic detail and that makes me kind of sad but in their move away from silly luxury toward the real thing, they have improved the hotel in ways that can’t be adequately explained on paper. They treat you like an Emperor here and yet there is enough of the old Vegas silliness (toga clad actors playing Caesar) to keep me entertained.

8. Boulder Station
Of all the Station casinos, Boulder Station wins the prize for having the nicest casino (dig the hard wood floors), most comfortable rooms (great views), and most amenities (restaurants, buffet, concert venues, theaters, kids area, etc.). When you add in the fact that you can get ridiculously low room rates you have a bargain that’s hard to beat. The only bummer is the location but if you take my advice and get a rental car it’s only a 10 minute drive to The Strip.

7. Golden Nugget
The top of the line in downtown hotels also rivals anything else in town. Gorgeously appointed rooms at very reasonable rates, a funky casino, and one of the nicest spas around would put this one higher on my list if it weren’t for the fact that this downtown Las Vegas hotel is… well… downtown. But when you can get a lot of the level of service and amenities that you can get at sister hotels like The Mirage for a fraction of the cost, it makes the trek off The Strip worthwhile.

6. Paris
Can a gigantic hotel/casino with thousands of rooms and a kitschy theme be romantic and charming? It sure can if the theme is turn-of-the-century Paris and they do it as well as they did here. Everything but the bill makes me smile here, from the charming street side bistros to the Eiffel Tower replica, to the fantastic French bakery. Now, if they could just do something about how much money I always seem to lose in their casino!

5. New York-New York
This hotel is still the most outrageous, ridiculous, and silly example of “only in Las Vegas” fun in town. I dare you not to be at least a little bit in awe of this Gotham replica as you wander past the recreations of the Statue of Liberty, Greenwich Village (complete with steam coming out of the manhole covers), Times Square, the Brooklyn Bridge, and more. While some of the rooms are a little on the small side, the funky art-deco décor and unique layouts offer something different than the cookie-cutter sameness you find in most Vegas hotels. A true Vegas classic.

4. Main Street Station
Downtown Vegas doesn’t get the attention it often deserves, especially when you consider the charming Main Street Station. It’s a small place with only 400 rooms but everything about it is top of the line with a beautiful turn-of-the-century San Francisco train station motif. Take some time to notice the stunning antiques, the lazy ceiling fans, and the stained glass throughout the property. Then appreciate the fantastic service, the low room rates, and the great restaurants (including my pick for the best buffet in town) and you have a terrific alternative for your next Vegas getaway.

3. Stratosphere
Millions of dollars worth of changes in the last couple of years have really improved The Stratosphere. The new décor is classy without being intimidating, the usually low-cost (in comparison) rooms are comfortable and well-equipped, the casino is huge and entertaining, and the service is top-notch. There’s also what I think to be the coolest pool area in town, located on the 8th floor with amazing views of The Strip.

2. Mirage
The Mirage topped this list for the first two years and the fact that it has slipped to number two this year is not a commentary on the quality of the hotel but rather in my changing perceptions as to what is important. The Mirage offers everything you want in a Las Vegas hotel and more including stunning and luxurious rooms, a low-key but complete casino, world-class service, some of the best restaurants in town, two great shows, dolphins, white tigers, a zoo, and a volcano. If quiet luxury at a decent cost is the most important thing to you, then The Mirage should top your list. However, for me the “fun factor” has become a little bit more important lately and while undeniably entertaining, The Mirage isn’t the first place I think of when I want to go somewhere fun.

1. Luxor
This hotel was built at a time when you had to have an outrageous theme to get noticed and with the exception of New York-New York, no other hotel reaches the levels of wacky Vegas kitsch like Luxor. The giant pyramid is a hoot visually inside and out and the rooms, whether in the pyramid or in the newer boxy addition, are unique and extremely attractive. The casino is among the liveliest in town and the service in my experience has been first-rate. And they have talking mechanical camels. Come on! If fun is on your list of requirements for a Vegas hotel then Luxor should be at the top of your list. It certainly is at the top of mine.

So how do you figure out which attractions are worth your time and which are a waste of your money? Never fear, because what follows is my list of the Top 10 Attractions in Vegas.

This particular list consists only of attractions that you’ll have to pay for. The Top 10 Free Attractions is on another list in this week’s column.

10. Adventuredome
After MGM Grand Adventures closed for good, it left the Adventurdome as the sole amusement park in Las Vegas. That’s okay, because this indoor, completely air-conditioned fun-fest may be smaller than the former MGM park but they sure pack a lot of thrill-seeking entertainment into the space. At Circus-Circus, 2889 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-734-0410.

9. Speedworld at Sahara
Combine a wild forward and reverse roller coaster with some really cool motion simulator rides and then cover it all with a wildly popular NASCAR theme and you have one of the coolest venues in town for thrill-seekers. At Sahara, 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-737-2750.

8. Elvis-a-Rama Museum
I’m not an Elvis fan but I still enjoyed myself at the Elvis-a-Rama Museum, a kitschy shrine packed with one of the largest collections of memorabilia and ephemera this side of Graceland. Oh, and be sure to stick around for the free Elvis impersonator shows! 3401 Industrial Road, just west of The Strip near Treasure Island. 702-309-7200.

7. Gondola Rides at Venetian
True, it’s not as cool as the real thing, but riding a gondola through the fake canals of The Venetian is a pretty close second. You’ll even be serenaded by your gondolier so if you’re looking to score some romance points with your significant other this is a must! At The Venetian, 3355 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-414-1000.

6. Imperial Palace Auto Collection
You really don’t need to be a car buff to enjoy this remarkable collection of automotive history, although it certainly couldn’t hurt. From the sexy to the sublime to the silly, go and be amazed by the fact that people actually used to build these fancy machines. And be horrified by how much they are worth! At Imperial Palace, 3535 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-731-3311.

5. Stratosphere Tower
No matter how afraid of heights you are, you really should do the Stratosphere Tower at least once for the absolutely amazing views of Vegas and all of southern Nevada. I, personally, am a big baby when it comes to tall places, but as long as I stick to the indoor observation area (forget the outdoor platform and don’t even think about the rides) and stay close to the wall and I was fine and if I can handle it, so can you. At the Stratosphere, 2000 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-380-7777.

4. Eiffel Tower Experience
True it’s only half as tall as the Stratosphere Tower but in a lot of ways that helps the view. Certainly the location is better, right in the heart of all the action of the Center Strip with fantastic views in all directions. I recommend going at night and waiting for the Bellagio Water Fountain Show, which happens directly across the street – it’s the best place in town to see it from. At Paris Las Vegas, 3665 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 888-BONJOUR.

3. Liberace Museum
Whether you’re a fan of the man or of the grand silliness that he embodied, this “museum” filled with rhinestone covered everything is a hoot. Bring your sense of ironic detachment and have a fabulous time. 1775 East Tropicana, about 2 miles east of The Strip. 702-798-5595.

2. Casino Legends Hall of Fame
This fascinating display of Vegas history features pictures, memorabilia, souvenirs, and much more from all the things that made the town what it is including long-lost hotels, showgirls, entertainers, and the people who made it all happen. If you love Las Vegas for what it is today, you really should take some time to see what it was like “yesterday.” At The Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-739-5444.

1. Mirage Dolphin Habitat
The least “Vegas-y” thing to do in Vegas is to spend some time watching, and even playing with, these remarkable animals. Get away from the noise and craziness for awhile and you’ll find yourself walking back to the casino with a big, stupid grin on your face. At The Mirage, 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-791-7111.

In that spirit I offer you my picks for the Top 10 Free Attractions in Las Vegas.

10. MGM Grand Lion Habitat
If you can get over the fact that these beautiful lions are trapped in a big glass enclosure next to a bunch of slot machines, it really is a rare opportunity to be able to see animals like this up close. With a glass walkway through the habitat you get the feeling of wandering directly into the lion’s den. Go during the week when you won’t have to fight the crowds to get a good view. At the MGM Grand, near the Tropicana/Strip entrances.

9. Mirage White Tiger Habitat
You don’t get to walk into the habitat like you do at the MGM Grand but the fact that they are a little further away from the casino makes me feel a little bit better about this particular exhibit. And the animals are beautiful – Siegfried & Roy know what they’re doing. At the Mirage, along the walkway entrance from the sidewalk near Ceasars Palace.

8. Caesars Palace Fountain Shows
Sure they’re kind of cheesy, but these “statues” that come to life with lots of lasers, smoke, fire, and noise are the epitome of the only-in-Vegas silliness that I love so much. In the Forum Shops at Caesars Palace.

7. Ethel M. Chocolate Factory
It probably isn’t worth a cab ride but if you’ve got a rental car at your disposal you really should journey out to Henderson to take this short but interesting tour of a real-live chocolate factory. Bonuses are the free sample you get at the end of it and the cactus garden outside the factory. 2 Cactus Garden Drive, Henderson (about 8 miles east of The Strip).

6. Bellagio Conservatory
Try to ignore the throngs of tourists that are with you and this beautiful, indoor garden is really one of the loveliest spots in town. It’s a unique respite from all the hustle and bustle of Vegas and you have to appreciate the artistic flair the landscapers put into the displays. At Bellagio, adjacent to the main lobby.

5. Mirage Volcano
Back when the Mirage Volcano debuted it literally stopped traffic on the street. But just because there are more visually stimulating things happening on The Strip these days doesn’t mean that this light and water recreation of a volcano eruption isn’t still impressive. In front of The Mirage.

4. Fremont Street Experience
A domed canopy over the pedestrian walkway on Fremont Street comes to brilliant life at night with dazzling light shows timed to various musical numbers. Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street, between Main and Las Vegas Boulevard. Shows every hour on the hour after dusk until midnight.

3. Neon Museum
One of the most important historical projects in the nation (in my humble opinion) has rescued and restored old Vegas neon signs and put them on display. This part of the town’s past has all but disappeared and you should take a minute to go appreciate it. Downtown Las Vegas on Fremont Street and adjacent side streets.

2. Bellagio Fountain Shows
While the thought of watching giant blasts of water from the big lake in front of Bellagio timed to music doesn’t sound like something you should go out of your way to see, it is. Nighttime is best, when the lights add a touch of magic. At Bellagio, with shows every 15-30 minutes depending upon the day of the week.

1. Treasure Island Pirate Battle
Speaking of “Only in Vegas,” the Treasure Island Pirate Battle is the quintessential example of the genre. It features a live-action stunt show depicting the battle between a pirate ship and a British war vessel. It’s big, loud, silly entertainment that shouldn’t be missed. In front of Treasure Island at the corner of The Strip and Spring Mountain. Shows every 90 minutes from 4:30 to 10pm.

There are some amazing restaurants in Vegas these days offering a level of quality and service that rival the best dining experiences anywhere in the world. But I continually have to ask if any meal that’s going to cost you $100 per person is worth it. My answer is usually “no.”

So if you’re a food snob, this is not the Top 10 list for you. However, if you’re more like me that you can appreciate good food but it better be worth the amount of money you’re paying for it, then read on.

I’ve chosen restaurants from a wide spectrum of cuisines, locations, and price ranges however I’ve saved the buffets for a separate list that you can read in this week’s column. It may seem strange to put some of these wildly disparate dining establishments side by side but these are my Top 10 Restaurants in Las Vegas.

10. Sazio
Gustav Mauler (no, not the composer) was responsible for most of the restaurants at The Mirage and Sazio, an Italian eatery at Orleans, is just as good if not better than those world-class establishments. The menu ranges from traditional Italian to more adventurous fare but everything I sampled was delicious, original, and interesting. Add in a festive décor, great service, and reasonable prices and you have a definite contender for this list. At Orleans, 4500 West Tropicana. 702-984-9500

9. Border Grill
Celebrity Chefs Mary Sue Milliken and Susan Feniger, TV’s “Two Hot Tamales,” bring you this cheerfully decorated Tex Mex cantina. The menu offers authentic Mexican favorites that will make the less adventurous feel comfortable but with enough twists and turns to keep it exciting. Everything here is exquisitely prepared, fresh, and delicious. At Mandalay Bay, 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-632-7403.

8. Olives
Onda at the Mirage is one of the finest Italian restaurants in town but it is a little too expensive for our tastes. So it is a blessing that Olives exists. Created by the same chef, it features a similar (but not exact) menu with Mediterranean twists on Italian cuisine at cheaper prices. This is the kind of restaurant where you’ll take a bite, roll your eyes into the back of your head, and go “mmmmmmmm.” You know what I mean. At Bellagio, 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-693-8181.

7. The Range
The only reason that this is not my favorite steakhouse in town anymore is simply because I found one that was better. But being #2 out of all of the steakhouses in this town is nothing to sneer at, especially since this one is on the Strip (with some stunning views of the action from the floor to ceiling windows). The menu is simple but fulfilling, the meats are fresh and flavorful, and the onion soup (cream-style and served in a giant hollowed out onion) is to die for. At Harrah’s, 3475 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-369-6000.

6. Liberty Café
If you’re the type who has to have linen napkins and tablecloths, this isn’t the place for you. But if you are a fan of the type of 24-hour diner food that made this country what it is, run, do not walk to the Liberty Café. It’s tucked in a corner of a pharmacy, with a lunch counter, tacky leather booths, and some of the best food in town at any price. Delicious, juicy hamburgers, hearty meatloaf, and thick, creamy milkshakes are just the beginning. In the Blue Castle Pharmacy, 1700 S. Las Vegas Blvd. 702-383-0101.

5. Carluccio’s Tivoli Gardens
As much an experience as a restaurant, Carluccio’s used to be owned by Liberace and much of the décor hasn’t changed since he designed it in the early 80s. The place is a hoot and the fact that the traditional Italian pastas and entrees are fantastic and inexpensive only adds to the lure. Go make an afternoon of it with a visit to the Liberace museum (located right next door) and then come here for dinner. In the Liberace Plaza, 1775 E. Tropicana Ave., 702-795-3236.

4. PF Chang’s China Bistro
Some people might sneer at the fact that I would “deign” to include a chain restaurant on a list like this, but I dare you to find better Chinese food in more lively atmosphere than here. The menu features the classics like orange peel chicken and sweet and sour everything but also has fantastic twists and new creations that will tantalize. Take some time for the appetizers – that’s all I’m saying. There are several locations around town but the closest to where you’ll probably be are at The Aladdin hotel, 3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South (877-333-9474) and at 4165 S. Paradise at Flamingo (702-792-2207).

3. Memphis Championship BBQ
Fans of traditional barbecue are a rabid bunch and so you know how much of a limb I’m going out on by saying this is some of the best barbecue I’ve ever eaten anywhere in the world. The huge menu offers something for everyone and the portions are big enough that everyone will leave not only satisfied but probably with a doggie bag. Their secret spices and apple-wood mesquite grilling technique lend a zesty punch. Worth the drive! 2250 E. Warm Springs Road. 702-260-6909.

2. Mizuno’s
You’ve either seen or been to a Japanese restaurant like this before, where you sit around a grill as a chef prepares a meal with flying knives and lots of drama. But forget what you know about Benihana-style restaurants like this because Mizuno’s can kick all of them to the curb. The preparation is delightful to watch and the result is fantastic all the way around. The menu offers enough variety of both traditional and adventurous items that everyone will find something to enjoy here. At Tropicana, 3801 Las Vegas Blvd. South. 702-739-2713.

1. Austins Steak House
When I go to Vegas I try to eat at new restaurants all the time just so I can bring the broadest view of the city’s culinary delights to you. But there’s one place that keeps luring me back again and again and that’s Austins, a delightful and original steakhouse with a southern flair. To say that the 24 oz. rib eye steak, rubbed in peppercorns and seared in a garlic/cilantro/butter sauce is the best piece of cow-based meat I’ve ever eaten in my life might sound like hyperbole but I stand by the statement. Fresh, expertly prepared cuts of beef, seafood, pork, and poultry are the main event but don’t miss the sweet Maui onion soup, the fried green tomatoes, the salads, the jalapeno corn bread, the parmesan rolls, the chocolate “decadence” cake… somebody stop me! Terrific service, a tasteful atmosphere, and reasonable prices complete the package and place Austins Steak House at the top of my Top 10 Vegas Restaurants list. At Texas Station, 2101 Texas Star Lane. 702-631-1000.

Oh… and they all have really good food, also.

10. Bellagio
At over $20 per person for dinner this place better offer something exceptional - and it does. Just like everything else at Bellagio, the food, atmosphere, and service are top-of-the-line. If it wasn't coming out of metal serving trays you'd swear you were eating at a gourmet restaurant. 702-693-7223.

9. Bally’s
Their daily "Big Kitchen" buffet is good, but it is the legendary (and expensive - around $50 per person) Sterling Sunday Brunch that stands out. Free flowing champagne, caviar, made-to-order omelets, lobster... need I go on? 702-739-4111.

8. Mirage Buffet
Just as they set the standard for the new wave of luxurious hotels, so to did they set the standard for luxurious buffets. Close your eyes and you would swear you're eating in some 4-star restaurant - the food is that good. 702-791-7111.

7. Sam’s Town Firelight
This buffet recently underwent a top to bottom remodeling and it helped enormously. The room is beautiful and the food, while basic, is hearty and fulfilling. And it’s hard to beat the price – for under $10 you can get a ton of food. 702-456-7777.

6. Texas Station/Sunset Station Feast Around the World
This buffet is a favorite among locals in town with various stations set up around the room featuring cuisines from different countries (hence the name). It's all great food and terrific for folks on a budget. 702-547-7777.

5. Arizona Charlie’s East Wild West Buffet
You have to drive a bit to the east side of town to get here but you shouldn't be disappointed by the prices (only $7 for dinner including all-you-can-eat Prime Rib!) or the food selection and quality. Hearty, stick-to-your-ribs food at bargain basement prices. 702-951-5800.

4. Aladdin Spice Market
The Aladdin has been having its share of trouble and there are certainly a lot of things wrong with the hotel but this exciting and original buffet certainly isn’t one of them. With Middle Eastern flavors mixed in with the more traditional fare, you get a wider variety than you’ll find at most buffets and the quality of all of it is excellent. 877-333-9474.

3. Luxor Pharaoh’s Pheast
This is my favorite inexpensive buffet in town (although at around $11 for dinner, inexpensive is a relative term I suppose). It has a fun dining room set up as an archaeological dig so it's not just another bland buffet experience. And of course the food is nothing to sneer at either. Everything I've tasted here has been well-prepared, fresh, and tasty. 702-262-4000.

2. Le Village Buffet
This is another expensive buffet - over $20 per person for dinner - but it is worth it in my humble opinion. Stations around the room offer cuisines with influences from various regions of France, but it is not all French food, so don't let that scare you off. And if nothing else you could just gorge yourself on the made-to-order crepes, which are the closest thing I've found to food heaven on earth. It's all served in a recreation of a French country village that is at once amusing and friendly. My favorite. 702-946-7000.

1. Main Street Station Garden Court
A recent revisit only improved my take on this fantastic buffet, elevating it to my #1 choice in town. The first thing that impresses is the lovely dining room with a charming garden setting, plenty of plants, lazy ceiling fans, twinkle lights, fine antiques, and floor to ceiling windows. Luckily, the food is as impressive with lots of regional cuisines (Asian, Mexican, etc), a wood-burning pizza oven, hot dogs and chili, a grill station, tons of yummy desserts and a lot more at some of the lowest prices in town. 702-387-1896.

So what makes a good show and more importantly, what makes it good enough to earn a place on this list? Mostly value – whether that be value in terms of dollars or sheer entertainment value, the shows on this list are the ones that are going to give you the most bang no matter how many bucks you spend.

10. Jubilee!
The days of the bare-breasted showgirls wearing enormous headdresses are waning as shows like “Mystere” and “Blue Man Group” steal the spotlight. But of the few remaining examples of this type of show left in Vegas, “Jubilee!” is by far the most satisfying. The women are beautiful, the choreography is fine, and the vignettes are for the most part tasteful and tastefully executed. At Bally’s – 800-237-7469.

9. Danny Gans.
Impressionists are a dime a dozen in Vegas but Gans is the undeniable king of the jungle (if you’ll allow me the mixed metaphor). His show was rejuvenated by a move to The Mirage and with ticket prices lower than they used to be (although still not cheap) it makes a strong case for this master of the celebrity impersonation. At The Mirage – 800-963-9634.

8. Siegfried & Roy
The dynamic Austrian illusionist duo are a Vegas institution and their show, while a bit predictable and over-rehearsed is still one of those things that you really have to do at least once in your life. And if their ticket price of over $100 is a bit steep, remember that you get a drink, a souvenir program, white tigers, and the fun of trying to figure out what their relationship is really all about. At the Mirage – 800-963-9634.

7. Lance Burton
The down-home, good-old-boy attitude of magician Burton is a welcome relief from the overly dramatic illusions that most other shows of this type usually offer. He expertly blends big production show-stoppers with intimate, up-close magic that will leave you charmed and mystified. At Monte Carlo – 877-386-8224

6. Clint Holmes
The spiritual successor to The Rat Pack era shows, Holmes heartfelt show of singing, a bit of dancing, and some humor is infectious with its good nature. I really wanted to hate this guy but he won me over with his charming personality and upbeat style and by the end of the show he had the audience cheering. You probably will be too. At Harrah’s – 800-392-9002.

5. “O” by Cirque du Soleil
All of the Cirque productions are a delightful mix of avant-garde theater and eye-popping acrobatics that is both beautiful and thrilling. With “O” they add in water with a stage that turns into a pool. Although the Cirque part of the whole things becomes a bit repetitive (swim, dive, swim, dive…) it’s all done with great flair. Now, if they could just do something about lowering the ticket prices… At Bellagio – 888-488-7111.

4. Rita Rudner
Fans of stand-up comedy would be hard pressed to find a better emissary of the genre than Rita Rudner. Her loopy take on everything from marriage to shopping to Las Vegas will leave you dazzled and aching a bit from the laughter. Now that her show has been extended through the end of 2002, this relatively inexpensive show has become a must-see. At New York-New York – 800-693-6763.

3. Blue Man Group
This bizarre mix of performance art, music, and old-fashioned slapstick definitely isn’t for everyone, but I can’t help but love it. It’s almost impossible to describe except to say that while weird, it’s a lot of fun. At Luxor – 800-557-7428.

2. Mystere
Lots of people ooh and ahh over their sister show “O” but “Mystere” is in my opinion the superior show. It’s a little less avant-garde and the acrobatics are both awe-inspiring and emotional, plus it’s cheaper! Go and prepare to be amazed. At Treasure Island – 800-392-1999.

1. Second City Improv
These days we can all use a good laugh and nobody else in Las Vegas provides them as reliably as the Second City Improv troupe. This wild mixture of sketch comedy, improvisation, and wacky music is consistently hilarious, which would be amazing even if they weren’t making up a lot of it right there on the spot. Since they are, it becomes a comedy miracle – fresh, funny, and different all the time. Throw in the cheap ticket prices and you have what I call the Best Show in Las Vegas. At the Flamingo – 800-732-2111.

I also give extra points to things like an entertaining or attractive décor, a noticeably friendly staff, and a generous Player’s Club.

Let the arguing begin….

10: Harrah’s
I used to really like the Harrah’s casino but now I only just like it, primarily because there are so many others that I like more. It’s a big, rambling space with a festive atmosphere, every conceivable game, and a friendly staff. I always do pretty well here on slots and their player’s club is pretty generous. Not my favorite but definitely worth a space on this list.

9: Mirage
This is still one of the most relaxing and inviting casinos in town. Lots of space between machines and tables, high ceilings, and an appealing lack of casino clutter make it low on the claustrophobia scale. The only reason it isn’t higher on the list is purely a subjective one – I can’t seem to win anything here anymore. It’s just a bad run of luck and totally not their fault but it does tend to sour one’s opinion on a place.

8: Golden Nugget
Most of the Downtown casinos are old and their casinos feel like it. The Golden Nugget is one of the few exceptions with a cheery and bright feeling despite the fact that they’ve crammed too much into too small of a space. A truly fun place to gamble.

7: Boulder Station
Located on Boulder Highway in the eastern part of the city, Boulder Station primarily caters to a local crowd so that means you’ll find lots of video poker and some pretty good payouts. The décor is fantastic with lots of hard wood floors, soaring ceilings, and a rambling layout that offers plenty of places for you to pull up a stool and start playing.

6: Sunset Station
They’ve got a friendly staff, low table limits, and high payback percentages on slots so what more could you want? A very attractive and open design with lots of Spanish tile and stained glass offers a very pleasant place to gamble and the wide range of play options allows you all the comforts of a Strip casino for less money. Now, if it were only closer to the action…

5: Flamingo
The Flamingo is making its very first appearance on this list in the three years I’ve been doing it. Why? Because I won a lot of money there recently, that’s why. It’s amazing how that improves your outlook on a place. But in all seriousness there’s no reason they shouldn’t have been on here before. The casino is huge, machine spacing is good, they have every game imaginable, and the staff is very friendly and fast on slot refills.

4: Main Street Station
It may seem strange to apply the word “lovely” to a casino but that’s really appropriate here. The turn-of-the-previous-century San Francisco décor is stunning with faux stamped tin ceilings, lazy ceiling fans, stained glass, and lots of rich woods lending a classy and romantic air that is missing in most other casinos in this town.

3: New York-New York
I’ve always said gambling should be looked at as a form of entertainment and not as a way to make money. If you go along with that theory then New York-New York wins hands down for sheer entertainment value. Their audacious Big Apple theme is perfectly rendered to the smallest detail and the energy it creates in undeniable. You purists can sneer all you want - this is what Vegas is all about.

2: Stratosphere
The Stratosphere has been undergoing some major changes and in the casino those changes have all been for the better. The décor is done by the same people who originally did the Mirage – very classy and subtle. And with a revised layout offering better traffic patterns and even more room than before they have improved dramatically. Finally, they have the most generous Player’s Club in town in my experience so you can gamble at a modest level and still get lots of free stuff.

1: Luxor
As one of the most heavily themed casinos in town, The Egyptian décor still cracks me up and I mean that in a good way. It’s pure Vegas-style entertainment at the Luxor with all the slots, video poker, and table games you may want in an atmosphere that somehow manages to be relaxed and yet energetic at the same time.

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