Choosing the best hotels in Las Vegas is not an easy task. Take almost any of the major properties that didn’t make it on to our Top 10 list this year and put them in any other city and they’d be considered veritable palaces. But here, the competition is fierce between what are arguably some of the best hotels in the world.

To make it on to our Top 10 list a hotel has to have that something special – something that is often not easy to define. It’s about quality, certainly, but it’s also about the overall experience of staying there. It’s the kind of experience that will make you want to bore your friends with stories of once you get home and makes you want to return the next time you come back to Vegas. Each of the hotels on our list this year offers a unique, unforgettable experience in many ways and therefore earns the title of one of the Best Hotels in Las Vegas.

1. Ritz-Carlton Lake Las Vegas. Not so long ago if you had suggested we would fall in love with an expensive hotel that is miles from The Strip with no casino we would’ve scoffed. But stay at the Ritz-Carlton once and you’ll be a convert to a totally new way of looking at Las Vegas. Luxurious in a way that the mega-resorts can only pretend to be, this hotel has stunning yet comfortable and well-appointed rooms, breath-taking views, unparalleled service and attention to detail, a world-class spa, shopping and gambling and recreation right next door, and an almost Zen-like atmosphere that will make you realize you’re on vacation so shouldn’t you just sit down, take a breath, and relax for a little while? Sure, it’s not cheap to stay here, but the prices are usually less than the high-end places on The Strip and this is a better hotel in all of the ways that are important and in quite a few ways that aren’t. It’s a package that is impossible to resist and therefore our choice for the 2003 Best Hotel in Las Vegas.

2. Paris Las Vegas. If you’re going to stay on The Strip, you’d have a hard time finding a better hotel than Paris Las Vegas. By combining terrific accommodations with an almost endless supply of dining and entertainment options they have the formula for success already, but then they wrapped it all up in a charming turn-of-the-century Parisian package that almost demands you to drop your cynicism at the door and give in to the romance. Paris measures up on every level with the more expensive hotels nearby and is such a good overall package it could almost make you start liking The French again.

3. Green Valley Ranch. Hey, if Michael Jackson likes it, how can it be bad? Okay, set that circus sideshow aside for a minute and focus on how great this hotel really is. It has beautiful rooms with the most comfortable beds in all of Las Vegas, lots of terrific restaurants, a great casino, and one of the nicest pools in town plus a friendly staff and absolutely zero attitude, which is refreshing at an upscale hotel like this one.

4. Las Vegas Hilton. This hotel has become the red-headed stepchild of the Caesars Entertainment chain and they have been trying to get rid of it for years. That’s too bad because it really is one of the best values in town. For prices that rival some of the bargain hotel chains you get generously appointed rooms with stunning views of The Strip (if you get one on that side of the building), lots of good restaurants, a friendly staff, and a couple of funky and often rewarding casinos plus a player’s club that is the most generous in town in our experience. Throw in the new monorail station that will be opening in a few weeks and this becomes an even better option for Vegas visitors, one we hope will remain as such when the new owners, whoever they may be, take over.

5. The Mirage. There have been rumors that the corporate parents of this hotel want to make it over into one of those hip, youth-driven places that are all the rage these days. We are horrified by that idea since The Mirage offers a level of luxury and style that can’t be found elsewhere for similar prices. We’d hate to see this graceful and tasteful hotel become just another place where the “see and be seen” crowd hangs out since they’d be too busy looking at each other to notice how truly spectacular this hotel still is. Leave the Mirage alone! We like it just fine the way it is.

6. Bally’s. At one point Bally’s was considered to be one of the finest and most expensive hotels on The Strip, but as the market moved upward Bally’s held its ground and now it can be a relative bargain. Recently redone rooms offer a touch of style, a glittering high-tech casino offers the fun, and the location right at the heart of the famous Four Corners can’t be beat.

7. Luxor. The Luxor still makes us shake our heads and smile at the sheer silly audacity of the whole thing. Who would’ve thought to build a giant pyramid in the middle of the desert? Okay, well, who would’ve thought to put a high-energy casino, tons of entertainment and dining options, and some unique and well-appointed hotel rooms inside? Vegas has gotten too serious lately and so we’re glad the Luxor is still there to make us smile.

8. New York-New York. Speaking of smiles, New York-New York does a pretty good job in that category too. Their over-the-top Gotham theme with faithful recreations of everything Big Apple is a hoot and their world-class restaurants, comfortable rooms, and comparatively moderate prices make the whole thing worth coming back to again and again.

9. Caesars Palace. While other Las Vegas hotels of its era have fallen to the wrecking ball or faded into obscurity, Caesars has kept up with the times with more than a few facelifts to keep it fresh. While we’re sad to see some of the classic old stuff get painted over, it’s impossible to deny that the level of accommodations, dining, entertainment, shopping, and service here is as good as hotels 1/10th its age. A true Las Vegas classic.

10. Golden Nugget. The Grand Dame of Downtown has gotten new owners who are promising (or threatening depending on your point of view) to make this glamorous lady into a fun, energetic, and hip “old-school” Vegas hotel. We’re going to give them the benefit of the doubt for now because it would take a lot to mess up this truly fine example of why Fremont Street is still a force to be reckoned with. Their Mirage-level rooms, the terrific restaurants, and the friendly service would be notable even if you couldn’t get all this at a price that must be measured in fractions to what you’ll pay on The Strip.

1. Siegfried & Roy. We went back and forth on this one. If you look at our awards lists of past years, the “masters of the impossible” barely made an impression and didn’t even get in the Top 10 last year. The reason was simple: it just wasn’t that terrific of a show, especially when compared to everything else out there. To grant them entry on the list this year only after the tiger attack that nearly took Roy Horn’s life seemed almost unfair. But “Siegfried and Roy” the show was more than just overblown illusions and dangerous animals, it was in many ways the definition of Las Vegas entertainment. It was grand, extravagant, outrageous, over-the-top, spectacular in a spectacle sort of way, and wholly unique to the town they helped make famous. It is not going too far to suggest that without their unprecedented thirty-year run on the Vegas stages there wouldn’t be a “Mystere” or Blue Man Group or Lance Burton or most of the other shows that make an appearance on this list. For that alone they deserve the award of Best Show in Las Vegas for 2003.

2. Mac King. This intimate, funny, and always surprising show is about as far opposite of Siegfried and Roy’s brand of flashy illusions as you can get and still stay in the same “magic” genre, but Mac King’s show is in many ways more exciting and inventive than any other in town. No special effects smoke, no hydraulics, no mechanical trickery here, just good old-fashioned up-close magic heavily salted with a dose of laugh-out-loud humor. The fact that the tickets cost 1/10th what you’ll pay at some of the bigger shows is just a bonus.

3. Tickets2Nite. This isn’t a show, per se, but instead a gateway to shows that you might otherwise not see or not be able to afford. By offering same-day, half-price tickets to shows all over town Tickets2Nite gives visitors a chance to experience a Vegas show without blowing their entire vacation budget on the price of admission. Sure, you may not be able to get seats at the big-name productions but there are lots of terrific smaller shows in town and this is the place to find them.

4. Mystere . Cirque du Soleil is taking over Las Vegas, pure and simple. There are three official Cirque shows running now, another created by a Cirque visionary, and as many as three more opening in the next two years. There’s even talk of building a Cirque themed hotel. But so far, none has been able to top the sheer breathtaking artistry of the one they did here first, Mystere. Wondrous, awe-inspiring, and just plain old fun, Mystere soars higher than its siblings and knock-offs. A true original.

5. Penn & Teller. There’s the big budget spectacle of Siegfried and Roy, there’s the small up-close artistry of Mac King, and then there’s Penn & Teller, an unholy and undeniably entertaining mixture of the two. This is anti-magic; guerilla illusions as commentary on the performers, the audience, the world, and the genre of magic itself. Penn & Teller are smarter than you and not afraid to show it but they delight in removing the veil to show you how they got that way.

6. Second City. As the breeding ground for such madman (and woman) genius as Dan Aykroyd, Gilda Radner, John Belushi, Mike Myers, and Bonnie Hunt, Second City is a comedy institution. How delightful then that they decided to bring their original brand of sketch and improvisational comedy out to the barren desert of Las Vegas for this always inventive, original, and fresh show at the Flamingo. Making you laugh is their mission and they always live up to it.

7. Rita Rudner. Stand-up comedy is an art form, often ruined by the mostly unmemorable and unfunny legions of people performing in front of brick walls in club around the country. But when you see a stand-up like Rita Rudner and her hilarious, off-the-wall takes on everything from marriage to childhood to the ethos of Las Vegas you know you are in the presence of a real artist – a really, really funny one.

8. Blue Man Group. Their bizarre mixture of performance art, gross-out stunts, special-effects gags, and musical experimentation is not for everyone. It’s like pineapple on pizza – you either like it or you don’t. But if you can leave your preconceived notions of what a “show” should be like and just go with the flow, these wacky, blue-headed freaks will leave you surprised, overjoyed, and endlessly entertained with their inventive brand of showmanship.

9. Lance Burton. There are a couple of “big” illusions in Lance Burton’s show but we guarantee you’ll walk out of the theater saying “where did that goose come from?” It’s his down-home Kentucky charm, mixed with his simple but highly effective illusions that win Burton a place on this list.

10. Celine Dion. It’s true: you have to like Celine Dion to like this show. But what’s not to like? She’s a fantastic singer, has boundless enthusiasm and energy, and gosh-darnit she’s just so adorable you want to hug her. Okay, maybe that’s too much but her show, filled with artistic Cirque du Soleil style touches that in most places compliment her unique talent may not make it the best show you’ll ever see, but it’ll definitely be the best Celine Dion show you’ll ever see.

So choosing which Las Vegas attractions are worth the time, effort, and cost is a daunting task – one that we at Vegas4Visitors.com are up to, of course! So here are our choices for the Top 10 Attractions for 2003

1. MonteLago Village/Lake Las Vegas. In many ways MonteLago Village and Lake Las Vegas are the anti-Vegas: the calm in the proverbial storm that is Sin City. But that’s part of the unique charm of the place and the primary reason why we have picked this oasis in the desert as our favorite attraction. Take a stroll through the faithfully recreated Italian village, filled with interesting boutiques, cafes, restaurants, and galleries; watch a movie on the grassy lawns; rent a paddle boat or take a cruise on the lake; sit at a table with a cool Italian ice cream; or gamble at the terrific little casino. It’s all here and it absolutely should not be missed on your next trip to Las Vegas.

2. Richard Petty Driving Experience. Forget the roller coasters, this is the real Las Vegas thrill ride. Here you get to hop behind the wheel of an actual NASCAR racer and zip around the Las Vegas Motor Speedway at velocities you only dream of in your SUV. The staff is unfailingly fun, encouraging, knowledgeable, and reassuring and the experience is one you’ll never forget.

3. Bellagio Fountains. Majestic. That’s the best word to describe the fountain shows at Bellagio, a majestic ballet of water, lights, and sound that has been thrilling audiences since its debut. Even though it would seem that there could only be so much they could do, it’s one of those things that you can see over and over again and not get tired of. The fact that it’s free doesn’t hurt either!

4. Fremont Street Experience. By the time you read this, the Fremont Street Experience will be nearing the completion of a multi-million dollar overhaul designed to make this already stunning light and sound show even more dramatic and fun. It was already a hoot, with a four-block canopy of multi-colored lights creating a brilliant visual accompaniment to the lively soundtracks that range from Rat Pack era cool to British Invasion classic and beyond. The new version should be even better so definitely pencil in some time to see this one.

5. Mirage Dolphin Habitat. This is another anti-Vegas oasis in the heart of Vegas where you get to play with dolphins. Come on! How could it get any cooler than that? Well, throw in the fact that this facility has become one of the most well respected and successful dolphin habitats in the world and all of the work they do with local school children and it’s a no-brainer. Spend a half-hour with a dolphin and we defy you to walk out of the place without a big goofy grin on your face.

6. Liberace Museum. Frank was cool, Elvis was hot, but Liberace was perhaps the most pure distillation of the Las Vegas ethos ever to take the stage in a rhinestone encrusted Rolls Royce. The museum, tribute, gift-shop, and café bearing his name are laugh-out-loud kitsch classics done in a totally straight-faced and respectful manner that honor both Mr. Showmanship and the city that he loved.

7. Eiffel Tower Experience. The view from the 50-story replica of the Eiffel Tower is better than just about any in Las Vegas. Go at night and you’ll get a stunning up-close look at the lights, sound, and fury that is The Strip, plus if you time it right you can catch the Bellagio Fountains going off across the street.

8. Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix. Whether you’ve got kids with you or you’re just acting like a kid yourself, the Las Vegas Mini Gran Prix is the best amusement facility in Las Vegas. Take a spin on the go-karts, play skee-ball or other arcade games, shoot some aliens in the video arcade, or just kick back with their really good and inexpensive pizza and sandwiches. Absolutely worth the drive, especially for families.

9. Casino Legends Hall of Fame. How ironic is it that the place dedicated to maintaining pieces of historic Las Vegas may become a piece of history itself? With the rumored impending closure of The Tropicana, it’s difficult to tell what will happen to this fantastic homage to classic Vegas, so now may be your last chance to see this must-see attraction. It’s packed with photos, memorabilia, costumes, and displays from Las Vegas legends of all stripes including hotels, showgirls, headliners, and much more. Go before the wrecking ball moves in.

10. Neon Museum. Speaking of Las Vegas history, the Neon Museum has gone about preserving some of the most immediately recognizable pieces of it by restoring classic neon signs from around the city. The original Aladdin’s lamp, the horse and rider from the Hacienda, and more are currently on display on Fremont Street and eventually there will be a permanent museum building and restoration facility nearby, making this already worthwhile attraction even more so.

But what sets a buffet apart from the others? In our opinion is the selection and quality of the food balanced against the cost. Here are our choices for the Top 10 Buffets in Las Vegas for 2003:

1. Aladdin Spice Market Buffet. With the impending makeover of the Aladdin into Planet Hollywood, no one is quite sure if this buffet will keep all of the things that make it so special. But just in case they decide to turn it into a glorified movie studio cafeteria, you should run over and check out the delightful mixture of food selections, including many middle-eastern specialties you just can’t find anywhere else. A true original.

2. Main Street Garden Court Buffet. This low-cost, high-quality, massive selection buffet won the top spot on this list for the last two years and the fact that it has slipped to number two this year is in no way meant to indicate that it has faded. For half the price you’ll pay at Strip buffets you get foods of all stripes and colors, all expertly prepared and served in what is undeniably the most beautiful buffet dining room in town.

3. Rio Carnival World Buffet. The lines to get in this place are long (up to an hour on busy weekends) but it should tell you something about how good the place is when people are willing to wait. From American favorites to a live Mongolian barbecue, sushi to fresh salads and fruits, and dishes of just about every ethnic variety you can think of the Rio buffet lives up to it’s World-ly name.

4. Paris Le Village Buffet. It’s expensive and much of the food has a distinctly French flair, but that shouldn’t scare you away from this fantastic and unique buffet. The hand-made crepes are a special delight and the dining room, done as an old-world French countryside village is visual feast worthy of the fine-dining food they serve here.

5. Palms Fantasy Market Buffet. We really enjoy a buffet that strays from the norm in terms of food selection and finding the middle-eastern dishes that are this buffet’s specialty is enjoyable indeed. Add in the remarkably low cost (in comparison to nearby Strip buffets) and you have a real winner.

6. Mirage Buffet. As with most things at the Mirage, this buffet changed the way people think of the genre in Las Vegas. The food served here is of higher quality and taste than what you’ll find at most restaurants in your town and the price, while higher than many, is still a terrific bargain.

7. Bellagio Buffet. It shouldn’t be surprising to discover that one of the finest and most expensive hotels in Las Vegas would also have one of the finest and most expensive buffets. Sure, you’re going to pay more to eat here than you’ll pay at many sit-down restaurants, but the mind-boggling selection of elegantly prepared food is something that must be experienced at least once.

8. Luxor Pharaoh’s Pheast Buffet. Our favorite low-cost, high-quality buffet on The Strip probably doesn’t really qualify for the “low-cost” designation anymore until you start comparing the prices to the others around the area. But just because it’s a few dollars more expensive than it used to be doesn’t change the fact that when you consider the quality and quantity of food you get here, this is still one of the best buffet values you’ll find anywhere on The Strip.

9. Sam’s Town Firelight Buffet. The neighborhood casinos thrive on the low-cost, massive selection buffets like this, often with mixed results when it comes to the quality of the food. We’re happy to report this is one buffet that gets it right, with a big selection, good quality, a lovely dining room, and a bargain-basement cost.

10. Boardwalk Surf Buffet. You aren’t going to see any diamonds or stars awarded to the food at this fairly standard buffet, but the fact that it is dirt cheap (by comparison) and offers decent food for the money makes it worthy of a spot on this list. Plus, it’s the only one in Vegas open 24 hours a day so if you need that mashed potato fix at four in the morning you can head here!

But restaurants are different. Yes, Picasso at Bellagio is widely considered to be one of the finest restaurants on this or any other planet although we have heard there is some disagreement on the topic amongst the citizens of Darcon-9 in the Alesia Tarva galaxy. (Sorry – we’re punchy from having eaten too much.) But Picasso is also widely considered to be out of most people’s price range, whether by circumstance or simple common sense that says paying more than $100 per person for dinner is insane. So if a restaurant is really good but really, really expensive, does that in any way diminish its appeal? For us, it does. Sorry.

So our Top 10 Awards go to the restaurants in Las Vegas that offer terrific food, fantastic service, and pleasant dining environments at prices that won’t cause you to have to sell a kidney to afford it all. Foodies, or food snobs as we prefer to call them, may gasp at some of places we include and may gasp even more at some of the places we exclude, but in our opinion, these are the Top 10 Best Restaurants in Las Vegas:

1. Ice House Lounge. We’ve gotten conflicting reports from others who have visited this new Downtown destination but all we can base our awards on is our experience and ours was fantastic. Many of the food staff came from the long lamented Napa, the late Jean-Louis Palladin restaurant at The Rio, and the training and expertise show. The food is original but not intimidating, packed with flavor, and satisfying to palettes of all stripes and colors. We could stop there but when you throw in a lively environment, great service, and prices akin to what you’d pay at most TGI Fridays, the choice is clear: The Ice House Lounge is the Best Restaurant in Las Vegas for 2003.

2. Austins Steakhouse. This fantastic steakhouse took the number one spot for two years in a row and the fact that it has slipped to number two this year shouldn’t be looked upon as any kind of indictment. It is, without a doubt, the best steakhouse in town, and as soon as you sink your teeth into their juicy and tender filet or savory rib eye you’ll understand why we say that. Austins is a must-visit for every Las Vegas vacationer.

3. Ming Terrace. Who knew the best Chinese food in Las Vegas was at this tiny gem tucked away upstairs in a corner of the Imperial Palace? Well, now you do. The portions are huge, the food is mind-blowing with its traditional Chinese flavors, and the prices are a fraction of what you’ll pay at the fancier Asian places on The Strip. Plus, we get a chance to say Pu-Pu Platter again. What’s better than that?

4. Capriotti’s. Friends of ours headed to Las Vegas recently and took sandwich orders from a group of Los Angeles captives, promising the last thing they would do on their way out of town is stop at Capriotti’s. Upon their return nobody wanted to hear about adventures in Vegas – they just wanted their sandwiches. That’s how good this place is. Their giant, inexpensive deli-style sandwiches and original creations (turkey, cranberry sauce, and stuffing on a roll?) will make you weep every time you’re forced to go to a Subway because that’s the best you can find in your town.

5. Carluccio’s Tivoli Gardens. The Italian food here is good in an Americanized kind of way, meaning people actually from Italy would probably be unimpressed by what you’ll find su il tavalo (that’s “on the table” – taking Italian lessons). But it’s still good food made all the better by the wild and wacky décor left over from when Liberace owned and decorated the joint. It has to be seen to be believed.

6. Memphis Championship Barbecue. Homer probably put it best when he said, “Mmmmmm barbecue.” That’s Homer Simpson, by the way. But whether or not you’re willing to take epicurean tips from cartoon characters is beside the point when you visit Memphis Championship Barbecue and taste their special sauces and flavorings. We don’t know what championship they won but we’ll give them a prize any day.

7. Jillians. There are a lot of reasons why people don’t like Downtown Las Vegas and a dearth of good restaurants has long been one of them. But stop by Jillian’s the next time you’re in the area and it may change your mind. A huge menu of good food is guaranteed to offer something for everyone at moderate prices. Plus, when you’re done you can go into the next room and play Skee-Ball. How cool is that?

8. Mizuno’s. Flailing knives, hot grills, and disco lights. Sounds like a party to us. This traditional Benihana style Japanese grill offers up enough Vegas style entertainment to rival any Canadian chanteuse. Plus, the food is amazing, cooked to your exact specifications, and a great bargain to boot. We’re not sure how long The Tropicana is going to be around so do yourself a favor and visit this place before it goes away.

9. The Range. It’s not our favorite steakhouse in town anymore (see Austins above) but that doesn’t change the fact that this is still a terrific restaurant. The prices are better than what you’ll find at similar restaurants on The Strip, the service is excellent, the food is great, and the ambience – with floor to ceiling windows looking out on The Strip – is a charmer.

10. ESPN Sports Zone. Okay, so they’ve got this dessert… Krispy Kreme glazed doughnuts served with hot fudge, caramel, strawberries, and vanilla ice cream. No, seriously. They have other food and sports and games and stuff but really… who cares? Genius. Sheer unadulterated genius.

1. Paris Las Vegas. It's hard not to be charmed by the casino here. Take a look around at the place with its turn-of-the-century Paris design (you know, back before you hated The French), complete with cobblestone streets, gas lamps, and a foot of the Eiffel Tower coming in through the faux sky. It’s really quite cool. But the bigger reason for us to put Paris in the number one spot is because it’s the first major casino on The Strip to switch to the ticket-in, ticket-out technology on slot machines. Purists may sneer but the convenience of this payout system wins over even the most cynical of hearts. Now, if we could just win a little bit more here…

2. Bally’s. Take a little walk through the mini-shopping arcade at Paris and you’ll head into sister hotel Bally’s, where the ticket-in, ticket-out slot machines have also taken over the casino floor but that’s about the only similarity. The atmosphere here couldn’t be any more different – darker, more subdued, a little classier, a lot less theme park, and usually less crowded so you don’t have to fight anyone off from your favorite machines. It’s a great package overall and we seem to have pretty good luck when we gamble at Bally’s too!

3. The Palms. There’s a strange dichotomy going on at The Palms – it’s both a hipster joint with the young and beautiful crowding into clubs and a locals’ casino, with older folks heading to the food court and buffet. But if you can get past the strange bedfellows this causes, the casino really is a lot of fun. High energy table games, tons of slots and video poker all with ticket-in, ticket-out technology, and pretty generous payouts in our experience.

4. Luxor. Giant Egyptian statues and talking camels - what else do you need? Okay fine, the casino at the Luxor is about more than just the silly atmospherics (although that’s a big part of why it’s so high on this list). They also have every casino game you can think of, a really friendly staff, and we’ve won some big dough in this place so it’s always going to be one of our favorites.

5. Las Vegas Hilton. The casino here is smallish, there aren’t a lot of different gaming options, and the atmosphere (whether in the older traditional casino or the newer and weirder space themed casino) leaves a lot to be desired. But the points this place gets in the other categories more than makes up for its shortcomings. First, we win a lot when we play here, almost without fail. Second, they have the most generous player’s reward club that we have experienced. Third, the staff is usually very friendly. Good enough for number five in our opinion.

6. Green Valley Ranch. We gave it the number one spot last year and everything we said about it then holds true now – it’s a beautiful room, very friendly staff, lots of gaming options, convenient ticket-in, ticket-out technology, and just a generally cool vibe. So why has it fallen to number six this year? Because we can’t win anything when we go here! We’re used to losing so we can’t get too upset about it but it’s definitely time to loosen up those video poker machines.

7. New York-New York. This is another one where our winning track record has been spotty at best but it’s virtually impossible not to love this casino for its sheer, over-the-top Gotham themed absurdity. Is that a giant, glittering red Big Apple? Yep. Is that a replica of the New Year’s Eve ball at Times Square? You got it. Is that the… is that the… is that the… the list goes on and on and it’s a riot to look at and gamble amongst.

8. Harrah’s. We don’t spend a lot of time at Harrah’s for some reason, which is strange because we usually win when we do. That’s the primary reason for its appearance on this list because the place usually just feels way too chaotic for our tastes. But buckets full of coins can’t be argued with and we usually find ourselves carrying them when we go here.

9. Binion’s Horseshoe. Forget the hotel, stick to the casino where you’ll find perhaps the most classic distillation of the Las Vegas ethos anywhere. It’s dark, it’s smoky, the cocktail waitresses all have really big hair… this and a good mixture of everything from slots to a TV famous poker room make it a place you have to visit at least once. Put on your best Rat Pack era suit and hit the tables, baby.

10. MonteLago Village Casino. We won nothing. Let’s just get that out of the way right up front. But everything else we really liked at this new casino out at Lake Las Vegas. It’s small but very well stocked with games, the staff was tremendously friendly and helpful, and the hot dogs in the casino lounge were fantastic. Plus, if you get tired of gambling you can always walk outside into the charming Italian-style village and down by the lake for a breather. That alone makes it worthy of a Top 10 spot in our opinion.

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