Just got back from a fantastic few days in Vegas, and I am completely in love with Mr. Wynn's new Encore Hotel.  It is the classiest, coolest and most extraordinary hotel in Las Vegas.

The New Best Hotel in Vegas

Encore is hands-down the best hotel in Vegas.  OK - the Wynn is a close 2nd...but Encore wins the props simply because it is newer, and ever-so-slightly more chic. 

What I Love About Encore:

• The quality.   Everything from the hotel's design and amenities to the customer service is absolutely top-notch.  Encore take classiness to a new level.  It makes the Palazzo look like a 4-star hotel.  (and the Palazzo is most certainly not a 4-star hotel).    

• The attitude.  I must say that I love it that the Encore is not a snobby 5-star hotel.  Its much more welcoming.  You know what I'm talking about:  there are some 5-star hotels that are so snobby and full of themselves that you can't help but feel put-off by the nonsense.  Not so with the Encore.  It is so welcoming and warm.  Staying at the Encore gives you a feeling that you really belong there -- quite an uplifting and even inspiring experience. 

• The design.  Encore has a unique design that refreshes the senses.  Its hard to describe the design, but I'd say is something of a contemporary Asian-California fusion with somewhat of a nature theme.  The design also stikes a balance between boldness and whimsy.  On the one hand Encore is full of bold red design elements:  red leather wall treatments and elaborate red chandeliers on the casino floor, and on the other hand its also full of playful components:  butterflies gracing the mosaic floors throughout the property, and fabric-umbrellas dancing on the ceilings of several lounge areas.  No matter how you choose to describe the Encore's design, it is truly unique, and totally refreshing.

• The amenities.  Two great pools, a spa/salon and fitness area, several great restaurants, a ton of cool lounges, an uber-hot nighclub (XS),  great shops, and one of the best casino floors in all of Vegas.  Not to mention all of the amenities that are available next-door at the Wynn (golf etc..).  My favorite amenity of the bunch is the adults-only European-style pool, complete with a pool bar and outdoor blackjack tables.  The vibe at the pool is simply amazing.   Loved it.  (And I also loved that it doesn't cost extra to hang-out at the pool -- which is not the case at a lot of other hotels).

• The location.  Encore is within walking distance of the Fashion Show Mall, the Wynn (of course), the Venetian and the Palazzo.

• The rooms.  Standard rooms are in the 700-750 square feet range, with 200 square foot bathrooms.  The rooms also have several cool little details, like the bedside room remote that turns of all lights in the room with the push of a button (even the miscellaneous table lamps) and that opens and closes the window screen and drapes.  Quite a convenient touch.   My only beef with the rooms is that the bedroom and the living room are only partially separated.  The rooms are divided by a half-wall with a large cut-out in the middle that house a 360 degree rotating flat-screen TV.  Its a nice idea since it allows you to watch TV on a huge flatscreen from either the living room or the bedroom -- but it doesn't work so well at separating the spaces.  So everybody kind of has to go to sleep at the same time.  Not a big deal if you're on the same sleep schedule as your roommate(s), but if one person (like me) likes to stay up a bit later then you're kind of out of luck.  (Of course you can always go downstairs and hang out in the casino, as I did on at least one occasion.)

All in all, Encore is utterly fantastic -- the new best hotel in Vegas.  Has anybody else stayed at the Encore?  What do you think?