Returning from my first trip to Las Vegas, I can now make several important observations.  The first is this:

Visit the New York, New York

I didn’t expect to like this hotel.  I didn’t even consider it as a place to stay when we were planning our Vegas trip.  My reasoning went: someone who wants a New York experience should visit New York itself, not a replica in the desert.  Now, I expect to stay there the next time we stay on the strip.

What won me over first was the absence of the second-hand smoke that is ubiquitous in Vegas.  From the moment we opened the door at the Venetian to check in, I felt years ticking off my life.  At the New York, New York, parts of the casino (at least) have two-story high ceilings, letting smoke get pulled up into the ventilation system where it bothers nobody.

But beyond that, the theme is pleasantly cohesive.  Arranged along streets like Broadway are New York staples such as Nathan’s Hot Dogs.  Guests stay in towers like the Chrystler Building, and congregate in areas named for famous New York neighborhoods.

For a casual visit, it looks like an excellent place to stay.