Las Vegas proved to be an exciting place to stay.

The Mandalay Bay Hotel, built 2 years ago as the ultimate resort, and one of the largest hotels in the world, was fabulous. It has gorgeous gardens and pool areas, complete with pseudo-beach and surf. Unfortunately the 6 foot+ wave machine was turned down for insurance reasons, and was quite the disappointment.

After checking into the hotel over a 1 hour period and being placed in an unmade room, we complained and were given extra considerations, managing to enjoy our stay.

We spent each day at the pool - swimming in the stream pool (flow at 2 mph) - drinking cocktails with umbrellas and reading. In the evenings we checked out the various hotels on the Strip. We were utterly amazed by the extravagance of the decor and design of many of the hotels, especially the newer ones. For example, New York New York was designed with facades of many well-known restaurants, bars, etc, and has great food. It also has a roller coaster that is extraordinary - we went on it 3 times. The Paris has its casino under a huge fake sky painted ceiling, as does Caesar's Palace casino and the Venetian Mall. The Bellagio Hotel has an amazing botanical garden, and the Venetian has an amazing Venice-inspired mall. It also has Michaelangelo Sistine Chapel style lobby ceilings, which are spectacular.

For our anniversary we ate atop the revolving restaurant at the Stratosphere, with 360 degrees of all Las Vegas, eating venison and French wine.

In all, we gambled an enormous $15 total - lost, of course, but really don't have gambling in our blood.

This is truly the city of utter decadence and superficiality, but we enjoyed it all!!

We recommend it.

Bennett and Helen