You may think you know The Mirage, but we can guarantee you there are over-the-top accommodations there you have never seen. That’s because management has kept The Villas at The Mirage hush-hush, allowing only high rollers and super A-listers access to these comfortable and elegant oases. Now, they’re shedding their clandestineness and getting a public identity within the MGM Mirage mix of luxury products. Brian Hardee, vice president of hotel marketing of the resort, says management is done keeping them a secret.
If you’ve been to The Mirage, you may very well have walked by the unmarked door that leads into these secret quarters. Once you cross the threshold, you’ll know you’re somewhere special. The hallowed halls are exquisitely appointed with crown moldings and expensive carpeting and there are super-luxury personnel at every turn to assist those fortunate enough to stay here.
For the first time, the Mirage is making these units available for rental by regular humans. If you can score one for your VIP, you’ll be securing them their own private backyard with a lap pool, hot tub and putting green. Inside, the living spaces are designed to be an extension of a wonderful home.
Hi-tech touches abound throughout in the form of TVs and music systems, and bathrooms have dual sinks, TVs, whirlpool tubs and showers with steam control. Aside from the ultra-privacy factor that comes with The Villas, your VIPs can rest assured that they’ll have top-notch security, including a discreet private exterior entrance that is gated and guarded 24 hours as well as a secured entrance from the casino floor. Needless to say, there’s also a 24-hour butler and concierge service.
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| The Villas at the Mirage have Lanai (here) and Villa (below) layouts. All accommodations include private yards with lap pools. |
The Villas at The Mirage are divided into two categories: Lanais and, well, Villas. The Lanais with one to three bedrooms are 1,750 square feet to 3,190 square feet in size. We saw Lanai No. 20. Note: Published reports have indicated that Michael Jackson insisted on staying here with his family and entourage. We loved it, too, because of the brightly colored pastel furnishings spread throughout the spacious layout, which includes a private backyard with a pool. Good to know: All three bedrooms are masters with their own bathrooms. And, if somehow there isn’t space for your nanny in all this mix, there are rooms nearby for her or him.
The villas have either two-bedroom or three-bedroom layouts, ranging from 3,405 square feet to 4,545 square feet. These are more classically styled, with softer hues, and come with a gas fireplace and in-room PC. We saw Villa No. 8, whose three bedrooms have his-and-her bathrooms and in-room PCs. A media room is a great place to hang out with friends and family and boasts some hi-tech amenities, such as a singular control panel for all electronic equipment in the villa. CityCenter’s Aria, which opens next month, will also feature this technology.
Of course, there are other cool perks that come with being a guest of The Villas at The Mirage, such as exclusive tee times at the to-die-for Shadow Creek golf course (Note: There is a $500 green fee, per person); VIP seating at Mirage restaurants and shows, as well as comped admission to some of the hippest venues on property, including JET nightclub and Bare Pool Lounge, the adult, “European-style” pool experience.
Contact Colleen Schmitz (cschmitz@mgm mirage.com; 702-891-7210), director of luxury sales for MGM Mirage, for bookings.
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| A living room in a Trump Penthouse Suite is spacious, with plenty of sofas and loveseats. |
If you haven’t checked them out yet, the Trump International Hotel Las Vegas’ Three-Bedroom Penthouse Suites are worth a look. There are three of them, so you’ll have a choice, but here’s what they all have in common: They’re all on the top floor of one of the tallest buildings in Las Vegas. That puts them 64 stories high, each with dazzling views of the Vegas skyline.
Note: This luxe hotel will appeal to those who don’t want to be in a gaming resort but who do want to be close to the action and to some shopping as well; it stands at the crossroads of Fashion Show Drive (think Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom and Saks Fifth Avenue) and the Strip.
The penthouses have a swell living/dining room area with plenty of sofas and loveseats to suit any entourage or VIP in your clan. As with most Trump properties, there’s a kitchenette here and you’ll find some posh names on the appliances, such as Sub-Zero, Wolf and Bosch.
Each of the three bedrooms is a master, so we say these are ideal for girlfriend getaways, bachelor parties or couples traveling together since there will be no flipping a coin to see who gets the top digs. Even better, there are double sinks and separate water closets in each of the Italian marble bathrooms, plus a spa tub. Flat-screen TVs throughout the suite are a given, but we think those imbedded into the bathroom mirrors are particularly nice.
Contact Sales and Marketing Director Bill Kairis ([email protected]; 702-476-7215) if you’re sending a top client.
Now, say your client isn’t looking for an extension of their home, but for something completely different. Perhaps they would like to try the two-bedroom Barbie Suite at The Palms Casino Resort, where the interior design, understandably, leans toward the pink portion of the spectrum. Consider this suite for those clients who want to celebrate a bachelorette party or a special birthday; the 2,350-square-foot suite can accommodate 50.
Fun amenities they will have at their disposal include a sunburst mirror made out of 1959 Barbie dolls, a jumbo-sized Jacuzzi, plasma TVs throughout, a full bar and two-way fireplace. We say, break open the pink martinis, we’re coming over.
Contact Jon Gray ([email protected]; 702-423-6408), who will entertain special demands from your VIP.
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| Ever Wanted to Live in a Barbie Fun House? Dreams can become reality in the Barbie Suite at The Palms. |