Haven't been to Vegas in 2 years and last time in town was for poker at Rio. Any suggestions for great hotel with entertainment (or any good shows close by) sometime mid August?
~Thanks!

World Series of Poker is almost over, so stay away from the Rio--that place is dead any other time of year (unless you have a real hankering for seeing Penn & Teller).

If you're looking for shows and stuff, the whole cluster of hotels around Bellagio and City Center is great.  You have "O" at Bellagio, Zarkana at Aria, Absinthe at Caesar's, Rose Rabbit Lie/Vegas Nocturne at Cosmo, Mystere at TI, Love at Mirage, Blue Man Group at Monte Carlo....and that's just off the top of my head.

Mid-August is a pretty slow time in this town, so you should have no trouble getting good seats for any of these at reasonable prices.

I guess it depends of the type of entertainment you seek and Hotels prices.

Rankings (just my preference)

Center Strip you have:

1. Cosmo (awesome hotel) - Balcony
2. Bellagio, Timeless classic
3. Aria,
4. PH, usually very resonable rates
5. Vdara (nice and private),
6. Paris,
7. Monte Carlo.

**** Also close to CP, Flamingo,  

 
If you need cheap transport, stay at Paris or Bally's as they have the monorail stop.

All of these hotels have multiple shows

1. Jersey Boys
2. O
3. Rose Rabbit Lie (Cosmo)
4. ZarKana
5. Blue Man Group

UNKNOWN: New Hotel called The Cromwell they have a new Drais Club and Giada's Restaurant

There are a lot of new attractions in Vegas to keep you busy.

If I had to choose a night out:

Stay at COSMO (balcony with fountains view).......
Dine at either Giada's or Jaleo or Gordon Ramsey Steakhouse
Show at Jersey Boys or Celine Dion

Funtime back at COSMO on the Balcony at midnight (still be 80+ degrees) when the fountains are playing.

OK BACK to reality

vdara and Mandarin Oriental etc..
Zarkana is a wonderful show

enjoy beautiful!!
xoxo Lovely Lorena aka Lorena De Leon

Cosmo, Aria, Vdara etc... very nice, comfortable rooms along with being affordable.

Good shows can be found all around Vegas and are a quick cab ride away so that shouldn't be a concern.

Enjoy!

I believe Aria offers a $99 poker room rate on rooms which are normally ~ $220.  You have to play the Daily $125 tourney or log a few cash hrs, but this is one of the best poker rooms anyway if you plan to play.   Its also a cool/modern casino and the rooms are nice.   As far as shows, my favorite is still KA at MGM- which is also a nice place to stay.

END OF MESSAGE

END OF MESSAGE

I like the Wynn, Encore, Palazzo the best. I've heard good things about the Cosmopolitan. Those hotels have lots of shopping and shows to attend. Absenthe is my favorite show for comedy. Bring a box of tissue for laughter tears. You can also do tours to The Grand Canyon, Hoover Damn and Red Rock. Have fun!

Sounds like Cosmopolitan might be a winner! I'll have to check it out.  
Hoping to bring my sexy friend Troy Amistadi for some MF couples fun. If you ladies haven't met him, you should check him out! Lol, I like to reverse rolls every once in a while. He's a lot of fun!

Mandarin Oriental. It is luxury and service at its best. It is a non-gaming hotel, so there is no smoke, noise and drunk crowds. So travel to other places for shows and to gamble, then come back to the Mandarin for undisturbed relaxation and comfort....

Bellagio, Aria, etc, all have poker rates.  But does a gent who plays enough hours to get a poker rate really want to be seen heading off to the elevators (or a show, bar, or restaurant) with one of Las Vegas's finest?

For me personally, I have to restrict my hobby activity to places that specifically are not big poker venues.  I'm just too well-known.

It's tough work keeping all my worlds from crashing in on each other....

In the center to most. You can take the tram to City Center, Aria, Monte Carlo. The service and care is the best. Cross the birdge to Caesars and the forum shops, Across the street is Paris, Planet Hollwood and the Flamingo where you can get on the monorail and go to the MGM,and go north till who the fuck knows where, but it goes. Also you're next to the Cosmo. Walk a tad to the Mirage for a Carnegies Corn beef sandwhich or try the Woodly Allen. But I wish I knew which shows to see, I don't go to Vegas for the shows...sorry.

spent 4th of July weekend with a client at The Cosmopolitan.  Very impressive hotel - would have been more impressive without the ubiquitous 4th of July Weekend drunks.  

Seriously I love the Bamboo pool and the Sahra Spa and Hammam.

 
The Wicked Spoon had and outrageously delicious dinner!!!!!!  My client is still raving about it.

I also LOVED LOVED LOVED tapas at  Jaleo and a wonderful steak dinner at STK - all are found in The Cosmopolitan.

 
Our room was the Terrace Studio with an amazing view of Bellagio and the Strip.  See my twitter and FB page for the pics

How does the Mandarin Orientel compare with The Four Seasons?