The travel section in today’s New York Times carries a review of Wynn Las Vegas… as though the property didn’t get enough press when it was opening.

This $2.7 billion hotel seems far from offering a flawless experience, and most folks seem disappointed. TripAdvisor reviews are decidedly mixed. I haven’t stayed there yet.

Now, no 2700 room property can possibly be a luxury hotel. Personal service seems impossible. Complexes are sprawling. Wait times will occasionally seem interminable, no matter how well the property is designed, when unusually large cohorts of guests decide to make us of the same thing at once (pool, elevators, checkin/checkout).

I have nothing against large resorts per se. I have an upcoming stay booked at the Westin Diplomat, and I enjoyed a trip to Wyndham’s El Conquistador in San Juan last year.

And the sprawling kitsch experience is what I actually want in Vegas. Sure, there’s a Four Seasons, and in most cases that might be more my preference. But when in Vegas I’ll want Vegas. And though the Bellagio is probably the nicer property, I have a particular strange affinity for the Venetian.

Since I’m not a gambler, I don’t have much juice in Vegas. So I like that all the rooms are suites (one one sort or another). And I like themes a la Paris, New York, etc.

The Venetian comes cheap, too. One trick to Vegas is to sign up for the various hotel newsletters to receive their special offers. The Venetian frequently offers midweek rates of $100/night. I often see offers from the Venetian below the rates that people are winning the hotel for on Priceline, and the Venetian offers might come with a room upgrade, match credits, or other benefits.

(Side note, for reliably inexpensive accomodations, The Orleans is a pretty good standby. It’s a basic, clean casino hotel and I’ve seen midweek rates on the hotel’s website as low as $13.)