CityCenter Las Vegas – Vdara Hotel & Spa First Hotel to Open - 235

CityCenter Las Vegas by Lori RiceIf you’ve been to Las Vegas within the past three years you’ve likely been among the crowds of people on the Strip walking single file along the construction taking place between the Bellagio and Monte Carlo. However, signs are beginning the show that the $8.5 billion complex known as CityCenter will be open to the public soon.

Today, Breaking Travel News reported that the Vdara Hotel & Spa opened on December 1 as Las Vegas’s first non-gambling, non-smoking luxury hotel. Most of the 67-acre complex will open in phases this month. The Mandarin Oriental along with the Crystals shopping mall will open this week. The Aria Resort & Casino, which will also host the new Cirque du Soleil show - Elvis, is set to open in two weeks.

I happened to be in Las Vegas just last week and I have to admit I have no idea how the hotels opened in a week’s time. Much construction was still going on during my visit. One thing is for sure, though, once it is completed it will be hard to ignore. The large condominium towers, hotels, malls and walkways demand your attention with their modern design and visually overpower just about everything around them.

CityCenter Construction November 24, 2009 by Lori Rice

CityCenter has been designed to offer the Las Vegas visitor something a bit different from the rest of the Strip. It is being aimed more towards families and shoppers as opposed to gamblers. If you fall into that Vegas traveler category the hotels are definitely worth looking into. Grand opening deals and Winter Specials such as $159 a night with a $75 resort credit at the Aria are available through March, 2010.

Lori Rice is a freelance health and travel writer, and Galavanting travel news and reviews correspondent. You can follow her adventures at 3 Star Traveler or explore her thoughts as a nutritionist, wellness advocate and foodie traveler at Fake Food Free.