Hotel Guide

Location:  2300 Paseo Verde Parkway, Henderson, Nevada (Greater Las Vegas)

What makes it Special? The Green Valley Ranch Resort has won four AAA Diamonds.

Entertainment Attraction: Various less well-known musicians at Quinn’s Irish Pub, though BB King has played there in the past.

Number of Rooms: 490

Overview:

The name of the Green Valley Ranch Resort conjures up images of rural Nevada. In fact, the resort’s named after the Henderson neighborhood of Green Valley, which is green only in the sense of being affluent. That said, Henderson is around an eighth the size of Vegas, though you are a 20-minute drive away from the Strip.

Location isn’t everything – especially when you’re dealing with a hotel as beautiful as the Green Valley Ranch, which has been awarded Four Diamonds by AAA. The rooms are exquisitely decorated – from the deluxe king rooms through to the Tuscany Suite. Mind you, the exquisite décor comes with an equally exquisite price tag, though your bill will be significantly cheaper than at an equivalent Vegas hotel.

What else are you paying for? There’s also an impressive pool and a sophisticated spa facility with a high-tech gym attached.  When you have enough of the Nevadan sun, inside you’ll find the casino, which boasts more than 2,200 slots and 55 table games.

The resort doesn’t scrimp when it comes to restaurants. There are 15 different eateries, ranging from haute cuisine Italian at Terra Verde to casual eats at the Tides Oyster Bar. Talking of bars, the selection of drinking options is almost as diverse – from martini specialist Hank’s to the stylish Drop Bar via Irish pub Quinns. The latter establishment provides patrons with live music as well as Guinness, though the performers tend to be unknowns, even if BB King has played here. Disappointingly, Quinns is the only show venue in the resort.

Given the resort’s distance from the Strip, the limited live entertainment is a letdown. When you’re paying big bucks for your – admittedly wonderful – room, do you really want to be this far from Vegas?

Hotel website: Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa

*Key to Rates

$ – Up to $100

$$ – $101 to $130

$$$ – $131 to $190

$$$$ – $191 to $250

$$$$$ – More than $250

*All nightly rates based on first weekend of October (excluding resort fees).