Arrived at the Encore about 8pm, no queue at check in, asked for a south facing room and we were allocated room 3022 on the 30th floor.

The clerk commented on our "nice rate" $135/night booked via booking.com when it's now $400. Great view of the Wynn, TI, Mirage, Caesars, Signature, Rio, Palms, Trump, the Wynn golf course, right down the strip and the mountains in the background from the floor to ceiling windows.

Nice big room same as last year. King bed which was extremely comfy, excellent mattress and pillows separate seating area with sofa, mirrored walls which made the room seem bigger, 42" flat screen TV which swivelled between the bedroom and lounge area. (The 48" TV in last year's report was an error).

Double built in wardrobe which housed the safe, iron and ironing board with 3 full length mirrors opposite.

Mini bar, large desk with 2 chairs, a phone and a fax machine and there was another phone by the bed and in the toilet.

Large bathroom with twin sinks, bath, separate shower and toilet in a separate room. There is a 19" TV built into the wall, digital scales and hair dryer in bathroom

Lots of Bambu toiletries including a shoe shine and buff. There was shower gel that we didn't get last year, but no robes although the hangers were there.

Curtains, sheers and lights all operated from a panel by the bed. Ipod docking station.

The hotel and casino are beautiful with huge red chandeliers and the theme of butterflies everywhere.

Nice pool area and guests can also use the pool at the Wynn.

There are several excellent, if expensive, restaurants from Chinese to steakhouses. However some of them have 3 course Prix Fixe menus which are good value.

Cocktail service was very good in the casino and there was a wide range of table games and slot machines from 1c.

There are 2 or 3 nightclubs at the hotel which are very popular.

The hotel is located towards the north of the strip and a 10 minute walk from Fashion Show Mall.

No monorail station, but the Deuce and Ace Gold buses stop at the Wynn next door.

A taxi from the airport was $20 + tip.

Booked the Encore at $129 a night, normal rate is $300 a night. The hotel only opened on 22 December and is the newest hotel on the strip.

Check in was a zoo with no proper lines. Waited 10 mins, asked for a quiet room on a high floor away from the noise of XS nightclub I’d read about. She said that would be north facing, but it wasn’t ready yet, could be 1-3 hours and took my mobile number to call when it was ready.

Got a pool pass and went there for an hour. It was mobbed, the beds were very close together and it seemed cramped. Eventually found 3 beds that looked abandoned. No phone call, but checked back around 2 and our room was ready, 6347, on the 63rd floor which is the top floor and at the very end so as far away from the noise as it could be.

Gorgeous room, bed area separated from living area with a marble divider and 48” flat screen TV that swivels between the two areas. The king bed was so comfy it was like sleeping on a cloud and I struggled to wake, electrically operated curtains and sheers, doorbell, privacy button rather than a card on the door.

Floor to ceiling windows with a view of Circus Circus, Riviera and the north strip. Saw as far as the Plaza which is downtown. Mini bar, but we didn’t touch it as items moved for more than 60 secs are charged to the room. 3 seater black sofa and one of the seats was extended like a chaise long. There was a desk, fax machine and internet access at $13.99/24 hours. The fully mirrored walls made the suite seem twice the size and the room was spotless.

There was a large bathroom with a very deep bath, separate shower, twin sinks and the toilet in a separate room with a phone. There were two bathrobes and digital weighing scales. Nice lemongrass and citrus toiletries – shampoo, conditioner, moisturiser, shoe polish, but there were only bars of soap instead of shower or bath gel. Large wardrobe with 3 drawers and the iron and ironing board and safe. There were also 4 drawers in the bedroom.

We also had dinner at Switch at the Encore where the walls and ceiling change every 30 mins. We chose the Prix Fixe menu at $59 each and both had the same, Corn Chowder, Petit Filet Mignon with whipped potatoes and milk chocolate crunch bar. With 2 coffees and a bottle of wine the bill was $183 plus tip and was worth every penny. The service was excellent and friendly with 4 or 5 people serving us. They had noted that it was my birthday and with dessert brought out a lemon sorbet with “Happy Birthday luci” pipe in chocolate on the serving tray.

Cocktail service was good in the casino and we had a couple of paralyzers which were very good.

I would cetainly stay here again if I got another offer.