Going to Las Vegas? Try the Palms Casino Resort. Located within a mile from the Orleans Arena and Las Vegas Strip and within distances of two to five miles from the must-see Secret Garden and the Dolphin Habitat; the Fashion Show Mall, Elvis Chapel and the Convention Centre, this two-acre complex offers 703 luxurious rooms/ suites and a host of excellent amenities/ facilities.

All of the accommodation units feature King or Queen size beds, living areas, TVs and a host of other modern amenities, and many of the suites have Jacuzzis. Some of the suites even feature saunas, pool tables and more. Meals are also catered for abundantly, with eight exquisite restaurants offering a choice of international cuisine (including Chinese, Italian, Mexican, Japanese, Nouvelle French and more), and for those on the go, the Food Court features:

• Ben & Jerry’s
• Coffee/ pastry shop
• McDonald’s
• Panda Express
• Pizza

Facilities include concert and cabaret venues, a 90,000 sq ft casino and a fine selection of clubs/ bars, as well as a 14 screen multiplex cinema; a health/ fitness centre and full spa services; an outdoor swimming pool, tennis courts and more. Nearby facilities include air plane/ helicopter tours, golf and, of course, all the joys of Las Vegas Strip.

If you intend to travel to Miami for your vacation, you may want to check out the 5 Star Mandarin Oriental Hotel on Brickell Key. Boasting a private stretch of gorgeous beach, the hotel is surrounded by magnificent views and is close to Downtown Miami, Coconut Grove and South Beach attractions.

Featuring 295 beautiful rooms and 31 exquisite, spacious suites – all equipped with first rate amenities – the Mandarin Oriental offers a choice of two restaurants. The ‘Azul’ offers European cuisine with Asian/ American influences, while the Cafe Sambal provides a taste of contemporary Asian cuisine. Martini lovers will enjoy the extensive Martini selection at the hotel’s M-Bar.

Facilities include a 15,000 sq ft spa and fitness centre, complete with a beauty suite, six VIP suites and 11 treatment rooms; sauna, steam rooms, and massages, as well as state-of-the art fitness equipment, varying classes (Yoga, Qi Gong and belly dancing, for example), a spa boutique and more.

Other facilities include an infinity edge pool and the Shanghai Tang boutique, a hair salon and a media library, as well as dry cleaning, laundry facilities and more. Golf and tennis can also be found nearby, as can – obviously – a whole range of water sports. 

Choosing a resort to spend your holiday at depends on more than just the price. All too often, that excellent deal on offer turns out to be a financial nightmare as that ‘all inclusive’ turns out to be less than what it promises. It is therefore vital to carefully check exactly what is being offered for the price. Here are some of the factors to look out for.

Meals – Not all resorts offer three meals under their all inclusive deals. Frequently, the offer includes a breakfast buffets only, while other meals in the resort’s restaurant/s have to be paid for separately. This can prove to be expensive fun.

Drinks – Many deals offer unlimited free drinks. These often consist of local brews, while specialty drinks, brand names, etc come at a price. Often, a time limit is also imposed, meaning after a certain time, all drinks have to be paid for.

Activities – Find out exactly what activities are provided without charge at the resort. While relaxing at the pool side for days on end may sound tempting, it can get boring after a while. Also find out what is available – and at what cost – nearby. This will help to ensure you can cater for your chosen activities within your budget.