Finding the perfect view in Las Vegas

Rachel Leal, a tourist from Australia, was enjoying Mix Lounge’s stunning view of the Las Vegas Strip when nature called. As she entered the bathroom, she was startled to find that the stalls had the same floor-to-ceiling windows as in the lounge.

“You’re sort of sitting there,” Leal said later while sipping a glass of wine, “wondering if people can see in.”

I asked the attendant in the men’s room, who assured me that, no, people couldn’t see in. He added that lots of folks take the glass elevator to the 64th floor just to see the glass-walled toilets. That’s a shame, because the best views are from a bar stool, not a toilet seat.

Las Vegas’ views, whether a blazing sunset or a carpet of neon, are part of this city’s backdrop. Like most things here, they have their own group of connoisseurs.

“There are all the hotels that you think of, that you see in the brochures,” said Mark Elsey, a visitor from England, as he admired the shimmering lights. “There’s Paris. There’s New York, New York. There’s Excalibur.”

Elsey, who has been to Las Vegas six times, loves to check out the views from various places on and near the Strip. During a visit nine years ago, shortly after their arrival, he and some buddies went to VooDoo Lounge, a Caribbean-themed nightspot on the 51st floor of the Rio.

“That was my first experience of Vegas: to step onto that outside balcony and see the sun going down,” he said. “It was really great.”

During that trip, Elsey also took the 37-second elevator ride to the top of the Stratosphere Tower. It wasn’t exactly his cup of tea. “It’s quite a way out and almost too high up,” he said. “You lose the detail of what you’re seeing.”

That’s true to an extent. Given the tower’s location -- three miles north of Bellagio -- the Stratosphere doesn’t offer the best vantage point for landmarks along the Strip. But at 854 feet above Las Vegas Boulevard, its indoor observation deck provides a one-of-a-kind, 360-degree panorama of the Las Vegas Valley.

Within the last couple of months, leather chairs and sofas have been added, giving guests the opportunity to sit down and soak up the atmosphere while sipping a soda from the snack bar or a latte from what’s promoted as the highest Starbucks in the world. Thrill seekers of all ages will enjoy rocketing up 160 feet on the Big Shot or dropping off the tower’s edge on two other rides.

There are no seats and no snack bars on the observation deck of the Eiffel Tower at Paris Las Vegas, but no matter. The big attraction atop this replica of the French landmark smack dab in the middle of the Strip is the view of the dancing fountains directly across the street at Bellagio.

As the minutes tick away, camera-clutching tourists check their watches and jockey for position overlooking the 8-acre lake. The shallow platform -- 460 feet up -- circles the building to provide 360-degree views. It is surrounded by wire mesh to prevent falls, making good photos a challenge.

Right on time, at the top of the hour, the fountains spring to life, their jets synchronized to the words of Elvis Presley’s “Viva Las Vegas.” Kids and grown-ups ooh and aah from their perch high above even the tallest sprays of water.

About half a mile to the west, the Palms resort offers three sky-high venues -- with prices to match. Since its opening six years ago, the Palms has been a popular place to see and be seen, including at its after-dark clubs.

The resort’s first rooftop lounge, ghostbar, offers dazzling views of the Vegas skyline from the 55th floor of the property’s original tower. Its second tower features similar sights from Moon, along with a retractable roof for partying under the stars. The Playboy Club is just below.

Besides cover charges, all three clubs have bottle service. That means that most guests will have to purchase at least one bottle of liquor. The prices start at $325 a bottle at ghostbar and $395 at both the Playboy Club and Moon.

Over at Mix Lounge atop the Hotel at Mandalay Bay, there’s no cover charge for guests arriving before 10 p.m. There’s also no bottle service. A Silver Sunset -- a blend of Patrón Silver tequila, crème de cassis liqueur and orange juice -- costs $18. Many agree the drinks come with the best view of the city and its legendary 15,000 miles of neon lights.

“The view is just stunning,” said Elsey, the visitor from England.