Checking In: Las Vegas

By:Lisa Loverro

There's no time like the present to plan a trip to Las Vegas. In addition to the bustling casinos and high-end restaurants, one of the most highly anticipated shows on the Vegas Strip just opened last month. Jennifer Lopez's "All I Have" residency, located at the AXIS Theater at Planet Hollywood Resort & Casino, proved to be the hottest ticket in town and I was fortunate enough to attend this show, putting Hollywood glamour front and center in the city of sin.

Complementing the glitz and glamour of the show was my stay at the Cosmopolitan Hotel conveniently located directly across the street from the AXIS Theater. One of the trendiest hotels along the Strip, the Cosmopolitan is located in the center of the action and provides their guests with plenty of options beyond the roulette wheels and slot machines. The hotel is comprised of two sleek towers blending together nightlife, fine dining, and shopping under a sparkling visual feast for the eyes. Their Chandelier Bar glitters with Swarovski crystals and stretches over three floors. The modern hotel design spills over into the guest rooms with open bathrooms, wrap-around terraces, and designer furnishings. Originally designed as condominiums, these rooms and suites are much roomier with nice amenity touches like a kitchenette and microwave.

For me, the option to have a terrace in your room was the added plus. In a city where most hotel room windows do not open, it was refreshing to be able to step outside to take in the magical views of Vegas. The hotel also has two fitness centers (one of them 24-hour), three swimming pools, and a Sahra Spa and Hammam, all complementing the outlandishly decadent vibe of this hotel. Their restaurant collection features some of the most notable options in the world of fine dining today. Scarpetta, Milos, Blue Ribbon, and the soon-to-open Beauty & Essex restaurant allow their guests to enjoy fine dining in the confines of the hotel.

The Cosmopolitan has quickly established itself as one of the trendiest spots on the Strip where high rollers, foodies, and fashionistas mingle together throughout the evening and into the early morning hours. The Jennifer Lopez "All I Have" residency runs through the end of June and I highly suggest a quick visit to Las Vegas to check out both the concert and the hotel, two of Vegas' shining stars.

For more information: cosmopolitanlasvegas.com
For tickets to Jennifer Lopez "All I Have": caesars.com/planet-hollywood/shows/jennifer-lopez