M Resort Spa Casino

The beautifully designed M Resort has only 390 rooms -- that's tiny, at least by Vegas standards -- and it's located in the suburbs of Las Vegas (the city of Henderson) about 10 miles south off the the all-night dazzle on the Strip. It still upholds the great luxury -- the gambling, the seasonal adult-only pool club, the large rooms, the beautiful spa -- of the top hotels on the Strip like the Encore, Venetian, or Bellagio, but you'll have to settle for seeing the glittering lights of the Strip from a distance. (To get to the Strip, the resort provides a free 20-minute shuttle.) But given its distance from the noise, along with its indoor Zen waterfalls, giant floral display, multiple terraces, attentive service, and abundance of natural light, the M Resort really is more relaxing and intimate-feeling than the 2,000-plus-room mega hotels along the Strip. And unlike the big hotels on the Strip, you don't have to actually walk through the casino to get to the pool -- making the M feel less like a casino-resort and more like, well, a resort. The hotel also offers free airport transfers. All in all, a great value.

The M is located in the upscale Las Vegas suburb of Henderson, 10 miles south of the Strip. Outside the hotel, there isn't much within walking distance -- just a gas station, really. However, there are ample taxis that wait at the entrance of the hotel, and the hotel also runs a free shuttle to the Strip and airport (ask the concierge about drop-off and pick-up times). - 16-minute drive to the Strip

• 20-minute drive to McCarran International Airport
• 25- to 30-minute drive to Downtown Las Vegas
• 30-minute drive to Clark County Museum
• 35-minute drive to Lake Mead National Conservation Area
• 35-minute drive to Boulder City
• 40-minute drive to Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area

The 390 guest rooms and suites at M Resort Spa & Casino are spacious and contemporary, with a primarily brown and beige color palette that works well with the chrome, leather, and faux-wood fittings. Rooms start at a very comfortable 550 square feet, which is a touch smaller than the base-level rooms at the Wynn, Encore, or Palazzo hotels, but still on par with the Bellagio. For significantly more space, the M also offers one- and two-bedroom suites, as well as a 2,400-square-foot, triangular-shaped bi-level loft suite with 270-degree views. The beds (either a king or two queens in standard rooms) are insanely comfortable -- pillow-top mattresses, extra-padded top sheets, down comforters, thick cotton blankets, four big throw pillows, padded leather headboards. All rooms are equipped with 42-inch flat-screen HDTVs (with some 40 channels and on-demand movies) and Bose Wave sound systems. The bathrooms, likewise, are neck in neck with those at the best hotels on the Strip. They come with marble countertops with twin sinks, natural-stone-tiled walk-in showers with built-in benches, and deep separate soaking tubs with an open view of the rest of the room and the Strip or the mountains beyond. (Though some tubs aren't positioned well for seeing the flat-screen TVs embedded in bathroom mirror.) Other convenient amenities include large armoire closets with four-drawer storage (and comfy bathrobes), recessed mood-lighting, well-lit desks with ample outlets, and safes large enough for a laptop. Lights throughout the rooms are activated by room keys (this is an electricity-saving measure), but they might not even be necessary during the day, thanks to the floor-to-ceiling windows, which feature automatic shades. In-room Wi-Fi comes at a fee. Cribs and rollaway beds are available at no extra charge (unlike at most other Vegas hotels).

The M Pool, the larger and more family-oriented of the two pools, is pretty shallow but fine for a quick dip. Lifeguards are on duty, drink service and food is available from the Piazza Grille, and there are plenty of lounge chairs -- which can be scarce at hotels like the MGM Grand or the Mandalay Bay. In addition to the pool, there are two large hot tubs on the pool deck. The atmosphere here is fairly relaxed -- more so than at the adult-only pool -- though there is still the universal "hotel house" soundtrack that pumps out over the pool area from plastic speakers around the grounds.DayDream is the seasonal adult-only pool club. Only open on the weekends and holidays, the DayDream can become a hard-bodied party scene akin to the ones on the Vegas Strip. Expect a few G-strings, a live DJ, and lots of drinks. But the pool area is fairly small -- only 12,000 square feet -- and it can get packed pretty easily. An open lounge chair can be hard to come by, unless you book one of the 10-person cabanas, which have private lounge areas with ceiling fans, refrigerators, flat-screen TVs, and iPod docking stations (though it would be hard to hear your own music over the DJ's loud speakers). There is an extra fee to enter the DayDream pool.The fitness center is clean, bright (it's surrounded by floor-to-ceiling windows), and modern (the Cybex cardio machines come with private TV monitors). Spa Mio facilities include steam rooms, saunas, whirlpools, and locker rooms. Like the gym, the spa facilities are well maintained, and unlike most other luxury hotels in Vegas, there are locker room attendants who regularly brings chilled bottled water to guests in the steam room. There is an access fee for both the spa and fitness center.The 92,000-square-foot casino is modern and well-designed. Nonsmokers will appreciate the effective air-filtration system, and sports fans will appreciate the TVs that hang over some of the gaming tables. The poker room has 12 tables -- some with limits, some without -- and holds tournaments daily. And, like the Encore hotel, there are an additional four gaming tables poolside, so pool guests can continue to gamble. Although in-room Wi-Fi costs a daily fee, it's available for free in the hotel's coffee shop. A concierge is available to help with standard requests, like dinner reservations, shuttle services, and show tickets.

M Resort has seven restaurants and a buffet -- its a fine selection, but it hardly compares to the 20 or so premier restaurants on site at the Wynn, Bellagio, and Venetian (not to mention the hundred or so other dining options along the Strip).The authentic Italian food at the upscale Marinelli's is good, but the closest equivalent to a celebrity chef (found at just about any major hotel on the Strip) is Chef Jean-Claude Canestrier's dessert shop, Baby Cakes. The most economical dining option is the superb Studio B Buffet, which offers upwards of 200 dishes daily, as well as a salad bar with a tremendous amount of toppings. The buffet even includes free soft drinks, beer, and wine for lunch and dinner. It easily compares to some of the best buffets in Las Vegas, like the buffet at the Bellagio, but the prices are even better. As a result, buffet lines can be pretty long. Basic bar food -- burgers, hot dogs, fries -- is available at Vig Deli, located just off the main casino area.

There are a number of notable bars at the M Resort, but they are, for the most part, relaxed places to grab a cocktail, like the subterranean wine bar with automated wine dispensers, Hostile Grape, or 32 Degree Draft, which has an extensive beer selection by the race and sports book in the casino. The pool party, DayDream, certainly brings in a crowd, but it's not nearly as wild as what you'd find during the Rehab party at the Hard Rock hotel. Ravello Lounge, above the casino floor, features live DJs several nights a week, and also offers country and Top 40 nights.