The Venetian’s “Winter in Venice” is complete with a skating rink
Wed, Oct 19, 2011 (3:15 p.m.)
Holidays in the desert are a strange affair. From putting twinkle lights on your cactus to drinking hot buttered rum next to the pool, it just feels wrong. A lot of tourists who visit Las Vegas for Christmas are probably trying to escape the winter wonderland effect, but they won’t be so lucky this year. The Venetian and Palazzo will offer “Winter in Venice” from November 21 to January 8, involving roving carolers, brave souls on candy cane stilts and a fake skating rink. The polymer surface looks like ice, but it’s not cold, and we’re hoping it’s a little more forgiving when you fall on your ass.
In the spirit of Venice, The Venetian is a little piece of romantic Italy right here in Las Vegas. The Venetian is an "all-suite" hotel, with rooms accented with plush linens and Italian marble. The 4,027 suites are divided into two towers: The 36-story Venetian Tower that offers guests a taste of luxurious Las Vegas and the Venezia suites, which guarantee 12 floors of high-end elegance. The top five floors are the hotel's highest level of luxury with its private access, concierge lounge, upgraded features and even a dedicated staff.
Entertainment at the Venetian includes shows such as Tim and Faith - Soul2Soul, featuring Tim McGraw and Faith Hill, and Rock of Ages.
The flagship of Venetian nightlife is TAO, an ultra-hip nightclub located inside of TAO Asian Bistro. V Bar is The Venetian's super smooth ultra lounge, made by the owners of New York City's club Lotus and Los Angeles' super swank Sunset Room.
The Venetian features 19 restaurants including Thomas Keller's award-winning French restaurant Bouchon, Mario Batali's B&B Ristorante, Aquaknox for fresh seafood and the 42,000 square foot TAO Asian Bistro. There's also the food court inside the Canal Shoppes for those looking for a quick bite.
Guests can float along The Grand Canal Shops in an authentic Italian gondola ride and pass stores like Burberry and Kenneth Cole along the way. And if you haven't caught a real celeb, on the street in Vegas, you can head over to Madame Tussauds to check out a wax version.

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