Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Navigating this mall can be a challenge. Because of the moving figures and
ornate fountains, tourists are more focused on photo-ops than power shopping. It
would take a horse-drawn chariot to make good time getting through here.
Still, the idea of mall entertainment clearly works, as this is one of the highest
grossing malls, per square foot, in the nation. And we're talking a lot of square
feet, with Caesars having recently opened an additional 175,000 square-foot area,
bringing the Forum Shops' grand total to about 675,000 feet with an assortment
of Rodeo-Drive caliber emporiums such as Gucci, Dolce & Gabbana, Versace,
and more. A whimsical three-story FAO Schwartz and the “world's largest”
Tourneau add some variety to the mix, and there are many standard mid-range
options, such as Banana Republic and Anthropologie, where prices are actually no
higher than their non-tourist-trap siblings, and their sales racks are almost as good.
There's a valet parking lot just downstairs from the shops. So you can park,
take an elevator up, and put that extra energy the valet saved you into hunting for
bargains. And avoiding overly buff gladiators.
Though Caesars has more shopping options and a 175,000-square-foot advan-
tage, the Venetian has stepped up to the plate to rival its architecture and mall
entertainment with
The Grand Canal Shoppes
55
(at the Venetian;
%
877/883-
6423 or 702/414-4500; www.grandcanalshoppes.com; Sun-Thurs 10am-11pm,
Fri-Sat 10am-midnight).
Modeled after Venice, the mall is lined with cobblestone
walkways, so you'll want to avoid wearing high heels here. The tiles may be
charming, but walking over them can be a painful challenge in stilettos.
Shops are framed to look like the exteriors of old homes built along a replication
of the Grand Canal. The meandering little river splits the mall in two; gondolas
float on canals through and around the building (p. 123). The gondolas are rowed
by gondoliers, dressed in traditional black-and-white striped shirts with red ker-
chiefs, who'll serenade you in Italian as you drift pass shops and under bridges and
through St. Mark's Square—a large, open space filled with what the casino likes
to call “Streetmosphere.”
This is actually a great place to take a break with a cup of gelato and watch the
carnivale performers, singers, mimes, and other acts. You won't find any hokey
animatronics here, but before you sidle up to one of those gray sculptures for a
photo op, be prepared that it might actually move. Many of the statues here are
people painted to look like granite.
Seasonal Differences
Las Vegas has a unique climate, so even if the stores here are the same as
back home, the clothes are more suited towards our seasons, or lack thereof.
What this means in short is that what you'll find on the Banana Republic
sales rack (and regular rack) in the desert in the winter—light wools and
thin jackets—is going to be different than what you'll find on the Banana
Republic sales rack back home in New York or Minnesota—heavy wools and
thick coats. The same goes for summer, which lasts from about May through
September.
