vegas paradise hotels

The Luxor Hotel and Casino, located at the south end of the Las Vegas Strip, makes its presence known throughout the valley not only by shining the world's strongest beam of light into the sky, but also by offering cutting-edge restaurants, renowned entertainment, amazing attractions and comfortable accommodations.

This 30-story black glass pyramid contains so many amenities on such an enormous scale that it's practically its own Vegas vacation. Spacious rooms surround the world's largest atrium, which boasts shopping, dining and entertainment. The casino, at more than 100,000 square feet, is one of Las Vegas' biggest, offering close to 2,000 slot and video poker machines, an array of table games, a race and sports book and a poker room.

As the Luxor continues to undergo major renovations (with minimal impact on guests) through 2009, illusionist Criss Angel -- who once levitated over the Luxor's beam -- won't be the only reason guests aren't able to believe their eyes. The hotel-casino is shedding its Egyptian image and moving into the modern era with a more adult-oriented theme, including ultra-chic lounges, restaurants and clubs.

"We want to deliver on the inside of the property the promises of the pyramid on the outside," said Felix Rappaport, president and chief operating officer of the Luxor Las Vegas. "We're trying to become a little more contemporary and appeal to a younger, hipper crowd. We want to offer the best entertainment, dining, gaming and retail without insulting the lexicon to come up with a cutesy Egyptian name."

That's not to say that the Egyptian imagery will disappear entirely. It is, after all, still a part of what makes the property unique. Rappaport explained that the hotel is prepared to keep the better executed elements of the Egyptian theme, while de-theming the property where it is no longer relevant.

The Luxor is even redoing its entire casino: the carpet, the columns, the lighting, the slot tables, the slot chairs. By 2009, pretty much everything on the casino level will be updated.

But many changes have already been made, and Rappaport said the demographics for the hotel have begun to skew younger.

The LAX Nightclub comes from the creators of PURE Nightclub, Robert Frey and Steve Davidovici, with décor by Los Angeles designer Thomas Schoos and celebrity investors including DJ AM and Christina Aguilera. The two-story club attracts a slew of celebrities, including Britney Spears, heiress Nicky Hilton and hip-hop/rap artist P. Diddy. Even Hollywood heartthrob George Clooney has paid the club a visit -- he also spent time at the Noir Bar, an ultra-exclusive nightspot that opened along with LAX, featuring a private entrance for its elite clientele.

"LAX is probably already the number one nightclub in the world in my opinion," Rappaport said.

Flight, a bar located just outside LAX, is the perfect spot for club-goers to grab a few drinks before buckling their seatbelts for take-off at LAX. Aurora, a 24-hour, 157-seat lobby bar, invites guests to get off their feet with its stylish, sleek look and assortment of contemporary cocktails. At Liquidity, the casino's water-themed center bar, daring guests can enjoy the $300 "Absinthe Envy," an illicit concoction made with the once-forbidden liqueur.

Dining choices range from Asian specialties at Fusia to the around-the-world selections of More the Buffet at Luxor. A newer dining option, the trendy Company American Bistro, is the third Las Vegas restaurant from Pure Management Group with celebrity investors including Nicky Hilton, Wilmer Valderrama and Nick Lachey. The seductive restaurant and ultra lounge CatHouse, is a modern interpretation of a 19th century French bordello, featuring an eclectic menu by Executive Chef Kerry Simon and performers modeling CatHouse’s own line of lingerie.

During the summer months, sunbathers and swimmers can be spotted soaking up the sun at the expansive pool deck through windows in the walkway that connects the two-story parking garage to the hotel. Located in the pool area, Luxor's spa Nurture, lives up to its name, offering a steam bath, whirlpool, sauna and an array of body treatments.

On the atrium-level, The Atrium Showroom offers comedian Carrot Top and his surprising bag of props and Fantasy with its seductive cast of ladies. But the ladies of Fantasy aren't the only bodies drawing crowds at the Luxor. Bodies -- The Exhibition features 21 whole-body specimens in various poses, preserved using a method known as polymer preservation.

Up until recently, Carrot Top was the primary personality of the Luxor. But the prop comic said that he is truly happy to share the property with other entertainers. "As a kid, you learn to share with others. It's not that difficult," he said, adding "The changes at the Luxor have been remarkable. The hotel doesn't need a facelift, just a little Botox."

Cirque du Soleil is working its own brand of magic with Criss Angel, five-time recipient of the coveted Magician of the Year award, at the helm of a new show CRISS ANGEL Believe in a custom theater. Angel actually lives in a suite atop the Luxor pyramid and filmed the third season of his A&E series "MINDFREAK" at the hotel.

"To me the pyramid has always been one of the most mystifying structures in the world, it fits perfectly with the mentality of our show," Angel said. "This is an amazing place with infinite possibilities."

Although there's really no reason to leave, indoor walkways make it easy to visit the Luxor's surrounding hotels, leading south through the Mandalay Place shops to the Mandalay Bay hotel and north to the Excalibur hotel. A monorail also connects the three properties.

From Egypt to France to Greece or any other exotic location, pyramids have dazzled and amazed onlookers in both ancient and modern times. The Luxor of Las Vegas is no different.

-- By Aleza Freeman