When we first tackled this question back in late May of 2005, the most expensive suite in Vegas that was available to the public, i.e., not exclusively a comp for high rollers, was the Villa Verona at the Las Vegas Hilton. Here’s an excerpt from what we wrote back then, all of which still holds true (aside from the bit about it being the most expensive suite in town…):
"At 15,400 square feet, it’s the largest of the legendary Sky Villas, and at $17,500 per night, it’s also the priciest suite in town…
"The Hilton’s three Sky Villas were ordered by Barron Hilton in the mid-'90s in response to the new era of opulence dawning in Las Vegas, heralded by the opening of the Mirage in '89. Hilton’s aim was to create the most lavish hotel rooms anywhere in the world and these babies don’t disappoint. Accessed via a private elevator, in square-footage terms the Villa Verona is the equivalent of five or six decent-sized homes. Basic amenities include a private rooftop pool, five Jacuzzis, and an exercise room. The "little touches" that no self-respecting high-roller suite would be without include heated towel rails in all five bathrooms; remote-controlled draperies, lighting and fireplaces; a state-of-the-art media room; and TVs that emerge, as if by magic, from wooden chests at the base of each bed.
"Of course, the décor is so over the top it makes the Palace of Versailles look understated: Just about everything in the suite is gold, aside from the cut-glass and marble. But the icing on the cake, and what really rockets the Verona into a league of its own, are the one-of-a-kind extras, which include hand-painted, Venetian-style murals on every wall and ceiling, thousands of dollars worth of silks and Egyptian cottons on every bed, a telescope for enjoying the suite’s panoramic views of Vegas, a Boesendorfer grand piano -- and when we say "grand," we’re talking in the region of $100,000 -- which had to be airlifted in by helicopter, and a James Bond-style projection TV that rises up out of the enormous pink-marble coffee table at the touch of a button.
"Until recently, the Sky Villas were only available as comps to the highest of high rollers. But when the Hilton’s clientele shifted to a more convention-oriented crowd, management decided to make the suites available to anyone who could afford them, either for corporate events or private hire. If the $17,500 asking-price for the Verona seems just a tad too steep, you could try the smaller (but no less extravagant) Tuscany and Conrad Villas, which at 13,200 and 12,600 square feet, respectively, can be had for a mere $15,000 per night each."
So, that’s the Villa Verona, which did remain the most expensive accommodation available for private hire for some time after this was written. However, it’s decidedly old-school in its particular brand of opulence (as alluded to above, Louis XIV would probably feel very at home here, once his staff had mastered the remote controls).
But as we all know, Las Vegas’ most recent reinvention is as a city that’s all about catering to the young and the hip. The rich young and hip. Enter the Palms and its Fantasy Suites.
It all started in 2005 when the property created the "Real World" suite, location for the MTV "reality" series of the same name. As you can see from the pictures below, its ultra-modern style was a definite departure from the classic Vegas high roller accommodation of old, typified by deep shag carpets, heavy wooden furniture, and lashings of gold stuff. It’s the only hotel room in Las Vegas that boasts a full working kitchen (among many other things) and is now available for private hire starting from $5,000 for a week night or $10,000/night on the weekend.
After the success of the Real World Suite, it wasn’t long before others followed as the Palms opened an entire Fantasy Tower. The "babies" include the Erotic Suite, g-Suite, Hot Pink Suite, Celebrity Suite, Crib Suite, Director’s Suite, and Playpen Suites, all of
