Las Vegas: Less Sleaze, More Swank

Further down the road is Bali Hai. Designed by Lee Schmidt and Brian Curley, the par-71 course measures 7,002 yards with spectacular views of the Strip. The course was designed to "go out like a lion and in like a lion", allowing players to warm-up to their desert surroundings.

For a less strenuous day, the new Qua at Caesar's Palace is the largest day spa in the country, boasting an expansive fitness center, plunge pools and Venus theme-massage area that's entirely free of gold-leaf gladiator statues. There's even the city's only Arctic Ice Room, where guests can unwind in a snowy 55-degree winter environment.

More Than $5 Buffets

Las Vegas is a segregated city when it comes to upscale dining, divided between ultra-posh eateries and louder supper clubs. A two- to three-week advance reservation is mandatory at most new restaurants, with a savvy concierge being the only exception.

The two hottest reservations in Las Vegas today are at Restaurant Guy Savoy and Joel Robuchon -- both jacket-minded French dining institutions with hard-to-pronounce market menus. While Robuchon attracts more local acclaim, Savoy lures foodies armed with Michelin Guides, who are well aware that it's his only restaurant in the Western Hemisphere.