About 10 miles before you hit the Las Vegas Strip, you’ll pass a shiny blue gem of a hotel called the M Resort. The “M” is a nod to its creator, Anthony Marnell III, who is part of a family known for designing major resorts in Sin City. His glass-framed hotel is sleek and curved and sure to catch your eye as you travel the freeway from the outskirts into the heart of Vegas. So why stay at a fancy-schmancy place like this sitting on 90 acres of land on the edge of Las Vegas? Sure the M Resort is predominantly a hotel patronized locals. But it is also a great hotel for the Vegas visitor who wants a stylish retreat from the craziness of the Strip but still wants to be within a 10-minute drive of all the action. Since it’s off the beaten path, the M Resort is best enjoyed by those who have access to a car. However, if you haven’t brought or rented one, that’s not a problem. The hotel provides complimentary shuttle service to and from McCarran International Airport and the Strip (at the Fashion Show mall). Being on the periphery of the city has a unique advantage — the views. They’re spectacular. And the M Resort has been constructed in such a way that from many of the rooms, restaurants and other amenities (like the pool), it appears as if the Vegas skyline is laid out before you on a platter. Speaking of food, one of the coolest things to experience at the M Resort is Studio B. This buffet-in-the-round boasts more than 200 dishes. Plus — and this is a big plus — beer, wine, espresso, cappuccino and even cordials are included in the price. That’s right, you can eat (and drink!) to your heart’s content. Foodies will also appreciate the adjacent Studio B cooking studio, where demonstrations are held and then broadcast on the 117 flat-screen TVs positioned throughout the buffet. Hungry for more? As the name suggests, Anthony’s Prime Steak & Seafood offers fine steak and ocean cuisine. Order a decadent burger in Anthony’s Gourmet Burgers & Brews or a small-plate Italian dish at Marinelli’s Pasta Bar. Jayde Fuzion combines Japanese, Chinese and Korean flavors, and it has an interactive sushi bar with an all-you-can-eat sushi menu served daily. Open 24 hours, Baby Cakes can satisfy your sweet cravings at any time of day with its homemade gelatos, pastries and cupcakes (topped with what may be the best frosting you’ve ever tasted). If you want something stiffer than a soda to begin, end or settle down with for an evening, your options at the M Resort include the 32° Draft Bar (with 96, yes that’s correct, 96 different beers on tap), M Bar and Ravello Lounge. Or walk downstairs to the Hostile Grape for a wine experience unlike any other. After purchasing a prepaid card in the classy cellar-like setting, you can just grab a glass and start serving yourself…but be careful because there are 160 different wines available through the special dispensing system. The pool area at M Resort is called M pool and — thanks to two infinity-edge pools and two large hot tubs — it feels like an oasis in the middle of the desert. Nearby is the dayclub DayDream, an adult-oriented playground with another infinity-edge pool, cabanas, daybeds and an ice-railed bar. And don’t miss out on the spa. Spa Mio has 16 treatment rooms. Its services — like the Desert to Sea Detox body treatment and the Essential M facial — will bring out the very best in you. Finally, if there’s one thing that sums up the M Resort, it’s the first thing you’ll see upon entering it: the lobby. There’s a display of 800 calla lilies here. (A little secret: They’re not real, but they are scented.) Placed in floor-to-ceiling steel trellises, these silk faux flowers are stylish and elegant. Not surprisingly, that’s what you can expect of your visit at the M Resort.
