I always admired the Bellagio Hotel from afar and imagined that a stay at this property would be magical. 

Just watching the dancing waters show on the huge man-made lake is a thrill. And going inside and admiring the Secret Garden, Casino and shops is a delight. 

So I finally broke down and booked a three-night stay with my family. Our experience was mixed. 

Despite the glamour and elegance, it turned out to be just another hotel. The rooms were average, and the service needed significant improvement. 

We booked a fountain view room and were expecting to have an amazing view of the dancing waters from our rooms. We were totally underwhelmed. The windows overlooked other sections of the property and way in the distance you can see part of the fountains. 

The beds and pillows were comfortable, which is vital, but everything else was just adequate. The most annoying part about our stay is that we had to ask for service. The room was left uncleaned with trash cans overflowing. I had to call and ask for service for the following day.

Outside of the rooms, the hotel was beautiful with an Olympic-size pool, multiple jacuzzis, a fitness center, and a Spa. The fitness center had modern equipment with a towel and water service. The pool offered cabanas, umbrellas and a café. 

We dined at three restaurants during our stay. They were all excellent but very pricy. 
At Lago, we enjoyed an Italian meal with a great view of the fountains. The food was delicious, and the service was excellent.  

At Yellowtail Japanese restaurant, we sampled several hand rolls and cut rolls. All were very tasty. And once again, we enjoyed a fantastic view of the fountains through the panoramic windows. 

Last but not least, we had a filling brunch at Sadelle’s. With options like the Saddele’s Tower (Fish, Bagel, Tomato, Cucumber & Capers), Eggs Benedict (with Salamon), Thick-cut French Toast with fruit, you can’t leave hungry. 

All-in-all it was a good experience, but I was expecting more from the Bellagio.