I have always had a soft spot in my heart for the Mirage, but MGM has positioned it towards the mid-market, with a corresponding drop in service. Given the competitive nature of Vegas hotel rates these days, spending $120/night for a true 5-star experience at Encore, or $69 for a 3-star Mirage, I would take Encore every time.

I also do not feel Palazzo is really in the same class as Wynn/Encore. Sure, the room is big, and the location is great. But in my experience, Palazzo and Venetian rooms are plagued with burned out lights, stuff that doesn't work, weird stains on the furniture, and other obvious signs of indifferent upkeep. Service also tends to be highly inconsistent.

BN has it right, Steve Wynn really sets the bar for luxury. I am booked at the Mandarin Oriental in March, so it will be interesting to compare service between Wynncore and MO/CC.