The JW Marriott Las Vegas , This inviting upscale resort likes to call itself “the best of both worlds.” It is dramatically perched in the sun-warmed hills of a Las Vegas suburb, but is still within easy reach of the clamorous, glamorous Strip.

Vegas visitors considering this resort must be aware in advance that the Strip is a 20-minute shuttle ride away. The bus is free for resort guests, but lacks late-night hours. While the resort has an in-house casino, the bottom line is that this hotel does not provide an on-the-Strip experience.

What the JW Marriott Las Vegas does furnish is a low-key, dignified getaway in the desert sun, with the Strip as one of several recreational options.

The resort provides top-quality hotel amenities and attractions. Rooms are large and well-appointed, grounds are lush, maintenance keeps the property spotless, service is warm, and the resort’s restaurants and spa are excellent.

The JW is an inspired wedding venue for brides who like the idea of convening their loved ones for radiant desert nuptials close to the alluring Strip, but with none of Vegas’s “Chapel of Love” tackiness.

This property is also a good choice for lovebirds seeking an easy to get to escape that offers privacy, charm, cushy rooms, intimate restaurants, golf, spa: all the things that make him and her happy. Another sensible approach to the JW is to do Vegas both ways, and arrange a couple of revivifying nights at this resort after a whirlwind stay on the Strip.

The JW’s Ramparts Casino has slots, table games, a race and sports room, leggy cocktail waitresses, bars, a buffet, and the fine Carmel Room Restaurant. Ramparts is less smoky and frigid than many casinos, so guests can wager comfortably here.

The hotel’s undulating pool is a pleasure, with a lap section and cool water that is lightly salty, not chlorine-saturated. French Riviera-like poolside cabanas, rentable by the half-day or day, have TVs plus bar, café, and pool-boy service.

There’s a guest gym and a fancier spa gym. It can be used for an extra fee or on a complimentary basis for spa patrons. A golf concierge can arrange rounds at any of the area’s 11 courses.

Other local recreational opportunities include hiking or trail rides in dazzling nearby Red Rock Canyon. Guests seeking to explore Las Vegas’ vibrant desert environment and man-made wonders are well-served by Adventure Photo Tours. Their reasonably-priced outings in four-wheel drives combine personal attention, insiders’ knowledge, and spectacular sights.

Dining at the JW Marriott Las Vegas
The resort’s eateries are varied, and good enough to keep guests from straying off-property.

Ceres Restaurant serves buffet and a la carte breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Its outdoor patio faces a serene mini-waterfall. Ceres’s somewhat plain interior is more than redeemed by outstanding cuisine. Carnivores will be thrilled by the chef’s tender, mesquite-grilled rib-eye steak, and his Colorado rack of lamb is not silly baby chops but meaty slabs.

Fanciers of Japanese food should not miss elegant, authentic Shizen, whose moonlit outdoor tables beckon on warm nights. Diners can go for dishes cooked at the table by a personal chef or for exceptional sushi creations that please the eye and palate. A selection of sakes comes by the glass or flask.

Spiedini serves master chef Gustav Mauler’s Northern Italian fare. The ristorante is alluringly decorated with fiery red touches and circular tables, railings, and lamps. Seafood is a specialty, and earthy duck risotto delights hungry gourmets.

J.C. Wooloughan is a realistic Irish pub with good bar bands. It serves up plump, juicy burgers; house-made soups and stews; and has many brews on tap .

The on-premises Ramparts Casino comprises a buffet, a casual café, and an upscale restaurant, The Carmel Room, done in velvety Gold Rush style.

Several bars, the Plush Lounge nightclub, Cigar Lounge, Starbucks, a poolside eatery, and room service round out the JW’s dining choices.

Destination Weddings at the JW Marriott Las Vegas
Guests invited to witness marriage vows at the JW may think they’re going to a typical Las Vegas wedding. But the bride can expect her nuptials to be considerably more manageable and refined.

This resort is a tranquil alternative to chapels on the frantic Strip, and the same goes for weddings here. For starters, at no point will the bride’s party or guests have to traipse through a casino.

The JW’s well-staffed events department offers planning assistance with every bridal detail including customized ceremonies, flowers, menus, cake, music, and videos.

Brides have a plethora of indoor, outdoor, or combination wedding venues to choose from. Many ceremonies are conducted on the resort’s two relatively secluded lawn areas. They offer seating for up to 300, lush landscaping, Red Rock Canyon views, and a vows gazebo or vaulted archway.

The resort’s indoor venues can be intimate, such as the stone-walled Lodge on the Lawn and the palatial Suite 6200. Or they can be very major. The Valencia Terrace can accommodate up to 1,500 revelers, and four ballrooms can comfortably handle about 1,000 of the couple’s nearest and dearest.

A classy choice for medium-sized weddings of 100 to 200 is the Parian Room, sumptuously decorated with rich damask and mahogany that recall a robber baron’s mansion.

For reservations and information:
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa at Summerlin
221 N. Rampart Blvd.
Las Vegas, NV 89145
(877)869-8777