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Like Android phones, feminism and post-Napoleonic France, Las Vegas is on its third wave. From the mob to the Rat Pack, Vegas has morphed with the culture, and these days, you’re as likely to stay in a hotel with an environmental certification, Michelin-starred restaurant or high-end spa as you are to bring home a souvenir hangover or lipsticked collar.

With 19 of the world’s 25 largest hotels and 150,000 guest rooms, how does a guy decide which place to lay his head while avoiding the spring-break slop and Mom-I’m-bored crowds?

What if you could mine recommendations from thousands of like-minded travelers and friends? Gogobot, a new social travel website, is fast becoming the go-to place for the dish on hotels, restaurants and things to do. The site allows you to connect via Facebook and Twitter to get trusted advice from people you know (not the hotel owner’s 58-year-old cousin). We asked the Gogobot community for their picks on the best hotels in Vegas and got back some great advice. Looking for where the beautiful people stay? Try the Encore at Wynn, which Betty Nguyen describes as “...fully stacked from head to toe with gorgeousness.” Want to visit casinos but not stay in center of the madness? Sara Benson calls the Four Seasons “the original non-gaming hideaway on the Strip.”

These are the top 10 hotels in Las Vegas, as recommended by Gogobot users.

10.Hard Rock Hotel and Casino Hard Rock Las Vegas, hotel's pool.

"The casino is like a big party with gaming tables." -- Henry Nguyen

As you’d imagine, the Hard Rock Hotel rocks harder than just about any resort in Vegas. Soundly off the Strip, the party never ends here. One of the most famous events in Vegas, the Rehab pool party on Sundays, might have been the tourist board’s impetus for the slogan “What happens in Vegas stays in Vegas.”

9.THEHotel at Mandalay Bay

"The rooms are PLUSH. I literally mean it feels like going into a cloud." -- Lorrie Ma

The newest tower at Mandalay Bay, THEHotel only offers suites, which are complete with ridiculously large Jacuzzi tubs and spacious surroundings. Dine with a view at Alain Ducasse’s Mix restaurant and bar, where you can admire the Strip from 60 stories up, or head over to the Mandalay, where a 2,700-ton sand beach, wave pool and 100 cabanas means you don’t have to choose between Cancun or Vegas.

8.Signature at MGM Grand

"The TV comes up out of the desk, James Bond style!" -- Austin Szu

If you’d like to save a few dollars by not staying on the Strip but still have every luxury and amenity possible, the Signature, a residence hotel with full kitchens and Jacuzzi tubs, might be calling your name. A climate-controlled walkway connects the Signature to the MGM Grand, so gambling and dining options are a two-minute walk away.

7.Vdara Hotel and Spa Vdara with its homey rooms (including washer/dryers and kitchens), subdued rooftop pool area and spa.

"…at the midst of actions and still provides an escape from all the noisy casinos…" -- Verlisia

Want to retreat to a calm oasis but stay in the middle of the Vegas Strip? There’s no better choice than Vdara, with its homey rooms (including washer/dryers and kitchens), subdued rooftop pool area and spa. The non-smoking boutique hotel offers a quiet night's sleep just a five-minute walk from the Bellagio or Aria casinos.

6.The Palazzo Resort Hotel Casino

"The suites are huge and gorgeously decorated." -- Connie Chang

The newer sister property to the Venetian, the Palazzo is the place to stay with a group. Enormous guest suites offer every amenity imaginable, and most are larger than a Manhattan apartment. For even more attentive service, check into the Prestige suites, where the hotel offers champagne check-ins and a personal concierge.

5.Bellagio Las Vegas Bellagio Las Vegas hotel.

"…the guest suites overlooking the fountain are incredibly magical." -- Celeny Da Silva

From the iconic dancing Bellagio fountains to Cirque du Soliel’s O to the glass-flower Dale Chihuly installation above the lobby, the Bellagio knows style. While more luxurious hotels open every year along the Strip, the Bellagio’s class is timeless.

4.Venetian Resort Hotel Casino

"…a great place to be if you want to be a bit fancy and don’t have to spend too much." -- Jimmy Hua

While the Venetian is no slouch any time of year, summer is a particularly good time to stay. With seemingly endless casinos, shopping, dining, entertainment, and a replica of the Venetian Grand Canal (complete with gondolas and gondoliers), you don’t even have to leave the property for a true Vegas experience.

3.Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas Four Seasons Hotel's room.

"The original non-gaming hideaway on the Strip." -- Sara Benson

The staff at the Four Seasons Las Vegas don’t only take care of your every need; they anticipate them before you even know you might have them. From Evian misters at the pool to concierge services par excellence, you won’t even miss the casinos. Children are especially looked after here.

2.Wynn Las Vegas Wynn hotel at night.

"Our room on the 50th floor faces the golf course and the beautiful waterfall behind it." -- Jessica Cheung

The hotelier gold standard in Vegas and beyond with world-famous shows, stylish nightlife, a Ferrari dealership, high-roller casino tables, a golf course, and over 50 stories of impeccably decorated rooms.

1.Encore At Wynn Las Vegas

"…can be a little pricey, but worth it!" -- Ben Saitz

You can enjoy Encore’s over-the-top style without having to buy the $10,000 cocktail at their XS nightclub (which is architecturally designed to mimic the curves of the human form). Three years younger than its sister property, Wynn Las Vegas, Encore’s rooms (and price tags) run slightly larger.

Travis Katz is the CEO and co-founder of Gogobot, a new social travel site backed by some of Silicon Valley's finest (including Google's Eric Schmidt) and winner of the 2010 Crunchie Award for Best Design. A Stanford grad and former top executive at MySpace, Travis is a passionate traveler who has been to more than 54 countries.

Image sources:

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