By Jorie Larsen, Travel Correspondent

Luxury Resort Near the Las Vegas Strip

Both a luxury resort and a lively casino, The Palms Casino Resort entertains in relentless Vegas fashion, with top-notch restaurants, expansive pools, and throbbing nightclubs. Upon stepping into the hotel, gamblers and guests step onto the floor of the Palms' 95,000-square-foot casino, a 24-hour grown-up playground packed with more than 70 gaming tables and 1,650 slot machines, plus an adjacent race and sports book with 50 monitors displaying domestic and international competitions.

High above the casino's clamor, in the heart of the Palms' deluxe guest rooms, those who opt to sleep can do so on a pristine, all-white king-size bed. A wooden desk and plush, olive-hued armchairs offer repose near the floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the Palms' newest addition, the Fantasy Tower, which hosts pulsating nightlife near its crown, including the latest iteration of the legendary Playboy Club. The direct-access pass included with this Groupon grants hotel guests free admission to the Playboy Club, as well as the Palms' spa and fitness center. Bridging the gap between the resort's two spires are 2 acres of pools with a 12-foot waterfall and three poolside bars, from which toned waitresses in tiny pink bikinis and wedged heels venture forth to the pool deck, proffering cocktail services to boisterous young men draped across clusters of lounge chairs. Twenty-seven private, shady cabanas available for rent ($500+ food-and-beverage minimum plus 20% gratuity for up to 10 people) skirt the pool deck, each with a neon-colored roof sheltering cushioned wicker furniture, a 32-inch TV, and a slightly frightened-looking refrigerator.

At least one concierge mans the bustling front desk at all hours of the day, armed with a battery of helpful suggestions. Caitlin dispenses friendly advice about her favorite local entertainment and provides insight on lesser-known restaurants. The Palms itself houses a variety of eateries, ranging from the casual yet extensive breakfast spread in Bistro Buffet to Alizé, an award-winning French fine-dining establishment helmed by renowned chef André Rochat. Nestled in the Palms Tower penthouse, the one-star Michelin restaurant rewards diners with a broad view of the Las Vegas Strip.

On and Off The Strip: An Adult Playground with Funky Flair

With its expansive cluster of sky-scraping hotels and endless neon, the Las Vegas Strip endures as a can't-miss spectacle. Fremont Street provides an original stretch of unadulterated Old Vegas, without the cobblestones. Many of Fremont's casinos still sport the iconic signs that have beckoned gamblers since the 1950s. But today's Glitter Gulch burns much brighter than in the Rat Pack era, thanks to a canopy of 12 million LED lights that erupt in a psychedelic light-and-music show hourly beginning at dusk. Street performers dressed as gladiators, pirates, and showgirls strut down the boulevard, and a contortionist donning a tie-dyed unitard shimmies into a clear box only slightly bigger than a suitcase. Also, an 850-foot-long zipline shoots high-flyers above the glittering avenue, for some reason.

For a respite from the frenetic Strip, head a block southeast of Fremont Street to The Griffin, a cozy, laid-back watering hole with two fireplaces and a wide selection of beers. Or, go the opposite direction to Lotus of Siam, where chef Saipin Chutima crafts authentic Thai food in an unassuming eatery that houses a superb collection of wine in floor-to-ceiling racks, earning the restaurant the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence.

Back on The Strip, the Bellagio Gallery of Fine Art provides a diversion of at least a half hour, with an exhibit of more than 30 exquisite landscape paintings, including an early haystack piece by impressionist Claude Monet. Another ocular spectacle, the 90-minute Cirque du Soleil Love, blends the unbelievable acrobatics of Cirque's aerialists with the timeless soundtrack of The Beatles.

Although The Palms Casino Resort offers various packages throughout the year, this Groupon is the best deal available for a one-night stay.