The first time I saw the Fountains at Bellagio I did not fully appreciate them. In fact, if I had been writing Yelp reviews back then I probably would have given them just two stars. It was a hot (I mean HOT) afternoon in the middle of the summer, I was hungover, and I just didn't understand why my friends wanted to stand out in the sun with the crowds and the exhaust fumes from the traffic all around us and watch water spurt into the air. Everyone loves that scene from Oceans Eleven but we all know that in reality there is no time of day or night when you can stand in that spot in front and watch the fountains while having a moment of solitary peaceful quiet reflection. There is just too much activity on that street. So, my advice to you for enjoying the fountains, and the Las Vegas strip in general actually, is to avoid the tourist crowds and traffic on the streets and stay within the comfortable oasis of a nice casino hotel.
A few years ago when my husband and I stayed at Bellagio for a long weekend we were privileged enough to get a room facing the fountains. Sitting in our room with the curtains open, sipping champagne, we must have watched that show half a dozen times in a row (back then it was every 15 minutes on the weekends). Even with the sliding door closed you could still hear the music so that magical feeling permeated our entire stay there. This winter we stayed at the Cosmopolitan and again had a room facing the fountains, this time with a large balcony complete with patio furniture. We enjoyed brunch out there watching the show from a vantage point much higher than the water reached which gave me a great appreciation for the choreography. All of those jets of water firing off in the right sequence to complement the music is truly an impressive feat. As the water fell back down into the pool below, it created a loud crashing sound that echoed against the walls of the hotels and I was in awe of the power involved. There are also various restaurants on the strip where if you are lucky you can get a view of the fountains and that is a whole other experience enjoying them silently from afar. The lighting at night adds a whole other level to the show.
The Fountains at Bellagio are something that everyone coming to Vegas should see at least once. Just pick your seat for the show wisely and it will be an experience you will never forget.