The Encore lives up to its predecessor's luxury and opulence. The suites are lovely and the casino is generally low-key and nearly smoke free. And for a non-gambling non-smoker, those things are nice!
The pool area is shockingly small and cramped for the size of the hotel. I found that a little off-putting. The drinks, of course, and weak and way overpriced, but its Vegas and you have to expect that.
The food selections are interesting - not much in the way of accessible cuisine. The clubs are apparently very popular and LOUD. Staying on the 38th floor, we could hear not only the bass, but the lyrics of the music below at Surrender. Just a tad annoying.
We will stay here again b/c our overall experience was lovely, but these were the points that stood out and I warrant being mentioned. If you're going to stay in a hotel that puts itself on such a pedestal, then be advised of the things that might knock it down.