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| - I was in awe of the shoppes initially after seeing them on the Venetian's website. I didn't look at too many other malls or shopping areas prior to my trip because I knew I'd spend the majority of my time at the grand canal shoppes. Additionally, these are supposed to be "amazing" and make me really feel like I'm in Venice.
After checking into the hotel, I went for my first of several strolls I would take through the shoppes during my stay, not necessarily because I wanted to, but because this was the "easiest" way to get to where I was going. Sure, the shoppes create a majestic atmosphere with beautifully detailed ceilings and a canal weaving through parts of the shopping area. There are mostly high-end, along with a few lower-end shoppes accounted for. There is definitely a restaurant presence as well, I'll give them that. In fact, the eating options are probably what stands out the most about these shoppes compared to the others.
What I came to realize is that this "famous" shopping area is really no different than the next hotel's. I began to notice a familiar pattern throughout all of the higher-end hotels' shopping area. High-end after high-end store, some fancy architecture, restaurants. Sure the grand canal shoppes have the gondolas, but aside for that, I didn't find anything more remarkable than say...the Forum shoppes. In fact, I found those shoppes more organized in a more traditional mall layout.
Note to the grand canal shoppes: just stick with a normal layout. Why must everything be difficult to find? I'm good with maps and had to ask for help in finding places several times. Nothing was laid out in an organized fashion.
The concept is nice, but I didn't find it spectacular.
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