My first stay at the Encore during Veteran's Day Weekend significantly raised the bar and set the new standard for hotel-ing in Vegas. After years of enjoying the swankiness of Aria, I was ready for a new change of pace and Encore was everything I expected.
Rooms - 5 stars all the way.
Spacious, lovely decor, great view of the Wynn and TI facing the strip southward, enormous bathroom, and state-of-the-art amenities all around.... all this for the basic run-of-the-mill suite. If you're traveling with others, I recommend asking for conjoining rooms to enhance the size. The beds feel as if you're sleeping in a cloud. Comfort and elegance are the forefront of their design here.
Casino/Gaming - 4 stars
Never crowded, always clean, attentive cocktail waitresses, friendly pit crew and a plethora of games including War. Heads up though, the bars with Video Poker do not comp, I found this out after already donating my $20.
Dining - 5 stars
We only actually ate at the Lobby Bar but were very pleased with the breakfast we ordered, attentiveness of the staff and cozy setting. Sinatra and Costa di Mare are both on my immediate hit list to try out next time.
Check-in/Check-out/Front Desk - 5 stars
Staff was great on all fronts. The check-in line was speedy and the front desk was great about resolving an issue I had with a dispute. I don't recommend trying a $20 or $50 sand which here as I've heard it's frowned upon. That said, being polite and asking about better options doesn't hurt.
Bottom line: at this price, I'd stay here again in a heart beat over others. Only gripe to walk away with is that it's at the North end of the strip and a bit of a walk. That said, the Valet pool has a designated Uber/Lyft pick-up which was less than $10 to get us near the Mlife side of the strip.