The stylin' Tropicana ups the ante to the Vegas level with the Quarter -- three floors of chichi stores, high-end eateries and an IMAX theater -- dressed up in an Old Havana vibe. Tropicana rooms and suites (accommodations aplenty) in the two towers, the Havana and the West, offer panoramic views of the ocean (add to that the coveted bluemercury spa services, indoor and outdoor pools, transportation service on premises, and a gym). Dining options range from the modest buffets and a 24-hour coffee shop to the world-class gourmet restaurants like the elegant Palm steakhouse and New York's first-rate Italian family restaurant, Carmine's. Other dining highlights would be Stephen Starr's Cuba Libre, a pseudo-Soviet vodka bar The Red Square, the dessert-only Brulee, and Corky's Ribs and BBQ. Shopping opportunities have gone noticeably upscale over the years, with the likes of the Brooks Brothers, Tahari and Zinman. Tropicana entertains on a grand scale, 24/7, with the Irish dancing at the Ri-Ra pub chain; the stand-up staple that had launched a thousand careers, The Comedy Stop; the cheesy/fun karaoke extravaganza Planet Rose, and a 2,000-seat showroom. As for the gaming action, the Trop was always big on poker and baccarat (visit the Asian-themed Jade Palace), and there are more than 4,400 slot machines alone. -- Tatyana Meshcheryakova