Where To Stay In Las Vegas?

Next month, Mr. Snooty and I plan to go to Las Vegas for our 31st wedding anniversary and my 56th birthday, which are back to back. So, I've been looking through Expedia's offerings and am nearly cross-eyed at this point. We want to stay someplace really nice (meaning at least a 4 star) but we don't want to go broke over staying there.

Now, Mr. Snooty insists on staying at a hotel that allows smoking in the rooms. Fine. In Vegas that shouldn't be a problem, right? However, there is not a hotel that will guarantee that you will get a smoking room. Everything is on a first come, first served basis. So, I don't know what to do. In the past, when we stay at any hotel, I have always had to call ahead to the hotel and make certain that they have smoking rooms available. Still, they will never guarantee anything until you get there. Mr. Snooty will throw a schnit fit if we don't get a smoking room.

So, I don't know what to do. Cancel the trip and stay home? Take our chances and the chance that Mr. S will leave the hotel if there isn't a smoking room available (even though it's all pre-paid)? This is a huge quandary for me. Mr. S doesn't want to be the one to make the reservations. That's my job and mine alone, evidently.

Last year, it took me nearly a month of searching online to find the right place to stay in Cancun. Then, when we arrived, we discovered the hotel was under renovations. It was loud and it was a mess, even though we still managed to have a great time.

I guess what I'm trying to say is I NEED HELP in this decision. If anyone has suggestions or has stayed at a particularly favorite place, please tell me. Since there is no smoking allowed in any public areas in Vegas (like restaurants), I figure we can always eat in our room. Sounds like fun, doesn't it? No. Not to me either.

Mr. Snooty will only fly Southwest Airlines so we are limited as to where we can go. However, Southwest does offer some excellent Vegas vacation packages. Our choices through them in Vegas are:

The Bellagio
MGM Grand
The Riviera
The Wynn
The Mirage
The Monte Carlo
Mandalay Bay
Planet Hollywood
The Flamingo
The Rio
Treasure Island

Since smoking is also prohibited in show rooms, I guess I'll either be going alone or not at all. I really want to see the stage production of Mama Mia and perhaps one other show. Not sure that's going to happen, since we're supposed to be together to celebrate being married for 31 years.

This whole thing is really frustrating me and I'm on the verge of just calling off the entire trip. Frankly, I'd rather go to Mexico again, but Mr. S says there are too many people being killed in Mexico by the drug cartel people. Okay. Whatever. So, the only other place he wants to go is Las Vegas. Period.

What am I to do? I desperately need guidance here. PLEASE HELP!