The Complete Guide to Las Vegas Hotels & Casinos
Latest News and Reviews
The "Live" Trip Report |
February 4, 2012 2:08 am |
Saturday 2:00 AM - Had to go back downstairs for one last spin. It wasn't a terrible run but all in all a pretty crappy weekend of gambling... 12:15 AM - Back in the suite at Harrah's after getting a little beat up at the Venetian. Friday 10:00 PM - After a few Corona's at the casino bar in TI, it's over to the venetian for a little gambling.8:30 PM - Dinner at Cantor's Deli at the TI. An expnsive sandwich but pretty decent. 5:45 PM - Got a quick power nap and another cup of coffee and now ready to start the night with a trip over to the Mirage. 3:30 PM - I'm checked into Harrah's and was met with a pleasant surprise, a free upgrade to a 1 bedroom suite! Maybe they want a better review than I gave for recent stays at their sister properties, Flamingo and Rio! It been fairly recently remodeled and helps cushion the blow from leaving Bellagio! 12:30 PM - Over to The Cosmopolitan for lunch at the not-so-secret pizza joint. Its still is a pretty good slice for being 2,800 miles from New York. 12:00 PM - Checked out of Bellagio and was quite happy with the stay. Hopefully, the room at Harrah's isn't too much of a down-grade. 9:00 AM - Rolled out of the rack and got a much needed $4.27 cup of coffee at Cafe Gelato at Bellagio. Quick room comment... The "B" has the world's finest blackout shades! Not a single ray of light at all. 2:30 AM - Playing at Bellagio for over 2 hours and walked away even! Only saw the waitress once in that entire time. What is this? The Palms??? Thursday 11:30 PM - Back at Bellagio after another bad run at those damn penny machines!!! 10:00 PM - Lost my shorts on penny slots and had breakdfast for dinner at the Cafe at MC. 8:30 PM - Kronenbourgs at The Pub at Monte Carlo. Good beer served by a good bartender. 7:00 PM - Arrived at Bellagio at 6PM after a beautiful drive up the 15. Check-in was fast and friendly and I am now in my room on the 19th floor overlooking the pool. First impression... nicely done! I am trying something new on this trip, the first ever Almost Live Trip Report! I will be even more "real=time" on Twitter so if you are a Vegas Trip Report Junkie then give me a follow! |
 |
Stratosphere "Select" Room Review and Pictures |
January 19, 2012 12:48 am |
The last night of the trip was at the Stratosphere in a "Select" room, which is their most recently remodeled room. As a long time veteran of the Stratosphere going all the way back to it's opening, check-in often is the worst part of the stay at the Strat. Fortunately this trip, that wasn't the case and I was immediately helped and on my way to the room on the 17th floor in minutes. The room is decorated in dark red, brown and beige and screams "Vegas" but isn't over the top. The space is a decent size and the choice of furnishings worked to fill it without feeling cramped. It was a top to bottom remodel with all new furniture including a flat-screen TV, decent lounge chair, small table and desk area. The bathroom was included in the remodel with a new granite vanity and tile flooring. Aside from the oddly mismatched, uncomfortable desk chair and the plain white generic shower/tub combo; the rooms was pretty nice, especially for what they are usually asking for them. Downstairs there has been quite a bit of work as well. The valet is now by the front door, where it should be, and the entire casino floor has been redone. In terms of machine spacing, the casino may be the most spacious in Vegas as well as the darkest. It definitely has a different vibe than most other Strip casinos. For restaurants, there is really only 4 restaurants plus a few quick bite places. Dinner at the 50s-themed diner Roxy's (Open 24/7) was pretty good coffee shop fare and the menu is affordable. The service was fast enough that I only had to suffer through 1 song by the singing waiters! They also have a middle of the road buffet, a slightly above average Italian joint and the Top of the World restaurant in the tower. The place has an amazing rotating view of Vegas with prices to match. The food, while excellent, is a notch below the best in town. Overall, it was quite an enjoyable stay at the Strat. The remodeled rooms are certainly a big upgrade and fairly nicely done especially for a place that isn't trying to be Bellagio. Compared to the stay at the Flamingo 2 nights earlier, the Stratosphere is the winner hands down. The major downside to the Strat has always been the location and with the closing of the Sahara, there is now nothing within walking distance. If your plan is to walk the Strip your entire stay, it not the place for you! The bottom line is... If you want a nice, moderately priced room with just about anything you could want from a Strip resort and can deal with the location issue, definitely consider the Select rooms at the Stratosphere. Stratosphere Select Room Pictures
|
|
Four Queens Room Review and Pictures |
January 10, 2012 12:04 am |
It was Day 2 of the trip and it was on to downtown and the Four Queens. Although I frequently find myself downtown during my trips, I don't often stay there and never before at the Four Queens. I don't have any great expectations of any hotel downtown except for the Golden Nugget but after the train wreck at the Flamingo the night before, it would be hard to be disappointed. I checked in at 2PM and there wasn't anyone in line at the front desk. In just a few minutes I was up in my room on the 18th floor of the South Tower, the furthest from the Fremont Street Experience. The room had been somewhat recently remodeled though a little sparse on the furnishings. In addition to the king bed and night stands was just a small TV Stand/Dresser, desk and 2 chairs. Like the "Fab" rooms at the Flamingo, the bathroom looks to have been untouched in the remodel. Overall, the room was pretty decent for a $30 hotel room. The bed was comfortable, the carpets and furniture in good condition plus a nice flat screen TV with HD programming. The main knock on the room was the hideous multi-colored decor that screamed 1990 Las Vegas. The bathroom also suffered from a similar issue. While all in perfectly good shape, the tile vanity and shower felt dated. Also, I oddly ran out of hot water towards the end of my shower which shouldnt happen in a 700 room hotel! The rest of the place is a fairly typical downtown hotel with all that goes along with it, good and bad. The casino isn't the largest in the world but within 50 feet from 4 other ones. The Fremont Street Experience is right out the front door; great if you want to see it, not so much if you want to sleep between sundown and midnight. The collection of restaurants won't be mistaken for MGM but there is a decent coffee shop and the classic old school Vegas gourmet room, Hugo's Cellar. The stay at the Four Queens was better than I was expecting and actually a much better experience than at the Flamingo the night before. The hotel itself was pretty decent for what it is and if you prefer to be downtown then you can't go wrong with one of these rooms. Personally, the lack of amenities like a pool rule it out as a regular stop for me but if you just want a good, solid room at a great price, the Four Queens is a great way to go.
|
|
