Overall Hotel Summary (Hotels in Las Vegas in general)

Name: richardandkaye

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Product:	Hotels in Las Vegas in general
Date:	04/03/01 (3034 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: Out of this World Resorts

Disadvantages: You have to come home

LAS VEGAS , the city that never sleeps , where dreams are born and fortunes are won & lost.

My wife and I have been to Las Vegas at least once every year since 1988. Whilst no one can ever claim to know everything about a place , we believe we have a good knowledge and would like to be in a position to provide information where this may prove helpful.

I have attached below link's under respective headings as and when I have come across them. Have fun hunting through the link's and more importantly , if you go to Las Vegas , have a fantastic time.

Please let me know if any of you win a fortune , I've never won more than 4,000 coins at any one time but go ahead and make me jealous.

Please e-mail me at richardandkaye@totalise.co.uk

HOTELS

(I have tried to do them in position order from the South end of the Strip , moving North.)

Mandalay Bay

This Hotel has some very strange Restaurants , a Russain theme and a Jungle Theme - have a look but unless you have deep pockets , suggest you eat elsewhere.

Luxor

On all the Holiday programs they always show the Luxor.

It is certainly a very impressive looking building, owned by Mandalay Resorts (same as Mandalay Bay , Excalibur , Monte Carlo & Circus Circus).

Another 4,000 plus rooms following the opening of the two new Towers about 3 or 4 years ago.

Fronted by an ornately carved 191 foot obelisk and guarded by a 10 story replica of the Sphinx of Giza

Inside is one massive atrium going from ground floor to the top of the pyramid and to me , this is what I don't like about this Hotel. It creates a cold feeling whereas most others try to create a warm relaxed and welcoming feel.

Throughout the Hotel replica Paintings and Hieroglyphics abound from ancient Eqyptian sites.

One massive plus if you want something a little different and don't we all is the &quo
t;inclinators". The What you are asking. Imagine the shape of a Pyramid then imagine rooms on each floor going upwards and inwards. You get a cross between a Lift and and Escalator.

Oh and don't forget the 315,000 watt light beam which shoots ever upwards , said to be the most powerful light beam on earth.

The Rooms are very plush as per all the other Mega Resorts but the Hotel just doesn't hit the right spot for me.

Another big plus is the Arco petrol Station next door and you can get Cheap Coca Cola , Beer and Ice Cream , ideal for a midnight feast.

In summary , the usual razzamataz and glitz but not one of my all-time favourites.

15/12/2000

On the back of fluffypups comment we paid a return visit to the Luxor last week.

I have to admit that it came over better that I could remember last year (we didn't visit it when we went in June).

We tried their Buffet and were pleasantly surprised.

So a big thank you to fluffypup for kicking me up the backside and getting me to have another look.

Excalibur

A 4,032 Room Resort all based around the Camelot Theme.

Rooms are spacious but plainly decorated (recently re-done) and based around Two high rise towers.

This Hotel is appealing to Families with Children probably slightly more than those without , it can sometimes get a little noisy.

Usual eat as much as you want Buffets , much improved over last 2 years. Vast Casino ideal for people with medium budgets since machines available for all pockets from $0.05c upwards.

If you go in Autumn / Winter , look out for Merlins special offers , Cheap Rooms , Free Funbook and 2 For 1 Buffets.

Tropicana One of the older Hotels.

New York New York

One of the newer Mega Resorts. I haven't stayed in this one but have been in on several instances. Very Professionally done.
As the name sugg
ests , designed around the New York skyline. Skyscapers form the Room Towers and each has its own standard of Rooms and type of Decor. Watch out for the Manhattan Express , a Rollercoaster that runs around the outside of the Hotel.

MGM Grand

Currently the largest Hotel Resort in the World , 5,000 plus Rooms from the Standard , Deluxe to completely out of my price range.
This hotel is amzing and kids will go Wild to stay here.
A fantastic show called EFX , you may have heard of it since Michael Crawford originally starred. Out back of the Hotel is Grand Garden Arena , an NEC Arena sized Sports and Music venue.
A theme park but only open Spring through Summer. Not on the scale of Disneyland but on a hot summers day when you just want to play the slots and the tables , an excellent way to get rid of the kids.
A Lion Habitat where it is said that a direct decendant of the original MGM Lion lives. The Habitat is a little false but is loved by kids.
Food outlets galore from Fast Food to Gourmet dining - something to suit everyone.
An abundance of shops are found when you decend the escalator - enough to put some serious damage on your Credit Card.
Oh and I forgot to mention , an amazing Casino split into several sections. We've got split up a couple of times and had trouble finding each other. Having said that , we have made some serious wins in this Casino so remember it fondly.

Monte Carlo Another of the newer Mega Resorts. Again , very nice looking.

Holiday Inn Boardwalk Cheapy in price and looks. Sorry Holiday Inn but compared to the other Hotels & Casino's you are quite plain and basic.

Aladdin

Now Opened. Replaces the old world famous Aladdin. This is the only Las Vegas Mega Resort which has a majority UK ownership. When I was last in Las Vegas in December , it had only recently opened - looked very impressive but still a little bit of building work going on.

P
aris Another New Mega Resort , themed surprise surprise on Paris in France

Bellagio Said to be the best Hotel Resort in the World. I wouldn't wish to try and disprove this comment. Opulence abounds.

Ballys Slightly older but still very luxurious and world renowned

Caesars Palace Even if you don't get to stay here , my suggestion is a lunch-time Buffet at Caesars. Excellent quality at a price that's right.

Barbary Coast Cheap and cheerful

Flamingo Hilton

If you've ever watched TV Program or Film which includes Las Vegas , inevitably you will have seen the Flamingo Hilton. Now Part of the Bally's Group known as Park Palace Hotels.

The Flamingo Hilton is the Pink coloured Hotel with lights going up the side in the shape of yes you guessed it a Pink Flamingo.

We have stayed in this Hotel on three Occasions although not for the last three years , however , we still visit it each time we visit Las Vegas.

This place is definately not for Kids , it comes over as more aloof and certainly the gambling is aimed more towards the higher rollers , the basic slots starting at $0.25 whereas most Casinos start at $0.05. This is a little disappointing since the Hotel itself whilst very nice is not in the same league as some of the other Ultra Deluxe Resorts such as Caesars Palace , Bellaggio , The Venetian and Mandalay Bay.

The Food is very similar to all the other Resorts but priced $1 or $2 more to create a class appeal but I do not think it is worth paying the extra.

What I do like though is out the back of the Hotel is the new Pool / Garden Area. Large expanse set over to Penguins and Pink Flamingos so if you have a Kid it is well worth while popping in for 1/2 hour or so.

Right next door to the Flamingo is O'Sheas , owned by the same people but aimed more downmarket. If you want a cheap snack / drink head for here. Also , if you cannot
keep away from Gambling , it does have $0.05 machines which the Flamingo seems devoid of.

Not one of the best but since it is always on telly , suggest you pop in for a few minutes just to say you've been.

O'shea's No website Link. Owned by same people as Flamingo Hilton. Considerably more down market.

Imperial Palace

Imperial Palace is certainly not as aesthetically pleasing to the eye as all the new Mega Resorts but it does have something to shout about.

Without doubt one of the best Auto Exhibitions in the World. It is not just me saying this , one of my customers is a renowned expert in Vintage Cars and he openly admits that this is a rare and prestigous collection.

It shows on a rotating basis some 750 Antique , Classic and Special Interest vehicles from the last 100 years.

The Likes of Hitler's , Marilyn Monroe , JFK Lyndon Johnson's Cadillac , Eisenhower's Chrysler , Roosevelt's Cadillac & Elvis Presleys 1976 Powder Blue Cadillac Eldorado to name but a few famous names.

One of the truly spectacular rooms houses the Worlds largest collection of Duesenbergs (25 Vehicles valued at $50 Million)one of which was owned by James Cagney.

If you go out of Season (say November through to February) I have found they are offering either 2 for 1 or sometimes even free entry. If you have a couple of hours , please make time to visit the Imperial Palace Auto Collection.

Harrah's Another middle of the road.

The Mirage

Designed by Steve Wynn (my hero) along with Treasure Island and Bellaggio , like tho other two , this is a most amazing Hotel & Resort.

Fronted by cascading waterfalls and a Volcano which erupts very frequently each night , but this is just the beginning.

Step in side and you are confronted by a tropical rainforest under a huge glass dome. Walk to the check in area and this is backed by a m
assive aquarium that keeps you fascinated whilst waiting for your rooms.

The rooms are superbly decorated in a wide range of pastel colours and styles , out of the back of the Hotel are a few Lanai bungalows for the chosen ones. Money can't buy these , you are invited to stay in them.

The swimming pool area is in itself a Tropical sensation with waterfalls cascading all around. Adjacent to this is the Dolphin Habitat and Siegfried and Roy's Secret Garden. The former has three pools with about a dozen Dolphins (all rescued or born there , none captured). The latter is a collection of big Cats (Tigers Lions) and a few other exotic animals seen in the unbelievable Siegfried and Roy Show.

This is quite expensive at circa $100 per ticket but is a classic not to be missed Las Vegas spectacular.

Turning to Grub

The usual all you can eat Buffet , very high standard but for a few dollars cheaper you are almost as satisfied with the Treasure Island Buffet.

Kokomo's very high quality Steak Restaurant, Mikado - Classic Teppanyaki cooking and Moongate - Cantonese & Szechuan being clearly my favourite three of their Restaunrants.

In summary , if you can afford the circa $80/$100 a night for a mid-week Room or say $150 for a weekend Room , please give The Mirage a try , you will not be sorry. But I am biased.

Treasure Island

A beautiful 3,000 Room Mega Resort which we have stayed at 5 or 6 times now.

Themed around Pirate adventures , it has a live Gunship Battle every 90 minutes outside its main entrance for about 4.30 pm nightly.

Rooms are excellent , very recently renovated but come in at very reasonable prices outside of Conventions , American Holidays and Special Events.

We've stayed for $60 a Night in what on a comparative basis in the UK must be classed as Top 4* if not 5* Hotel.

If you are lucky , they will try and upgrade you to
a Petite Suite for about $99 to $129 per night. Work that out in £ sterling. I am talking about a very spacious room with two Bathrooms , one with large walk in shower , the other with large Jacuzzi. Both with Toilets , Washbasins and Wardrobes.

Fantastic double door entrances just outside the lift , you can spend half your holiday waiting for other people to walk past just to show off the entrance to your room.

Joking apart , this is fantastic value for money.

Food is superb in the all you can eat Buffet (Shrimp and Prime Rib) for about $11 each.

The Show is from Cirque du Soleil called Mystere , an awesome Circus show but with no animals. An extravaganza.


The Venetian One of the most expensive Resorts ever. Almost to the extent of sending them bust. Very luxurious but every so often , you get little signs of things not quite finished off.

The New Frontier - new web-site awaited

Stardust Middle of the road

Desert Inn

One of the originals and certainly one of the most luxurious. Not as outspoken as some of the Mega Resorts in view of its size. Recently purchased by Steve Wynn who has given Vegas , The Mirage , Treasure Island & Bellaio. This guy is a genius. Look out for some exciting developments at the Desert Inn.

Riviera Middle of the road

Westwood Ho Cheap and cheerful

Circus Circus

The Circus Circus Hotel and Casino is part of the now massive Mandalay Bay Group and includes many of the huge Las Vegas Resorts (Mandalay Bay , Luxor , Excalibur and Circus Circus together with other joint collaborations).

I don't think they would mind me saying that this is their most basic Hotel in Las Vegas but that description doesn't do it justice.

We are still talking about a 3,000 Room Resort with 3 Towers of Rooms and out the back cheaper more Motel like accommodation.

Three Huge Casinos with scope for
junior gamblers $0.05c per going through to Hi-Rollers (serious money).

But what does it offer , great focus for Kids - in door theme park under its world wide recognisable Pink Dome and numerous free circus acts under the big top.

The circus acts are above the casino in the arcade section designed specifically for Kids with hundreds of Games and Rides for them and some of the older kids (Adults) aswell.

Food is the usual pile it high and cheap but not quite up to the standards of the other resorts.

TIP of the Day

Keep going between Circus Circus and it's sister Casino next door Slots a Fun. Every time you leave you get a Funbook which entitles you to Free Popcorn in Slots a Fun and a Free Pull on a Slot Machine.

Also exchange your Travellers Cheques in Slots a Fun and you get a Free Beer. The clever ones will take $20 Cheques and exchange a few a day. It kep my wife and I in Beer for 3 days (Guzzle Guzzle)

In summary , not the best Hotel , if you are staying in Vegas for only a couple of days , stay at one of the Higher Class Resort such as Treasure Island. If you are in Vegas for a Week , stay at Circus Circus for the first couple of Days , keeps it cheap but fun for Kids then move on to one of the better Resorts for the second half of your stay.


Sahara Middle of the road

Stratosphere Middle of the road.

This Hotel though has the outside Rollercoaster at the top of its tower. You need to be brave for this one.

This list is far from exhaustive , Las Vegas has hundreds of Hotels. I have merely covered the main Resorts situated on the Strip. For no other reason than these are the ones I have visited , some a couple of times , some many many times. You will probably work out from the tone of my comments which are my favourites.

I see very little point in doing a summary of the Hotels Restaurants or Shows since you will find all you need by v
isiting the relevant Hotel website.

What I will list next is a few sites which provide more overall summaries of Las Vegas.

You will find different ones of interest dependant upon exactly what you are looking for. Good hunting.

Www.vegas.com/resorts/new Lets you look at new Resorts as they are being built.

Lasvegas.jumptravel.com Las Vegas Complete Travel Guide

Www.lasvegastourism.com Visitors information Directory

Www.lvshowbiz.com The world famous Las Vegas Showbiz Magazine

Www.vegasguide.com Premier on-line guide to Las Vegas attractions & information

Www.las-vegas-guide.com Loads more info on what is going on

Www.lasvegasweekly.com Your guide to Las Vegas

Las Vegas for Christmas Shopping ? , that would be different !!!

I find that Shopping Centres in the UK become far too busy and over commercialised from about October onwards. It then becomes far too busy and a complete hassle to fight your way through all the crowds to buy your Xmas presents.

Last year we went to Las Vegas in early December (just after Thanksgiving) and visited their Shopping Centres and two Major Outlet Centres.

The weather was pleasant and the shopping was easy , hassle free and above all Cheap. We purchased a large volume of designer name gear for the family and ourselves. Everyone was very pleased and impressed with their presents.

Traditionally people fly to New York , stay in some posh Hotel and the whole adventure ends up costing them a fortune.

Flying to Las Vegas this time of year costs about £250 per person , the Hotel Rooms in December are at almost giveaway prices. We are talking about $40/$50 a night in a 4 or 5 Star Hotel. Weekend prices a little higher. All Americans have been to Las Vegas for Thanksgiving and then save their money up for New Year , as a result December including Xmas is relatively cheap.

Airline used last
year and for this years trip :- American Airlines from Birmingham or Heathrow via Chicago. This year Virgin Airlines offers a direct flight however , this is likely to add £50/£100 per person to the ticket price.

Hotels I can personally comment on as being reasonably priced are :- Excalibur , Circus Circus , Flamingo Hilton , Luxor , Monte Carlo and Treasure Island - see comments above.

In New York , I have heard that you can pay as much as $150/$200 a night for a fairly basic 3 Star Hotel.

Admittedly the flight is slightly longer but the positives far outweigh this slight negative.

In summary , if you've still got a little holiday left and you are looking to do something a little different in December , get yourself over to Las Vegas for some Bargain Priced Xmas Shopping !

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