What are your favorite and least-favorite Vegas-area hotels?

In My Humble Opinion
1

Rather than derail this GQ thread, I figured I’d pose the question here. I’d just like to hear people talk about their favorite Vegas hotels, as well as the hotels they avoid at all costs, and why.

I’ll break mine down as follows:

Off-Strip Favorite
My favorite off-Strip hotel thus far would probably be South Point. It has everything I really need in a Vegas hotel: casino, bingo, bowling, decent food, and a movie theater. If I don’t want to leave the hotel, I don’t have to. And if I really get bored, it’s right down the street from Fry’s Electronics, which is always a good time-killer. The big bonus for me over some of the other all-in-one hotels, though, is that the rooms are really large. I think the regular rooms are 500 square feet, which is not quite as big as the rooms in the Rio, but plenty big enough. And they are very much on the lower side of room costs, being five miles off the Strip.

A close second would be the Gold Coast, where I’ve spent most of my off-Strip stays. Cheap, good rooms, I’ve won a lot of bowling money there, and it’s the only place I’ve ever won at Bingo. A sentimental fav. :slight_smile:

The Strip Favorite
This one’s a lot harder for me. I haven’t stayed at very many Strip hotels in my day. To the best of my recollection, I’ve stayed at Paris, Bellagio, Harrah’s, Stratosphere, the Flamingo, Circus Circus…I might have stayed at New York New York once, but I’m no longer sure. I think that’s it.

I guess I lean toward Bellagio. I stayed there on my honeymoon oh-so-many years ago, and while the marriage has since ended, I have a lot of fond memories from that trip, including seeing “O,” spending one of the nights in a penthouse suite and just generally having a good time. I remember liking Harrah’s as well, but I think I was really biased because I happened to get some really good deal on the room at the time.

Least Favorite
Again, hard to call. I’ve had brief stays at Arizona Charlie’s and at Wild Wild West Gambling Hall, and I seem to recall fearing for my safety at both of those locations. There was something I really disliked about staying at the Stratosphere, but I no longer remember what that was. And while Circus Circus was a real boon to me as a kid, the last time I walked through there as an adult, the noise drove me up the wall.

So, what about the rest of you?

2

Next time you come, give “M Resort” a try - just down the road from South Point. Same owners as the Rio and probably the best buffet in town, for half the price of the buffets at Wynn, Bellagio or Paris hotels.

Other, off-Strip locations that are quite nice - Green Valley Ranch and Red Rock Casino. Both a bit far from The Strip, but great locations if you don’t necessarily want the huge crowds. Those two also have nice movie theaters and other amenities that make staying there 24 hours a day a pleasant stay - perfect for people who also might not be able to/want to walk forever from one casino to the next.

The list of bad places is somewhat longer - and besides, what I find bad, others find great. I personally would not stay downtown - but I know lots of people who wouldn’t stay anywhere else.

The brand, spanking new Cosmopolitan, on The Strip, smack dab between Bellagio and City Center is getting rave reviews so far. It just opened last week, so haven’t had a chance to see it, but supposedly a very cool place to hang out - and they are targeting a hipper, younger crowd (with money). Jay-Z will be performing there for New Year’s, if that gives you a hint.

3

I’m currently planning my third trip to Vegas so I’m paying close attention to this thread.

FWIW, The Las Vegas Hilton failed to impress me in any way. First trip was spent at the Imperial Palace. Not great by any means but it seemed a fair value and I loved their car collection.

4

I’ve stayed downtown a few times. Two or three times at Lady Luck (is that gone, now?), and once at Fitzgerald’s. I really liked Lady Luck, but I think that had more to do with the price than anything else. The room I had at Fitzgerald’s was situated in such a way that I could not escape the noise of Fremont Street despite being several stories up, and I have never been in a Vegas casino that made my eyes water from smoke as much as that one. I would not go back.

Downtown in and of itself doesn’t do a whole lot for me, so unless I was desperate to save money, I wouldn’t look there.

5

Also, the M has a fabulous Italian restaurant-- a little pricey, but it really was delicious. Highly suggested. I got the chicken parm and it really was great.

Anywho, I’m in Vegas every two weeks for work, so I’ve stayed just about everywhere.

Off Strip

I used to really love the South Point (great rooms, nice enough property), but lately their prices have not really been competitive with the closer-to-the-Strip properties. Plus, our office is right off the Strip, so with the construction on the 15, it was taking me 100 years to get to work from the South Point. That said, SP is definitely great for its purposes.

My favorite off-Strip at the moment is the Hard Rock. Hands down. Love, love, love it. I highly suggest following the Hard Rock on Twitter- every Tues at 11 PST, they post a “Twitter Tuesday” special. I’ve gotten their base room for $20 a night (still a very, very, VERY nice room) and last week, I stayed in a 700 sq foot, brand new suite in their HRH tower for $45 a night. Booked the same suite for my bday weekend in Vegas next month for $75 on Saturday and $65 on Sunday.

Either way, even the basic room at the Hard Rock is big, comfy, and stylish. The staff is all very nice. The restaurants are fab. It’s close to everything without the hassle of being on the Strip, etc.

Strip Favorite
It has truthfully been a minute since I stayed on the Strip (suuuuuch a hassle getting your car from the valets), but I’d say my favorite is The MGM Signature. That counts as Strip, right? It’s attached to the MGM.

Anyway, each room has a lil kitchenette, is decorated in a clean, modern fashion, and each tower has its own valet so there’s no waiting. Plus, you can take a little moving escalator into the MGM and be right in the casinos/restaurants/whatever in 2 minutes without the hassle of having to stay in the MGM.

Last time I stayed, we went to use the pool at the MGM and it was pure insanity. I’m 24, so it was fun and all, but man-- it was crazy. The next day, we stayed at the pool at the Signature tower we were in and it was totally different. Attendants bring you free drinks, put chair covers on for you, etc. etc. Lovely.

Least Favorite
Either the Orleans or the Monte Carlo. Both used to be great for their prices, but now they are both completely filthy, have terrible service, etc.

6

Off Strip, The M Resort wins hands down. Best buffet, great rooms, tons of free shit for their Player’s Club members…great place. On Strip, there is no contest: Wynn. Simply the best by far. (This might be slightly biased, as we just got home from three comped days there with a substantial gaming comp!)
**
Cosmopolitan** is still shaking down. I talked to some people who have stayed there, and they say that the service is just awful. It looks cool, but just try to get room service without going downstairs in person and yelling.

7

Over the past 15 years I’ve been to Vegas maybe 10 times.

I’ve not slept anywhere, I’ve slept on the hood of my car, those where the least favorites.

I did the Imperial Palace 3 or 4 times, but its getting old and run down. Not bad center of the strip.

I did the Excalibur, that sucked. Way down at the end of the strip, takes a month to get checked in, but they let the free beers flow.

Last 3 times I did Bill’s gamblin’ hall and casino, former Barbary Coast.

Right in the center of the strip, nobody is ever in line in front of you to check in. Upgrade to a suite for almost nothing, skip the hot tub(which I never got to use anyways) in the suite and its even cheaper, 2 rooms, 2 TV’s, 2 bathrooms, big dining room table, living room, marble bar, big marble shower. AND I can get a $6.99 ribeye at 2am. Last trip this spring was airfare for 2, 4 nights, plus the upgrade to a big cushy suite(no hot tub) for a tick over $800 total.

8

Barbary Coast / Bill’s is probably my favorite place to stay just for the outstanding location. Never stayed at Bally’s but would like to. We spend a lot of time walking the Strip and enjoy the central location. I end up playing at Harrah’s though since I have always had decent luck there and found the drink service to be excellent.

Off strip: I have stayed at the Wyndham Grand Desert. It’s a nice property and isn’t too far away. But it’s a timeshare so there is no casino and not much as far as food.

9

We almost always stay downtown. The one time we went to Vegas and didn’t stay downtown, we stayed at the Alexis Park Resort next to the Hard Rock - it was where my sister-in-law was staying.

Best downtown? Golden Nugget. Worst downtown? Lady Luck. Ick. We had one of their garden rooms. Yeah, it was cheap. That’s about the best I can say about it. I hear the renovation should be done by 2012 or something, but even so I doubt I’d stay there.

10

Places to stay:

Best on-strip: Mandalay, Flamingo and Treasure Island. All three were nice (Flamingo the least, of course, but great location), but I liked TI the most. Best combo of nice enough vs. great location. Mandalay is great, but you’re faaaarrrr.

Best off-strip: Rio. I’m not a fan of being off-strip, but Rio was good enough. Easy cab ride, and closer to the Palms (where I’ve never stayed but enjoy gambling/partying at).

Worst on-strip: Excalibur. I’m sure there are plenty of places on-strip that are worse, but Excalibur is the worst I’ve stayed at. Just dingy and cheesy.

As far as my actual favorite casinos, I generally find a lot to like at them all, have great stories from Wynn, Venetian, Bellagio, Mirage, Paris, Luxor, Mandalay, TI, Flamingo, Harrah’s, NY-NY, the Golden Nugget… even the smaller places like Barbary Coast, Bill’s and O’Shea’s have their divey charms (would never stay there). If I had to choose one favorite, it’d be the Palms (if only it was on the strip!) as I’m less about the gambling and more about the party crowd. About the only places I didn’t enjoy were the aforementioned Excalibur, Gold Coast, Bally’s, the then-Aladdin, and Monte Carlo.

11

we stayed at the MGM Grand a few months ago, and were not very impressed. What ever you do do not eat at the buffet there. It is possibly the worst food I have ever paid for. Our next trip we will likely stay at the Venetian.

12

On my first trip to Las Vegas, I stayed at Mandalay Bay. The closet light wouldn’t go out unless I leaned my suitcase against the door and water gurgled up out of the sink drain in the middle of the night. (My cell phone charger broke and I got stood up by a friend, but I don’t blame the hotel for that.)

Second time I stayed at the M Resort. Very nice place, but I forgot a couple things in my room. I called a couple days later and the night security guy told me they’d found them, and told me who to call to have them shipped back to me. She never answered her phone, didn’t return my messages for weeks, and when I finally asked to speak to someone else she came on and told me they only keep lost articles for 30 days.

13

Strip Favorites:

  • Bellagio. Overall nicest.
  • Treasure Island. Good value and very comfortable.
  • Harrah’s and Tropicana. Good value, and good locations

Strip least favorites:

  • Circus Circus. Grungy, needs overhaul.
  • Excalibur. Cheap. Thin walls.
  • Sahara. Badly in need of overhaul. Grungy. Horrible buffet. Cheap, and you know why.

Off Strip favorite:

  • Sam’s Town. Cheap. Nice rooms. Never crowded. Movie Theatre. Free shuttles to downtown and strip.