FuturaGirl, wonderful & informative list. If I can be indulged, I'll just add a few additional comments.
PS-You are the embodiment of "Lady Luck" getting the comped rooms.
On 2004-06-12 05:21, Futura Girl wrote:
Imperial Palace
Location is great, rooms - typical "C" rating. but the walk into the hotel to get to the elevators always depresses me there for some reason?
Chris: It has no setback and then one walks into a closed, square corridor space. Not welcoming.
Sahara
A classic, but obviously the rooms are very dated - ala late 1970s browns. you can't beat their price deals, but whatever you do - don't get in the older tower where you can't adjust the a.c.
Chris: I stayed in the tower where the windows opened. Very refreshing! I liked the pool. Not overwhelming, but it had palm trees & some foiliage and I didn't have to share it with 1,000 other guests.
However, the cost of taxis to get to the rest of the strip should be factored in.
Caesars Palace
After looking forward for years to staying here and planning a birthday around going there... what a huge disappointment this was. They just don't care about the rooms anymore. Gone is the old guilded decor and they have sold off the white and gold grand pianos from the suites. I heard great things about the pool - and it was just not "all that." The towels in our bathroom were ripped and i think there were issues with climate control and i swear they hadn't changed the sheets b4 we came. we left after one night.
Chris: I actually loved the rooms at Ceasars: the spare couch for the third to sleep, the canopy at the head of the bed & the marble in the bathrooms. The towels were plush (I appreciate you had a very different room experience).
The ride past the fountains and statuary when arriving is also very satisfying.
Also, tops for the "Big Daddy" feeling.
However, the view out of the room at night was obscured by the green light.
Mirage
even though Wynn is no longer operating the hotel you still can't go wrong here. very nice tropical themed rooms - and an excellent location. the pool area is tropically delovely of course.
Chris: I loved the room, with the safari & palm themed decor. I splurged and got a room with a volcano view and it was well worth it - just make sure you don't forget like I did on the first night.
I liked the canopy on the wall and the large bathroom. However, the room skimped on the furniture and I thought Steve Wynn was a stickler for details.
Flamingo
i have a soft spot in my heart for this hotel. i stayed in the old 2 story buildings behind bugsy's wing a long time ago. the location is great - if you ask - you can usually get a room with a view of caesars or the volcano. the pool, waterfalls and grounds may not be as big as the mirage - but i think they are actually more well thought out. and i love seeing the birds.
The pool is also wonderful. Lush, tropical and lagoon shaped.
Chris: My favorite rooms: spacious, colorful cheerful rooms which have a lovely view of the tropical bird sanctuary or of the strip where you can see the Bellagio fountains. (Next time I go, I will request a room of the Mirage volcano.)
Also, possibly the best bargain on the strip and definitely the best location, right in the center and a walk, monorail ride (Bally's to MGM Grand) or shuttle (the hotel next door to the hotel next to the Rio).
Venetian:
one of my all time fav hotels - no need for room service... just a quick jaunt downstairs for 24 hour cheesecake factory food. the all suite rooms are generally split level with a bed closer to the door and a sunken living seating area next a picturesque window - with a tv for both the bed and a tv for the couch area! marble baths...etc.etc.etc. the only thing about staying at this hotel is when we went the pool was very under-landscaped - had no full grown trees and it was very hot and uninviting.
Chris: Possibly the nicest hotel I've ever stayed in (for whatever that is worth). All rooms are suits and are graced with elegant furniture, comfortable & heavy couches and almost a floor to ceiling window. I could have moved in.
Chris: Aladin: While nothing was a matter with it, I would not recommend it. I did not like its location, the pool had no landscaping and no imagination and the rooms were ordinary.
