Vegas Hotel Recommendations?

Hey everyone,
Mrs. Royale and I and a couple of other friends are looking to go to Sin City for a couple of days in early July.
Does anyone have any suggestions of where to stay? Right now we're thinking either Bellagio or Mandalay Bay...
Also, if anyone's in Vegas at the same time I'd love to hook up for a drink or two.
Aloha,
:tiki:

[ Edited by: Tiki Royale on 2004-06-03 23:00 ]

The Mrs. & I just moved to Veags, and would love to meet up with fellow TCers for a cocktail. I make a mean mojito if you would like to come over to our tiki bar.

Let us know.

Check out The Artisan just off Sahara, about 1/4 mile from the strip.

Small, slightly arty by reputation.

I haven't been in it, but some friends loved it.

http://www.theartisanhotel.com/dining.php

I've met that owner at some local auctions, he tries to buy cool 'stuff' so each room is not just a carbon copy of the next.

Tikipug!

Where in town did you move to?

Northwester, here.

215 and the 95.

We are at the southern end of town...215 & Windmill

On 2004-06-04 00:25, TikiPug wrote:

I make a mean mojito....

I can vouch for that, best mojito ive ever had!

On 2004-06-04 09:33, Tiki Bird wrote:

On 2004-06-04 00:25, TikiPug wrote:

I make a mean mojito....

I can vouch for that, best mojito ive ever had!

Well, hell, I'm on my way, then!

I haven't stayed at either the Bellaggio or Mandalay Bay, but having visited both, I'd say Bellaggio. Do a search on "vegas hotel" and see what you get, though, there's been plenty of discussion in the past about the pros & cons of various Vegas hotels & sites.

I've haven't been there yet, but all my Hawaiian ohana love the California Hotel (12 Ogden Av, Las Vegas). It's promomoted as the hotel with "Aloha spirit & Tropical elegance". They are a three star hotal with four restaurants & three lounges...hey, what am I waitin' for?!?!

On 2004-06-04 20:31, Shipwreckjoey wrote:
I've haven't been there yet, but all my Hawaiian ohana love the California Hotel (12 Ogden Av, Las Vegas). It's promomoted as the hotel with "Aloha spirit & Tropical elegance". They are a three star hotal with four restaurants & three lounges...hey, what am I waitin' for?!?!

The California is located Downtown, whereas the other hotels are located on the strip. Only 2 1/2 miles apart, but the Strip is the latest (and has more Las Vegas tiki) whereas Downtown is the classic neon Vegas.

I recommend the Flamingo (on the strip). It is somewhat less expensive, has a nice palm tree lined pool area and, best of all, has a bird sanctuary.

It is also centrally located, across the street from the Bellagio and Ceasars and a short walk to the Venetian (a must! and home of Taboo Cove) and the Mirage & Treasure Island (free show - Sirens of TI and Kahunaville - a dance bar with a tiki influence).

Practically across the street in the other direction is Bally's where you can taxi to the MGM Grand and be close to Mandalay Bay, Luxor, etc.

Tiki Royale, you may wish to reserve & purchase your rooms now.

The MGM Mirage chain may buy the Mandalay Bay, which will result an almost monopoly and will probably cause room rates all along the Strip to increase.

Due to a very good gambling friend of mine who used to always get me !comped rooms! I have been to Vegas so many times i have lost count... so here are some comments I have about the various properties I have stayed in. (just for rooms - not for the entertainment, lounges and restaurants - which is a whole 'nother discussion) I will start from least favorite and end with the favorites.

Places i have not stayed yet, but knowing the casinos, would definitely check out their rooms: Paris, Palms, Stratosphere (just curious), Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons (who wouldn't?), the new Westin Casuarina

Rooms I would probably pasadena on: Circus Circus, Excaliber, Monte Carlo, Frontier, Stardust

Honestly downtown hotels have never caught my eye - but maybe i ought to give them a 2nd look?

THE LIST!

Day's Inn on Paradise
I don't care how cheap the rooms are - I wouldn't ever ever stay there again - it was dirty and scary.

Alexis Park
Stayed here during Mondo Tiki and it wasn't half bad - very roomy rooms which is good if you are crashing with a lotta people - and directly across from the H.R. is nice.

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?

Luxor
the spa may be 24 hours, but uh... i need to be nice here - 'cause i know some people like this place? although i have hung with friends by the pool and seen the rooms, i have never stayed there. and overall the hotel floorplan itself always confuses me.

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.

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.

Balleys
very nice standard "hotely" hotel rooms. good location but it did seem to take forever to get to our room.

Tropicana
Love the pool area and the rooms are more than adequate for normal hotel rates - they always seem to have internet specials - so check 'em out.

New York, New York
my all time favorite casino decor, so that's the only reason it rates a little higher. that said, for one of the higher end hotels, the rooms sucked. the first room was so tiny it really felt like new york - next to a very noisy service elevator shaft. after complaining we got bumped to a 1200 square foot mini suite - funny thing neither room was really detail decorated and felt just like a big empty unloved space. they do have the best shampoo and conditioner containers in town though - little tiny plastic buildings. it's almost worth it to stay there just for them.

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.

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.

Treasure Island
i have not stayed here since they went from pirates to T.I. but when it was pirate driven - this was one of my favorite properties and i stayed here numerous times. the junior suites are immediately off the elevator shafts - which is good planning - i hate hauling luggage down long hotel corridors.

when money is no object, these are my 2 favs...

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.

Bellagio
pool area is like being in some kind of european dreamland with several smaller pools which far outways one big huge pool - it helps spread out the people and makes everyone feel more private. flawless room - if you get bumped to a strip front room, the music from the fountain show is piped into your room and you can sit and watch the choreographed shows in total comfort. very nice private commode and the large tub in our room had a view to south strip - which was freaky - taking a bubble bath in full view of vegas! but other girls have done worse i suppose :)

If i had to choose between Bellagio and Mandalay Bay - Bellagio would always win out - just from sheer location - I recommend staying at a property in between Flamingo and Spring Mountain. That way it's a short walk or cab ride in either direction to the other hotels or the Fashion Show Mall.

[ Edited by: Futura Girl on 2004-06-12 05:35 ]

i love vegas. can you tell?

Future Girl!

Ever try the Rio?

Not sure about the various floor plans, but my wife and I stayed in the tall tower once - affordable, yet big rooms!

It was classic Vegas, with dark carpeting, almost black, and a hot tub in the main room that you could sit in and look out over the city.

I think the tub even had rope lighting imbedded in the edges.

Dark red walls with some gilded art prints.

Not Tiki, but definitely something!

The corner rooms at Luxor are killer.

Had a party once in a normal person suite at MGM and cranked the tunes all night with nobody complaining about the racket. Very well insulated floors, I guess.

I used to like the Tropicana, too. Rooms, as you describe, the Island used to be a cool hang out.

Same vibe as you on the Alexis Park.

A friend just stayed at THE Hotel, which is part of, yet seperate from mandalay bay, she loved it. When I go there, it's a little too "W" in New York-ish, but the hookers there looked well groomed.

The Rio's rooms are huge and wonderful! There's even a peep window into the tub/shower from the bedroom. Ooh la la! The pool is OK.

The Palm's rooms are fairly nice, medium size, with amazingly comfortable beds and linens. Perfect for sleeping all day after staying up all night at Viva Las Vegas weekender. But the crowd can be very irritating at the Palms, especially on Fri and Sat nights, because of all the trendy restaurants and bars there. It's a very young crowd all dressed in black and talking loudly. The coffee shop is quite good but I have not tried any of the high end restaurants. The pool area sucks.

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.

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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.