I've visited every hotel on and near the Las Vegas strip (the tourist area of Las Vegas Blvd. between Tropicana Ave. and Sahara Ave.) several times since the early 1990s. The intent of this article is to give travelers a quick, easy "at a glance" comparison of all the hotels and motels on and near the Las Vegas strip, so they can narrow down their choices before seeking out more detailed reviews of each property. After you've selected a few properties you're interested in, I suggest doing Google searches (or use your favorite search engine) with the name of your hotel or resort followed by "Las Vegas reviews" ... such as "Luxor Las Vegas reviews" or "Mandalay Bay Las Vegas reviews" (without the quotes.) You'll most likely find sites like traveladvisor.com and travel.yahoo.com, which are excellent sources of information. These sites contain self-written reviews posted by dozens, sometimes hundreds of people who have been guests at those properties. I'll discuss room quality only for the properties where I've been a guest; otherwise I'll just be summarizing positive and negative aspects of the location and overall atmosphere of each property as well as the general price range. So the article doesn't become outdated, I'll list prices in terms of "low, moderate, high, very high" instead of using specific dollar amounts.
Pricing is also a wildly volatile thing on the Las Vegas strip. Friday & Saturday nights are always priced higher than the rest of the week; nights before holidays are always higher priced; and prices will also go up when large conventions or events (such as the Consumer Electronics Show) are taking place. Prices decrease certain times of the year (August) that are less popular for Las Vegas vacations.
I have a more verbose version of this article with small photos posted here: The Las Vegas Strip on Squidoo. My Squidoo article is in more of a narrative fashion as I wrote it for a slightly different audience. There's a third version of this online tour of the Las Vegas strip on my web site, with larger photos than Squidoo allows to be posted. Each of the three versions are unique as they were written at different times, yet I'm categorizing this version as "existing authored content" since they are all similar. If you'd like to view small photos of each property while reading the tour, check my other two versions.
Let's begin at the south end of the strip (near Tropicana Avenue) and head north. The famous "Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas, Nevada" sign marks the south end of the strip, and is on a gravel island in the middle of Las Vegas Blvd. in front of the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau (a web site worth checking for room rates) and the old Klondike Hotel property.
The Klondike - 5191 Las Vegas Blvd South. Closed for business in late 2006.
Klondike Hotel Memorabilia based on a photo I shot December 25, 2006 is available in my CafePress shop.
Diamond Inn 4605 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89119. 702-736-2565.
This is a motel with a U-shaped arrangement of about 30 rooms with a swimming pool and papier mache pink elephant in the center of the U.
LOCATION: about half a mile south of the southernmost strip resort (Mandalay Bay), you're not in close walking distance to any tourist attractions. There's a strip mall with a liquor store, McDonald's, Panda Express and Subway not too far away.
ATMOSPHERE: depressing, except for the pink elephant. A basic, no frills "cheap motel".
PRICE: low.
The Laughing Jackalope Motel 3969 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV. 702-739-1915
Another motel, slightly better than the Diamond Inn. The Laughing Jackalope has a large square shaped bar (four rows of seats surround the bar, and each seat has a bartop video poker machine in front of it) in addition to motel rooms.
LOCATION: a short walk to Mandalay Bay, but still too far from the strip to be considered a good tourist property. A good choice for business travelers on a budget who want to be near the strip but not caught up in the tourist frenzy.
ATMOSPHERE: somewhat pleasant for a motel, except for having to press a buzzer and wait for the bartender to "buzz you in" to get into the bar after 10 p.m.
PRICE: low to moderate.
The South Stripolopolis
I think I invented that term yesterday. What it refers to is the cluster of six megaresorts (Mandalay Bay, Luxor, Excalibur, New York New York, Tropicana, MGM Grand) on the south end of the Las Vegas strip that are interconnected by interior and exterior pedestrian walkways.
The main appeal to this area is being able to enjoy six different megaresorts without ever having to cross a street or venture onto city sidewalk.
Mandalay Bay www.mandalaybay.com 3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89119. 877-632-7800.
Mandalay Bay with its newer THE hotel tower is the first large hotel/casino property, or "megaresort" you'll see at the south end of the strip.
Four Seasons is also on the Mandalay Bay property. This is a super high priced hotel only (no casino) and is sort of another extension to Mandalay Bay like THE hotel.
LOCATION: while Mandalay Bay is the southernmost (meaning it's at the south END) Las Vegas strip resort hotel, it's also part of the "Stripolopolis" as I described above. So although there is nothing to the south other than a golf course and fire station; you still have easy walking access to five other resorts.
ATMOSPHERE: a subtle South Pacific theme, very tastefully done. Upscale and luxurious. Lots of on-site activities (including 21 restaurants, a gym, tennis courts, an artificial beach with artificial waves, and golf course.)
PRICE: high
Here are some items you can buy which feature a photo of Mandalay Bay I shot from the 30th floor of the Luxor in December 2006.
Luxor www.luxor.com 3900 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89119. 888-777-0188.
I was a guest at the Luxor twice in the late 90's and once more in December 2006. Luxor is a nice property overall and a good choice for your vacation, although it's not on the same level as the ultra-classy places like Wynn and Bellagio.
LOCATION: very good, even though it's near the south end of the strip. The indoor tunnel connecting Luxor with Mandalay Bay was converted into a shopping area containing 41 businesses, called the "Mandalay Shops." There's another indoor tunnel connecting Luxor to Excalibur. (If you recall the movie "Westworld", you'll feel like you're in that same type of theme park... as you leave the "Egyptian world" of Luxor through the tunnel, it gradually transforms into the "medieval world" of Excalibur.)
ATMOSPHERE: the theme of ancient Egypt is very much "in your face" at times; first as you approach the 30 story pyramid, and again in the magnificent main lobby. If you have a fear of heights, don't get a pyramid room; as they line the interior wall of the pyramid. The hallways in front of the rooms between floors 2 and 25 are not enclosed; there's a short wall about three feet high on the outside instead of another row of rooms. If you're up high, when you step out of your room you're faced with empty space and up to a 25 story elevation with nothing between you and the main floor's floor other than the short wall. Floors 26 and above, however, are like standard rooms, sealed off from the rest of the pyramid. Floors 10 and lower, will get noise from the casino. Luxor also has a standard room tower you can choose when you make your reservation if you don't like the idea of living in a pyramid.
PRICE: moderate.
One of my best photos of the Luxor at night, available on tee shirts, posters and prints.
Tropicana www.tropicanalv.com 3801 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 1-888-826-TROP (8767)
Being the oldest megaresort on the south strip, Tropicana is a "budget" property which usually has the lowest rates on the south strip except for Excalibur and small motels like the Laughing Jackalope and Diamond Inn.
LOCATION: at the corner of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Blvd, this is the southernmost resort on the east side of Las Vegas Blvd, across the street from Luxor. Although you're at the end of the strip, pedestrian walkways provide easy access to the MGM Grand and Luxor; which lead to the other three resorts in the "south Stripolopolis".
ATMOSPHERE: a pleasant tropical theme somewhat diluted by the age of the property.
PRICE: low.
Excalibur www.excalibur.com 3850 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 702-597-7279
Excalibur is one of the two "family" oriented Las Vegas strip properties (Circus Circus is the other one). So you might want to stay here if you're bringing kids (under age 12 or so) to Las Vegas. If not, then you probably don't want to risk being stuck in a hotel room with screaming toddlers in the rooms above, below, and on each side of you.
LOCATION: very good; kind of the "hub" of the south Stripolopolis. When the weather is bad you can walk to Luxor and Mandalay Bay to the south without having to go outside; and also have access to NY NY, MGM, and Tropicana over the elevated pedestrian walkways.
ATMOSPHERE: Excalibur is a fun place. The medieval theme is fairly thorough, including staff in costumes and a medieval style show (Tournament of Kings) where you dine at large community tables being waited on by "serving wenches" while watching knights joust.
PRICE: low.
Head east on Tropicana from Las Vegas Blvd:
Hooters Las Vegas www.hchvegas.com 115 East Tropicana Avenue, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 1-866-LVHOOTS
Hooters used to be the San Remo, a budget property; and apparently the property did not change much after the change in ownership. Hooters is also up for sale as of right now (January 2008).
LOCATION: off strip but close (one long block) to the strip and the Tropicana resort.
ATMOSPHERE: like a Hooters restaurant.
PRICE: low to moderate.
Head west on Tropicana from Las Vegas Blvd:
Orleans Las Vegas Hotel Casino Resort Spa www.orleanscasino.com 4500 W. Tropicana Ave., Las Vegas, Nevada 89103. 800-ORLEANS
LOCATION: about two miles off strip, a bit too far for most people to want to walk. A good choice if you're going to have a rental car and want to avoid the hectic traffic and crowds on the strip.
ATMOSPHERE: pleasant, with a New Orleans theme.
PRICE: low to moderate.
Heading back to Las Vegas Blvd...
MGM Grand www.mgmgrand.com 3799 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas Nevada 89109. 877-880-0880
LOCATION: very good, part of the "south Stripolopolis" and also directly south of Showcase Mall which has a food court, movie multiplex, M&M store, Coke museum, and Gameworks video arcade.
ATMOSPHERE: the largest casino on the strip, with a Hollywood theme. Fairly quiet and sedate compared to most Las Vegas properties.
PRICE: moderate to high.
A photo of the MGM Grand I shot in August 2007, available on posters, prints, t-shirts, and other items.
Fatburger www.fatburger.com/home 3763 Las Vegas Blvd. Open 24 hours. On The Strip just north of the MGM Grand. Phone: 702-736-4733 Fax: 702-736-1321
You can't get a room at Fatburger. I had to list it here because it's the best fast food burger joint ever.
New York New York www.nynyhotelcasino.com 3790 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas Nevada 89109. 1-800-NY-FOR-ME
New York New York is the last of our six "south Stripolopolis" properties.
LOCATION: very good; being part of the mega-megaresort of six interconnected properties, and it's not too far of a walk to Monte Carlo and Project City Center to the north.
ATMOSPHERE: dimly lit, quiet at times and noisy at others; and a fairly thorough theme paying tribute to the city of New York as it appeared in the 1940s.
PRICE: moderate to high.
The Mid-Strip
Polo Towers www.polotowers.com 3745 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV 89109. 800-935-2233, 702-261-1000
Polo Towers is a timeshare resort, but if you check their web site, they might also be offering nightly "rentals".
Monte Carlo www.montecarlo.com 3770 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 888-529-4828
I stayed at Monte Carlo once, in March 2003, because they were offering a very low rate.
This is almost a "generic" resort, having a very subtle theme which reflects the famous Monte Carlo casino in Europe's principality of Monaco.
The elegance is understated; there's nothing fancy or frilly, but neither is it cheap or sloppy in any way. It's a good choice for the traveler who can't afford Bellagio but would like to stay there. This traveler doesn't want to be annoyed by loud children, doesn't want costumed characters offering to pose for photos, and doesn't need mummies, pirates, clowns, gladiators, knights, or an Elvis impersonator to entertain him or her.
LOCATION: fair; closest to a QVC pharmacy, Aladdin, and New York New York. Location will be more desirable when Project City Center is completed.
ATMOSPHERE: sedate, dignified, almost like a library.
PRICE: moderate to high.
ROOM QUALITY: Clean but small, very basic and simple. Upgrade to a suite if you can afford it.
(Be aware that most Las Vegas properties call their standard rooms "deluxe rooms." Normally, the "deluxe rooms" are the lowest priced rooms, what you get by default if you don't specify any other room type; unless the property also has "motor hotel", "garden" or "courtyard" rooms, which will be less expensive as they are not attached to the main casino building.)
Boardwalk used to be at 3750 Las Vegas Blvd, across the street from Polo Towers. It was demolished in 2006. "Project City Center", which is described as a "mini city" costing $7.4 billion to construct, and occupying 68 acres, is being built in that area by MGM/Mirage.
Mementos of the Boardwalk Las Vegas
Head east on Harmon...
Hard Rock Hotel & Casino www.hardrockhotel.com 4455 Paradise Rd. (corner of Harmon & Paradise), Las Vegas NV 89109. 800-851-1703
I've only been there once, it was late December 2000. The casino is very small, all in one room; but the staff were very friendly and there is an overall party atmosphere along with rock & roll memorabilia on display along the walls. The doorman even called me "sir" although I was wearing old jeans, a t-shirt and black leather jacket.
LOCATION: about 2 miles off the strip but in a busy commercial area.
ATMOSPHERE: rock & roll party time.
PRICE: moderate to high.
head back to Las Vegas Blvd...
Planet Hollywood (formerly Aladdin) www.planethollywoodresort.com
3667 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 702-785-5555
Aladdin was imploded & rebuilt in 2002. Not long afterward (early 2007), they remodeled and became Planet Hollywood, "a Sheraton resort."
I stayed at Aladdin in December 2003 and liked it a lot. The room was a bit larger than most standard hotel rooms and had an Internet terminal.
The casino was large, dimly lit, and quiet; my favorite kind of casino. And the staff were all friendly.
LOCATION: very good; not too far from MGM and Showcase Mall to the south; very close to Paris and Bally's to the north.
ATMOSPHERE: I haven't been inside since the change from Aladdin. Aladdin was quiet and sedate.
PRICE: moderate to high.
ROOM QUALITY: nicer than average, a bit bigger. Rooms probably have not changed much with the change from Aladdin to Planet Hollywood.
Paris www.harrahs.com 3655 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 877-796-2096
There have been several ownership changes during a short time period: Paris was owned by Park Place Entertainment; then Caesars; and now Harrah's. In January 2008 Harrah's (the entire company, which owns about 20 resort properties) was bought by Apollo Management and Texas Pacific Group.
LOCATION: very good. Connected to Bally's with an indoor walkway; across the street from Bellagio; near Planet Hollywood.
ATMOSPHERE: Paris Las Vegas is one of my favorite casinos. Although it's a bit too brightly lit, it's very clean, well-organized and has a spacious, comfortable feeling. This is probably due to the artificial sky/ceiling.
PRICE: moderate to high.
ROOM QUALITY: I stayed at the Paris August 12 thru 14, 2007. When I made the reservation at their web site I requested a "quiet room up high." And that's exactly what I got. Top floor, room 3344, which is in between a fancy suite and a door marked "staff only". Not only did I never hear a door slam or people talking ... I never saw anyone in the long hallway. Such a level of peace and quiet at standard room rates is very rare in Las Vegas.
Cosmopolitan www.cosmolv.com 866-339-4519 - in between the Jockey Club and Monte Carlo. Still under construction, behind (west of) the Project City Center site.
Their web site states that they are a "hotel resort & casino" but they are also selling condos.
Jockey Club 3700 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas. 702-739-8686. No web site. It's in between Cosmopolitan, Project City Center and Bellagio. Check the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau site for room rates.
I stayed here in March 2006 because one bedroom condos were going for $65 per night. The catch was, the construction crews for Project City Center and Cosmopolitan were using the Jockey Club parking lot as a storage area for construction materials. Plus, the massive construction project in progress 24/7 next door.
LOCATION: not very good while Project City Center is under construction. It's a noisy, messy area. A short walk to Bellagio or Planet Hollywood.
ATMOSPHERE: some wear and tear but pleasant overall; feels very much like a standard hotel but the rooms are a lot better.
PRICE: moderate to low during Project City Center construction; will be back to moderate to high when construction is completed.
ROOM QUALITY: Jockey Club is a fairly nice place to stay. You can buy a condo there or check into one like a hotel. They don't have a casino. The condo I stayed in had a large living room with sofas, a coffee table and TV; a kitchen with stove & refrigerator; a small bedroom with a second TV, and bathroom off the bedroom; plus a large walk in closet.
Bellagio www.bellagio.com 3600 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 1-888-987-6667
If cost is no concern and you want to stay in the best, fanciest, most upscale Las Vegas strip megaresort; you have two choices: Bellagio or Wynn.
While these properties are equally opulent, they are also very different. Bellagio is fancy and frilly with its European style of architecture and design; while Wynn has a clean, modern, linear look.
LOCATION: very good "center strip" area, near Caesars Palace, Mirage, Paris, Bally's, and the row of casinos between Flamingo and Imperial Palace.
ATMOSPHERE: like being in a sparkling clean, super fancy museum.
PRICE: very very high.
On December 25, 2006 I shot this Bellagio Sunset photo and have made it available on posters, prints, calendars, and other collectible items.
Bally's www.harrahs.com 3645 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas NV 89109. 1-800-7-BALLYS
Bally's is one of my favorite photographic stops. The giant, color-changing neon rings that encompass the pedestrian conveyor belt leading from the sidewalk into their casino is one of the most dazzling light displays in Las Vegas.
Check out the Neon Nights section of my CafePress shop, featuring some photos of Bally's neon rings.
LOCATION: very good. Connected to Paris; very center strip, near Caesars Palace, Mirage, Flamingo, Bellagio.
ATMOSPHERE: the casino is very small, I'd call it a shoebox in comparison to most strip casinos. But it's not unpleasant, as many smaller casinos are; mainly due to smoke and noise. (Smoking is still allowed in nearly all Las Vegas casinos.)
PRICE: moderate.
ROOM QUALITY: I stayed at Bally's in March 2005 and was pleasantly surprised. Despite the age of the property and mediocre reviews I found on the Internet, I had no complaints. They even put me in a room with a spectacular view of the south strip as I had requested, and didn't charge me extra. (Most strip hotels charge extra for rooms with nice views.)
head east on Flamingo Rd....
You'll first see Rio on your right, Palms on your left, and the Gold Coast just past the Rio.
Gold Coast
4000 W. Flamingo Rd., Las Vegas, Nevada 89103. 1-800-331-5334
LOCATION: fair. Although it's almost 2 miles off the strip, it's very close walking distance to Rio Suites and Palms.
ATMOSPHERE: a bit old and run down.
PRICE: low
Rio All Suite Hotel & Casino www.harrahs.com
3700 W. Flamingo Road, Las Vegas, NV 89103. 866-746-7671
Another of many Harrah's owned properties. I stayed here once in 1995 and again in December 2000 when the Las Vegas Tourist Bureau web site was offering a ridiculously low rate of $25 per night.
LOCATION: you probably won't want to stay here without a rental car. The walk to the strip isn't that far (about a mile) but it is fairly unpleasant if you walk along the north side of Flamingo Rd. Traffic is heavy, and part of the walk is along an elevated, fenced in walkway that goes over the freeway (I-15). The walkway is totally isolated and looks like a trap. You wouldn't want to encounter a gang of muggers there.
Harrah's offers a free shuttle from Rio to the strip, leaving every half hour. If you prefer walking I recommend heading north along Valley View from the Rio and then taking Spring Mountain Drive to the strip, rather than Flamingo Rd.
Or take a taxi.
ATMOSPHERE: Rio is similar to Hard Rock in pushing a "party" atmosphere but has a Mardi Gras / Rio de Janeiro theme going on. It's a bit too noisy and festive for my usual taste, but not too much.
PRICE: moderate to high.
ROOM QUALITY: I liked the Rio. You get a really big comfortable room which I suppose meets the legal or technical definition of "suite" although it's not what most people would think of as a suite (I think of a suite as more than one room.)
I have two nice photos of the Rio available on posters, tee shirts, and other collectible items in my Vegas Art & Pictures CafePress store.
Palms www.palms.com
4321 W Flamingo Rd, Las Vegas, NV 89103. 1-866-942-7777, info@palms.com
LOCATION: like Rio, not an ideal location; about a mile off the strip; but close to Rio and Gold Coast.
ATMOSPHERE: I found Palms to be very relaxing and calm. This was at 3:00 p.m. on a weekday though. I'm sure Friday and Saturday nights are very different. Palms has a very clean, modern design.
PRICE: moderate to high.
head back to Las Vegas Blvd....
Caesars Palace www.harrahs.com 3570 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 877-427-7243
For many years Caesars Palace had no rivals in its class. It was THE place to stay on the Las Vegas Strip. Since Sheldon Adelson built the Venetian, Caesars has had several contenders attempt to take the crown as THE place to be. Venetian, Bellagio, Wynn, Mandalay Bay, Four Seasons. Personal preferences make it impossible for anyone to declare any one property as the best; but there is a clear division between the best Las Vegas resorts, the worst Las Vegas resorts, and the middle ground.
LOCATION: excellent; very close to Bellagio, Mirage, and Treasure Island, right across the street from the long row of casinos between the Flamingo and Venetian (which also includes O'Sheas, Harrah's, Casino Royale, and Imperial Palace).
ATMOSPHERE: Caesars is more of a self-contained universe than any other strip resort, with its maze of 173 Forum Shops in addition to the usual megaresort offerings.
The theme of Caesars Palace is "ancient Rome." There are "wine goddesses" in one of the restaurants. Gladiators, Caesar's handmaidens, and sometimes Cleopatra wander the casino to pose for photos with tourists. Cleopatra's Barge, Pure, and Ghost Bar are popular night hangouts.
Caesars Palace is holding up very well considering its age (built in 1966). They've added new room towers and have avoided the worn out appearance and inevitable implosion that comes with most aging resort casinos.
PRICE: high.
Caesars Palace at sunset, another photo I shot on December 25, 2006.
Bill's Gambling Hall & Saloon (formerly known as Barbary Coast) www.billslasvegas.com 3595 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 866-245-5745
LOCATION: Bill's is in that "megablock" across from Caesars Palace where the Flamingo, O'Sheas, Harrah's, Imperial Palace, Casino Royale and Bill's are all squished together. Most strip casinos are about a quarter mile apart, so it looks odd to have six casinos all lined up next to each other. And that area is usually the most crowded with pedestrians compared to the rest of the strip.
ATMOSPHERE: All six of these casinos are kind of on the borderline between being "budget" and "mid level" properties. Their atmospheres are more like downtown casinos (noisy, smoky, crowded) than large megaresort casinos (sedate, roomy, and well-ventilated.)
Some of the large megaresorts have such good ventilation that their air is exchanged 100% every few minutes. This is probably why so many people repeat the rumor that Las Vegas casinos pump in oxygen (they don't.) The air is just noticeably much fresher than in smaller casinos and other non-casino properties (restaurants, convenience stores).
I stopped by Bill's briefly in August 2007, it looks to be the same property as Barbary Coast - just with a new name.
PRICE: moderate to high.
Barbary Coast is moving to a new location, where the Westward Ho used to be. (Westward Ho was demolished in 2006.)
Flamingo (formerly the Flamingo Hilton; now owned by Harrah's) www.harrahs.com 3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 800-732-2111
LOCATION: excellent. While this is definitely the busiest block on the strip in terms of pedestrian traffic, it's also the only "cluster" of casinos on the strip lined up in a row.
ATMOSPHERE: The Flamingo has, in my opinion, the most upscale atmosphere of the five casinos on the block. It's definitely midrange though; neither fancy and upscale nor run down.
PRICE: moderate to high.
O'Sheas www.harrahs.com 3555 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 702-697-2711
LOCATION: excellent, see above. O'Sheas has the same address as the Flamingo... it's not a typo.
ATMOSPHERE: O'Sheas is another Harrah's owned property but has no hotel rooms. In addition to the casino are a few fast food restaurants and the Vince Neil Ink tattoo studio. This is a small, noisy, crowded (most of the time) but fun property; similar to Slots-A-Fun in that management seems more concerned that you have fun than you lose money gambling.
PRICE: none, no hotel rooms.
Harrah's www.harrahs.com 3475 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 800-214-9110
LOCATION: excellent, see the entry for the Flamingo.
ATMOSPHERE: I've been in Harrah's casino several times but can't remember anything about it other than it's similar to Bill's, Flamingo, and Casino Royale. The casino is fairly small and has somewhat of a downtown (noisy, smoky, crowded) atmosphere.
Since Harrah's Entertainment owns so many casino/resort properties, however; they must be doing something right.
PRICE: moderate to high.
Casino Royale www.casinoroyalehotel.com 3411 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 702-737-3500
LOCATION: excellent, see entry for the Flamingo.
ATMOSPHERE: Casino Royale boasts over 400 slot machines and 100x odds on craps. Their casino is a lot like Slots-A-Fun and O'Sheas in that it seems more geared to promoting fun than earning revenue. They have 152 hotel rooms, despite the appearance of being a casino only.
They also have an Outback Steakhouse and 24 hour Denny's Restaurant on site. I ate at the Outback once and every staff member enthusiastically told me that I had the 'best table in the house' ... directly across from the Mirage volcano.
PRICE: low to moderate.
Imperial Palace Imperial Palace www.harrahs.com 3535 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 800-634-6441 email ip@imperialpalace.com
Recently acquired by Harrah's from private owners.
LOCATION: excellent, see the entry for the Flamingo.
ATMOSPHERE: It may kind of LOOK like a palace from the outside, but it's not. The IP probably has an equal number of benefits and drawbacks. While the mid-strip location is excellent and their rates are often the lowest on the strip; it's also typically one of the most crowded properties on the strip and has the feel of a typical "budget" property (getting old, run down, worn out).
PRICE: low.
If you don't mind walking through the crowded casino and waiting for the creaky old elevators, booking one of the Deluxe King Suites or Penthouse Suites (which include a Roman Luv Tub) at the Imperial Palace may be appealing, as the price for these luxurious rooms should be about half of what a comparable room would cost at most other strip properties. Staying at a budget property can be a pleasant experience by booking a fancy suite.
Mirage www.mirage.com 3400 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109. 800-374-9000
The most famous thing about the Mirage is the volcano that "erupts" every 15 minutes. I've watched this eruption several times; it's not any big deal. Natural gas flames shooting up out of a fake volcano.
LOCATION: excellent, in between Caesars Palace, Fashion Show Mall and Treasure Island; across the street from the row of casinos between Flamingo and Venetian.
ATMOSPHERE: The Mirage was Steve Wynn's first strip property (preceding his construction of Treasure Island, Bellagio, and Wynn) and coincided with the new era of "corporate Las Vegas" taking over casino ownership from organized crime.
You can get a better feel for the Mirage without having to go to Las Vegas by watching "National Lampoon's Vegas Vacation" with Chevy Chase, Randy Quaid and Beverly D'Angelo.
I haven't been a guest at the Mirage. I've walked through the casino several times. It's an upper midrange property; very pleasant but not overly fancy.
PRICE: moderate to high.
You might like my Mirage vector graphic t-shirts, posters, and collectibles. This one of my photos of the Mirage, converted into a vector graphic.
Venetian www.venetian.com 3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas NV 89109. 877-857-1861
I stayed at the Venetian twice, 2001 and 2002. Not that I'm a high roller in any way, but I couldn't pass up the $99 rate in 2001 and $129 rate in 2002. Specials like that are few and far between.
LOCATION: excellent. Fashion Show Mall, Mirage and Treasure Island across the street; the busy row of casinos (Imperial Palace to Flamingo) to the south.
ATMOSPHERE: The atmosphere of this place is unbelievable. Like Bellagio and Wynn, the builders went completely over the top in creating a luxurious look and feel in every detail. For guests, the effect is unbroken: whether you go into a guest room, the elevator, a public bathroom in the casino, or a restaurant: the theme of the property is incorporated there.
The Venetian property is basically a scaled down model of the city of Venice, Italy; except you don't HAVE to ride boats if you don't want to. The gondola ride is optional.
PRICE: high to very high.
ROOM QUALITY: Venetian has very nice standard guest rooms at the low end of their price range, and more luxurious rooms at higher prices. The standard rooms are very much like a standard hotel room with an added on living room and large closet/ bathroom area. Like Rio, they say that every one of their guest rooms is a "suite", although the bedroom area and living room area are separated only by a metal rail and a step or two.
Palazzo is a new 53-story 3,025 room addition to the Venetian, located directly north of the original Venetian. Coincidentally, Wynn has also built a second tower (called The Encore at Wynn) directly north of their original tower, only two years after opening for business.
Here's a photo of Palazzo I shot in August 2007, available on tee shirts, posters, and other items.
Treasure Island (also known as TI) www.treasureisland.com
3300 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas, NV 89109-2692. 800-288-7206
LOCATION: very good, close to Fashion Show Mall, Mirage, Caesars Palace, Wynn and Venetian.
ATMOSPHERE: TI used to have a skull & crossbones logo in front; they've replaced it with giant neon letters T and I which slowly change color. They also modified their famous daily free pirate battle show that takes place at their main entrance on Las Vegas Blvd. with a new show called "Sirens of Treasure Island."
The atmosphere of TI is comparable to Mandalay Bay and Mirage. Not quite a Wynn or Bellagio but better than mid-level properties like Luxor and Bally's.
PRICE: moderate to high.
ROOM QUALITY: I was a guest at Treasure Island December 12 and 13, 2007. Instead of booking the least expensive (deluxe) room I opted for the upgrade to a "strip view" room. I felt the room was overpriced. The view was nice but the room was completely ordinary in every other way.
Fashion Show Mall thefashionshow.com 3200 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada 89109-2692. Phone 702-369-0704. Mall hours Monday-Saturday: 10:00am -9:00pm, Sunday: 11:00am-7:00pm. Department Store and Restaurant hours may vary.
Fashion Show Mall is in between Treasure Island and where New Frontier used to be. They built a big UFO-looking thing in front of the place around 2002. Fashion Show, despite being on the Las Vegas strip, is a fairly ordinary mid sized shopping mall with a food court.
You can't book a room here; I've only included Fashion Show Mall as a point of reference.
The North Strip
Frontier & New Frontier were at 3120 Las Vegas Blvd. for many years.
Here's a photo I shot in August 2007 of the Frontier in Las Vegas awaiting demolition available on shirts, posters, and other collectible items.
Wynn www.wynnlasvegas.com 3131 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas NV 89109. 1-888-320-WYNN.
Opened for business April 28, 2005. Wynn is one of the top 5 most upscale and luxurious Las Vegas Strip resort properties. While the main building looks beautiful at night, all lit up in gold; it looks remarkably like a slab of supermarket liver from certain angles during the day.
LOCATION: very good, next to Venetian; across the street from Fashion Show Mall and Treasure Island.
ATMOSPHERE: I ventured into Wynn for the first time in February 2006 and was very impressed. While I expected an extremely "lifestyles of the rich and famous" atmosphere, I didn't expect the feeling of being in a three dimensional painting. Wynn is so flawless and thorough in attention to detail that it almost removes you from reality. The casino itself, of course, cannot disguise the appearance of the gaming tables and slot machines; but aside from that, you'll feel as if you've ventured into a huge movie set or some kind of parallel universe.
PRICE: very high
Encore at Wynn - Wynn demolished their 9 story employee parking garage only 2 years after building it, to put up a second tower they've called "Encore at Wynn." It's directly north of their original tower, and blocks the view of Wynn from the Stratosphere.
Encore is part of Wynn in the same way that THE hotel is part of Mandalay Bay. It's pretty much just an additional tower of rooms.
Stardust was imploded March 13, 2007 after 48 years in business at 3000 Las Vegas Blvd. South.
Boyd Gaming, which owned the Stardust, is building a new megaresort called "Echelon" at the old Stardust site. It's scheduled for completion in late 2010.
Westward Ho used to be at 2900 Las Vegas Blvd South. It was demolished in 2006.
Riviera www.rivierahotel.com 2901 Las Vegas Blvd South, Las Vegas NV 89109. 1-800-634-6753
Since Stardust, Westward Ho and Frontier were all demolished to make room for the Echelon, there are only three 1970s (or earlier) era resorts left on the north strip: Riviera, Circus Circus, and Sahara.
LOCATION: fair; close to Slots-A-Fun, Circus Circus, and Venetian. Attractiveness of their location will improve when Echelon is completed in late 2010.
ATMOSPHERE: big, comfortable casino with a retro "old vegas" feel. When I stopped by here on a weekday afternoon in December 2007 they had a magician doing a free show.
PRICE: low.
Slots-A-Fun is next to Circus Circus at 2890 Las Vegas Blvd South. 702-734-0410
I haven't been able to find a web site for them.
LOCATION: poor, next to Circus Circus, across from Riviera.
Attractiveness of location will improve when Echelon is completed.
ATMOSPHERE: Unlike the typical casino, which is mainly concerned with parting you and your money; Slots-A-Fun is more concerned with you having fun. Taking your money is their secondary priority.
If you're hot and thirsty, wander in for a few cheap beers.
Cheap food, cheap drinks, and low limit tables are the Slots A Fun formula.
PRICE: zero, no rooms available.
Circus Circus www.circuscircus.com 2880 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, NV 89109. 877-224-7287
LOCATION: poor; only close to Riviera and Slots-A-Fun. Attractiveness of location will improve when Echelon is completed.
ATMOSPHERE: I stayed here twice... in 1993 and 1995, I believe. I didn't like it so much the first time, but they sent me a coupon for a free room to get me back a second time. There won't be a third time.
It's not a bad place in itself; it just tends to attract families and therefore has more of a "discount shopping center on a Saturday morning" atmosphere than a "Las Vegas casino" atmosphere.
Ironically, their steak house is one of the top rated Las Vegas steak restaurants. I say ironically because the Circus Circus buffet is often given an emphatic thumbs down by diners.
If you have to take kids to Las Vegas, the Excalibur or Circus Circus are the places to go. And by "kids" I mean age 12 or younger. Teens are probably too old to enjoy those properties.
PRICE: low
ROOM QUALITY: acceptable, nothing better or worse than what you expect from a generic hotel room. Although one of the times I stayed there, I had an ice chest on the floor and the small amount of water condensing on the outside of it actually leaked through to the room below me. Security pounded on my door, thinking I'd flooded the bathtub or something major like that. So these rooms are probably not well constructed.
Sahara www.saharavegas.com 2535 Las Vegas Blvd. South Las Vegas, NV 89109. 888-696-2121
LOCATION: poor, not close to anything.
ATMOSPHERE: Sahara is a budget property but has a nicer atmosphere than most budget properties. I think the rates are low here mainly because of the location.
PRICE: low
ROOM QUALITY: I stayed in a "garden room" here in 1992 but those were demolished so a new parking garage could be built.
head west on Sahara Avenue...
Palace Station www.palacestation.com 4511 W. Sahara, Las Vegas NV 89102. 702-367-2411 or 800-634-3101
LOCATION: poor, Palace Station is about 2 miles off the strip, on the other side of the freeway (I-15); but they have free parking so if you rent a car in Las Vegas you might want to avoid the hectic traffic of Las Vegas Blvd. and stay off-strip.
ATMOSPHERE: a "locals" place; with the theme of a train station. A bit noisier and more informal than the fancy strip casinos.
ROOM QUALITY: the cheap "courtyard" rooms should be avoided but the tower rooms (which were remodeled in 2007) are fine. The top floor of the tower (21st floor) is all suites.
PRICE: low.
head back to Las Vegas Blvd...
Stratosphere
(formerly Bob Stupak's Vegas World) www.stratospherehotel.com
2000 Las Vegas Boulevard South, Las Vegas, NV 89104. 800-998-6937.
LOCATION: poor, not close to anything, and panhandlers on the way if you walk the few blocks to the strip.
ATMOSPHERE: Since erecting their 109 story tower, Stratosphere has become kind of a themeless casino resort; somewhat similar to Monte Carlo. I've never stayed at the Strat but I've visited many times. I like it a lot. The atmosphere is pleasant and a bit more relaxed than the rest of the strip.
The main attraction here is the observation deck at the top of the tower. For $10 you can ride up (if it's crowded, it's worth buying the elevator line pass for an extra $10) and see spectacular views of the strip, downtown Las Vegas, and surrounding areas.
Surprisingly, there's a Starbucks up there too. And some scary thrill rides.
PRICE: low.
Stratosphere at sunset on December 13, 2007
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