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Las Vegas Hotels By Chuck Hawks Las Vegas, Nevada, with an estimated population of approximately 1,800,000, is the fastest growing city in the United States. There are more hotel rooms in Las Vegas than in any other city in the United States, and more have earned AAA's top Four Diamond rating (17,205 rooms; Chicago is the runner-up with 15,738 Four Diamond rooms). As I write this Las Vegas is the home of 20 of the 30 largest hotels in the United States, including the top 13. (#1 is the MGM Grand, with 5,034 rooms--it is worth seeing, but too big for me!) Several of the hotels reviewed below are on that list: Circus Circus is #4 (3,800 rooms), Mandalay Bay is #5 (3,700 rooms), the Mirage is #8 (3,049 rooms), the Venetian is #9 (3,036 rooms), Monte Carlo is #10 (3,014 rooms), Bellagio is #11 (3,000 rooms), and the Riviera is #26 (2,072 rooms). Las Vegas is a city that continually reinvents itself, and change is the most permanent feature. The Stratosphere is under new management. Featuring the tallest structure west of the Mississippi River, a 1,149 foot tower, the Stratosphere hotel and casino plans to add a second hotel tower. This will bring it to a total of 2,442 rooms . . . Mirage Resorts (Treasure Island, Golden Nugget, Mirage, Bellagio) was sold to MGM Grand Inc. in 2001 (whose principle owner is billionaire Kirk Kerkorian). This makes MGM/Mirage Resorts the biggest player in Las Vegas resort properties (Bellagio, Boardwalk, MGM Grand, Mirage, New York-New York, Treasure Island). . . In 2004 the Poster Financial Group (PFG) purchased the Golden Nugget hotel casinos (Las Vegas and Laughlin) from MGM Grand . . . Steve Wynn purchased the Desert Inn in 2001, closed it, and is building a new resort on the property, which will reportedly be named "Le Reve" (the dream) after the Picasso painting owned by Steve Wynn. It is scheduled to open in 2005. The Desert Inn golf course is still open, and Steve Wynn's small but brilliant collection of masterpiece paintings ("The Wynn Collection") can be viewed in the foyer area of the old Desert Inn, which has been converted into a gallery. Las Vegas Boulevard South, the famous "Strip," runs for quite a distance, eventually intersecting Fremont Street in downtown Las Vegas. As I write this, the Stratosphere marks the north end of the Strip, and Mandalay Bay the south end. Of course, the Strip is ever expanding as new properties are added. For purposes of general location, I call that part of the Strip north of Sands Avenue (where the Strip bends) the "North Strip;" the part between Sands Avenue and Tropicana Avenue the "Central Strip;" and the part south of Tropicana Avenue the "South Strip." The intersection of Flamingo Road and Las Vegas Boulevard marks the epicenter of the Strip, and is called the "Four Corners" of the Strip. To the south, the intersection of Tropicana Avenue and Las Vegas Boulevard is sometimes called the "New Four Corners" of the Strip. In my opinion, the most convenient hotel locations on the Strip are between the Four Corners and the New Four Corners. Most of the best known Las Vegas resorts on the Strip occupy a large amount of space, and as a result the city blocks along the Strip are often very long. There is usually one resort per super long block. Properties that appear to be right next to each other on a map may in fact be a long walk apart. Traffic lights are also very long, staying red for something like four minutes! My personal hotel rating system runs from 1 Star (lowest) to 5 Stars (the best), and roughly corresponds to similar rating systems I have seen on the web and in other places. I add a "+" or "-" to signify a hotel at the top or bottom of a particular category. The list of hotels with their accompanying star rating is not intended to be inclusive, but it does include most of the major properties on the Strip, and the hotels at the "Four Corners" of the Fremont Street Experience (the intersection of Fremont and Casino Center streets). This list is followed by capsule reviews of selected properties. The customer satisfaction ratings mentioned in the capsule reviews are based on the reports received from the Las Vegas Online visitors poll at the time of publication. I have divided the hotels selected for capsule reviews into approximate price categories. Please note that Las Vegas room rates often vary, not only seasonally but also sometimes daily. Few people pay the full brochure price for a room. Have your travel agent check for special prices. Agencies such as Las Vegas Reservation System (there is a link to them on my Travel Links page) typically offer big discounts on rooms at all of the resorts I have reviewed below. I have only selected two or three hotels in each price category to review; properties that I think deserve mention for one reason or another. I do not have the time or inclination to review every hotel in Las Vegas. There are whole books devoted to the subject, and I recommend one of them to the reader who seeks a more complete survey of Las Vegas hotels. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotel "Star Rating" List Aladdin ***+ [Central Strip, 877-333-9474] Bally's ***+ [Central Strip, 800-634-3434] Barbary Coast ** [Central Strip, 888-227-2279] Bellagio ***** [Central Strip, 888-488-7111] Binion's Horseshoe **+ [Fremont St., 800-237-6537] Boardwalk ** [Central Strip, 800-635-4581] Caesers Palace **** [Central Strip, 800-634-6661] Circus Circus **- [North Strip, 800-634-3450] Excalibur ** [South Strip, 800-937-7777] Fitzgeralds **+ [Fremont St., 800-274-5825] Flamingo Hilton ***+ [Central Strip, 800-732-2111] Four Queens **+ [Fremont St., 800-634-6045] Four Seasons @ Mandalay Bay ***** [South Strip, 877-632-5206] Fremont **+ [Fremont St., 800-634-6182] Golden Nugget ***** [Fremont St., 800-634-3454] Hard Rock Hotel ***+ [Harmon & Paradise Rd, 800-473-7625] Harrah's ***+ [Central Strip, 800-634-6765] Las Vegas Hilton **** [Paradise Rd., 800-732-7117] Luxor ****- [South Strip, 800-288-1000] Mandalay Bay ****+ [South Strip, 877-632-7700] MGM Grand ****- [Central Strip, 800-929-1111] Mirage ***** [Central Strip, 800-627-6667] Monte Carlo **** [Central Strip, 800-822-8652] New York New York ***- [Central Strip, 800-693-6763] Paris-Las Vegas ***+ [Central Strip, 888-266-5687] Rio Suite Hotel ***+ [Flamingo & Valley View, 800-888-1808] Riviera *** [North Strip, 800-634-6753] Sahara ** [North Strip, 888-696-2121] Stardust **+ [North Strip, 800-634-6757] Stratosphere ***- [North Strip, 800-998-6937] Treasure Island ***+ [Central Strip, 800-944-7444] Tropicana ** [North Strip, 800-634-4000] Venetian ***** [Central Strip, 800-446-4678] -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Hotel Reviews Low to Medium Price Class **- Circus Circus (2880 Las Vegas Boulevard South): Circus Circus, which opened in 1968, bills itself as "Las Vegas' Family Fun Stop," and pioneered the trend toward family oriented resorts in Las Vegas. I have included it for that reason. It is geared toward families with children. There is also a large RV park on the premisis. The continuous circus and somewhat tacky atmosphere appeals to kids, and the management has provided plenty of distractions to entertain children while their parents gamble. The Grand Slam Canyon Adventure Dome (indoor amusement park) reportedly cost 95 million dollars. This is a large property with an awkward layout, particularly if your room is located in one of the several buildings staggered across the parking lot behind the casino. Shuttle bus service to the casino is provided, if you are willing to wait for it. Restaurants and all other facilities are often crowded and long lines are the norm much of the time. The casino seems particularly noisy. Food in the various restaurants and the buffet is fairly inexpensive, but generally indifferent, as is the service. Las Vegas has plenty of good restaurants a short cab ride away; one solution would be to hike to the nearby (by Las Vegas standards) Riviera for meals. Room rates at Circus Circus are among the lowest of any of the major resorts on the Strip, but the overall customer satisfaction rating is also low, and the majority of visitors report that they would not stay at Circus Circus again. Circus Circus is owned by Mandalay Resort Group. **+ Four Queens (202 East Fremont Street): The Four Queens, built and owned by Ben Goffstein, opened in 1966 and is named in honor of his four daughters. It is located at the "Four Corners" of the Fremont Street Experience, and harbors one of the best restaurant/bars in Las Vegas, Hugo's Cellar. No matter where you stay in Las Vegas, one night you owe it to yourself to experience the fine dining and cocktails at Hugo's Cellar. The price is high, but the atmosphere, food, beverages, and service are outstanding. In addition to Hugo's, the Four Queens offers Magnolia's Veranda, a 24-hour restaurant. The lively casino features the world's largest slot machine, named the "Queen's Machine." The casual atmosphere is intended to suggest the French Quarter in New Orleans. The room rates are reasonable, and the overall customer satisfaction score is good. As with any downtown hotel, due to the distance to the Strip, it is better to have your own transportation available than to rely exclusively on taxicabs. Cabs are easily available downtown, but can become expensive if you frequently commute to the Strip. Medium Price Class ***** Golden Nugget (129 East Fremont Street): Guy McAfee opened the Golden Nugget in 1946. Purchased and refurbished by Steve Wynn in the early 1970's, and again (to the tune of some 30 million dollars) in 2001-2002, the Golden Nugget became the springboard that propelled Steve Wynn to fame and prosperity in Las Vegas. It is now owned by the Poster Financial Group, and rigorously maintained to very high standards. Occupying 7.5 acres at the "Four Corners" of Fremont Street, the 1,907 room Golden Nugget is the best hotel/casino in the downtown area, and generally regarded as one of the few true five star hotels in Las Vegas. The Golden Nugget also won AAA's top Four Diamond rating. Patrons give it a very high customer satisfaction rating. Many Las Vegas regulars regard the Golden Nugget as the best hotel in the city, combining the friendly atmosphere of Freemont Street with top class accomodations, and I concur. The elegant decor features Grecian marble, crystal chandeliers, a white with gold trim color scheme throughout, live plants everywhere, and even skylights to admit a little natural light. Service is excellent, and the popular and busy casino has a friendly feel. For dining there are four restaurants plus a buffet; the attractive coffee shop is the class place to have breakfast or lunch downtown. Room rates are much lower than equivalent accommodations on the Strip, making the Golden Nugget a great value. The only drawback to staying here is the distance to the Strip. As with any downtown hotel, it is wise to have your own transportation available if you plan to commute to the Strip; otherwise you may spend on cab fares the money you saved on your room. Of course, the fabulous 70 million dollar Fremont Street Experience, the ultimate light show and the best free show in Las Vegas, is right outside your hotel. *** Riviera (2901 Las Vegas Boulevard South): The Riviera is one of the older resorts on the Strip, dating back to the 1950's, but unlike some, it shows no signs of fading. Two towers plus good restaurants and bars, one of the better buffets, decent rooms, and good service keeps the customers coming back. Kady's 24 hour coffee shop, for instance, is one of the better places on the Strip for breakfast or lunch. Because it has been added to over the years, the Riviera's layout is not as tidy as some of the newer properties, but it is not as difficult to navigate as some of the other Las Vegas resorts. The Riviera bills itself as "The alternative for adults," and it makes an effort to live up to the billing. The casino, shops, shows, and pool areas are primarily designed for adult enjoyment, and are not rigidly themed like those in more family oriented resorts like Circus Circus, Excalibur, or Treasure Island. The rooms are quite adequate. Visitors give the Riviera an average overall rating. Don't miss the line of life size bronze showgirls in front of the hotel on Las Vegas Blvd. Medium-High Price Class ****+ Mandalay Bay (3950 Las Vegas Boulevard South): Mandalay Bay, opened in 1999 by Mandalay Resort Group, is at the extreme south end of the Strip. It is an attractive property with an exotic southwest pacific theme and has become one of the top places to stay on the Las Vegas strip, along with Bellagio and the Venetian. Its customer satisfaction rating is average. Opposite the registration desk is a lovely walk around saltwater aquarium and exotic birds displayed in large cages. The latter take part in the resort's trained bird show when they are not on display. Another popular attraction is the separate and extensive "Shark reef" aquarium complex, which holds millions of gallons of sea water. The extensive outdoor pool complex is very attractive, and incorporates an 11-acre swimming pool with a sand beach and a wave machine that can create 6-foot surf. There is also a lazy river ride. Like the other new, upscale resorts with which it competes, Mandalay Bay is a little less glitzy and hectic than the ordinary Las Vegas hotel/casino. It features large rooms and nice shops, lounges (one surrounded by an indoor stream and accessed by small bridges), and restaurants and coffee shops where patrons can kick back and relax. The Raffels Coffee Shop is particularly noteworthy for casual meals. Major stars perform in the 12,000 seat Mandalay Events Center. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts manage the top five floors of Mandalay Bay, incorporating 424 rooms. These accommodations are 5 star rated, and have separate elevators, which are key operated and go directly to floors 35-39. Four Seasons amenities include a private spa, pool, 2 exclusive restaurants, and the Club Bar. Four Seasons customers give the hotel a good overall rating. There is a monorail connecting Mandalay Bay with Luxor and Excalibur, which at least partially compensates for the end of the Strip location. All three are now owned by the Mandalay Resort Group. **** Monte Carlo (3770 Las Vegas Boulevard South): The elegant Monte Carlo, which opened in 1996, has become known as perhaps the best hotel value on the strip. It is highly rated in terms of overall customer satisfaction. Monte Cartlo is intended to remind one of the resort's namesake in Europe. Like the Golden Nugget, Mirage, Venetian, Bellagio, and Mandalay Bay, it is aimed at the more sophisticated customer. Beautiful statuary and fountains, quiet restaurants and lounges, luxurious rooms, decent shops, an extensive pool area (which includes a wave pool and a lazy river ride) are key features of the upscale, but not pretentious, Monte Carlo. There are also attractive plantings, a particularly pleasant food court, and a somewhat restrained decor (by Las Vegas standards). Master magician Lance Burton performs in the 27 million dollar Lance Burton Theatre. The attractive Cafe, although not quite as upscale (or expensive) as those at the Venetian and Mandalay Bay, serves excellent food and is one of the best coffee shops on the Strip for breakfast. The Monte Carlo also features the Strip's first micro brewery/pub, recently voted the best such establishment in Las Vegas. There is a convenient monorail connecting the Monte Carlo (which was a joint effort of Mandalay Resort Group and Mirage Resorts) with Bellagio (wholly owned by MGM/Mirage Resorts), so staying at either gives one access to both. High Price Class ***** Bellagio (3600 Las Vegas Boulevard South): One of the most talked about hotel/casinos in Las Vegas is the Bellagio, which opened in 1998. Bellagio is named for, and designed to resemble, the Italian resort town on Lake Como. The 5 star Bellagio was awarded AAA's Four Diamond rating. The Bellagio has many stunning features, foremost of which is the 35 million dollar computer controlled fountain (actually composed of 1000 individual water jets) in the middle of an 11 acre lake in front of the property. It literally defies description; you simply have to see this free water show, choreographed to music, to believe it. Other highlights include the 11 million dollar glass flower sculpture overhead in the lobby, the airy and spacious registration desk, and the 300 million dollar Gallery of Fine Art. The latter includes works by Renoir, Monet, Van Gogh, and Picasso. A huge glass roofed conservatory floods the whole area adjacent to the lobby with natural light, and contains a pond and thousands of flowers. Needless to say, the many restaurants and shops are attractive, upscale, and expensive. The beautiful Cafe Bellagio coffee shop, which fronts on the Conservatory, is an extremely attractive alternative for breakfast or lunch, although the food itself is perhaps better at Monte Carlo, Mandalay Bay, and the Venetian. The large casino is the quietest on the Strip, a miracle achieved by simply turning down the volume of the slot machines. (Why didn't anyone else think of that?) One of the quieter and more pleasant bar/lounges on the Strip is just off the lobby, at the left as you enter the casino, and they stock Irish Mist, unlike most bars in Las Vegas. The total tab for constructing the Bellagio is said to have been between 1.6-1.8 billion dollars. Customer satisfaction is good. ***** The Mirage (3400 Las Vegas Boulevard South): The very popular 5 star Mirage, opened by Steve Wynn in 1989, was the first of the "new style" Las Vegas resorts, and it set the pattern for the upscale mega-resorts that followed, such as the Monte Carlo, Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and Bellagio. The Mirage was awarded AAA's four diamond rating. The Tropical Island theme decor is attractive and well done, without being overly intrusive. There are streams, waterfalls, and live exotic plants everywhere. Skylights near the entrance to the casino actually admit natural light in the daytime; practically unheard of in other Las Vegas resorts. Outside, in front, there is a 100' volcano that erupts regularly every night, as well as a huge pond complete with a stream and several large waterfalls. In back is the extensive pool complex, which includes a waterfall and a swim up bar among other features. Also in back is the "Habitat," which includes a couple of large saltwater pools populated by trained dolphin. An adjoining jungle area called the "Secret Garden of Siegfried and Roy" features the beautiful white tigers that appear in the Siegfried and Roy show, plus lions, leopards, and even an elephant. Inside a huge saltwater aquarium containing 1,000 species of marine life, set into the wall behind the registration desk, gives you something to watch while you wait to register. As you would expect, the rooms are very well appointed. The restaurants and bars are varied and of high quality (and some of the latter stock Irish Mist). The 24 hour Caribe Cafe coffee shop serves excellent breakfasts, the shops upscale, and the casino a little quieter and more restrained than most, despite heavy customer traffic. Mirage Resorts was acquired by MGM Grand Inc. late in 2000, but it still maintains a five star rating. ***** Venetian (3355 Las Vegas Boulevard South): The three most talked about resorts in Las Vegas, as I write this, are the Venetian, Mandalay Bay, and Bellagio. The Venetian is rated as one of the best places in the world to stay by Conde Nast Travelers. The Guinnes Book of World Records lists the Venetian as having the biggest hotel rooms in the world. Sophia Loren christened the Venetian, owned by Las Vegas Sands, Inc., in 1999. It is an all suite (average room size is 700 square feet) hotel/casino whose exterior is a surprisingly accurate likeness of Venice, including the Tower, Doge's Palace, and Rialto Bridge. There is a canal outside, in front of the property, and another inside, which runs through the Grand Canal Shoppes (the Venetian's upscale shopping plaza, perhaps the nicest in Las Vegas). You can take a short gondola ride if you wish. The huge registration area is especially impressive, with a spectacular vaulted and painted ceiling and impressive statuary. The Venetian includes an assortment of nice bars and internationally celebrated restaurants of all types, an indoor "food court," a large casino, and a lavish pool area. The Grand Lux Cafe is serving what may be the best breakfast on the Strip. (Patrons of the Monte Carlo and Mandalay Bay coffee shops could reasonably dispute that statement.) You must arrive before 11:00 AM to enjoy the upscale breakfast buffet, although breakfast is served 24 hours a day from the regular menu. The world famous Guggenheim Art Museum has partnered with the Venetian to open an art gallery that features some truly impressive displays. These rotate between the several Guggenheim Museums, and include works on loan from other world famous art museums, such as the Hermitage in St. Petersberg. Altogether, this is an attractive and upscale resort that delivers a good degree of customer satisfaction.

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