Seeing as a lot of folks seem to ask about Vegas quite frequently and I had a few spare mins I thought I would do a quick review of the hotels as I see it ( all subjective of course )


I have put this in a new thread so that it didn't get lost in one of the more general ones

If I get time I might expand it to Off Strip hotels and maybe restaurants

starting on the West side from the South to North ( major hotels )


Mandalay / TheHotel - a bit out of the way but great rooms ( TheHotel being the better ) superb pool/beach complex , casino nice but a bit bland

Luxor - great to look at but getting a bit tired now and a little too far south for me

Excalibur - fairly cheap but location is reasonably good , acceptable value , full of kids

NYNY - very busy but great fun if you like lots to do , maybe a tadge overpriced at times

Monte Carlo - inconspicuous but good location and a nice mid range hotel

Bellagio - best location on the strip , quality feel , room well appointed but not huge , has a real class feel about the place ( unusual in Vegas )

Caeser's Palace - a legend of a hotel , loads to do and see , rooms range from quite nice to superb , may be a bit sprawling nowadays

Mirage - superb mid to high end hotel though the are trying to attract a younger crowd now which could change things

TI - great value , excellent rooms , now getting a bit noisy and the younger folks take over

Stardust - Location a little poor but a good value hotel if on a budget

Circus Circus - noooooooooooooooo . the dump to end all dumps , grotty , run down and full of kids and freaks

Stratosphere - ok for a afternoons visit but you wouldn't want to stay there , bad location and a rough area


Now coming back down the East side North to South

Hilton - bland hotel catering for the convention crowds , reasonable enough as a hotel but uninteresting and poorly located

Riviera / Sahara - budget hotels that are best avoided

Wynn - the dog's of an hotel , real quality , fantastic in almost every way , just let down a little by the location

Venetian - fantastic to walk around and has huge well appointed rooms , just lacks the "class" of Wynn and Bellagio , some of the rooms are getting a bit tired now

Harrahs - Great location , a real gambler's hotel , mid range and fairly innocuous

Imperial Palace - run down but the casino is fun and location good , place is cheap but it scheduled to be demolished soon

Flamingo - mid range hotel with good location , not very interesting

Ballys - perfectly located , clean and with big rooms just lacks any sort of sparkle

Alladin - unremarkable hotel in a great location - great value - is being turned into Planet Hollywood over the course of this year

Paris - very smart hotel with a nice feel to the place , sort of hotel to take the missus rather then your mates , can be a little pricey

MGM - what a monster - furthest room is 1 mile from reception , avoid base level rooms as these are poor but all others ok , the place is just to big for my liking

Tropicana - a budget dump of a place

 

massive doesn't come in to it the place is blooming enormous , avoid the emerald tower rooms though , these were actually part of an old hotel which was encased inside the MGM when it was built and are a bit poor for the cost

 

Luxor

 

I'll be believing it soon

 

I certainly did forget the Hilton I knew there would be one , will add it now

 

for a top buffet try the Sterling Brunch at Ballys on a Sunday

Caviar
Lobster
Filet Mignon
Sushi bar


full menu here

http://www.caesars.com/NR/rdonlyres...1A-330209F6D64A/0/BLV_SterlingBrunch_Menu.pdf

dozens of other top things and unlimited Perrier Jouet champagne , about $60 each IIRC , fantastic stuff

 

Some recommended restaurants for you ( price is for 2 with tip and reasonable drinks )

Steakhouses

Circus Circus Steakhouse is ok for a good , cheap steak $100

Range at Harrahs , nice setting and good quality food , service is a bit hit and miss $150

Alan Albert's awesome steaks and incredible service $200

Mid range dining

Buccaneer bay - modern cuisine in a great setting $180

Hugo's Cellar - romantic restaurant in old town - quality food - $180

Commander's palace - creole/cajun food in a very nice setting $150

Delmonico's - steakhouse and general restaurant in Venetian , place has a good reputation but I can't see why , average food in a bland setting , room is freezing too $200

High end dining

Picasso - adventurous modern cuisine , service good verging on the poncy $300

Michaels - the place to end all restaurants , fantastic food , amazing service and a wonderful old world setting , you know it's quality when they use Dom Perignon to pour on your sorbet , a bit pricey bit worth every penny ( cent? ) $450

 

some are but most I would class as standard , suppose this explains why I am a fat *******