Where should I stay?

Hello WoV happy peoples.

I'm taking a short trip to Vegas next week with my girlfriend and I'm looking for a little advice if you feel like offering your opinion. I've been to Vegas many times and usually stay at the Rio, Caesars or Bellagio. I'd like to try someplace new but stay pretty much central on the strip. Which hotel would you suggest I try? I don't plan on doing much if any gambling apart from a poker tournement or two as my girlfriend is a casino dealer and does not play at all herself. I also want to see Mystere (I've seen it before) and I think I can get 2-for-1 tickets if I stay at TI. I've priced things out and including my round trip flight from Vancouver (Canada) all of the hotels listed are about $650 to $750 pp so price really isn't an issue at all.

I've narrowed my choices down to the following hotels:

Treasure Island (I might get a deal on Mystere tickets)
Luxor (I kind of like the idea of living in a giant pyramid for a few days)
Trump (Good reviews wherever I look)
Aria (Haven't seen the place yet and it looks like it might be nice)
Mirage (I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart (or head?) for the "old school" strip hotels)

So, based upon your experiences (or word of mouth) what would you say is my best option. Feel free to add any comments you might have. I'll be there from the 14th to the 19th next week.

Aria would probably be a bit higher in price than the others... and not worth it, I would think.
Luxor might be just fine for you and your sense of adventuresome exploration of such things as inclined elevators.
Then Mirage,
Then TI
...I know nothing about Trump anything.
I'd look at some of the amenities and specials and see if anything stands out.

Either its not a "short" trip or its a strange room quote. 650 per person? That had better be far more than a short trip or am I so drunk I'm misreading things? Luxor had an email alert about saving 20 percent or up to 20 percent or something. That was about a week ago. They also said two free show tickets if you book airfare and hotel for 3 nights or more. And they always have something about seven bucks off if you book a room online.

I don't see Cosmopolitan on your list and it might be worth considering. It's a little pricier than most, but I believe most or all of the rooms are more like condo's, with a balcony. I have not been in a room but the hotel and casino are pretty impressive and all the reviews I've read about it have been stellar.

As for the others, the only comment I have on Trump is that it is not right on the strip, and there is no casino, which makes it a little harder if you do want to gamble.

I've stayed at none of them on your list. Look into Paris. I've stayed at Cearsars ( the most ), Mandalay Bay, Venetian, NYNY, and Paris. The only one that disappointed me was NYNY - terrible beds and a dark room. I found myself going to Paris to play even when staying at the other places. I just like the feel in that casino and since my primary pastime is Pai Gow Poker, the less than desirable BJ and craps don't affect me. The rooms there were very nice and well maintained and you can't beat the location if you like the center of the strip like we do. Good luck and have fun.

Quote: TheNightfly

I've narrowed my choices down to the following hotels:

Treasure Island (I might get a deal on Mystere tickets)
Luxor (I kind of like the idea of living in a giant pyramid for a few days)
Trump (Good reviews wherever I look)
Aria (Haven't seen the place yet and it looks like it might be nice)
Mirage (I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart (or head?) for the "old school" strip hotels)

So, based upon your experiences (or word of mouth) what would you say is my best option. Feel free to add any comments you might have. I'll be there from the 14th to the 19th next week.

Rooms at TI are nice, but they have one of the biggest resort fees on the Strip at $20/night. Not sure about 2-for-1 Mystere, but I do know you can buy one ticket, get the second for $25 at the very least. There are girls giving out coupons in that hallway by TI poker room all the time.

Luxor inclinators!

Trump has no casino of course, but you could play a Wynn poker tourney close by.

You should try out Aria, Vdarra, or Cosmo for a thrill and gf points. Cosmo's Wicked Spoon buffet gets very high marks.

When did we start calling Mirage old school?!? Is the Rio old school also? If you really want old school, you should do the Sahara before it's gone for good. You might regret not taking the chance in the years to come. Or maybe just for one night of your stay. I wish I could've stayed a night at the Dunes or Stardust way back when, but I did stay at the old Aladdin before it came down in the 90's. Glad I did. The Riviera is offering 2 nights for free right now, first come, first served, and the Riv might be next on the chopping block.

Quote: Las Vegas Advisor

The Riviera has just launched an incredible deal, offering up to two nights stay for free, Sunday through Thursday (subject to availability), if you have a valid players card from any casino. Call 800/637-5687 or 702/794-9571 for more information or to make a reservation. Rooms are limited.

Quote: TheNightfly

Hello WoV happy peoples.

I'm taking a short trip to Vegas next week with my girlfriend and I'm looking for a little advice if you feel like offering your opinion. I've been to Vegas many times and usually stay at the Rio, Caesars or Bellagio. I'd like to try someplace new but stay pretty much central on the strip. Which hotel would you suggest I try? I don't plan on doing much if any gambling apart from a poker tournement or two as my girlfriend is a casino dealer and does not play at all herself. I also want to see Mystere (I've seen it before) and I think I can get 2-for-1 tickets if I stay at TI. I've priced things out and including my round trip flight from Vancouver (Canada) all of the hotels listed are about $650 to $750 pp so price really isn't an issue at all.

I've narrowed my choices down to the following hotels:

Treasure Island (I might get a deal on Mystere tickets)
Luxor (I kind of like the idea of living in a giant pyramid for a few days)
Trump (Good reviews wherever I look)
Aria (Haven't seen the place yet and it looks like it might be nice)
Mirage (I have a bit of a soft spot in my heart (or head?) for the "old school" strip hotels)

So, based upon your experiences (or word of mouth) what would you say is my best option. Feel free to add any comments you might have. I'll be there from the 14th to the 19th next week.

The Luxor is the cosiest hotel room I've stayed in. I really liked the room, but it was weird walking out of the (smaller) room into the vast open space inside the pyramid. I've not been the tower's so can't say how they stack up. I'd stay at the Luxor again for the right price. It is not a good central location though, and gambling in the Luxor and Excalibur has gone down hill in the last few trips, with steadily crappier player conditions and shittier pit bosses.

I've also stayed at the Mandalay and got a room upgrade and had a great time with a huge tub, huge bed and huge TV. I also liked the Monte Carlo, and that would be number one for staying on strip if I got a good price. The room's were good, bed comfortable and shower fantastic. Plus I like the gambling and vibe in there plus the location.

I have friends who -always- stay at TI and say after trying the Mirage and Flaming it's the best place on the strip for mid-price.

The rest I can't comment on, except the Aria was a horrible mess of a layout in the casino/shopping centre/amenities.

While I have visited all of those places on your list except Trump, the Luxor is the only one where I have actually stayed -- I tend to stay at the Caesars Entertainment properties myself. Thus, I probably don't have very useful advice about the lodging part. I am posting because I am a little confused by a couple of items in your post.

First, I don't really consider Trump or Luxor as "pretty much central on the strip." I would use that to describe things between City Center and Caesars. Trump and Luxor seem more like north and south end accommodations. Second, I am surprised that you find Luxor and Aria in the same price range. Luxor is near the economy end of MGM's lineup, and Aria is near or at the high end. Maybe that means there are price opportunities you haven't looked at. Did I miss something? If "price really isn't an issue at all", go for luxury or convenience or something. Personally, price is almost always something that I use as a factor.

Quote: Doc

While I have visited all of those places on your list except Trump, the Luxor is the only one where I have actually stayed -- I tend to stay at the Caesars Entertainment properties myself. Thus, I probably don't have very useful advice about the lodging part. I am posting because I am a little confused by a couple of items in your post.

First, I don't really consider Trump or Luxor as "pretty much central on the strip." I would use that to describe things between City Center and Caesars. Trump and Luxor seem more like north and south end accommodations. Second, I am surprised that you find Luxor and Aria in the same price range. Luxor is near the economy end of MGM's lineup, and Aria is near or at the high end. Maybe that means there are price opportunities you haven't looked at. Did I miss something? If "price really isn't an issue at all", go for luxury or convenience or something. Personally, price is almost always something that I use as a factor.

What I meant by price not being an issue is that all of the 5 I've listed will cost me about the same (within $100 for the 5 night stay) including my flights. That's the price range I wanted and they all fall within that range. I know there are a lot of other places to stay and I know that the Luxor and Trump aren't smack dab in the middle of things but these are the 5 we've narrowed it down to. I appreciate all the info and suggestions so far... keep 'em coming.

Quote: TheNightfly

... all of the 5 I've listed will cost me about the same (within $100 for the 5 night stay) including my flights. ...

Ahh, now I understand a little better -- you are getting a package deal including the airline flight. I think that you will find that if you book the flight and the hotel separately, there will be a much greater difference in total price.

If you generally are interested in saving money, check into what the prices would be if you booked separately. You might find that you could get the flight and the Luxor cheaper than the package deal. If the package is really the cheapest option, then you are probably getting a better deal for Aria than you are for Luxor, with the other properties somewhere in between. Five nights of rooms should have far more than $100 difference between Luxor and Aria.

Assuming they all cost about the same, I'd definitely pick Aria. Very nice rooms. Good poker tourneys. Easy access to Monte Carlo for cheap eats.

I've never stayed at any of those, but my sister stayed at TI and my neighbor stayed at Mirage. One of them had a really bad check-in problem, but I can't remember which. Maybe it was like we saw on Undercover Boss when they had a new system at the time and they've solved the issue.

I would pick one with easy access to the monorail since I like using it.

Ooooh--I just noticed the word 'girlfriend' in the post. In that case, pick the nicest hotel. I personally would love the funky elevators in the Luxor, but I'm an engineering type. She might like going to the new place (Aria) unless she thinks funky elevators are a draw as well.

My sister had trouble with the hotel elevators at Paris being too fast for her, so we didn't even try to do the Eiffel Tower. Talk about motion sickness issues!

Ive stayed at the Luxor and it wasnt nice. Maybe the tower rooms and the suites will be nice but the pyramid rooms will not be. Like FarFromVegas said, your gf might like the newer Aria especially since it is about the same price.

Treasure Island was built basically in the parking lot of the Mirage. But women like new things, so stay at the Aria (it will greatly minimize the walking you must do).

The Trump is in an extreme location, that is the primary reason most people won't pick it. It's also a little dull.

Quote: mdh

Ive stayed at the Luxor and it wasnt nice. Maybe the tower rooms and the suites will be nice but the pyramid rooms will not be.

Why would anyone book a room at Luxor, and then not stay in the pyramid? Isn't that the whole point of staying there?

Quote: zippyboy

Why would anyone book a room at Luxor, and then not stay in the pyramid? Isn't that the whole point of staying there?

I heard it was getting threadbare. I suppose you can just ride the elevator for a fee? But I've seen rooms advertised for 29 bucks, so it can't be but so luxurious.

Quote: zippyboy

Why would anyone book a room at Luxor, and then not stay in the pyramid? Isn't that the whole point of staying there?

I only stayed at Luxor once, in 2008, and I was interested in the pyramid. At check in, the clerk said she was giving us an upgrade to one of the towers. I only caught the word "upgrade" and didn't immediately focus on the fact that we would miss the pyramid experience.

The tower room was a dump -- sheets completely worn out, along with the other furnishings. It was the worst room we have ever had in Las Vegas, other than possibly that "garden" room we had one night for one of our stays at the Tropicana back in 2005. We have had seven hotel stays in Las Vegas since trying Luxor, and all have been in Harrah's/Caesars' properties. I am not claiming that Caesars places are better than MGM places in general, but I haven't found a room at Bally's, Harrah's, or Rio that is as bad as the one we had at Luxor.

If I ever go back, I will stay in the pyramid just to experience that geometric aspect of the place.

I snuck up the elevators in the Luxor a few years ago. I was so excited to ride in a diagonal elevator, I thought it would be the coolest thing ever.

They aren't glass elevators, so you really have no idea you're not going straight up. It kinda shakes a little more than a normal elevator, but the elevator ride is definitely not worth staying in a less desirable room.

The Luxor is fun to visit but I wouldn't want to stay there...

Zippyboy i would think that they would want to stay in the pyramid room because it looks cool and it is a supposedly 4 star. It might have been 4 star yrs. ago, but it sure is not now (some sites even have it listed as 3 star now). If they looked at the reviews they would not stay here at all. I did the name your own price thing and was rewarded Luxor back in 2008. Because I read the reviews, this was the only hotel(4 star)in Vegas I did not want to end up in. The dissapointment in my face was telling to my wife when we were done booking. The pyramid rooms look like the outside of Luxor in that the walls were slanted which made the room seem alot smaller.Bottom line is its an aging hotel for sure. Ive stayed at 7 different hotels in Las Vegas over my 12 or so times here and this was by far the worse(ok maybe the fitz was close lol).

Zippyboy i would think that they would want to stay in the pyramid room because it looks cool and it is a supposedly 4 star. It might have been 4 star yrs. ago, but it sure is not now (some sites even have it listed as 3 star now). If they looked at the reviews they would not stay here at all. I did the name your own price thing and was rewarded Luxor back in 2008. Because I read the reviews, this was the only hotel(4 star)in Vegas I did not want to end up in. The dissapointment in my face was telling to my wife when we were done booking. The pyramid rooms look like the outside of Luxor in that the walls were slanted which made the room seem alot smaller.Bottom line is its an aging hotel for sure. Ive stayed at 7 different hotels in Las Vegas over my 12 or so times here and this was by far the worse(ok maybe the fitz was close lol).

Sorry about that double post(tech challenged lol).

Thanks to everyone for all the info. I've booked TI and got 5 nights for $250. I've never stayed there before so it'll be a new experience if nothing else.

You mean $350 with the resort fee. I have successfully negotiated out of resort fees at check-in before, so try it. Well, try it IF $100 means something to you.

Quote: zippyboy

You mean $350 with the resort fee. I have successfully negotiated out of resort fees at check-in before, so try it. Well, try it IF $100 means something to you.

I'll do that... thanks.

The following hotels are the AAA 4 diamond hotels. Luxor is decidedly a 3 diamond hotel. I think the 5 diamond ones are obvious.
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The Mirage
Monte Carlo Resort & Casino
Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino
THEhotel at Mandalay Bay
Treasure Island-TI Hotel & Casino
MGM Grand Hotel & Casino
The Signature at MGM Grand
Caesars Palace
Palms Place Hotel and Spa
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Trump International Hotel Las Vegas
Renaissance Las Vegas Hotel
JW Marriott Las Vegas Resort & Spa
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Golden Nugget Hotel
Loews Lake Las Vegas
Aliante Station Casino & Hotel
Green Valley Ranch Resort & Spa
Red Rock Casino Resort & Spa
M Resort Spa Casino
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Two diamond hotels are Stratosphere, Excalibur, Bill's, Bally's, Gold Coast, and Harrah's.
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Not rated are Sahara, Riviera, and Circus Circus