One of the few side trips I took on my visit last month was all the way north on the Strip to the Peppermill restaurant. I had always wanted to check it out and finally did. This entry isn’t about the Peppermill, but about all the construction underway in that part of the city. Once completed, there should be a continuous run of casinos from Circus Circus down to the Fashion Show Mall and beyond. Resorts World is going to span much of that distance but the site of what will (eventually) be the Wynn West development pretty much fills in the rest of it. Past Circus Circus to the north is still pretty empty other than the Hilton Time Share but, across the street, there will be the expanded convention center and the Drew. That certainly puts the SLS (or whatever it becomes) closer to the action, even with the vacant lot that was Wet n Wild. Still, after navigating all the way past Venetian/Palazzo and Wynn/Encore, it should be noted that simply having something along the north Strip doesn’t make it all that walkable. Unlike the resorts center Strip, they are going to be separated by a lot of distance. We’ll have to wait and see how good a job the new resorts do making that space interesting.
Category: Hotels
Linq Updates
It wasn’t too many months past that I had to report on the final days of the Tag bar at the Linq. In addition to friendly bartenders and a fun setting, Tag bar featured a tremendous variety of different beers and, as long as you were playing, you could try as many as you wanted on the house. The variety of craft beers is largely gone. In its place is a kind of millennial sports bar. Fortunately some of the same friendly barkeeps are there but now the focus is on the big game and the big tab. There are little pods around the bar that can be rented out for a beverage minimum with cushy couches, multi-screen television monitors and internet gaming. From what I could tell, the minimum is around $200 and likely only goes up during major events. There is also an area called Beer Yourself with over a dozen self service taps you can access and a food truck style eatery called Sticky Chicken. It looked decent. The sports book is now situated right by the bar and the old sports book is walled off, soon to serve another purpose. One of the old bartenders remembered me and apologized for the crappy beer selection but it isn’t any worse than any other casino bar and is still kind of fun place to hang out and play. We’ll see how the new format is received, but it is not my cup of tea.
The Middle
Staying at any of the casinos on the east side of Las Vegas Boulevard between Cromwell and Harrah’s is a bit like living on a freeway. The foot traffic is pretty much nonstop 24/7/365 and it can be a bit overwhelming sometimes. The sidewalks are narrow and cutting through the casinos is often the best way to get around. There is always music and usually a bit of madness. And this isn’t an upscale shopping mall crowd. These are just regular people enjoying Las Vegas. Room rates are pretty reasonable in this neighborhood and there is plenty of fast food and even some cheap drinks to be found if you pay attention. Because of the concentration of casinos and entertainment and the middle class crowd, this part of the Strip feels more like Downtown than any other. Its main street is the Linq Promenade, a fun place to hang out, have a drink and people watch. And, if you want to rise above it all for a bit, the High Roller is a great choice. Whether staying in this part of the Strip is the right choice for you depends on your budget and whether or not the description above sounds awesome or awful. For me, I kind of like it.
(Note: the blog will be silent tomorrow in remembrance of the 58 souls we lost one year ago and the thousands more whose lives were forever altered by the events of the night of October 1.)
Harrah’s Las Vegas
Today’s blog entry comes with no attempt at a clever turn of phrase as I have run out for the month. I am going to give my impressions on my stay at Harrah’s. Other than spending a night on someone’s floor many years ago, I had not stayed here before. I had enjoyed many fun nights at both Carnaval Court and the Piano Bar so I had high hopes for my stay. One feature of Harrah’s branded properties I have noticed is that the employees are friendlier than in most other hotels and not in that, “I want a tip” kind of way. Most everyone I had contact with was helpful and seemed to care. The room itself was fine, one of the fairly recently remodeled Valley Tower rooms. Had a nice view and a comfortable bed and everything worked, even the half-door style shower. No fridge but there was a coffeemaker. The room did seem to pick up a lot of hallway noise though I didn’t notice my neighbors at all. Perhaps I didn’t have any? The casino was always busy and did feature the only Fortune Cup game I have seen at a Caesars property. Average drink service on the floor but the bartenders at the main casino bar were friendly and fast. Tomorrow, some thoughts on life center Strip.
The Courteous
In Spanish, El Cortez means “the courteous” and I have to say I have certainly found the place to be just that. After spending a single night at one of their Designer Suites back in May, I checked out one of their Cabana Suites this past week. I found both rooms to be comfortable, functional and stylish. The casino and parts of the hotel date back to the 1940’s but the place is a great mix of the past and the present. In addition to the latest and greatest slots, you can play nickel video poker on a collection of machines that still take actual coins. There’s an old school coffee shop but also a stylish bar. And, though it sets a couple of blocks off the Fremont Street Experience, it feels very safe and lacks some of the less appetizing street performers. It is nice to be close to the insanity but not right in the midst of it. And, being right in the middle of the Fremont East district, there are a number of interesting bars and restaurants nearby. To say that I have grown quite fond of this place is an understatement. It is my favorite place to play and stay Downtown. Let me know what you think about El Cortez.
More Gold
I neglected to sum up the overall experience at the Golden Gate, but there are some important points worth sharing. First of all, the casino has a great bar called the Prohibition Bar and it has remain largely unchanged for years. Purportedly many famous people have tipped one back here and it is a pleasant place for a cocktail and a gamble. Unlike some places, they seem to want to give you a free drink. There are no meters or lights, just a friendly face. Sadly, if you are feeling hungry, you’ll have to go elsewhere as the hotel has no restaurant. Those with happy memories of Dupars or the Bay City Diner will be disappointed. There are no pancakes or shrimp cocktails here for any price. All those spaces are now filled with tables or machines, as is the space once occupied by La Bayou. This has nearly doubled the gaming floor but it is still a small casino compared to most of its neighbors. So, if you fancy a cold drink and want to play, the Golden Gate is a good choice. If you need a bite to eat, go somewhere else.
The Gold Standard?
The second of my hotel room reviews from this past week’s trip is the Golden Gate. While I had stayed there before, I had upgraded to one of their suites, which was very nice. This time I decided to take the complimentary basic room and it was a bit of an adventure. Based on some of the videos I had seen, it appeared that, while the rooms were quite small, they were quite modern and nice. That may be true of some of them but the one I was assigned was very dated. There was a decent sized TV, a safe, an updated showerhead and one of those ihome clocks. Otherwise, everything looked every day of its 112 years of existence. The “step up” sign on the entrance to the bathroom was classic and the bathroom itself was a closet where you had to be careful not knock your toiletries into the toilet. I had a terrible time coaxing anything but scalding water from the shower, which was quite unpleasant. The view was of a series of pipes and ducts but at least it was pretty quiet. So, if you miss the Las Vegas of 50 years past, try to get one of these rooms. Otherwise, while it was safe and clean, I would make another choice. Here’s the room video I made, if you’d like to see for yourself: https://youtu.be/e-r_NCKxXRY
The Flaming-o
My week in Las Vegas began with a two night stay at the venerable Flamingo Hotel and Casino. Not only was it the first modern Strip resort but the first place I stayed over two decades past. I was given a Go Room with a fairly impressive Strip view. I have always liked the design of these rooms but they are starting to get quite worn. The shower leaked and the carpet was frayed. There was a mini fridge, coffee maker and a TV in the bathroom mirror. The bed was fine. Overall, the hotel is a working class place, a kind of Wal-Mart of casinos. The casino is a pretty fun place, the wildlife habitat out back is a peaceful respite and the pool is better than average. On the other hand, the food choices on site are lacking. The buffet is average at best and the Mexican and steak restaurants are little better. There is a food court which provides a few more choices but nothing special. If you are a parrothead, you’ll enjoy Margaritaville. The location is outstanding and a great base of operations for exploring the center Strip. The Cromwell and Linq are steps away and Harrah’s, Mirage, Caesars, Ballys and Bellagio are close by. So, if you just want a place to crash and party, it will do just fine. If you are looking for more, you may want to search elsewhere. Here’s a link to the room video I made if you’d like to judge for yourself: https://youtu.be/iWzaQXd_Qr4.
More Wynn-ing Coming Soon?
One of the most striking and luxurious resorts on the Strip, Wynn has had a difficult year, mostly due to the sexual misconduct charges levelled against founder and Vegas icon Steve Wynn. But the company that also brought you Encore has some big plans going forward, much of it formulated under the previous administration. One of those projects, Paradise Park is proceeding, taking up a large parcel of the old Desert Inn/Wynn golf course. Originally imagined as a hotel tower partially surrounding a massive lagoon, which would include fireworks, water sports and a mountain in its center, it has been scaled back somewhat over the past year. The lagoon will remain but in a more subdued form and will be only for the use of hotel guests. Again, the project is probably still a couple of years from completion so stay tuned. And, if things go well, another hotel tower will be build across Las Vegas Boulevard with the working name of Wynn West. I am skeptical that all this will come to pass but it would mean even more development on the north end of the Strip.
North Strip Megaresort?
It’s coming. Really! This time we aren’t kidding around. There is visible construction happening along the Strip where once the venerable Stardust stood. Resorts World looks like it is going to happen. Just as the economic downturn in 2008 short circuited the Fountainbleu, it also torpedoed Boyd Gaming’s Echelon Place development. The skeleton of a few buildings remained as a reminder that even Las Vegas loses a wager now and then. Now, after several half starts over the past few years, the massive Resorts World complex is rising. When completed, there will be over 6500 rooms, a 175,000 square foot casino, an aquarium, ice skating rink and panda exhibit. Pandas? Yes, the resort will have an Asian theme throughout and (apparently) pandas. Again, the completion date is sometime in 2020, which looks like a big year for grand openings. This project has the potential to transform an area which has been struggling for years. Let’s hope it is worth the wait!
Vegas Tips and Tricks 